Cookware sets - essential tools for every chef

The material you choose to cook your food in can make a very big difference in time and flavor. The rate at which material conducts heat not only determines how long it will take to cook your food, but also how the food will actually taste. Cooking is really only part of the story, your cookware, meaning pots and pans needs to look good and feel good. No body likes cooking with ugly pots. They are if fact the most important part of your kitchen decor and accessories.

Stainless Steel Cookware (best choice)
Stainless steel pots and pans, look and cook food the best. They can also enhance the look of your kitchen. Hanging on a pot rack this cookware is almost like adding more kitchen decor. Stainless steel cookware is easy to care for, exceptionally durable and light, it won't corrode or tarnish and its nonporous surface is resistant to wear. It also doesn’t react with either alkaline or acidic foods. The drawbacks to stainless steel are that it is a poor conductor of heat and does not distribute heat evenly. Quality stainless steel cookware will usually have heavy bottoms with a core of copper or aluminum sandwiched between layers of steel. Stainless steel is an iron alloy containing a minimum of 11.5% chromium. Blends containing 18% chromium with either 8% nickel, called 18/8, or with 10% nickel, called 18/10, are commonly used for kitchen equipment. Stainless steel cookware is very popular because of its moderate price and its versatility.

Choose your kitchen cookware and pots and pans by material

Copper cookware is classified as top-of-the-line, which means you will see many professional chef's using it. These high quality pots and pans can enrich the flavor of your food and save you time preparing your meals, but they're also a stylish and elegant addition to your kitchen decor! For the average cook or chef, stainless steel is the best choice for cooking and for a stylish look.

It has about ten times the heat conductivity of stainless steel and twice of aluminum. It transmits heat evenly with great response, this makes it best for such high-heat, fast-cooking techniques such as sautéing and frying. Copper pots and pans should not be placed in the dishwasher nor left to air dry as this causes spotting and they will have to be polished more frequently.

Non Stick cookware is excellent for cooking but does wear out
The main advantage to nonstick cookware is the easy cleaning and when cooking, food requires less fat. These surfaces are excellent for frying or grilling foods. Modern metal cookware is frequently coated with a nonstick substance in order to reduce the possibility of food sticking to the pan surface. Nonstick pans should not be used at high temperatures though. The result is less food being burnt. In order to preserve the nonstick coating on a pan, it is important to never use metal implements in the pan while cooking nor use harsh scouring pads or chemical abrasives when cleaning. The drawback to non-stick pots and pans is the non stick coating does wear off over time and is easy to scratch. Most people that like to cook normally only have a couple of non stick frying pans.

Cast iron cookware is heavy - so it is not recommended for the elderly or someone with arthritis

The major advantage of cast iron cookware is its capability to retain and distribute heat. Excellent for browning, frying and baking various foods, Every chef should have at least one cast iron frying pan in their kitchen, because it can be used on top of the stove and in the oven. Similar to other cookware materials, cast iron also reacts with foods and can absorb the flavors of what was cooked in it unless the cookware is seasoned. Meaning, you should use it first to cook something without a strong flavor (not onions), eggs, hash browns or chicken would be good. An alternative would be enameled cast iron, which has a hard porcelain coating that provides a permanent finish. It also comes in many colors and doesn't require seasoning. Cast iron cookware will last you a lifetime.

Glazed ceramics, such as porcelain, provide a nonstick cooking surface. Unglazed ceramics, such as terra cotta, have a porous surface that can hold water or other liquids during the cooking process, adding moisture in the form of steam to the food. Ceramic cookware can be relatively inexpensive and is very easy to maintain. They are generally neutral and do not react to foods in a way that might alter the flavor.

Aluminum is the best heat conductor next to copper.
You see a lot of pots and pan sets made of aluminum because of its lower cost and durability. Aluminum is a lightweight metal with very good heat transference and resistance many forms of corrosion. It can, however, react with some acidic foods, changing the taste. Sauces containing egg yolks or some vegetables may cause oxidation of non-anodized aluminum cookware.

Glass cookware is mostly used in an oven
Used as stovetop cookware or bake ware, glass surfaces are fairly resistant to sticking from food. Their operable temperature range may not be as high as metals and their heating properties vary but they can be relatively inexpensive and very easy to maintain. Most glass cookware can be used in both regular and microwave ovens offering greater flexibility. Some used on stovetops need a metal trivet to prevent them from directly coming in contact with electric elements or with excessive heat. Glass may conduct heat well but it does not distribute evenly. The advantages are that it works well for most oven cooking all foods can be safely stored in it.

Decorating ideas using Kitchen decor

round dining tables and chairs

hanging pot racks with lights

kitchen clocks

Kitchen stools

stainless steel trash cans

Small kitchen table and chair sets

cushioned rubber mats for by the sink or stove

Chefs corner

cooking gadgets

jar canisters - iittalas jars as seen in real simple magazine iittala jars click to view all These storage jars for the kitchen are the latest accents for 2007. They will add just the right amount of color to you kitchen counters.

meat thermometers