Consider These Six Things When Buying New Cookware.
Your pots and pans have been trusted friends for many years, but you’ve determined it’s time to break with the past. With so many brands available, from T-Fal to Calphalon to Le Creuset and more, from non-stick to stainless steel, what to choose? Consider these six factors before making that purchase:
*How large are your meals? This will determine the durability of your cookware. It stands to reason that cooking for a large family will require more durable pots and pans than somebody cooking for two.
*What’s your favorite food to cook? Do you use a lot of oil? Do you like fried foods? Ease of cleaning would be a consideration here, so non-stick pans would be the logical choice. Let’s say stews are big in your house. That might lead you to stainless steel soup pots.
*How important is speed? Perhaps you have to kick out a quick but tasty meal, but you don’t have a ton of time after work. If that’s the case, you’re probably using higher heat. Durability then becomes an issue here. That means you’re probably considering stainless steel, and it will help distribute the heat more evenly.
*How important is ease of cleaning? Let’s say you do a lot of pan searing or frying. It sure tastes good, but we all know it can be a bear to clean. If this is a significant factor in your purchase decision, non-stick surely fits the bill.
*Are you cooking with electric or gas? If you have an electric stove top, choose cookware that has perfectly flat bottoms. Stainless steel is a logical choice here, as it also helps to even out the heat. Just avoid copper cookware with an electric stove since it has a tendency to scratch the surface.
*How much do you have to spend? It’s true that you do get what you pay for, so don’t skimp if you don’t have to. If your budget can afford it, it’s best to pay for higher quality cookware. It will pay off down the road. If you’re too frugal here, you may have to replace your pots and pans in a relatively short period of time. It’ll end up costing more for two, or three, sets than it would have to buy higher-priced, higher-quality cookware the first time around.
Whether you do a lot of gourmet cooking or you’re just the casual home chef, it’s important for you to take pride in the meals you prepare. Your cookware is your most important tool. Choose carefully based on your needs and your budget, take care of it, and it will be your best friend, and your kitchen’s best friend, for years to come.
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