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There’s a reason why the kitchen is often said to be the heart of the home. If this idea feels true for you, then your cookware is one of the most important elements in your personal ecosystem. Without pots, pans, and the rest of your set, cooking up a storm would be near impossible, and if you care about the food you prepare, not just any set will do. In this article, we look at five things to consider when shopping for cookware.
Quality Over Quantity
If you’re looking to get established (or completely redo your kitchen), it can be easy to be enticed into buying things you don’t really need simply because they’re cheap and available. Rather than falling into this trap, focus on selecting quality sets that come from the best cookware brands. Realistically, most of us don’t need that many pots and pans, and by focusing on quality over quantity, you’ll end up with a far better kitchen lineup.
The Right Material for the Job
Another thing to consider is what material is best for the things that you commonly cook. A non-stick set is great for those who need a good all-rounder, and we do recommend that everyone has at least one non-stick pan. However, if you’re focused on flavor or potential health benefits, you may be better off investing in cast iron.
Those who want to easily go from stove to oven should consider stainless steel cookware as it’s great for nearly any food. It should be noted that when cooking with cast iron, stainless steel, or other full metal pots or pans, care should always be taken and hand protection such as an oven mitt is highly recommended.
The Type of Stove You Have
Possibly more important than the material you select is its compatibility with the type of stove you have in your kitchen. Only certain pieces of cookware, for example, will work with an induction stove, and you don’t want anything that has too many plastic parts if you’re dealing with open flame gas.
The Lids
An often overlooked component of your cookware that is actually quite vital to creating a delicious meal is the lids. Many recipes call for a lid to be placed over the top of your pot or pan, and if it doesn’t fit properly, you’re not going to get the best results. Lids are also great for speeding up the boiling process and keeping meats moist, so you should definitely look at getting at least some cookware that comes with a matching lid.
Your Kitchen Design
Finally, although not as important as our previous points, the design of your kitchen should also be considered when selecting your cookware.
With the popularity of open and hanging storage sky-rocketing, there is a decent chance that at least some of your cookware is going to be on display. This means that if you care about the way your kitchen looks (and let’s be honest, we all do on at least some level), then you’ll need to consider your overall design when purchasing cookware.
We’re not saying that absolutely everything has to match perfectly, but the overall look will be a lot nicer if things are at least complementary to each other.
Now that you know what to look for when purchasing your new cookware, it’s time to get out into the world and make your selection. Let us know in the comments what tasty treats you’ll be cooking up once you get your new pots and pans home!
