Functionality and features in best cookware:
Choosing right cookware is often trials and errors and there are so many choices, and place to buy. Also there different review guides that tell you very different picks. How do you know what works right for you? Our review sites has done extensive research to bring you lot of useful information and guide to help you and final choice is rest on your own choice as no one knows best about your cooking style than yourself. These are the features we look for when we buy and review each cookware and kitchen products and this one article, also will help you pick right cookware pieces and set for you .
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Heat conductivity:
Various metal cookware materials can heat up very differently and will make difference in your cooking. Best heat conductivity means better Copper is the best heat conductor, followed by cast-iron and aluminum cookware. Copper tend be on expensive side to buy a whole set. You can always pick a one or few pieces and do mix and match. Cast iron is great heat conductor requires some work of seasoning and maintain.Choosing enamel cast iron can give you best of heat conductivity with no seasoning and maintaining it required. Stainless steel alone is not best heat conducting.
We like hard anodized material which is aluminum that has gone through a electrochemical process to make it harder so it has excellent heat conducting ability and non-stick surface without the chemical coating. Our other choice is multi-ply or all-clad material cookware are combined with several material to boost its heat conductivity, mainly on stainless steel with copper and aluminum inner core, that will not require extra work to maintain that of copper or non-stick.
See Our Reviews of Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
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Retaining heat:
Heat conductivity is great but if your cookware loses its heat, that will not benefit the cooking process. Some metal tend to lose heat more quicker compared to other metals. Bare cast iron and enamel based cast iron are good heat conductor and can retain heat for long time, even after you take it off from stove top. Stainless steel can heat much longer than aluminum cookware.
We like Enamel cast iron best for retaining heat and no extra seasoning and maintaining work. Also all-clad material made with stainless steel with copper inner core also gives benefit of heat conductivity and long heat retaining ability from stainless steel material.
See our review of Calphalon Tri-Ply Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set
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Cooking Surface:
There are several type of cooking surface to consider when you are looking to buy a best cookware that many things in one. For example, making crepe or omelet on stainless steel is impossible as it will stick to the bottom, ruining not only your cooked food but maybe your stainless steel pan in cleaning process. Non-stick or hard anodized surface works best for shallow frying food as food does not stick to the bottom and you will not need to use extra butter or oil to cook in it, making it much healthier food choices. Anodized surface best with low and medium heat cooking.
Bare cast iron and enamel coated cast iron material also works like a non-stick cooking surface. Cast iron will require regular seasoning and maintenance but enamel coated cast iron works with out extra work, but do not deep fry food in it.
See our review of Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10- and 12-Inch Omelet Pans, Set of 2
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Cookware lids:
Many cookware such as frying pan will not require a lid, however many cookware can cook better and faster in its own steam such as making a sauce or cooking rice in saucepan. Some will require loose fitting lid and while other cookware such as double boiler and sauce pan will cook best when they have tight fitting lids to retain heat and steam but also have a small hole on top to escape little steam as not to build up pressure on you cookware. (Build up pressure can blow your lid off!)
See our review of Emerilware Pro Clad Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 12-Piece Cookware Set
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Cookware handles:
Many of us do not think to look for handles when buying a product, but it makes a huge difference on ease of holding, are they tightly secured and does not come off after some use. Long narrow, thin and easy grip handles that are cool to touch during cooking are the best in our opinion. Also look for handles that does not come off easily are molded, followed by riveted, welded or last comes screwed on handles.
See our review of Rachel Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange
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Easy cleaning:
It is not fun to cook in a best cookware, if cleaning up process is complex and time consuming. Is your cookware dishwasher safe or easily clean with water and sponge. Most stainless steel and hard anodized cookware are easiest to clean in dishwasher. Other cookware might be easy enough to wash with little water and mild soap. Cast iron and copper may require little more hands on work to clean, maintain and polish it.
See our review of Calphalon Commercial 13-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set
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Budget:
If you choose the perfect cookware set, only to find that out of your budget can be disheartening. We know we have been there. Find the right budget for you, before you pick your kitchen cookware. Buy the best quality cookware (not necessary the most expensive ones) as some cookware can last your 10, 20 or even more years!. I have a small cherished copper pan in my kitchen from my grandmother’s time, not only it cooks great still but has a lot of memories too. Maybe you like to pass some cookware on to your child if the piece is strongly built.
Good news is you can buy a good quality cookware without spending fortune nowadays. Look for special deals and sales offer for additional savings.
See our review of best value Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
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Customer service and help:
In most cases, you will not need to call for customer services and other product issues once your product is delivered. However it is always great to work with a company where you get to talk to live customer service representatives, who are knowledgeable and helpful. Once we had call customer service to replace a one sauce pan, 5 years after the purchase and our warranty had expired. We could find the replacement information anywhere and did not want to purchase whole set again. We did have any exception but when we called the original company we purchased online from, they were very helpful trying to locate exact our product for us and were able to give us small discount for being loyal customer. It can’t hurt to ask.
See our review of Worlds Finest 7Ply Steam Control 17pc Surgical Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware Set
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Warranty:
Cookware warranties are great, just in case your cookware needs have issues or need replacement. Some products have a limited warranty and some products have lifetime warranty. All-Clad, Le Creuset and a few other brands offers lifetime warranties on their products, sure their products are expensive but the companies stand behind their products and gives you 100% gaurrenties and life time warranty.
See our review of life time replacement product Le Creuset 5 1/2 Quart Round French Oven
Conclusion:
As you can see there are lot of things we look for when we buy products for ourselves or when we do reviews. Figure out what works and suits for your budget, and lifestyle before buying a single cookware or whole set.