Porcelain Iron Cookware
Pots And Pans – Three Things To Know Before You Buy Them
If you’ve done some research on pots and pans or shopped around, you must have seen an overwhelming number of cookware brands with prices ranging from less than $50 to over $1000. There are over 100 cookware brands sold at stores and on-line so how do you choose the best pots and pans for you?
There are three important things you need to know about pots and pans before you go out and invest your money in them.
1. Material
Why is knowing about cookware materials important? Cookware materials determine the quality and the price of the cookware. The common cookware materials are stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and cast iron, and they have different advantages and disadvantages.
Stainless steel is the most common cookware material and its benefits are great. It has strong corrosion resistance, high durability, and does not leave any harmful residue with the food. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain. However, stainless steel is not the best for heat conductivity; therefore the cooking could take longer and it may not produce the best results when quick high heat is required.
The materials with excellent heat conductivity are aluminum and copper. However, aluminum reacts with acidic foods and is easily scratched and dented. As aluminum cookware ages or if it is scratched, it can leave a harmful residue in the food which can have negative health consequences. Copper is expensive and requires high maintenance. Therefore, cookware is often created as a composite of these three materials. Copper is on the bottom to improve heat conductivity, aluminum is sandwiched in the middle and the cooking surface is stainless steel.
Cast iron is another great cookware material. It retains heat well, and is durable and inexpensive. However, cast iron cookware is heavy.
Porcelain is a coating material and has excellent benefits. Porcelain is a non-stick material, has no reactions with foods, resists stains and scratches, and comes in many different colors. Porcelain is made from clay and originated from China.
2. Function
Should you buy only one pot and one frying pan, an 8-pieces cookware set, or a 12-pieces cookware set? Each pot and pan is specifically designed for different types of cooking. Knowing what kinds of cooking you usually do will help you to choose the best kind of cookware for you.
The Saucepan is the most frequently used pot for cooking. It is used for boiling and simmering. It usually has about the same height as its diameter and comes with one long handle for small sizes and two small handles for big sizes to be lifted up with both hands.
The Stockpot is a big pot for long time boiling or simmering. It is at least as tall as its diameter.
The Skillet, or frying pan, has a large flat heating surface with low sides. The Grill pan is a kind of skillet with ribbed surface to let the fat drain from food.
The Sauté pan is used for sautéing. It has a large flat surface and low vertical sides, and often comes with a cover.
The Wok is a bowl shape pan with a small heated surface. The Wok is usually used for stir-frying but can be used for deep frying as well.
The Dutch oven is similar to a stockpot but it usually comes with a heavy lid to keep the moisture and a high temperature inside. The Dutch oven is used for stews, braised meats, soups, or any dishes that need to be cooked with low heat and for a long period of time.
The Casserole Pot is, as its name suggests, used to make casseroles. The Casserole pot is also good for stews, braised meats, or soups. It is often made of cast iron and can be either used in the oven or on the stove top.
3. Price
Pots and pans are much cheaper when purchased as a set. For example, a skillet and a sauce pan may cost you $100 for these two pieces. Conversely a cookware set including these two items plus an additional skillet, sauce pan, a sauté pan, and a stockpot may cost you only $180. So if you buy 2 or 3 pieces of cookware, consider getting a complete set to save you money.
High quality cookware costs more than medium to low quality cookware but usually has some sort of limited lifetime warranty. Always check what kind of warranty the cookware has when you are buying.
Cookware should be easy to handle and perform well. Your food will taste better as a result. Once you start using good quality cookware, you will never go back to using cheaper cookware. Once you buy high quality cookware, know how to maintain it for a longer lifespan.
About the Author
I am the owner of butterflycookware.com, online cookware store. butterflycookware.com carries only quality brand cookware, cutlery, and flatware such as Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Revere, Magnalite, Chicago Cutlery, and Oneida. All products are 20 to 60% off and free shipping.
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cast iron,leomon squeezer,the argade no.2,porcelain $65.00 |
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RED – Le Creuset 20 PC Set Porcelain Enameled Cast Iron $889.00 |
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Paula Deen Signature Porcelain 12-Piece Cookware Set, Butter $73.99 “Pouring through antique shops with my Aunt Peggy is one of my most cherished memories. This line was inspired by the many treasures she and I found on our adventures. My wish is that they are as fun to collect for you as they were for me.” – Paula Deen Set Includes: 1-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 2-qt. Covered Sauce Pan 2.75-qt. Covered Saute Pan 6-qt. Covered Stockpot 8-in. Skillet 10-in. Skillet Slott… |
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Coleman Road Trip Cast-Iron Griddle $26.95 Coleman Roadtrip Cast Iron Accessory Griddle sits on top of a propane burner for easy cooking! Expand your camp fare menu with this Cast Iron Accessory Griddle from Coleman! Perfect for pancakes, scrambled eggs and MUCH more! Made with cast iron for even heat distribution on the entire surface. Measures 12 x 12″. Get yours, right now! Coleman Roadtrip Cast Iron Accessory Griddle… |
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The Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan in Your Kitchen $9.69 Book annotation not available for this title.Title: The Cast Iron Skillet CookbookAuthor: Kramis, Sharon/ Hearne, Julie KramisPublisher: PgwPublication Date: 2004/10/06Number of Pages: 163Binding Type: PAPERBACKLibrary of Congress: 2004046736… |
