The Right Cookware for the Job

February 1st, 2008

Cooking is something that a good majority of the population does on a daily basis but most people do not even consider that the cookware they are using may also have a major affect on the outcome of their meals.

Using the right cookware for the job can turn an adequate cook into a great cook. It is amazing how a simple change in the type of cookware can dramatically impact the overall result.

There is so much information available online about the many types and materials used in your everyday cookware, so take the time to do some research and think about the type of cookware that will suit your circumstances in regards to the number of people you cook for, they type of cooking you do, and always a major consideration, your budget.

It is generally better to buy fewer quality items that will last you for years even though they may be a little more expensive initially. The quality and the results are well worth you paying a bit more.

Here is some information that may assist you when setting out to make those all important purchases for some of the items to aid you in your cooking:

Cookware for Sauces

Cooking sauces correctly is an art and the correct cookware is vital if you want successful results. And because this is such a specialized field within the cooking industry there are chefs that are dedicated solely to cooking sauces - this is all they do - so this gives you some idea of the importance of creating a good sauce.

The best cookware material for sauces is copper. Copper cookware cooks evenly and reacts quickly to temperature changes. This ensures that when you reduce the temperature on the stovetop or remove the pan from the stove, it will cool down rapidly and ultimately prevent the sauce from overcooking or burning.

The disadvantage of using copper cookware is that it can react with some foods causing some of the copper to leach into the meal. This can easily be avoided by using copper cookware that is lined with stainless steel or other metal.

Cookware for Sautéing

Sautéing is the quick frying of foods on high heat and to make certain that the food is sautéed correctly you require a pan that retains heat well and also reacts quickly to temperature changes. This will ensure that you don’t have a problem with hot spots and when you reduce the temperature on your stove top the pan will react immediately to the change.

Copper and aluminum are excellent conductors of heat so you might look for copper cookware or anodized aluminum. Alternatively, you could choose stainless steel cookware that has a layer of copper or aluminum sandwiched between the surfaces.

Nonstick cookware is also acceptable but generally this type of cookware doesn’t retain heat as well due to the nonstick layer.

Cookware for Stir Frying

Most would agree that the perfect cookware for stir fry is a wok and of course woks come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. So which is the best wok for stir frying? In many respects, the answer really comes down to personal preference.

Woks come in two basics shapes - flat or the more traditional round bottomed. The round bottomed woks are suitable for gas stovetops whereas the flat bottomed are more suited to electric stovetops.

Stir frying requires high heat so the wok must be a good conductor of heat. The best materials for woks are aluminum, cast iron or carbon steel.

Cookware for Roasting

To achieve the perfect roast a roasting pan that conducts heat evenly is required. Copper or aluminum are excellent at conducting heat so you might want to look for anodized aluminum roasting pans or a stainless steel roasting pan that is lined with copper or aluminum.

There are two schools of thought on whether to use a roasting rack. Some cooks prefer to sit their roasts on a rack so that air circulates around the meat and to ensure excess fat is drained away from the meat. Those that prefer the meat to sit in its own juices agree that the drippings are more suitable to use in creating a sauce.

And finally

The rule of thumb with cookware is always to buy the best you can afford. Always remember that nobody ever regretted buying quality. With this in mind you should have cookware that lasts a lifetime and provides you with exceptional cooking results.

Article provided courtesy of Only Cookware - a guide to cookware including nonstick cookware reviews and cast iron cookware advice.

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