Articles in the Stainless Steel Category
Posted in Stainless Steel on 4 January 2009
Stainless Steel Cookware is perhaps the most popular and the most loved by people. So, why don’t we get into what makes stainless steel the best choice for making cookware sets. Stainless steel is actually an alloy that begins with iron and then 8 other alloys are added to the mix. Needless to say, the quality of stainless steel sets relies on what is added to this mix. There are many available low quality and very inexpensive cookware sets that are made of stainless steel however; these kinds of affordable cookware aren’t for you if you expect a lot from the cookware you use. Point is, people want high quality stuff to produce high quality results and a stainless steel pan that is prone to rusting is going make that cut. A simple test you can do to make sure that you are buying something up to standard is to bring a magnet with you the next time you decide on shopping for pans. The idea behind the test is simple; if the magnet sticks then it is a lower grade pan.
A lot of the high quality stainless steel cookware comes with a lifetime warranty. They are also scratch as well as dent resistant and very easy to maintain. Although a high quality pan of this kind can be a little heavy on the pockets, it will produce great results. So it is actually very important that you know what to look for as there are some stainless steel pots and pans that do no conduct heat very well and there are some that are subject to discoloration and pitting. Another thing that you should check for is the surface of the cookware. Make sure that it is very smooth and that there are no elements that would react to the food that you are going to cook in it.
Posted in Stainless Steel on 29 December 2008
Why opt for stainless steel for your cookware? First, the stainless feature guarantees that you no longer have to worry about scratching its surface because it will never lose its luster. These pieces are engineered to only require minimal heat that is either low to medium. Lifetime Stainless Cookware has a wide variety of pieces that are quite useful for everyday cooking or special occasions. Having stainless steel on all outer surfaces, they require minimal maintenance.
Astonishingly, lifetime stainless cookware has another feature for saving energy. These pieces can be stacked together while you are using stovetops. The material used in these pieces allows heat to travel quickly and evenly thereby cooking the food inside the pots or pans stacked on the first one. This saves energy as it reuses the heat. This also saves the time and solves the problem of having to wait until there is another burner available.
This particular feature is perfect when you are throwing a party and just don’t have the time to prepare early. You can just stack them up altogether and wait for the first viand to cook. However, it is best to remember where you placed everything as these can stack many pots and pans at one time. Being designed that way, the smaller pieces fit in the bigger ones that you never have to worry about storage.
The manufacturer is confident of their wares that they offer a lifetime guarantee. That means that you never have to buy, ever again and that truly is value for your money.
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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 Stainless Steel on 13 December 2008
Knowing your Stainless Steel
After the explosion of the safety issues involving Teflon coat in cookware, it is understandable that people preferred non-coated cookware. Stainless steel became the best option because of its exquisite qualities. Stainless steel is extremely durable and non-porous. It also has a smooth surface that is easy to maintain and would not lose its shiny quality. It is dent resistant and scratch proof that is why a lot of people rely on them. Most chefs are also confident with stainless steel cookware. The problem is which kind to choose from the extensive selection we can find in the market.
Knowing a bit more about this cookware would not hurt especially if you want to know which one works best for you, your kitchen and your lifestyle. First, for it to be considered stainless steel, the basic iron with 8 alloys added must contain at least 11 percent of chromium. It does not require added nickel to be considered stainless steel. Nickel, however, provides additional hardness, rust resistance and ease of polishing characteristics. This explains the 18/0 and 18/8 that we see on the packaging. 18/0 doesn’t have that high polish characteristics and in time can be subject to rusting. 18/8 on the other hand is the one fortified with nickel and is definitely better than pots and pans with chromium alone.
A simple way of testing if it has nickel is by simply putting magnet on it. If it has magnetic properties, it is 18/0 which is a lesser type of stainless steel.
With this little bit of information, you can identify which would give you value for your money. Investing in cookware is one of the most important decisions a homemaker has to make. 18/8 is the way to go for premium stainless steel cookware.
Price: $69.95
Price: $99.00
Price: $39.98
Price: $189.95
Posted in All Clad, Stainless Steel on 29 October 2008
How to choose the best?
Stainless steel cookware has been recommended by chefs and reviewers alike. It is safe to use and it requires minimal maintenance. It may need a little more fat than non-stick pans but its stainless feature stood the test of time by outliving other materials used for cookware. It is also quite versatile because it can be used for different heat sources.
What’s the best stainless cookware there is? There are many factors to consider when choosing the best stainless cookware for your kitchen. The first thing you have to consider is what kind of heat sources you are going to use the pots and pans with. For example, the handles being coated with material that impedes heat conduction may not last if used for oven cooking. Some stainless steel items facilitate forming fond while others impede them. There maybe other factors depending on what your kitchen lifestyle is. There are different kinds of stainless steel cookware. Stainless steel is only used for the outer layer of the pots and pans. The material in between is responsible for the heat-conducting properties your cookware may have.
Premium stainless steel cookware with both chromium and nickel, more commonly known as 18/8, have high polish characteristics and have more rust resisting properties. Not all stainless steel cookware is 18/8, people should expect poor polishing and development of rust from 18/0 stainless cookware. All-Clad Stainless has been cited as the most popular but it also happens to be the most expensive. It uses tri-ply bottom layer, which is engineered an aluminum core that reaches up to the sides of the pan. It still boils down to the budget. Others cost a lot that even if they have certain qualities, if you do not need those features, you may not find them worthwhile.
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