How to choose and buy a cookware set?

Update:05 Aug

How choose and buying the right cookware set for your home is not easy. The number of cookware brands seems to be growing every day, with a wide variety of pots and pans, ranging from stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, and copper. Even more confusing is the range of composite cookware, which is cookware made from two or more different metals.

So, with all of this in mind, how do you finally decide on the right type of cookware without breaking your budget? The answer is knowing exactly what you want before buying. In short, it means you need to know enough about cooking to make an informed decision.

There are a few things you need to consider when choosing the cookware. These include:

1. Thermal conductivity. Some metals are better conductors of heat than others. For example, copper is a particularly good conductor of heat, while stainless steel is not. In the case of cookware, this means that the better the thermal conductivity, the better and more evenly your food will cook. This also means that when you turn the heat up or down, copper cookware responds to temperature changes much faster than stainless steel cookware.

2. Price. The amount you pay for a cooker will most likely be the deciding factor in your final purchase. The rule of thumb for cookware is to buy the best you can afford.

3. Durability. Certain types of cookware will retain their good looks and outlast others.

4. Reactivity. Some metals react with certain foods. For example, aluminum tends to react with tomatoes and other acidic dishes. This means your food can actually absorb some of the metal, so be careful when choosing cookware and make sure you understand the reactivity of each product.

5. Maintenance. If you don't want to polish your cookware every night just to keep it looking good, then you need to consider the amount of maintenance required to keep it in top condition. Copper and cast iron cookware usually require quite a bit of work to keep them in their pristine condition, while stainless steel is generally easier to maintain.

Ultimately deciding whether you need stainless steel, cast iron, copper, or aluminum is really a personal decision, depending on how long you cook, your expertise in the kitchen, and your budget. Take your time when choosing cookware, buy your best option for the moment, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for caring for your pots and pans, and you'll be rewarded with years of excellent service and an enjoyable cooking experience.