Talking Pots and Pans – The Secrets to Choosing the Best Cookware for Your Kitchen
The secret to mastering any art is ensuring that you have the right tools at your disposal. This is most assuredly the case when it comes to cooking. The daily task of putting together tasty, nutritious meals can be a dreary chore for some and a delight for others. Whatever the case, most of us want to provide something that our families will love. The cookware that you use to prepare your meals can play a crucial part in the results, so let’s take a look at some of the primary factors that you should be keeping in mind when you’re looking into which kind will be right for you:
A Material World
The first question that you need to ask yourself is which kind of cookware will best suit your purposes. The various materials commonly used for pots and pans each come with their particular pros and cons. Make sure you do your research on stainless steel, cast iron, copper, ceramic and non-stick surfaces before you jump on and commit.
A Sticky Situation
One of the primary questions that you need to ask about your cookware is whether the surface is likely to stick or not. Food sticking to the pan can cause it to burn, ruining the flavor and making it extremely difficult to clean. You may need to compensate by using extra oil, adding unnecessary fat to your dishes that you could otherwise avoid. Ceramic, copper and stainless all have a propensity to stick to a certain extent. However, your cooking style may exacerbate or mitigate these tendencies, so do your research and choose wisely.
A Toxic Relationship
Much has been made about the purported toxic qualities of non-stick coatings used on cookware. Despite being a bane for cooks, the lingering doubts regarding safety still play on some people’s minds. The famous claim that fumes from Teflon coated cookware have killed pet birds are persistent on social media. So, is your pet parrot in danger? The truth is that Teflon fumes are, in fact, hazardous to birds. Conversely, they are effectively harmless for humans. The major concern is a chemical called PFOA. While used is the manufacturing process, it is almost entirely eliminated from Teflon used in the final product. Any other toxins present in the material require such high temperatures to be released that you would essentially have to burn the pan to a crisp before it became a problem. The EPA agrees that under normal cooking conditions, Teflon is entirely safe to use.
Get the Look
While practicality is a primary concern, beautiful cookware can also add a gorgeous visual look to your space. Matching your pots and pans to your décor can provide a wonderful final touch to your kitchen. If you’re into more of a rustic fool, then copper will be right for you. Stainless goes perfectly with the more modern, minimalist look. Ceramic cookware typically comes in various colors, allowing you to choose the one that will be the perfect match.
A Clean Sweep
Cleaning up is the worst part of cooking, and many of us dread the seemingly endless piles of dirty items that accumulate in the sink. Time spent scrubbing that stubborn skillet is time that could otherwise be devoted to your family, so choosing cookware that is easy to clean is a smart idea. Non-stick cookware is the clear winner here and will save you much time and effort.
I hope that this has provided some useful and fascinating insights for you. Whichever cookware set you choose, may you have many years and happy and productive cooking with them!
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