The Cookware HeadQuarters
Best Cookware Reviews and Consumer Guide
Cookware Material Guide
Published July 27, 2011Here we will look at the various type of cookware materials, its advantages and disadvantages with our recommendations. We will look at the following cookware material
- Cast iron
- Copper
- Non-Stick
- Stainless Steel
- Hard anodized
- Multi-ply or Clad
- Carbon Steel
- Enamel coated cast iron
- Enamel over steel
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Cast Iron
Cast Iron can withheld high heating that makes it not only great for stove top cooking but also oven baking too. Cast Iron cookware are slow to heat up but once it hot, it holds its heat for longer period and great for even cooking. Cast Iron pans are great for searing and outdoor cooking as it holds heat better even if outside temperature fluctuates. If you season your cast iron pan, it can work almost like non-stick pan without chemical coating. It is not easy to maintain cookware though,… Continue reading
Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10- and 12-Inch Omelet Pans, Set of 2
Published July 26, 2011Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10- and 12-Inch Omelet Pans, Set of 2
Calphalon makes a great quality products and this set is no exception. The 10 Inch and 12 Inch Omelets are a perfect size to be addition to every kitchen as these are of two the most used pans by professional or home cooks. These skillets have sloped sides so that foods slide out easily. This is best used for cooking omelets, pancakes, quesadillas, sauteing vegetables, searing steaks, fish and poultry.
Like all Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick cookware, the pans feature exclusive heavy-gauge, hard-anodized aluminum exteriors with nonstick interiors for fast, even heating (no hot spots to worry about). In addition, the cookware provides riveted handles that stay cool to the touch, thanks in part to the heat-diffusing V-shape where the handle attaches to the pan.
The cookware can withstand… Continue reading
What is Anodized Cookware?
Published July 20, 2011Hard Anodized Cookware
What is hard-anodized cookware? Hard anodized is basically, metal pots and pans made from electrochemically process to make aluminum harder. Anodized material is significantly longer lasting than most non-stick cookware. It works and feels like non stick with out the coating that can peel, and it is stronger than stainless steel and durable. It is also highly resistant to scratches and rusts. It is used for not only stove top cooking but also electronic cookware such as griddle, woks and waffle maker. Also, one can use metal spatula without worrying about losing its non-stick surface and it is non reactive to acidic food.
Advantages:
- Good heat conductor
- Non stick surface without chemical coating
- Strong and long lasting
- Can use metal spoons, spatula without worrying about peeling (No Sharp metal objects)
- Will not rust or scratches
- Non… Continue reading
How to clean bare cast iron cookware
Published July 3, 2011Using newly seasoned cast iron cookware:
Make sure you first season a cast ironpan before using it properly. Once the cast iron seasoned it will be fairly black and glossy like non-stick surface. Keep using a little oil in the beginning during cooking until it becomes fully seasoned. If your bare cast iron does not have wood or rubber handle bar, do not forget to use kitchen towels to hold the pan, as it can get super hot!
Important note: This seasoning technique is bare Cast Iron, if you have Enamel Coated Cast Iron cookware, it will not need special cleaning like bare cast iron.
How to clean cast iron cookware?
Bare cast iron cookware can not be washed or cleaned in dishwasher as the process can remove and damage the seasoning the cast iron pan has.
10 Steps to Season Your Cast Iron Cookware
Published June 13, 2011How to season your carbon steel Wok?
Best traditional woks are made of carbon steel material. What is a carbon steel? Carbon steel is usually rolled or hammered into tiny thin sheets of material. Material supposed to be strong and holds heat well enough. Hand hammered and double to triple ply woks are generally best quality.
Important note: This seasoning technique is bare Cast Iron, if you have Enamel Coated Cast Iron cookware, it will not need seasoning.
Step 1:
Wash the wok in hot water with mild detergent soap with a sponge.
Step 2:
Scrub the exterior with scrubber but do not use anything abrasive inside the wok pan.
Step 3:
Rinse the wok in water and dry it completely with a dish towel.
Step 4:
Place the wok on high heat stove top.
Step 5:
Turn… Continue reading
What is Dutch Oven and How to Use Dutch Oven?
Published June 4, 2011Dutch ovens are one of oldest cooking pots since late 1600s . The early Dutch people used dry sand to make their molds, giving their pots a smoother surface and pots were so great for slow cooking. Around early 1700s an Englishman named Abraham Darby decided to observe the Dutch system for making these cooking pot and later he patented a casting procedure similar to the Dutch process and began to produce cast metal cooking vessels for Britain and her new American Colonies. The cookware started being known as dutch oven in USA but is also known as french oven or casserole ovens in other part of world.
Dutch ovens are best suited for long, slow cooking, such as in making roasts, stews, and casseroles. Some dutch oven are used for camping and modern dutch ovens are designed to be… Continue reading
Frequently Asked Cookware Questions and Answers
Published May 31, 2011Here are some of the questions and answers that may help you with understanding cooking and product terminology much better. If you have any questions, please write to us via contact form. Our team will try our best to publish right answer right here for you. We try our best to answer our reader’s questions as often as we can. Feel free to ask on comments or via contact form.
How to clean your non-stick pans?
You can hand wash the non-stick pan using mild dish soap and soft sponge. Wait until pan is cooled off before washing. If your pan is not made of anodized aluminimum, it can be placed in dish washer to clean. To remove any stuck-on food, use a soft plastic scrub-brush or sponge and a gentle and mild soap.
Can I put Le Creuset in… Continue reading
Rachel Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange
Published April 21, 2011Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange
This Rachel Ray 10-pc. Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, Orange cookware from Rachel Ray of 30 minutes meal show from Food TV, offers a set is an great value, including all of the pots and pans needed to to cook in your kitchen for daily meals. The set contains most basic pieces that every cook will have to use everyday cooking. It includes saucepans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal breakfast. The big stockpot is goof for soups, stews or boiling pasta. Most used cookware skillets great for pancake, and omelets. This set is hard Anodized set works like a non-stick cookware without the chemical Teflon coating.
Rachael Ray cookware comes in many colors and this orange color cookware, first enchants the eye before one can even… Continue reading
Calphalon Commercial 13-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set
Published April 21, 2011Calphalon 13-pc. Commercial Hard-Anodized Cookware Set
You can update your kitchen with this great looking cookware set from Calphalon called Calphalon 13-pc. Commercial Hard-Anodized Cookware Set. The charcoal-gray matte finish of the Commercial Hard-Anodized series not only looks sophisticated but is impressive in performance: Pan from this set can sears meats over medium heat, cooks evenly, and stays stick-resistant without having a nonstick finish that can eventually peel. Moreover, hard-anodized pots and pans are safe to use with metal utensils and under the broiler. Riveted on for strength, the stainless-steel long handles stay cool during stovetop cooking and are oven-safe and lids are oven safe as well.Heavy-gauge aluminum is responsive to temperature changes. These pans feature the original Calphalon hard anodized surface, which is non stick without the Teflon coating and worry about the peeling. You do… Continue readingLodge Color Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
Published April 21, 2011Lodge Color 6-Quart Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red
Lodge Color is one of the newest lines from this respected American cast iron cookware company. This Lodge 6-qt. Enameled Color Enamel Round Dutch Oven, Red traditionally shaped and more affordable than some European brands, Lodge Color enameled cast iron is just as durable, requires no seasoning, and attractively serves at the table.
Lodge infuses this 6-quart Dutch oven with two coats of hard-as-nails porcelain enamel, in a choice of several bright colors that are gradated (dark to light) on the exterior, and which are nicely set off by a cream interior. It is oven-safe to 400 degrees F, so you can start a stew or casserole on the stove top and finish by baking it in the oven.
Lodge makes quality products and this is no exception, this 6 Qt enamel… Continue reading
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