Quality Family Cookware is Affordable – Celebrity Pots and Pans

Celebrity-endorsed cookware has hit the home front as affordable. If you’re thinking of the perfect gift for the culinary artist in your family, consider new cookware as that gift. New quality cookware will add sophistication and class to the family dining experience. Whether it’s Mother’s Day or Christmas, it’s the perfect year-round gift that will continue to give back to your entire family.

Cost is only one consideration when choosing the right cookware for a given purpose. Of course, celebrity-endorsed pots and pans aren’t always an indicator of quality—we also need to consider construction methods and materials. The aesthetic appearance of a good cookware is not always a guarantee of anything. The following should be noted.

Conduction and uniform distribution of heat

There are several types of materials used in the construction of pots and pans. Heat conduction qualities are the most important, and this is directly related to the materials used in the construction of cookware. The nine-point construction rule must be applied.

Copper is the best overall conductor of heat and is used as a primary (all copper) or secondary (bottom only) material of construction. Pots and pans made entirely of copper can be very expensive. All pure copper cookware is usually lined with stainless steel or enamel and porcelain. However, copper-clad options perform very well in heat conduction and distribution tests.

The best options are the following:

1). Copper-clad surgical stainless steel with non-stick cooking surface. I prefer a textured nonstick cooking surface for aesthetic reasons. This type of surface allows you to sauté, fry or steam foods using less oil or water. Food browns easily as heat distribution is even across the entire cooking surface.

two). Heavy Coated Cast Aluminum Cookware with Copper Clad Bottom is easily the second best choice in cookware. For aesthetic reasons, this cookware is coated with a resistant enamel. The enamel can be exterior, interior or both. Fully coated pots and pans are best because aluminum oxides can flavor delicate foods. Once again, heat distribution is excellent with this type of construction. Also, this glaze can come in many colors and patterns allowing you to choose something that you like and looks good on the table or stove.

3). Porcelain-coated high-strength cast aluminum is the third option. Once again, we have superior heat conduction and distribution capabilities. Both enamel and porcelain have a tight-grained surface that offers less porosity on the cooking surface. The less porous the surface, the less it will allow food to stick. Like Teflon, these surfaces are excellent and ensure a smooth cooking experience and easy clean-up afterward.

Waterless Surgical Stainless Steel Cookware

Waterless cookware is a great option for healthy food choices. They are made of surgical stainless steel with airtight lids. Lids are designed for stacked cooking on the stovetop or in the oven, and for easy storage in your cabinets/cupboards. Waterless cookware has many benefits and some drawbacks, these are as follows:

1) This type of cooking process eliminates or reduces the need for oils and fats. For those who have health issues like HDL/LDL cholesterol, this method of food preparation is a true problem solver.

two). Vegetables are always better when steamed rather than boiled. This system allows you to use little or no added water. In fact, you can cook using the natural water content of most foods. The food also maintains its natural and attractive color. Since we eat what catches our eye, there is no need to say more here. Essential vitamins and minerals are preserved by this method.

3). Because these cookware are designed for ‘stack cooking’, meaning the bottoms of the pots are made to fit inside one another, the system is inexpensive. Once something starts to cook on the bottom, it stacks another item on top to use the heat from the bottom cooking process. This works well when planned correctly. In some situations, the entire meal can be cooked on one stove burner. This can help defray the cost of purchase and save money over the life of the cookware.

4). Baking on the stovetop is possible with this type of cookware.

5). It is always best to clean these caps by hand. However, stainless steel cookware is very easy to clean as it also offers a tight-grained cooking surface.

This type of cookware is not for everyone. It is fundamentally different from the cooking we usually do. However, if healthy food is a necessity for you or a loved one, this option is a good solution. The only real drawback is the taste. In this process you are giving up flavors that come from frying in oils, sautéing vegetables, searing meats, etc. This is fundamentally a low temperature cooking process. Another drawback is the cost, although there are some economic aspects to the purchase, those savings do not come at the time of purchase.

Cook the old fashioned way

I am a traditional old school chef. Growing up our family used “Cast Iron Cookware”. I swore by this cookware and keep it today. The problem is breaking new pots and pans, which are not seasoned when bought from the store. There is a process you must use to properly season this cookware. It is also true that proper maintenance must be done so that the cookware stays seasoned. You should not clean them with soap and water. Simply wash them in warm water with a soft abrasive pad, just enough to remove the food. Washing should occur when the pans are hot from the stove. Then you must dry them in the flame of the stove or electric element. Once dry, lightly grease them to prevent them from rusting.

If economy is a consideration, this is the solution. Once cured and seasoned, these pans will last for hundreds of years. When seasoned properly, they also don’t stick together. I have cooked in these for many years and have had no problems with eggs or meats sticking to them when properly seasoned and cured.

Conclution

Kitchen utensils offer many options. As for celebrity cookware, I recommend “Emerilware” made from enamel-coated, heavy-gauge cast aluminum. The second option would be “Rocco Cookware”, again made from porcelain-coated heavy cast aluminum. For budget-friendly options on famous cookware, I recommend Martha Stewards’ “Everyday” Collection and Wolfgang Puck’s “Bistro” Collection. Since I came from Oklahoma, I’ll also recommend at least buying a good selection of “silicone cast iron” pans. Part them right, and you’ll pick them more often than most other pieces you have around the house. They just do a great job of cooking, and foods brown well in them.

Have fun cooking, I know I do!