Buying Stainless Cookware

Buying the perfect cookware for your kitchen isn’t something that should be done quickly or without forethought. You want to get the best possible items for the best price, and if you’re investing in quality cookware, you also want durability and ease of maintenance. I’ll tell you a little secret – there is no such thing as cookware that’s going to be absolutely perfect for all your needs.

The key is to find a set that comes as close to meeting all your culinary needs as possible that’s also in your budget.In my opinion stainless cookware offers a great deal to any kitchen. But not all stainless is created equal. If you look at the tag of any stainless steel pad you’ll see two numbers with a slash between them (18/10, for example). The first number indicates chromium content and the second number indicates nickel. The higher the second number, the more durable your pan will be (it will also be shinier). The 18/10 ratio is considered a good quality kitchen pan for home use.

Beyond the nickel content you want stainless pans that have a copper bottom and a solid metal handle. Stainless doesn’t conduct heat very well, so a copper bottom improves how well your pan will function, especially in terms of retaining heat. Note that just because you don’t see copper doesn’t mean it’s not there – some manufacturers put another layer of stainless over the copper so that the outside of the pan has a uniform appearance!Stainless resists corrosion, and it’s wonderfully easy to take care of. You never have to worry about stainless reacting with the acid content of your foods and leaving a metallic flavor. This is a purchase that will last you many many years, and could even become a keepsake.