If you have recently stepped in the world of cooking, either out of hobby or necessity, it is important that you know about tools as much as you need to know about ingredients and techniques. Buying the right cookware is one of the key areas that you need to educate yourself. If you are planning to get some new kitchenware, here are a few important factors that you should consider.
Material
One of the basic factors that one should consider when buying cookware is to pay attention to the material of cookware. Cookware is available in many different materials. Each one of them has its own properties. Generally, people go for steel cookware because of their look and durability plus they are easy to clean. However, most stainless steel cookware comes with a Teflon coating to make it non-stick. This coating can come off over a period of time with usage. Health practitioners believe that Teflon, when mixed with food, can be hazardous to health and should be avoided.
Another safer option is ceramic, which is also non-stick but it is much less durable. Likewise, Titanium has good durability and is also nonstick but it is also higher priced.
Compatibility
Over the years kitchen appliances and cooking technologies have evolved significantly. There are different types of cooking ranges, cooktops and hobs available in the market. For a long time, people have used gas ovens and tend to believe that all kinds of cookware can work with all kinds of cooktops and ranges. As a matter of fact, induction compatibility is a crucial factor when buying cookware. Induction cooktops require cookware with a flatter base with a good magnetic force. On the other hand, gas and convection cooktops work better with cookware with a round base. You can read more about it here for a better idea.
Heat Distribution
Culinary experts and top chefs globally will tell you how important it is to have the right heat distribution when preparing the food. Uneven heat distribution will leave your food overcooked or undercooked and may also alter it taste. Some cookware conduct heat better than others, therefore it is important to pay attention to the heat conduction of your cookware. Cookware with lower conduction or poor magnetic force do not distribute heat well enough for induction cooktops.
Weight
Some cookware is bulkier whereas someone are quite light-weight. It is a perception that bulkier pots are more durable. Interestingly, weight plays little role in deciding durability of a the cookware. Lightweight pots on the other hand are easier to handle and maintain.
Maintenance
Regardless of how experienced you are with food preps and culinary skills, cleaning is always a stressful task. Moreover, cookware is usually pricey so you would not want to ruin it while scrubbing it too harshly. Hence, it is better to go for cookware that is easier to clean and maintain without much hassle. Some cookware are not dishwasher friendly and need to be hand washed.
Durability
Cookware is not something you would want to invest in every other day. It can be heavy on pocket as it is usually pricey. When selecting your cookware, make sure you check for durability.
