A Cooking Fool

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Cookwear

Posted By: The Fool
Date: Sunday, January 29 2006, at 7:22 a.m.

If you do very much cooking then cookwear is very important. Pots and pans are not created equal. You can spend several hundred dollars on a set of pots and pans or just a few dollars. Unless you cook professionally a $150.00 saute pan is a bit excessive. On the other hand a $7.95 saute pan is a bad investment. The smart way to go is somewhere in between. An 8 inch saute pan for $20 to $25 is a good investment. A 12 inch frying pan for $30 to $35 is also good. Cheap cookwear is going to have to be replaced every year or so. Good heavy duty cookwear will last for a long time with proper care.
One thing I try to stay away from is non-stick. I'm a little nervous about the chemicals used in the product. Same goes for ovenwear.
In my opinion, if you want to buy quality cookwear that will last a lifetime go for good quality cast iron. I think any avid cook should have an 8 and 12 inch cast iron skillet and a 6 to 8 quart dutch oven. Make sure the set come with covers. Make sure it is heavy duty, don't go for the inexpensive thinner stuff. You can get a good set for under $50.
Once it's properly seasoned it works as well or, in my opinion, better than any non-stick cookwear. To season cast iron simply coat it with a thin layer of any oil, just wipe it with a paper towel, place it in a low oven, the lowest temperature you oven has, 150 to 200 degrees, for about an hour. Also, cast iron should never be placed in a dishwasher as it will rust and never wash it with soap. You can use a small amount of a mild detergent, rinse and dry thoroughly. Don't use a scouring pad, just a sponge. What I do is heat the pot, or skillet til it is fairly hot and then add water, which will "deglaze" it. Rinse and then wipe with a paper towel. As you cook with cast iron a layer of carbon will form which creats a non-stick quality.
Not only will a good set of cookwear last forever, it also works better by even heat distribution and holds proper heat.
The Fool

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Message: > If you do very much cooking then cookwear is very > important. Pots and pans are not created equal. You > can spend several hundred dollars on a set of pots and > pans or just a few dollars. Unless you cook > professionally a $150.00 saute pan is a bit excessive. > On the other hand a $7.95 saute pan is a bad > investment. The smart way to go is somewhere in > between. An 8 inch saute pan for $20 to $25 is a good > investment. A 12 inch frying pan for $30 to $35 is > also good. Cheap cookwear is going to have to be > replaced every year or so. Good heavy duty cookwear > will last for a long time with proper care. > One thing I try to stay away from is non-stick. I'm a > little nervous about the chemicals used in the > product. Same goes for ovenwear. > In my opinion, if you want to buy quality cookwear > that will last a lifetime go for good quality cast > iron. I think any avid cook should have an 8 and 12 > inch cast iron skillet and a 6 to 8 quart dutch oven. > Make sure the set come with covers. Make sure it is > heavy duty, don't go for the inexpensive thinner > stuff. You can get a good set for under $50. > Once it's properly seasoned it works as well or, in my > opinion, better than any non-stick cookwear. To season > cast iron simply coat it with a thin layer of any oil, > just wipe it with a paper towel, place it in a low > oven, the lowest temperature you oven has, 150 to 200 > degrees, for about an hour. Also, cast iron should > never be placed in a dishwasher as it will rust and > never wash it with soap. You can use a small amount of > a mild detergent, rinse and dry thoroughly. Don't use > a scouring pad, just a sponge. What I do is heat the > pot, or skillet til it is fairly hot and then add > water, which will "deglaze" it. Rinse and > then wipe with a paper towel. As you cook with cast > iron a layer of carbon will form which creats a > non-stick quality. > Not only will a good set of cookwear last forever, it > also works better by even heat distribution and holds > proper heat. > The Fool
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