Pots and Pans Set
pots and pans set - You just may be considering replacing some of your old pots and pans or perhaps thinking about buying one entire set but are confused as to which ones to get. The amount of various different cookware brands does seem to be growing all the time with materials varying from aluminum, cast iron, copper and stainless steel. Add to that list the clad style cookware available that is made up of two or more different metals and it is no wonder you may be feeling a bit confused as to what to buy.
Aluminum is used in roughly fifty percent of all cookware today due mostly to its incredible heat conduction. It is a soft metal which can unfortunately become dented and scratched quite easily. It has also been known to react with certain foods thus is usually found layered between other metals. Many times you can find stainless steel pots and pans with an aluminum layer which gives you the benefits of both. Aluminum cookware often comes with a non-stick coating to help you not to burn your food. While aluminum offers excellent heat transference, it does occasionally react with acidic foods.
Cast iron has been around for a very long time and there are some cast iron "die-hards" that will not cook with anything but that. However, these products are not super easy to maintain and require a bit of effort to keep them in good shape. These pots and pans are extremely durable and are often passed down from generation to generation. They are rather inexpensive, very durable with good heat retention. They can rust or react with certain foods unless seasoned, require some maintenance and are heavier than most other cookware.
Copper cookware is mostly reserved for professional chefs and mostly because of its near perfect heat conduction. Chefs tend to choose this also because it heats quite quickly and adjusts to temperature changes with ease, which gives them greater control over their cooking. You probably will not find many copper pots and pans at your friends' houses as it is generally very expensive. Besides the high cost, copper also reacts with certain acidic foods and requires polishing on a regular basis.
Stainless steel is more than likely what you will generally find in most households today. It is able to resist corrosion thus is called stainless steel. While this is a great choice for pots and pans, it does have a poor ability to conduct heat very well, thus look for ones that have aluminum or copper cores. Without that you will find that foods will cook unevenly (picture trying to cook an egg and have it come out evenly fried.)
Whatever type you decide to go with is really going to depend a lot on your budget, personal preference and time that you spend cooking. For the overall flexibility, price and usability, stainless steel pots and pans would be your best bet. However don't forget about its issues with evenly cooking food if that is a concern you have. Finally, sometimes it is best to buy a set, but look closely at what it contains for the price. Some sets may surprise you with three almost identical soup pans for example and much will be wasted.