Articles in the Calphalon Category
Posted in All Clad, Calphalon, Circulon, Professional, Stainless Steel on 17 December 2008
Professional Cookware sets can come in a wide variety of styles, materials and sizes. In fact, contrary to what most people think, these professional sets are not just used in big restaurants or fancy hotels but in many households as well. This is because professional cookware sets as well as tools have become more readily available for mass consumption. The materials that are used in creating these professional cookware sets vary from copper, stainless steel to aluminum. But of course, when it comes to these kinds of cookware, the price is always what people consider first and foremost. Because let’s face it, these sets don’t come cheap. This is why a person has to first evaluate just how good his or her cooking skills are. You would not want to ruin an expensive pan, would you? So if you do not think your skills are all that good, then you should think twice about purchasing a professional set.
But for the people who are confident that they can handle professional cooking sets, you must be thinking about the things to consider when buying one. Well, the foremost thing you should check is the material that was used in creating it. The most expensive material would be copper but it is the best conductor of heat. However, copper can sometimes have chemical reactions towards certain foods that might produce harmful toxins. Another common material used is stainless steel which is also very good but in terms of heat conduction, it doesn’t perform as well as the copper ones. When you look at it, every material has its own pros and cons so it really depends on you and your requirement
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Posted in Calphalon on 17 November 2008
Calphalon Cookware is the name of a range of cooking products that is owned by the Newell Rubbermaid Company. They are well known for their nonstick surfaces which are different from the conventional ones because theirs are made out of anodized aluminum unlike the Teflon which is the most common material used as a coating for various nonstick pans. Calphalon Cookware has definitely increased in popularity especially since people are getting more and more familiar with the idea of nonstick cooking and the fact that one no longer needs to use oil is definitely very appealing to the more health conscious set. If you are wondering about what this anodized aluminum or hard-anodized aluminum is then you should know that what it refers to is the process used to harden the common aluminum, which basically makes the cookware more durable.
Calphalon’s cooking sets may claim that they are designed to be nonstick but as a consumer you should know that a product isn’t always perfect. With that said, you should also know about some of the steps that you have to do in order to maximize the non stick properties that Calphalon’s cooking sets offer. One of which is making sure that your frozen products have already thawed before you start cooking them. Another is the pre-heating of the pans on a medium heated stove. Remember to set in on medium and not high because the aluminum in the pans conducts heat easily. One to two minutes should be enough time for pre-heating. I’ve mentioned how conductive aluminum is, so you should also be reminded that when frying setting the heat to a medium is the most recommended so as to not end up with burnt food.
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Posted in Buying Guide, Calphalon on 29 October 2008
Aluminium
Aluminium is an excellent heat conductor but on it’s own it does tend to warp and give uneven heat. However, it is being increasingly used in ingenious ways to take advantage of its heat conducting properties. Both in Tri-ply cookware and the excellent SKK Premium range of products. These have a titanium base which is forty times harder than stainless steel and a non-stick surface. They are used by Delia Smith and have been described as the “best non stick pans ever” by the Independent newspaper. The only downside, and this depends on whether you are a purist or not, is that they are not dishwasher safe ( although they are very easy to clean) and can’t be used on induction hobs, although they will shortly be releasing a range which will
Cast Iron Cookware
Cast-iron cookware will last you a lifetime, probably remaining in good condition for your next generation too. It is an ideal heat conductor, and the saucepans and casseroles are coated with an enamel primer to seal rims. It can be used both on the hob and in the oven making it extremely versatile. The woks, grills and frying pans facilitate virtually fat-free cooking and are excellent for healthy low fat cooking, something we all need today. Food glides over it. It doesn’t warp and cleaning it is effortless and is dishwasher safe. For the frying pans etc to achieve optimum performance you may have to season it. Cast iron cookware has an excellent, heavy feel to it and with two of the leading brands, Le Creuset and Chasseur you have an range of colours to choose from to suit your kitchen. Whilst viewed as a more traditional product to fit traditional kitchens, a wider range of colours, including pink and kiwi, have recently been released.
Copper Cookware
Copper has been a favoured metal for cookware over the centuries. A remarkable heat conductor, copper utensils perform excellently, distributing heat evenly. They are durable, resisting denting and warping. However, they tend to react with acidic food if the coating is too thin. They may also get scratched or discoloured and it is not recommended that that they used in the dishwasher. But most of all, copper ensures quick cooking, and in comparison to cast-iron they are lighter to handle and are attractive to have hanging in the kitchen.
Stainless Steel Cookware
Extremely durable, good looking and easy to maintain, stainless steel cookware is dent and scratch resistant, and is safe to cook any kind of food. It is popular because it has an attractive smooth finish which comes in many styles including mirror finished and is easy to clean (most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe and many on the Blueshoots website has been approved by Finish) making it a favourite in many households. Although it might lose colour or become prone to pitting resulting from salt or brine exposure, it still holds water due to its non-porous quality. When looking to buy stainless steel cookware look for it to be manufactured with high quality heavy gauge stainless steel and to have hot forged bases with a good thickness between 5.5mm to 6.5mm which provide more even heat distribution. Any heavier and it can make the saucepan and frying pans too heavy and any lighter it is likely to warp. Key players within the stainless steel market are Stellar, Judge Vista and Meyer.
Tri-ply Cookware
Soft metals such as copper and aluminium are, in some cases, susceptible to tarnishing. To combat this, tri-ply cookware has recently come onto the market, making a significant impact. To put it simply, the whole pan is made with a sandwich of materials, with stainless steel on the inside and outside and either copper or aluminium sandwiched in the middle. This helps increase the durability of soft metals whist retaining their quality as superb heat conductor. In short, Tri-ply cookware heats the pan more quickly and retains the heat longer, so much so that in some instances the performance is so energy efficient that the heat source can be turned off before cooking is completed, making it very economic on the hob. In some instances, they are priced higher because of their superior functionality and appearance. Some of the key brands in this market are Le Creuset, Stellar Lamina, SKK and In-range
Hard Anodised Cookware
Non-stick interior, long lasting durability, ability to evenly spread heat across the base and safe to cook any kind of food, the advantages of hard-anodised cookware are plenty. Twice as strong as stainless steel, hard-anodisation process hardens the cookware structure, making it highly abrasion resistant. It is good looking, often oven safe and many ranges are suitable for induction cookers. Brands include Jamie Oliver, Analon, Stellar and In-range. Hard anodised cookware is one of the fastest growing cookware products today.
Each cookware type has its own set of benefits, ranging from heat retention, heat distribution to weight and their look and feel. Ultimately, good quality cookware will cost more than you standard day-to-day cookware, it will enhance the meal you are cooking, will be a pleasure to cook with and most likely easier to clean. Furthermore, with the increasing choice of cookware available, you now have a greater choice to buy the type of cookware that not only reflects your needs but also the style of your kitchen and what type of statement you wish to make. Manufacturer
By: blue shoot
About the Author:
Blue Shoots love our cooking at Blue Shoots Ltd and understand that to be a successful cook it helps to have the right cookware and kitchen accessories . As a specialist cookware shops it is our aim to bring you a wide selection of quality kitchen appliances and kitchen gadgets at online, affordable prices.