What Kind Of Cookware Should You Buy?

There are some fantastic cookware sets on the market right now. Some newer brand names have emerged like Rachael Ray to battle it out with the old favorites like Cuisinart and All Clad.

Before you start searching for your ideal set though then take a minute to think about exactly what type would be best for you. Essentially there are three types, there is the stainless steel variety which is very durable and hard wearing. The next category is cast iron cookware which is really heavy and some people prefer that, but you need to seal it well to stop food sticking which is a hassle. Finally you have non-stick cookware which is very popular and the coating on the interior of these stops your food sticking to it so cleaning them is a breeze, but the coating is liable to chip off and flake so they are not too durable.

Now let’s discuss each category and which brand makes the best set in each:

Stainless steel: If you are after a stainless steel cookware set then the brand with the best reputation in this category surely has to be Cuisinart. Stainless steel is not the best material to transfer heat evenly, so I think that going for the slightly more expensive Multiclad range from Cuisinart is a much better option with their aluminum core to help heat transfer. You don’t have to plump for the more expensive set though, the basic range is still fantastic value for money and the 12 piece set costs half as much as the 12 piece Multiclad Pro one.

Non Stick: There are so many good sets and brands in this category that it is hard to pick, especially when they are all relatively similar in terms of price and quality too. As all the sets are so similar then it is actually good when somebody dares to be different, which is why I picked Rachael Ray for the best non stick cookware set as they dared to buck the trend and not make sets which were pure grey or black, and instead their dark grey set has bright orange accents to help make it stand out. Another reason why I picked them is because they have proper handles on the lids so you can pick them up without fear of dropping them, unlike the knobs on most of the other sets which are easy to drop.

As these are hard anodized aluminum then the whole pan is made from aluminum which gives excellent heat transfer, then the inside is lined with a non stick coating to stop the porous metal from tainting the food, and also to make them easier to clean. You have to treat the coating with respect though if you want it to last, that means only using plastic or wood utensils with it.

Cast Iron: If you value quality and don’t care about price then in this category I think Le Creuset are the clear winners. However buying a set from them is expensive so if you want cast iron cookware for a much more affordable price then I think Lodge Logic has to be the only choice. The only disadvantage of buying Lodge pieces is that you need to seal them properly before you use them, but that is a relatively simple process, and with a 5 piece set coming in at under 70 dollars then it is well worth the hassle.