If you’re a keen home cook, then you’ll need a good quality pan. Poor quality pans can affect the nutritional quality of food. They can also affect the taste of food, and cause food to cook unevenly. Good pans can be expensive, but they’re worth it.
This article will tell you a few things that you need to consider if you’re looking for a new pan:
Conductivity
One of the most important qualities to look for in a pan is heat conductivity. Some metals are better heat conductors than others. Copper is a very good heat conductor, although it’s also toxic and can leach into food. Stainless steel on the other hand, which is very affordable and safe, is not a good conductor.
One of the main reasons that you need a pan made from a good conductor is so that your food cooks evenly. Pans that are better conductors also react quicker to a change in temperature, allowing you to cook quicker and more effectively.
Price
When it comes to cookware, the better the quality, the higher the price. You get what you pay for. You should always buy the best cookware that you can afford. If you try to save money and buy low-quality pans, then it’ll show in your food. If you can’t buy high-quality cookware from the shop, then you could consider buying it second hand. You can get some pretty good deals on eBay, Shpock, and Craigslist.
Durability
Durability is also something worth thinking about. Cast iron and steel pans are known for maintaining their appearance and lasting longer than other types of pans. With that said, most pans will last you a long time if you look after them. Try to avoid burning your pans, scratching them, and dropping or denting them. Cookware can cost a lot of money, so make sure that you do your best to look after yours by following the manufacturer’s handling, storage, and cooking instructions.
Reactivity
Some metals react with certain types of food. If you cook acidic dishes often, then you will probably want to avoid aluminium cookware. The same goes for iron, copper, and non-stainless steel. Stainless steel and ceramic are non-reactive, and thus, your best option for acidic foods. When a pan reacts with a type of food, your food will absorb some of the metal. When you’re buying cookware, make sure that you are aware of the reactivity of different metals.
Nonstick
Nonstick pans are very popular among home cooks. They are very easy to use, very easy to clean and allow you to cook with a lot less oil. If you decide to invest in a nonstick pan, then you need to find one that isn’t coated with Teflon. Teflon can be very harmful to your health, and like copper, can leach into your food. Additionally, if you notice that your nonstick cookware is flaking or peeling, then throw it away immediately.
Maintenance
Some pans require more maintenance than others. Stainless steel pans are very easy to look after, which is why they are very popular among home cooks. Iron and copper pans are very difficult to maintain and have to be handled very carefully. If these pans aren’t looked after, then they can deteriorate very quickly.
Heatproof Handles
When you’re buying a pan, you need to make sure that its handles are made from a low conductive metal so that they stay cool. Try to find handles that are attached with welds instead of rivets. Rivets can collect dirt, grime, and grease, and are difficult to clean. You might also want to look for cookware that has wooden handles. If you can’t find a pot with suitable handles, then you can always invest in removable rubber or plastic heat guards.
Lids
You also need to make sure that a pot’s lid fits tightly and has heat proof knobs. Glass lids are usually the best for most types of cooking. The main thing is to make sure that your pot’s lid fits tightly and keeps moisture in the pot.
Brand Names
Don’t be fooled by big brand names. Big brands aren’t necessarily any better than lesser-known brands. When you’re shopping for cookware, don’t immediately discount brands that you haven’t heard of before. You can find the names of lots of artisan or lesser-known cookware companies on Google. You might also want to check out cooking forums and ask what brands are recommended by forum users.
If you’re going to buy a new pan, then there are some things that you need to consider. Give thought to all of the points raised in this article. Thank you for joining us and reading today’s article.
