Cookware Choices Are Vital to Great Results - Each Recipe Has Its Own Needs

You've finally decided on what to cook for dinner. You are ready to start except for one thing - selecting the cookware you are going to use. When you started out, there may have only been one choice and if the food fit the pan you were good to go. But now there are more choices, and selecting the right item can make a big difference in the results you put on the table.

Today we have a lot more choices when it comes to cookware. There are pots and pans of all sizes as well as materials - stainless steel, enameled cast iron, copper, ceramic, aluminum, non stick. There are several reasons why different materials are used. Are you going to fry, sauté, slow simmer, make soup, bake macaroni and cheese or finish a sauce. Each one of these turns out better when you choose the right cookware product.

But there is also one not so obvious reason, that food looks and tastes better when cooked with a certain type of cookware. It may sound obvious, but you have to understand that food will make contact with your cookware. There will be a certain synergy and it's up to you to make sure that it works for the cookware and the food.

Copper cookware works exceptionally well for recipes that require you to accurately control the temperature for the recipe such as delicate sauces or sugar based deserts. Plus, because copper is so heat efficient, you can cook food at a lower temperature - no burnt chili beans or pot roast on the bottom of your pot. Never turn your stove top control knobs to high. Great results with lower heat!

Have you ever tried to make caramel without a cooper pan? Did it turn into a rock when you reached for a spoon? For centuries restaurant and home chefs have had at least one copper pan in their kitchen arsenal for these special recipes.

Nonstick cookware works best if you're trying to loose those extra 10 pounds. Low fat or no oil cooking will make your favorite recipes healthier. Perfect eggs can easily be achieved; chicken and fish turn out moist and tasty; and pancakes love non stick grills. Of course, the obvious advantage of non stick is how easily it cleans up. There is also new technology in non stick cookware that answers recent health concerns. Try it!

If you're cooking a cut of meat that requires several hours to tenderize or if you just want to speed up the cooking process for a quick dinner a pressure cooker is a must for your kitchen. It will save you time and be energy efficient. 21st century designs have made these cooking workhorses sleek, safe and user friendly.

Stainless steel cookware is so versatile one sauté or fry pan can be used to sear chicken breasts, cook a frittata, stir fry veggies, or roast nuts. 11 inch stainless steel skillets far outsell all other cookware pans because they can be used for so many dishes. Stainless is a good choice when starting a recipe on the stove top and then finishing in the oven. Quality stainless steel should last a life time.

Enameled cast iron cookware can do almost every kitchen job, but it really shines when you're baking, roasting, or long slow simmering. Your grandmother surely had a black cast iron pot that need "seasoning" and special care to keep it from rusting. She was willing to do this because she loved her pot. But with enameled cast iron that's not necessary. You get the same great results without the need to "season" and it's a lot easier to clean. With a variety of great colors you can match your cookware to your kitchen.

Learning cooking basics is not a lifelong process, but great results takes a little more time, effort and the right equipment. Knowing what to use is half the battle.

Browse a wide selection of Cookware at Your Smart Kitchen

The online location for quality cookware, bakeware, cutlery, appliances and related kitchenware. Quality products at reasonable prices with customer satisfaction guaranteed. Specializing in Paderno, Mauviel, Chasseur, Fissler, Swiss Diamond, Romertopf, Kaiser, DeLonghi and other quality brands.

Terry Retter

10 Signs You Need New Kitchen Cookware.

By M James

If you're currently putting up with kitchen cookware and saucepans that have seen better days then perhaps you're coming round to the idea that you should replace them.

Here's why you should.

1. Perhaps some of your cookware is a bit dangerous, such as if you have a saucepan with a loose handle, then you might struggle to drain pans of boiling water, or to carry food from the kitchen to the table.

2. You might find that your cookware is no longer suitable for your needs. You might want new baking trays, or a stockpot for making soups and for pasta and rice dishes.

3. Modern technology means that newer pans and cookware is more efficient at cooking than ever before. This means that your food will be cooked sooner, and so cooking will take less time.

4. Another benefit of efficient cookware is that it uses less energy. This is much better for the environment and will also save you money on your energy bill.

5. You might want to have new coloured cookware to match your kitchen décor, or to go with your pans, or your kettle. Why should all your cookware be boring?

6. Your old baking trays might have warped a bit, your frying pan might have lost its non stick coating and you might have lost a lid. Struggling with broken or poor products will make cooking harder.

7. Maybe you're enjoying cooking more than you used to, and are cooking more often, and perhaps entertaining friends and family. You might want to have more pans so that you can cook bigger and better meals and show off your talents

8. Perhaps you want to get your children involved in the cooking, so that they can help, and know why it's important to eat meals made with fresh and nutritious ingredients. By using good quality cookware, you'll be able to keep more of the vital nutrients and vitamins in your meals.

9. You might be fed up of cooking ready meals or living off takeaways because your pans and other cookware isn't suitable. Perhaps you inherited it when you moved house, or perhaps you use a shared kitchen in a student home.

10. It could be that your family has expanded, and that you need bigger pans and cookware, so that everyone can sit down for meals at the same time.

Now you know more about why you might need it, perhaps now is the time to replace your kitchen cookware.

Discover a wide range of Kitchen Cookware including saucepans from the leading brands, such as Circulon Pans, Prestige, Analon and more, as well as everything else you need for your kitchen, at KitchenwareXpress.co.uk today. If you enjoy cooking, make sure you've got the right kitchenware.

A Stainless Steel Kitchen Counter Top Or Stainless Steel Backsplash

By Vera Sang Platinum Quality Author


A stainless steel kitchen countertop or stainless steel backsplash tend to make a room look more spacious and bright which is why they are well suited for kitchens of any size, especially small ones. Stainless steel complements and matches pretty much any color scheme or kitchen design you may have. With qualities like corrosion resistance and its durability stainless steel is not only a stylish choice it is also a very practical choice for a kitchen counter top surface. Stainless steel when used for a kitchen counter top or backsplash, whether for just a section or for the entire counter, can give any kitchen a look of upscale sophistication. Of course stainless steel has its pros and cons and it depends on your own personal preferences and lifestyle whether or not it really is the choice for you.

Starting with restaurants and commercial kitchens stainless steel kitchen countertops began to appeal to homeowners, who have chosen it to spice up their kitchen decorating and designs. Stainless steel proved its durability with these original uses and other qualities that are desirable in any kitchen. One is the stain resistance that it offers, it is virtually impossible to stain it, hence its name. For food preparation areas stainless steels anti bacterial qualities also can not be beat, any harmful bacteria can be removed with ease.

Most importantly stainless steel kitchen counter tops won't rust, fade, chip, or stain. They are not only durable, but heat-proof, completely water-proof, and resistant to gouging and denting. Also, a stainless steel countertop is easily serviceable in case deep scratches or dents that are major occur.

The fact is that in todays kitchens there are a lot of metal surfaces exposed on appliances and trim, what better to complement it with than a stainless steel backsplash or counter top. This is one of the reasons why stainless steel as a backsplash or counter top have become so popular, they look so good. It is not cheap however, so If your counter top area is large and you plan to use stainless steel it can get quite expensive. This is why one cost cutting way of adding the sleekness of a stainless steel countertop to a kitchen, that homeowners choose, is to mix and match stainless steel with different materials or ones that are not quite as expensive. This is very effective with stainless steel backsplashes. As an example some choose a countertop surface theme using using materials like laminate or granite, for instance, and only have the area around the sink or stove done with a stainless steel counter top.

Now on the down side a stainles steel kitchen counter top, when worked on, can be noisy. This can be minimized by purchasing a better grade and higher gauge of stainless steel. The grade is determined by the chromium and nickel content, the higher this content is the higher the grade, home stainless steel counter tops should be fabricated with 304 stainless steel. The thickness should be a 16 gauge stainless steel which is primarily used for residential stainless steel countertops while lower 14 and 12 gauge are used for industrial applications. It is worth it to buy quality stainless steel. A better grade and higher gauge will not only minimize noise but, also have better stain and corrosion resistance properties.

For all practical reasons and stainless steel is a practical countertop material choice, when quality is purchased and cared for properly you can bring a long lasting, durable and almost maintenance free contemporary and sophisticed warmth to your kitchen with the addition of a stainless steel backsplash and a stainless steel kitchen counter top.

All About Stainless Steel Sinks

By Valerie H Low


Nowadays, stainless steel sinks are definitely the most popular sinks used. They have been a fixture in kitchens for many decades. Buyers expect high quality from their kitchen sinks. It is important to know how to choose the right stainless steel sink and makes sure it suits your needs so you will know it can last for a long time. It is also perfect if you want your kitchen to have a professional look.

Here are some important factors to look for when you are shopping for a stainless steel sink for your kitchens.

One of the differences among all the stainless steel sinks is the gauze size. The gauge size is the thickness of the metal. The higher the gauze size, the thicker the sink, the higher the quality of the sink is as it is tougher and more durable. We use our kitchen sinks every day to wash dishes, prepare and clean food. Durability and ease of use are extremely important. It is better to choose a kitchen sink with higher gauze size. Thin sinks are easier to be dented or damaged. They also create more noise. On the other hand, thick sinks produce almost no noise at all. The recommended gauge size for house kitchens is between 18 to 20 gauges.

The other important thing to keep in mind when choosing your stainless steel sink is to make sure the metal contains nickel and chrome. Nickel is added to prevent corrosion and chrome is added to increase the strength of the metal. 10% of nickel and 18% of chrome is the recommended composition. It is not recommended to buy sinks that are glossed because those type of metals do not have the correct mixture of those two elements. They might look good at the beginning but it is not good for the long run.

As far as style and installation, it is important to know what kind of stainless steel sink you want. Here are the different types: apron front, undermount, 15mm radius, zero radius, single bowl, double bowl, etc.