When choosing the best cookware for your kitchen, it’s important to consider the type of material best suited for your cooking style. Stainless steel is a great choice for home cooks because of its durability and heat conductivity, while nonstick is best for those who are not as comfortable in the kitchen. And Cast Iron and Enameled cast iron is a great option for those who want the best of both worlds! In this helpful guide to choosing cookware, I share my experience cooking with each product—plus a list of each product’s pros and cons—to help you cook well and comfortably at home.
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Choosing the proper cookware can be a big task when you want the best for your kitchen. You can choose from so many, but stainless steel, nonstick, cast iron, or enameled cast iron are the most common. While each type has its pros and cons, I truly believe that stainless steel is the best cookware as it can be used for everything!
Read on to learn the differences, as well as how to shop for the best pots and pans for you and how to take care of them!
When you’re figuring out exactly which cookware to choose, you can either choose each piece individually or buy a whole set:
My personal opinion is to start with the basics buying each piece individually and slowly building your collection over time. This allows you to start understanding your needs in the kitchen, including what types of foods you’ll be cooking and for how many people. For instance, if you are a household of two, you may not want or need to buy a 12-quart stock pot!
Cast iron skillet, stainless steel skillet, enameled cast iron skillet, non-stick skilletThis will depend on various factors. How often are you cooking with your cookware? Are you taking care of it properly and following best practices for cleaning and storage? In this instance, you truly get what you pay for!
Each material has a different way of caring for it, so make sure to follow best practices.
Click here for a video of how to take of and clean your cast iron skillet.
Now let’s look at the benefits of each type of cookware!
Stainless steel cookware is my personal favorite choice for any kitchen as it’s durable and can last for a very long time with proper care. It’s best used for searing, sautéing, and simmering. The best stainless-steel pots and pans are usually made of high-quality 18/10 stainless steel, which is a mix of 18% chromium and 10% nickel. This type of stainless steel has excellent heat conduction, doesn’t corrode or rust, and can also be used for cooking with high-acidic ingredients such as tomato sauce or citrus fruits without fear of leaching metal particles into your food.
Nonstick cookware is coated with a synthetic polymer or another type of material to prevent food from sticking during cooking. The best nonstick cookware is made of high-quality materials that are long-lasting, durable, and safe to use. These pans don’t require much oil or butter when cooking. The best nonstick pans are usually made of anodized aluminum or stainless steel. While nonstick cookware has its benefits, it can get scratched easily, which may lead to toxic chemicals leaching into the food.
Cast iron cookware is a classic choice for the kitchen. It’s made of a heavy metal that can easily conduct and retain heat, making it great for cooking foods evenly at high temperatures. It’s also incredibly durable, so you won’t have to replace your cast iron pots and pans often. This type of cookware requires semi-regular seasoning in order to prevent rusting, which can be done by coating the pan with oil and baking it for about an hour. Cast iron cookware is best used for searing food, as well as baking and slow cooking. Learn how to clean cast iron in a few easy steps!
Enameled cast iron cookware combines the best of both cast iron and porcelain. It is made from a heavy-duty metal that has been coated with an enamel layer of either glass or porcelain, which prevents the metal from reacting with certain foods while also providing a smooth surface for easy cleaning. This cookware can handle high temperatures; it’s best used for browning, baking, and slow cooking. It also doesn’t require as much seasoning or care as regular cast iron does, which makes it easier to use for beginner chefs.
Finally, when choosing the best cookware for your kitchen, it’s important to look into the best brands available. Each brand has a different range of cookware that best suits your needs. Do some research to find the best brand that can match your cooking style and budget. Here are some of our favorite cookware brands:
When choosing the best cookware for your kitchen, it’s important to consider the type of material best suited for your cooking style. Stainless steel is a great choice because of its durability and heat conductivity, while nonstick is best for those who are not comfortable in the kitchen. Cast Iron and Enameled cast iron is a great option for those who want the best of both worlds. Lastly, make sure to do your research and find the best cookware brand that best suits your needs and budget. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to have the best cookware for your kitchen!
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