Home is where the heart is – as the old adage goes. But wouldn’t it be more fitting if we mainly say, “the kitchen is where the heart is?” All heartwarming experiences felt by a family or community all starts with food. The kitchen holds all these beautiful memories like how a library holds stories, with every dish created and every meal taken together.
As one who comes up with these flavorful meals for your loved ones, you would want nothing but the best in helping you command your kitchen, that is with choosing the freshest ingredients to make recipes come to life and being able to use the best cookware and equipment whenever you are cooking or baking.
With this, here is a guide that would hopefully help you come up with informed choices when purchasing the best cookware and allow you to flourish as a master in the kitchen:
Research for the Best Materials Fit for Your Cooking Needs
With all the different types of cookware available out in the market, the first question you should ponder is “What am I looking for when buying cookware?”
Depending on what you focus on more – be it the flavor and aroma of your dish or the presentation, your cookware’s material would give oomph to any food you would cook and serve.
The options to choose from vary widely, particularly with what kind of material you might prefer: stainless steel, cast iron, Teflon, aluminum, or copper. The right material also depends on your skill level, preferred type of cuisine you usually prepare, and you can also put into consideration the cleaning and storage you can manage.
Copper is one type of cookware you should consider, which is often referred to as the “queen of cookware.” If you would want to know more regarding how copper makes cooking easier, check out Foodal.com.
Set Your Budget
Now that you have a type of cookware you have in mind which you might have firmly set your eyes on, you might want to go on the next step, and that is, determining at which price you could match your budget.
It won’t be difficult to deny that cookware can be expensive, especially if you go for the high-grade quality ones. Let’s face it; if you wish to go for the professional-kitchen-quality ones, it might cost you at the least, $1000. However, you can skirt around this price as there are sets available, which can give you a lesser retail price than buying by the piece.
However, if you are more of a laid-back, no-fuss homemaker, perhaps a smaller cookware set would suit your cooking needs better. A caveat to consider, though, is if you would be able to use all the pieces in the set. Of course, it’s always better to have that specific piece of cookware when you want to try cooking up a new dish.
Giving yourself time to research the kind of cookware that will give you the bang for your buck would greatly help your search for the best cookware in the market.
Check How Long Your Cookware Can Last
When it comes to quality cookware, it is also essential to know how durable the material is and withstand different temperatures. Most of the time, people who aren’t in professional-level kitchens have pans and pots that are almost burned through. Using damaged cookware can affect the taste of food and can even become hazardous to consume.
The popularity of cast-iron cookware has been around for a long time and this type of cookware has been raved as a cult classic, probably lasting almost a decade. Of course, getting cookware that’s durable helps you save up on money. While looks might also be important, you must get your money’s worth with a set or piece of a pan that you could even pass on to the next generation.
Is My Cookware Safe?
Notwithstanding your cookware set or pieces’ durability and quality, one very serious factor you might want to look into is if your cookware is safe. This means that there are no hazardous materials that might stick to the food you cook using that non-stick pan or cast-iron pot.
Stainless steel probably takes the no.1 spot when it comes to versatility, durability, and most especially, safety. Although small amounts are often found in food, unless your pan is dinged, there’s no reason to worry that it might cause harm to your loved ones.
Dents in cookware are small breaks in the material. With these small breaks, tiny pieces of the material can stick to the food. Avoid using pans that have big or too many dents. Adding to this, stainless steel is easy to clean hence lesser contamination.
Aluminum, on the other hand, is known for being lightweight, heat conducive, and affordable. Although aluminum cookware is durable, microscopic bits of aluminum can get in your food if the cookware is too damaged. Research has also shown that using too much aluminum cookware might increase the risk of a person acquiring Alzheimer’s disease.
Overall, it is imperative that you first look into the added materials and substances that make up your dish and cookware. Safe practices in the kitchen may also keep you from the hazards posed by possessing different types of pans, pots, and other cookware – such as immediately cleaning after use or storing food in other containers.
Takeaway
Whether you’re cooking at home or in an establishment, it’s always good to come up with the best dishes that you can be proud of. With that said, you need the best ingredients and the best tools to do the job. Coming up with ingredients can be easy as it’s provided, but with cookware and other tools, you need to be extra careful.
Purchasing the perfect cookware for your cooking and baking needs might seem overwhelming and daunting. However, proper research, asking the right questions, and giving timely consideration to your budget could greatly help you make a conscious and informed choice. Paired with the best tools and ingredients, you’ll surely create a dish that’s tasty and memorable.
