Showing posts with label Cook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cook. Show all posts
Typical Cookware Sets
While considering cooking, we can find that in a typical kitchen, different methods of cooking are followed. Actually, they differ from culture to culture as well as from tastes to tastes. Probably, sometimes you will need to fry; sometimes steam, or roast or sauté or make soups. To suit the different methods of cooking, you would probably require different cookware sets and if you listen to us, they are actually required. These different methods require cookware’s of different shapes and sizes as per the requirement. Consider this example; if you try to make soup in shallow pan I think that is practically impossible or if you still try it would result in hassles. If you think over it, it would be more convenient to have complete cookware sets to make cooking more easy and enjoyable! Believe it or not, a good set of cookware takes your cooking to another level.
Cookware sets have evolved with time and today you can find cookware sets of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or cast iron. Choose the best for you and take the opportunity of having a complete set of popular pots and pans close at hand. When you buy a cookware set, owners manual given along with it provides complete information and ‘Do’ and ‘Don’ts’ of every individual utensil like pots, pans, skillets stock-pots and boilers, roasters. Now lets talk about making the choice of a cookware. You will not be surprised to know that most of the housewives and professional chefs prefer cookware of stainless steel because they are more durable, easy to clean and protect food flavor. Moreover, the stainless steel cookware are long lasting and can be used for years together. No surprise, they are the most popular cookware sets available in the market.
Today, a new breed of cookware, the waterless cookware sets are also gaining popularity as this is probably the healthiest, most energy efficient means of cooking. In ‘waterless’ cooking, you use no water or very little water. The waterless cookware changes the water into steam and the food is steam cooked. Sometimes it may happen that you don’t have to buy a complete set but you just want one or two additional cookware pieces to complete your cookware set. Cookware set gives you lot many options for cooking and prepares mouth-watering dishes for your entire family. Then you don’t compromise in the kitchen by just managing by whatever utensils you have for cooking.
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Looking for more information on Cookware Sets check out www.cookwaresets.info your guide to Cookware Sets.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
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I Need Some Pots and Pans To Cook In - What Should I Buy?
What should you buy? Before you start considering your cookware options consider the following five questions.
1) Do you cook for a few people or a lot of people? This will determine how many pots and pans you need and also how big you need them to be.
2) What kind of cooking do you most often do? I like to make homemade soup so a large stockpot is essential for me. On the other hand, I never steam anything on the stovetop (I use an electric steamer) so a stovetop steamer is useless to me. Think about what you cook or what you want to learn how to cook so you can determine what pieces of cookware you'll need.
3) How important is ease of cleanup to you? If you hate cleanup you should probably buy non-stick cookware. If you want to be able to put your cookware in the dishwasher you'll need to look at the sets you're considering to see if it's advisable. For example, hard-anodized aluminum cookware is a very popular type of cookware but the outside of the pots will change color and darken if you wash them in your dishwasher. I own this type of cookware and I love it. But there are days when I don't love having to take the time to hand-wash it, but I do because I don't want it to get discolored in my dishwasher. Most professional cooks prefer stainless steel cookware. It's nice to cook with but clean-up can be fairly time-consuming.
4) What type of stove do you have? Do you have a smooth-top electric stovetop? If you do, you need flat-bottom pots and pans. I didn't think about this when I purchased my smooth-top stove. I quickly discovered my pots and pans weren't flat bottomed and that they didn't work well on my new stove. As a result I had to go buy new cookware that had flat bottoms. If you have an induction cooktop you needs pots and pans with ferrite in them, which means they need to be magnetic.
5) What is your budget? I highly recommend buying the best quality cookware you can afford. The best quality is not always the most expensive cookware available, but it's never the cheapest. If you buy a $49.99 set of cookware, you'll be getting a bargain but you won't be getting a good set of cookware.
Now that you've thought about your needs and know how much you can afford to spend, it's time to go look at cookware. You'll likely be using your cookware every day so you want something that you're comfortable working with. But the number one thing to look for in cookware is weight and heft. Heavier weight cookware won't warp over time which causes you to lose the flat, even cooking surface on the bottom of your pan; and you can control the heat better in heavier weight cookware. I'm not saying you have to buy cookware that you need to join the gym to be able to lift out of the cupboard but don't buy cheap flimsy pots and pans.
If a pan feels like you could bend it, don't buy it. I'm not suggesting you walk into a store, pick up every pot and pan and try to bend it, but look at one of the saucepans. If you push a little on the sides and that saucepan has some "give" to it, it's not going to hold up well on your stove.
To get a good quality cookware set you'll probably need to spend a minimum of $200. If you don't have that much to spend consider buying only the essential pieces you need to get you started such as a 2-quart saucepan, a sauté pan and a stockpot. Add pieces as you can afford them. Although you'll typically get the best value for your money if you buy a cookware set versus buying the individual pieces don't buy a poor quality set just so you have an entire set of cookware. You'll end up spending more money in the long run replacing those pots and pans when they get warped and ruined (which won't take long).
If you take the time to consider your needs, do some shopping around, and purchase the best quality set of cookware you can afford, you're likely to be happy with your purchase for a long time.
Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com
Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer for www.acooksdelight.com. Visit the site for more info on different types of cookware including cast iron cookware & celebrity cookware.
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Best Nonstick Cookware To Be Handled With Care
The best nonstick cookware will have an enhanced quality of the liquid coating, which means that there are different quality levels in the formulas of the liquid coating. The number of layers of the coating and the thickness of the coating also add to the quality of the best cookware set.
Naturally the biggest advantage of nonstick cookware is the considerable ease in cleaning and the reduction of grease content in the cooking. But even the best nonstick cookware has its disadvantages, like being damaged by spatulas, spoons and metal forks. This makes the durability of even the best nonstick cookware short. The manufacturer’s instructions on using and caring for your nonstick cookware should be followed very carefully. Otherwise, even the newest and best nonstick cookware will begin to lose the resistance of its nonstick coating after only a few years.
How To Choose
In spite of following all the cooking and cleaning instructions, nonstick cookware could start losing its coating in a short period of time. Hence, to make sure that your best cookware set has the best nonstick coating, you must know what to look for when you are buying nonstick cookware. A good nonstick finish of the coating should be absolutely smooth, implying that all the layers have been sprayed in the correct sequence and properly cured. If there are tiny ridges, it is an indication that there are not enough nonstick layers. Actually the very best nonstick cookware in the world has seven layers. The color of the coating should not be shiny, because that means it has been coated with silicon, which does not react well with animal fats.
Cooking
For cooking in the best nonstick cookware, you need very little oil; hence it is easier to use a cooking spray for the oil instead of pouring from a can or a bottle. Always cook on low heat, as it is advisable not to overheat the nonstick cookware. Also, the use of wooden spoons for cooking is imperative, otherwise the coating can get damaged. You can use plastic, rubber, silicon and wood utensils when you are cooking.
Cleaning
Once you have bought the best nonstick cookware, you not only have to cook in it with care, but clean it with care too. No harsh detergents or steel pads should be used, just clean with some soft scrubbing pads, warm water and a mild detergent and your best nonstick cookware will definitely last you for many years.
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Stainless Steel Makes Best Cookware
Cast Iron
The best cookware can naturally be decided by people who have tested every type of pot and pan, every skillet and saucepan to Dutch ovens and roasting pans. Such tests are done by teams belonging to cooking magazines or famous chefs, who have the opportunity to test all types of cookware and declare the best cookware. Today most of these experiments show the popularity of cast-iron pans, which are now taking the place of the Teflon-coated cookware, or the best pressure cookers.
That is why the traditional cast iron skillet is also considered one of the best cookware. The heavy weight of cast iron can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. The heat retention in the pan is excellent, but it is not as easy to maneuver as stainless steel. The skillet can sear meat very well and can deliver crusty bread as well. The pan is oven safe and will improve with good maintenance.
Stainless Steel
But stainless steel is probably still the best choice for cookware. There is the budget stainless steel cookware which could be considered the best cookware as well. It is also very reasonably priced. It is safe cookware for the oven, and can be safely used up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. The only disadvantage is that heating of the base can be very fast, even though it is thick, hence you have to keep a close look at the pan while you sauté.
Enameled Dutch Oven
The enameled Dutch oven which is also an expensive buy is probably the best cookware recommended strongly by chefs. Since cast iron has superior heat conductivity, the enameled coated pot makes it ideal to cook slow-simmering stews and braises. Cheaper coated cast-iron pots may chip or scratch, but if there is a double coating of enamel, it can be the best cookware and durable too. You can cook evenly in it and it browns food well too.
Hence the best cookware is either made of stainless steel or coated and uncoated cast iron. When professionals were asked about the truly essential cookware for anybody, they chose a large skillet, a small cast-iron skillet, a sturdy saucepan and a large soup or pasta pot.
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What’s Cooking?: Cookware Pots And Pans
Therefore, if in the market for cookware pots and pans it is important to purchase these utensils with specific thoughts in mind. Those thoughts should take into account the kitchen and types of food that is cooked.
Kitchen Décor
One of the most important rooms in the house is the kitchen. This is because the kitchen is a gathering place to not only eat, but socialize.
In addition, there are only so many rooms within the home that can be remodeled that may increase the value of that home. Two of those rooms include the bathroom and the kitchen. Therefore, not only does the right adornment of cookware pots and pans help to create a festive atmosphere to the kitchen, but can also create a sense of increased value to the home through the use of cookware pots and pans.
Specifically, the construction and installation of a cooking pots and pans rack can be installed and hung from the ceiling. Once this has been accomplished, an appealing set of cookware pots and pans can be placed on this rack. This will not only provide a beautiful décor to the kitchen but also bring a ease of accessibility to the cookware. The use of copper pots and pans are very effective to create this look in the kitchen.
Food That Is Prepared
Another consideration that should be taken into account when considering the purchase of cookware pots and pans is that the cook should take into account the food that is generally prepared for the family. This is because there are many types of cookware pots and pans available on the market that are specifically designed to cook in different ways.
For example, available on the market are pots and pans that are made of cast iron. Cookware made from this type of material is generally used to slow cook foods because the cast iron heats up slowly and diffuses the heat slowly after it is removed from the cooking area.
Another type of cookware that can be utilized by a modern day family are non stick pots and pans. These types of pots and pans are covered with a non stick surface. This allows for the food to be cooked and not stick to the surface of the pan. In addition, cleanup is easy because there’s no food to scrape off of the surface of the pot or pan.
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Variety Is The Spice Of Life: Cooking Pots And Pans
It has been often said that in order to do the job right it is important to have the right tools. This premise holds true whether the task requires building something, working at a place of employment or even performing daily tasks at home.
One of those tasks that can be easily accomplished through the right equipment is cooking. Specifically, through the use of the right cooking pots and pans, cooking and cleanup can be better accomplished.
Cooking With The Right Cooking Pots And Pans
Preparing a meal takes more than just throwing the food ingredients together into a pot or pan and then cooking the meal. To actually prepare a meal properly it takes planning, gathering the ingredients and preparing those ingredients for cooking. Examples of this preparation can include measuring out the recipe, chopping or slicing the food and possibly cooking the meal in stages.
In addition, it takes the proper use of cooking pots and pans to properly simmer or cook the food. For example, cooking pots and pans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In addition, cookware pots and pans are manufactured using various materials.
Those materials include cast iron, copper based cookware, aluminum, etc. Therefore, depending upon the cook and the cooking plan of action it is important to choose the right cooking pots and pans. This is underscored as cast iron can be used to slow cook food products while a copper based pot and pan is the best choice for heat efficiency and the equalized cooking of the food.
Nonstick Cookware
Also, there are some types of cooking pots and pans that are coated for easy cooking and cleaning. Generally, these cooking pots and pans use a Teflon coating or other substance.
Also, if considering these types of cooking pots and pans it is important to purchase a quality product. This simply means that these pots and pans should be coated with a set amount of the nonstick surface. Obviously, due to wear and tear and inadvertent scratching one or two layers of the nonstick surface are not sufficient.
For best results in maintaining the longevity of this product it is important to purchase nonstick cookware that has a minimum of at least three layers. The higher end scale of quality nonstick cooking pots and pans will be manufactured using seven layers of the nonstick material.
Finally, if choosing a nonstick surface it is important to stay away from silicon. The reason being is that silicon, when heated, may adversely affect the taste of the food.
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Copper Cooking: Copper Pots And Pans
There are many styles and designs of cooking pots and pans on the market. Some of these cooking pots and pans are decorative in nature, while some are very basic in look.
In addition, there are pots and pans that are made from different materials. Some of those materials could include cast iron, aluminum and copper.
Specifically, copper pots and pans can serve a number of purposes. Two of those purposes include the basic purpose of cooking foods and can be a decorative addition to the kitchen.
Cooking With Copper Pots And Pans
When it comes to choosing cooking pots and pans it is important to consider what the cooking pots and pans are made out of. This is because the choice of metals used to manufacture the cooking utensils equates to efficiency in the kitchen and the use of energy.
One primary example of an energy efficient material used to create pots and pans is copper. This is because copper is an efficient conductor of heat. Therefore copper pots and pans are excellent choice of cookware.
In addition, this type of cookware heats up rapidly and provides a more unified disbursement of heat. Therefore, not only is this an efficient use of energy, but provides uniform cooking of the food.
Decorative Style of Copper Pots And Pans
One additional benefit to using copper pots and pans is the natural beauty of the copper. This is typically demonstrated as the bottom portion of the copper pots and pans are copper in color and the upper portion of the cookware is silver in color.
This blend of metallic colors provides a beauty that can highlight a kitchen's decor. In fact, many individuals choose to display their copper pots and pans openly. This open display is often accomplished by mounting a pot and pan rack in the kitchen so that the copper pots and pans can hang from the display rack in full view of those who enter the kitchen.
Downside To Copper Pots And Pans
However, as with all things, there is a downside to utilizing copper pots and pans. This first caution is that over time, due to the exposure to heat, the copper may become discolored. In addition, to maintain the beauty of the copper pots and pans it may require additional work to maintain the appearance.
Finally, it is important to note that food being cooked will sometimes react adversely with the copper.
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Types of Microwave Safe Cookware
Microwave cooking has become a popular way of preparing meals in today's fast pace world. There are many recipes circulating that allow you to prepare entire meals all within your microwave. The key to preparing your meals properly however, is to make sure that you purchase microwave safe cookware that is safe to use in a microwave oven.
Not all materials are considered microwave friendly. Some materials simply do not cook meals evenly in the microwave, while others pose potential risks if used when cooking. Fortunately, there is a large selection of microwave safe cookware to choose from, so you should have no problem finding containers that you can use in your microwave.
The most popular forms of microwave safe cookware are heat-resistant glass, ceramic glass, unglazed dinnerware, and some plastics. Choosing the right plastic can be a bit tricky, since a plastic that is too thin and flimsy can melt when microwaved and thick, heavy-duty plastic can cause damage to your microwave as well as become damaged itself when placed in a hot microwave oven.
Fortunately, since microwaving food has become so popular, many manufacturers are making microwave safe containers that are made from plastics that have been proven to do well when used in microwave cooking. When purchasing plastic containers that you plan on using in the microwave, read the package and make sure that the container specifically states that the product is indeed microwave safe cookware.
There are certain materials that should not be used in the microwave. Metal cookware, glass cookware that contains metal parts, dinnerware that is glazed and crystal or cut glass are not considered to be microwave safe cookware and should not be used when preparing your meals in the microwave. If you are planning on serving your meals in these types of dishes, you should first prepare your meal in a microwave safe container and then transfer it to your serving dish for serving.
Finding microwave safe cookware is easy. There are many styles and options available to you, so should be be able to find cookware that offers exactly what you are looking for without any difficulty. When purchasing your containers, look for the label that states it is microwave safe. And if you have any doubt as to whether a container is safe for microwave cooking or not, avoid using it and instead use a container you know for a fact is safe.
Article by Camilla Bertelsen and the owner of http://microwavecookwareblog.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Camilla_Bertelsen
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My Favorite Kitchenware
I have been cooking for many years and have used a variety of kitchenware. Recently I tried some a new kind that is not only very affordable but does and outstanding job. Their products require a little bit of additional care, but if you are looking for the best kitchenware for your money than the premium quality Caphalon One Nonstick cookware.
Why Calphalon One Nonstick Is The Best Kitchenware
Calphalon One Nonstick is a revolution in nonstick durability. The inside surface features a matrix of four interlocking nonstick layers, each of which contributes to the kitchenware’s long-lasting performance. Calphalon One Nonstick delivers perfect food release with even the stickiest foods. There is no need to use added fats when cooking with Calphalon One Nonstick and low-fat cooking is a breeze. By means of an exclusive anodization process the exterior surface of Caphalon One Nonstick cookware is infused with an advanced polymer that prevents staining so that clean-up is effortless, both inside and out. These pans have been my go to kitchenware set ever since I got a set last year.
The only difficult thing with them is that you can not use a dishwasher to clean. Just soap and hot water should get the trick done. In addition you must wait until the pans are cool before attempting to clean them. Cleaning them while they are hot can ruin the finish, so wait until they cool down. At first I thought this was going to be a real problem, but the surface on the Caphalon pans is so well designed that they literally take seconds to clean. I know it may seem to be a chore to hand clean these, but think of all the room you will save in your dishwasher. In fact because of this you probably will end up actually saving time.
The best thing about these pans is how little oil it takes to cook in them. This not only helps to keep your diet low fat, but keeps your kitchen appliances clean as well. I have never been able to cook an egg as well as I can with my Caphalon pans. Eggs come out absolutely perfect every time.
If you still are convinced enough to even take a look at a Caphalon set, the last point is how relatively inexpensive they are. You can get a full set of ten pans for a couple hundred dollars. While this is not cheap if taken care of this should be the last set of pots and pans you will ever need. Hopefully you take my advice and take a look at a set today.
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Porcelain Cast-Iron Cookware: Not An Oxymoron
Enameled Utensils
Porcelain cast-iron cookware is the offspring of metal alloy utensils and a porcelain glaze (also called a vitreous glaze). The resulting glaze give the sturdiness of bare cast-iron cookware, but without the complicated seasoning and cleaning process required to keep the pans from rusting away. There are even cooking grills made of porcelain cast-iron.
Modern porcelain cast-iron cookware can be used on any range and can even be cleaned in dishwashers instead of always by hand. Unlike bare cast-iron, porcelain cast-iron cookware can come in many colors other than black. You do need to be sure you don’t scrub porcelain cast-iron cookware with scratchy or harsh scrubbers, else they will chip or peel. Once they chip or peel, you really should throw them out.
What About Iron Poisoning?
There's been a lot of fuss made about aluminum cookware being partially responsible for Alzheimer's Disease. However, this has never been proven. But, it is this reason that a lot of people are looking at replacing all of their aluminum pots and pans with porcelain cast-iron cookware. And then people get scared hearing about the risks of iron poisoning with porcelain cast-iron cookware.
Not being able to eat or being able to eat properly cooked foods will certainly hurt you a lot faster than some iron leeching into your food. Again, it hasn’t been proven that you can get iron poisoning from porcelain cast-iron cookware that is NOT cracked or peeling. However, you need to eat a LOT of iron before your body starts showing signs of iron poisoning.
Signs of iron poisoning include bloody vomit or stool (never a good sign), abdominal pain, sudden lethargy and disorientation from dehydration. This means that they have ingested a large chunk of iron up to 6 hours previously. If any of these sign occur, don’t ignore it. Call an ambulance immediately. Usually, people who get iron poisoning have taken too many iron ferrous supplements as opposed to using porcelain cast-iron cookware.
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The Pros And Cons Of Cast-Iron Cookware For Camping
The Advantages
The main advantage of cast-iron cookware for camping is that it's very durable and doesn't topple over in a stiff wind (which we got a lot of in England). It also spreads heat out evenly and so you don’t have burnt food on the bottom and ice-cold sludge on the top. Another advantage is that cast-iron cookware for camping is fireproof. This is very important, because fire and hot coals are all you have to cook with. It's surprising how many people forget this.
Another tremendous advantage of cast-iron cookware for camping is that it makes a great self-defense weapon that you don’t need a license for. I swear I could deflect a bullet with my cast-iron frying pan found in the trash. Even when it rusted and I realized I couldn’t cook with it anymore, I still kept it just to smack intruders over the head. Unfortunately, living in a camp makes you more prone to people high on drugs. You need to smack first and ask questions later.
The Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of using cast-iron cookware for camping is a really big one hard to ignore – cast-iron is incredibly heavy. If you're hiking all over hill and dale, you have to have everything on your back. After a couple of miles in the afternoon sun, that cast-iron cookware for camping begins to feel like the proverbial albatross. If you are going to take a cast- iron cooking utensil, take ONE small pan and that's it. If however, you are an RV camper, then you can use a whole set of cast-iron cookware for camping and your back will be fine.
The other disadvantage of cast-iron cookware for camping is that it does not tolerate water well. This is not very helpful when you are stuck for a week in a downpour. When the tent starts leaking, you grab all of the pots and bowls you can to collect the leaks and keep it from spreading out all over your bedding. In this way, a cast-iron pot is helpful. However, it's ruined for cooking by the end of the storm.
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