Cooking: High Quality Cookware

I like to cook. Because I do I like to buy professional kitchen cookware sets. My very favorite set is my LeCreuset. It’s enameled cast iron. It’s very heavy cookware, and certainly not everyone would want to cook with it, but then I don’t like lightweight aluminum pots and pans. I prefer my LeCreuset because I think that the outside enamel remains good looking, whereas some aluminum and stainless pots and pans have finishes that are easily scratched. Luckily if you’re in the market for professional cookware you have a lot to choose from.

Most cookware manufacturers such as All Clad, Cuisinart, Viking, Calphalon, Kuhn Rikon, Chantal and Mauviel all make a variety of cookware of differing quality. Mauviel is known for their copper cookware. They also have a line of 7-ply cookware. This cookware has an aluminum core for excellent heat conductivity. It has a durable brushed stainless steel surface on the inside and a highly polished stainless steel surface on the outside. Viking professional cookware has a multi-ply construction. It’s a combination of aluminum alloys and stainless steel which Viking says will give “lifetime performance, durability, easy cleanup and quick even heating”. What sets these pots apart are their ergonomic stainless steel handles and extra large lids.

Another popular cookware manufacturer is Demeyere. Demeyere has a line of induction cookware, something new to a lot of cooks and very expensive. These induction pots and pans have 7-ply construction and use materials that limit heat to 250 degrees celsius. This can actually prevent many foods from burning.

A much more easily affordable quality cookware set is All Clad. They offer several different types of cookware, the All Clad Copper Core and the All Clad Master-Chef 2. The Culinary Institute of America also has a cookware set out called the CIA Masters Collection. It was designed by the certified master chefs at the CIA. It has a 7-clad construction and a copper core.

The professional cookware sets that we’ve mentioned above range in price from $1900 to $600 for a 10-piece set. Most of them offer multi-ply, and, as in the case of CIA and Demeyere, 7-ply. Most have copper cores, aluminum interiors and stainless steel exteriors. So how do you choose?

The way most people choose is money and appearance. My suggestion would be to buy one pot, or pan if possible before you buy an entire set. That way you can use the cookware and see if you really like it before you commit to it.

Learn about professional grade cookware and other cookware choices at busy-kitchen.com

Going off to college or leaving home for the first time can be exciting and scary. Part of leaving home for the first time includes no longer having mom to cook those great homemade meals. You might not be able to cook like your mom right away but you can at least make sure you have all of the stuff you need to imitate her cooking. Even if you just plan on eating spaghetti, mac and cheese and top Ramen most of the time, there are still a couple of basic things you need just to make those things.

Pots and pans- Pots and pans are the most essential things you need to have in your kitchen, even if it’s just to make pasta and macaroni. Start with a stockpot for spaghetti, a large saucepan will also work if you aren’t cooking for a lot of people. A large saucepan is essential if you want to make pasta in it so get at least a 2.5 quart. This will still be a little small but you can work with it. Also make sure you get a smaller saucepan to reheat that sauce or to make that top ramen in.
Next you need a skillet or two. I prefer to have one smaller one to make eggs or a grilled cheese sandwich in, but you also want a larger one that you can brown meat in or sauté stuff in.

Bakeware- Everyone needs a cookie sheet even if you don’t plan on making cookies. You can make garlic bread on it, broil hot dogs or a frozen dinner. You also should plan on getting a 9×12 casserole dish. You can make all sorts of things in it and you never know when it will come in handy.

Cooking Utensils and serving utensils- The next thing your kitchen needs are some utensils you can cook with. You will need a wooden spoon, silicone spatula, pasta fork, and a ladle. The wooden spoon and spatula will help you stir the food while you are cooking it. You can easily find a pack with a few of these things together at a superstore like target or Walmart or at a store that sells lots of kitchen products like Bed, Bath and Beyond.

While these things are just the basics, they will be a good foundation to start off with. As you get more familiar with the kitchen you can add stuff as you go along or eventually get a cookware set that will have all the stuff you need.

K Tanner loves cooking and learning how to make new recipes. She realizes the importance of having good cookware from things like a silicon spatula to stainless steel cookware.

Here’s a little secret about cooking – it’s a lot easier if you have the right ingredients and the right equipment. The ingredients are a given – fresh, quality produce will always help make the meal. However, many people overlook the important role that quality cookware plays in helping to make the dish go from good to great, or tasty to delicious.

Here are five things to consider before judging your cooking unfairly…

1. Do you have enough of the right saucepans? – Find out what you need for the things you’re likely to cook with them. Speak to sales assistants or read reviews online – either way, make sure you have enough of the pans that will become your tools in the kitchen. For instance – Are they the right size for how many people you’ll be cooking for?

2. Has your existing cookware seen better days? – It’s amazing how much impact a misshapen pan, tray or dish can have on cooking. Not only can it lead to uneven cooking, but it can also put you off wanting to cook certain things. It’s well worth reviewing your cookware from time to time to see if it’s in need of an upgrade.

3. Have you considered a pressure cooker? – Although more expensive than simply upgrading your pots and pans, you’re enthusiasm for cooking is likely to get a big boost from this new addition to your kitchen. It cooks quicker and retains both flavour and nutrients. If you need to spend more time with the family or need to be able to cook quickly when you get home from work, then a pressure cooker could be the most important thing you buy for yourself.

4. How good are your knives? – Not only is it incredibly frustrating to cook with knives that don’t do their job, but you’re also missing out on the ability to make the cuts you want precisely. No matter what you’re cutting – be it vegetables, meat or even cake – a quality set of knives will make your life easier and, what’s more, they’ll last you a very long time.

5. Will your cookware last you a long time? – Cheap cookware is cheap for a reason… because it won’t last. You’re going to be using your equipment often, so if you want cookware that lasts for years rather than months, make it a worthwhile investment. Find a leading kitchenware brand, invest in a cookware set that will last and you’ll save much more money in the long-term.

You can find all the leading brands at Kitchenwarexpress.co.uk – from Prestige cookware to Anolon cookware, to Circulon Pans and Meyer Saucepans. Why not make the upgrade in your kitchen and see the remarkable difference it makes to your cooking experience and the dishes you make.