When it comes to outfitting your kitchen with best professional cookware, you may naturally think about big-name consumer brands like All-Clad, Anolon, Le Creuset and Cuisinart, but you could be saving money by scrutiny out a different sector of the cookware scene for your cooking needs
When you’re equipping your kitchen with the best cookware, there are lots of advantages to buying a complete set. Firstly, a set can be much less expensive than buying each piece individually, so you’ll save money. Secondly, different types of cookware can behave in a different way on the stove. When all your cookware is the same, you’ll know how long it takes to heat up and how sensitive it is to change the temperature , Plus, having a set of cookware on the stove that looks the same is just more stylish. While that doesn’t affect cooking performance, it can affect the cook’s mood also.
When you’re choosing a set, it’s important to think about what you cook and how much you cook. A small frying pan may be perfect for a single person,but much less useful for a family. And if a set is almost perfect. But missing a piece, most manufacturers sell open stock cookware, so you can get that huge stock pot or grill pan that you’ve been coveting.
When you’re shopping, keep in mind that lids count as pieces, and some sets include inexpensive extras like spoons and spatulas that add to the piece count.
Quality cookware is at the heart of any serious cook’s kitchen. You need a variety of pots, pans, and casseroles, maybe even a few specialty items. Will a $500 set of cookware make your meals twice as tasty as a $300 set? Not necessarily. Here’s how to build the perfect cookery collection
Choose Your best professional cookware
If you’re building a set of a cookware from scratch, depending on how you cook and how many people you cook for, you will want an assortment of skillets and pots, a stockpot, and lids. In boxed sets, manufacturers count a lid as a piece, and it might fit more than one piece of cookware in the set. A set that contains more pieces might not be the smartest choice if you use only a few and the rest take up space in your cabinet. Note: Utensils and even a cookbook can count as pieces of a set.
Pick It Up
We all shop online, but it’s essential to handle the cookware at a retailer. See how it feels in your hand. If it’s heavy, think how much heavier it will feel when it’s full of food. Make sure that the handles are easy to grasp and that the pot or pan is well-balanced. Check that handle attachments are tight and sturdy. Read the packaging to see whether the cookware can be cleaned in a dishwasher.
Glass Lids
These allow you to see what’s going on inside the pot without having to lift it off, letting steam escape. But they add weight and can break, which could be a problem in a household with young kids.
From Stove to Oven
If the box says the cookware is oven-safe, be sure to check the specifics. What temperature can this cookware safely be used? Some cookware can be used in ovens set to 350°F, while others can withstand higher heat—up to 500°F.
With the right cookware set, you get all the pots and pans you need—often for the best price.
But a cookware set isn’t merely a cost-saver. It also helps you save on time and space. Unless you’re a gourmand, you may not know what pieces you need in the kitchen. A cookware set checks off the boxes, preventing you from cluttering your kitchen with random pots and pans you’ll rarely (or never) use. Plus, there’s no shopping around to find the best individual pieces. You simply buy the set and you’re done.
Cookware sets offer a lot of benefits, but there are some gotchas to be aware of to ensure you buy the best set for your needs. The cookware needs to be durable, heat your food evenly, and be easy to use and clean. Read on to learn more about what to look for at a cookware set and read reviews of our top picks.
