6 Considerations When Choosing the Best Cookware Sets to Invest In
There are many different types of cookware available to buy on the market today. Some are cheaper than others, as different materials fall into different price ranges and some last longer than others. The different types of materials include cast iron, stainless steel, copper, and aluminium, and each of these has their own sets of pros and cons.
If you choose good cookware sets, however, they can last you a lifetime. The question is usually which cookware sets to purchase. Here we provide you with some tips to make a better-informed decision about the type of cookware you choose to invest in.
Things to consider when choosing cookware sets:
Conductivity of heat: Some metals are better at conducting heat than others, and they retain it for longer. For instance, aluminium pots will heat up quickly, but also cool down quickly, and because they are typically a lot thinner than other cooking vessels, heat is lost, which equates to higher energy bills. Copper is great for conducting heat and can even be used on an induction plate because the copper is magnetic. Good heat conductivity also allows for the contents of the vessel to cook more evenly and allows better temperature control, especially on induction plate cooking.
Cost: There is a wide range of cookware sets on the market, and the prices of these can range from under a hundred rand to well into the thousands. When you decide to buy cookware, it is best to choose a higher quality. This usually means that you will get cookware that will last longer and cook better.
Longevity: Longevity and durability are just as important as quality. Cookware sets go through a lot of extreme conditions – from high heat, to washing, being scraped by utensils, and being bashed in sinks. If you are looking for cookware sets that will remain beautiful and undamaged for generations, you should choose stainless steel or cast iron, as these tend to be the most durable kinds of cookware.
Metallic reactions: Some types of cookware sets infuse chemicals or metals into the food that is being cooked in the vessels. While cast iron may leach some iron into the food, this is not a bad thing, as the amount of iron that is leached will only be minute quantities. Aluminium, however, can leech more metals into food and may cause reactions to those sensitive to these metals.
Cleaning and maintenance: Stainless steel is usually very easy to clean and maintain. Even though cast iron cookware sets are very popular, they require a little bit more maintenance in order to keep them looking great. Other cookware sets, such as copper, have to be cleaned very thoroughly and must be polished on a regular basis to keep their looks.
Cooking sources: The type of cookware sets you invest in will also depend on the type of heat source you are going to be cooking on. If you use gas or an electric hob, just about any type of cooking vessel will do, but if you choose induction cooking, you will have to choose cookware sets made of cast iron or stainless steel that are reinforced with copper coils in the base, in order to conduct the magnetic fields used to heat up the contents of the vessel.
If you are looking for more advice on which type of cookware sets would be best for you to invest in, give our team at Snappy Chef a call.