Good Pots Can Make a Difference
-Not all pots and pans are created equal and over time you learn just the right temperatures needed, how often you need to stir your food, timing and how your pots and pans preform for you. You get accustom to using them and it takes time to do this. Every time I would get a new pot or pan to replace one I needed to get rid of, I had to learn to use it. Having a set that will last a lifetime eliminates this.
Farberware 8 qt pot
If you have ever used poor quality pots and pans, then used one that is quality made, you will understand where I’m coming from. There is a reason great chefs use quality products when preparing food. There is a difference.
I found a wonderful set of pots at a garage sale for $5.00 each with lids and have had them for nearly 10 years and they look as good as they did when I purchased them. They probably look nearly as good as when the original purchaser purchased them. A good quality pan can last you the rest of your life and is well worth the effort or investment to attain them. I know that the set I have is far from the best, but for those on a very tight budget, they are perfect.
Choosing Your Cookware
When it comes to pots, never get no-stick or ceramic lined pots. You WILL have to replace them eventually. Some say no-stick is the way to go for people just learning how to cook. I beg to differ. Why learn one way, then have to learn another later down the road to preform the same task? You may think, “I’ll just buy the same set when I need to replace this one”. Did you also figure in, that manufacturers often make changes, to a product? The product may look the same or even have a different style, but the thickness may not be quite the same, or the surface has changed a little, yet it’s still holding the same name. You think your getting the same basic product. Well, maybe you are, it’s still a pot, but that’s about all that has remained the same. Some manufacturers even go out of business and since you did not buy a product that will last you a lifetime, you will have a very difficult time finding a used one that is like new.
A good set of pots for using on the range top is one with a nicely weighted bottom. One that has a cooking surface that will distribute the heat evenly and not create hot spots. Especially important for cooking over gas flame. Unless you adjust the heat and move the pan around often, the flame will constantly be heating that one area the flame is hitting.
Electric stoves will usually adjust to the temp you wish to have. Similar to that of an electric skillet, it just does not have a temperature setting on the dial (for most, there are some that do). Your burner cycles more frequently for low settings and less frequently for high settings. On simmer or low it may cycle very often, for very short periods of time, which do not allow it to ever reach a high temperature before stopping. Then it will cycle again, turning on to heat up a bit again, then off. Your stove top is smarter than it looks.
Well weighted pots with thick bottoms, to evenly distribute heat and keep it consistent, is very important when cooking certain foods. It’s beneficial for all, but very important for others. Take things you boil in water for instance. If a precise temperature is not required, as long as it’s boiling, your fine. Heat distribution is not as important, because it’s constantly moving the liquid around on the cooking surface, but sauces for instance, need a little help. You will need to be stirring constantly or frequently.
I will often use my Revere ware, which has the copper bottoms and a pretty consistent thickness throughout the entire pot, for boiling things in liquids. Canned vegetables, pasta, soups with broth, for example, are not really affected by even heat distribution. These pots are wonderful pots to have in your cupboards or hanging on your rack.
My Farberware pots are aluminum clad and about 30 years old. I love these pots. I use them all the time and would never consider replacing them with no-stick pots for any reason. You can find these on eBay, at really reasonable prices.
I have heard that the quality, as with many things, has depreciated over time, so I would recommend getting vintage Farberware if you can. If you have been cooking with poor quality cookware, it will take some getting use to, but once you do, you will wonder why anyone would use anything less. Too many products are being manufactured these days that simply end up in our landfills far more often than should be allowed.
Did you know the life expectancy of a washing machine is only about 10 years now? My Grand Mother had hers for at least 30 years. Her clothes were always nice and clean. It did the job and lasted longer than the new fangled ones they make today, that have all those bells and whistles. New and improved scares the wits out of me. Usually only improving the companies bottom line and the CEO’s retirement plan. That’s another subject for another time…..grin
Down Side to Ceramic and No-Stick
You should never, use high heat under this kind of cookware. It will quickly cause it to lose it’s nonstick surface. Ceramic will crack more easily and no-stick will begin flaking off or lose it’s no-stick quality. Not to mention a few other facts. In this article by Good Housekeeping it gives a good explanation, as to why one should not use high heat, under Teflon/no-stick cookware.
Dropping a ceramic lined pot can cause it to chip off. Placing another pot inside, can also cause possible chipping and scratching. Quite often ceramic will lose it’s nonstick quality after only a few short months of using it on a regular basis.
No-stick pots do not allow you to use anything that can scratch the delicate surface. Their life expectancy is only about 3-5 years. Not so good if you ask me.
Bottom line is, stainless steel cooking surface is the best way to go as far as I can see. It last and maintains it’s value.
No-Stick Pots are Good for Something
One thing I do like about no-stick pots, people often buy them and get rid of their really nice stainless steel pots they are replacing. This makes quality pots attainable for those on a low income. You can often find them at resale shops, on eBay and garage sales, for very little money and well worth the effort to find and acquire them. Even if it is missing the lid, you should purchase it. Lids are easy to find one that will fit or even the lids it should have had, at another location or by other means. Lids don’t impact cooking surface.