Cookware Buying Guide

The right cookware can make working in the kitchen a real joy, especially when you receive so much adoring praise from friends and family after whipping up a delicious meal. Before that can happen, though, you need to know what kinds of cookware will work best for you. When it comes to cookware, it's all about the metal, because that is the vehicle that delivers heat to food. To help you find success with your culinary creations, this cookware buying guide will provide you with some basic information on purchasing quality pots and pans.

Buying Cookware:

1. Stainless steel cookware: The cookware of choice for most cooks is stainless steel. It is easy to clean and requires little maintenance. You don't need to worry about the metal reacting with food. Another benefit of stainless steel cookware is its resistance to rust, stains and corrosion. It is also dishwasher safe, though hand washing will help it keep its luster better. Pure stainless steel cookware does not conduct heat very well, however. It tends to develop hotspots. For that reason, it is important to get "encapsulated" stainless steel cookware. That means the bottom of the pan includes a layer of copper or aluminum to ensure even heat distribution. Overheated stainless steel cookware sometimes develops a rainbow-like discoloration that can be removed with stainless steel cleaner.

2. Cast-iron cookware: If you need to cook food on a low, steady temperature, cast-iron cookware will serve you best. Cast iron heats up and cools down slowly, which means it retains heat better than any other metal used for cooking. That is why cast-iron skillets and Dutch ovens are perfect for outdoor cooking. The metal heats up and stays that way for a long time, even when the temperature around it constantly fluctuates.

   Cast-iron Cookware Tip

   • Bare cast iron should be seasoned by cooking some oil on it and letting it cool several times. It should not be washed, as that will remove the seasoning. Bare cast iron is also prone to rust, so most cooks just wipe it clean with a damp cloth. You can find cast iron skillets and griddles with an enamel coating that makes for easier cleaning and maintenance. These do not need to be seasoned.

3. Carbon steel cookware: Woks are usually made of carbon steel because it heats and cools so quickly and evenly. Carbon steel cookware also needs to be seasoned before the first use, and it requires a little more work to keep it in good shape.

4. Aluminum cookware: Aluminum pots and pans are excellent lightweight heat conductors that are usually dishwasher safe. Hard-anodized aluminum goes through a process that hardens the aluminum and gives it a grey finish. Hard-anodized aluminum is prone to discoloration in the dishwasher, though. Cast aluminum cookware is another variation that is thicker and stronger than regular pressed aluminum. However, because of its heavier weight, cast aluminum cookware it is not dishwasher safe.

5. Copper cookware: The most efficient heat conductor is copper. It heats quickly and uniformly, and it responds immediately to changes in temperature. Copper cookware does require more work to keep it in good shape, and overheating it can cause discoloration. It can also react with some food, changing the color and taste. In order to remedy that problem, many copper pots and pans are lined with stainless steel or tin.

6. Nonstick cookware: Nonstick coatings on the interiors of pots and pans can make cooking and cleaning very easy. Nonstick cookware is especially good for those watching their waistline, since less oil is needed for cooking. You just need to be careful not to scratch it. Good nonstick cookware will have several layers of nonstick coating. Decent pots and pans have at least three layers, and the best will have up to seven. This will ensure a smoother surface and longer lasting pans. You want to avoid nonstick cookware with a silicone coating, which can react badly with animal fats.

7. Multi-ply cookware: Since no one material is perfect, multi-ply cookware combines several metals in one pot or pan. Multi-ply cookware usually has a copper or aluminum core, with a stainless steel or nonstick interior. The exterior could be a number of different metals. This combination of strengths makes multi-ply cookware the most versatile and user-friendly.