KITCHEN COOKWARE

Buying Cookware
Whether you are setting up your first home or going for a more professional look to best show your fabulous cooking, a guide that helps you decide on the right cookware:

Materials
After capacity, one of the prime factors in deciding what cookware best suits your needs will be what material it is made from. Cookware sets are intended for all-purpose use. That’s why it is important to buy one made of materials you can subject to a variety of cooking methods. To help you out, below is a list of the various materials:

Aluminium

Stainless steel
is the most versatile material - it doesn’t pit or corrode and doesn’t react with acidic or alkaline ingredients. Of the finishes, it is probably the least best conductor of heat. If you can, go for pieces that come with a good heat-conducting feature such as an aluminium core or a thick, aluminium or copper disk at the bottom of the pan.

Non-stick
saucepans come in handy for preparing simple foods like vegetables, for re-heating foods like soup and especially for sticky foods like oatmeal or rice. These pans don’t respond quite so well to heat as other pans but are great for day to day use because they are so easy to clean. They are not recommended for fine sauces. A pot or pan is made non-stick through the use of materials such as Teflon or Xylan.

Enamel on Exterior Base

Encapsulated Base

Hard anodised heavy gauge
This is also a good conductor of heat, but the added weight helps it keep its shape.

Enamel cast iron (i.e.: le Creuset)
Cast iron’s heavy weight gives it many advantages:

• Requires only low to medium heat for perfect cooking performance
• Pots retain heat for a long time keeping food hot for serving (and seconds!)
• Spreads heat evenly – the sides of the dish cook as well as the base
• Keeps it’s shape so maintains a flat, steady base
• Is very hygienic

Features

Capacity
Note that all capacities stated are done so measured to the brim, and are approximate.
Easy-pour lids
Ability to pour contents of the pot using the lid in it’s normal position. Eliminates the need to juggle the lid in just the right place.
Phenolic handles and knobs
Thermo-spot
A feature for the Tefal range is a red spot in the middle of the pan base. The spot is a visual heat indicator in the centre of the pan that signals when the pan is perfectly heated and ready to use. The spot is made up of fine lines which disappear when it is ready to go.
Xylan Interior
Use of Xylan means the pot or pan is non-stick.

Hob compatibility
The heat source and design used on your hob may be one of many – electric, gas, ceramic, halogen, induction or solid hotplate. Not all materials are compatible for use on all cooker-tops. Look in the product detail for notes on each individual product’s compatibility with the various hobs. If you have a ceramic hob, it is recommended you refer to the instructions and recommendations of the manufacturer before you purchase your cookware.

Dishwasher, microwave and dishwasher compatibility
Some materials are more dishwasher, microwave and/or freezer friendly than others. Again, look in the product detail for notes on each individual products compatibility with these kitchen appliances.

Using your cookware in one of these machines when it is not compatible may lead to breakages or a shorter life than is expected.

DON'T FORGET
Once you have your new cookware – storage could be an issue.

And don’t forget the accessories. Some cookware finishes require special utensils – for example never use metal utensils on non-stick finishes, as any scratches will kill the non-stick properties of the piece