To perform different cooking tasks in the kitchen successfully, the use of different types of cookware sets is necessary.
There are different types of pans and pots that you require and these come in different sizes and materials for you to choose from.
Although most of these pans and pots are necessary, it is worth noting that some of them can be substituted and you do not necessarily need to have all of them in your kitchen to perform different tasks.
Choosing the right cookware is important and this should be determined by several factors including material, size, budget, cuisine and your cooking habits.
Even though in this post we will focus on Different types of cookware based on material.
So…
Let’s jump right in;
1. Stainless steel cookware
This is considered to be the best type of cookware in the market today.
It comes with many advantages one of them being that it does not require a lot of attention to maintain and is stress-free when it comes to cleaning.
Stainless steel cookware does not corrode, stain or rust and you will definitely fall in love with this material.
It is also the healthiest cookware in the market as the material does not react with your food.
The downside with this material, however, is that it is not a good conductor of heat but once it does catch heat, its retention levels are amazing.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Nonreactive which means you can cook any ingredient in it without any worries
- Durable And long lasting
- Dishwasher safe
- Needs little to no maintenance
- Easy to clean
- Corrosion and Rust Resistant
- Recyclable and Eco-friendly
More Details: Stainless steel cookware advantages
Cons
- High quality models are quite expensive.
- It has a learning curve for usage, just like cast iron
- Poor heat conductor, so always looks look for models bonded with copper and aluminum core (base)
- No Zero-fat Cooking, oil or butter is a must, because food may stick to surface
Check The Best Stainless Steel cookware Models here.
2. Hard-anodized cookware
This is one of the best types of cookware for anyone looking for a durable material.
Pans and pots made from this electromagnetically hardened material offer an excellent cooking experience while at the same time giving you something that you can use for many years.
This is the best type of cookware especially if you want to brown your foods.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Non stick surface, so it eliminate the use of oil
- Very economical.
- Great Conductor of Heat
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Resistant to scratch and dents
Cons
- Although this cookware is made of aluminum which count as a light material but the coating makes it a bit heavy
- Not dishwasher safe, since chemicals can damage the coating
- Expensive compared to other regular cookware
3. Aluminum cookware
This is the commonest type of cookware for many users and is a great conductor of heat.
There are different types of aluminum cookware including the hard-anodized and cast iron.
While regular aluminum is dishwasher friendly, the two variations that are cast and hard-anodized are not safe and therefore should be cleaned differently.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight and very affordable
- Very good at distributing heat
- Excellent heat conduction
- Resists rust and corrosion
Cons
- Highly reactive to alkaline or acidic foods
- Very soft and tends to warp in high heat
- Easy to scratch
- It doesn’t retain heat particularly well
4. Non-stick cookware
This is ideal cookware and especially when it comes to cleaning.
These types of pans and pots come with various nonstick coats and although they are easily scratched they are ideal for cooking and especially when you do not want to use a lot of oil in the process.
Quality non-stick cookware should be long-lasting.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Eliminate the need of oil, butter or any fat
- Makes cooking sticky ingredient easy and smooth
- Easy to clean and use
- Lightweight cookware
Cons
- The coating can easily scratch or chip
- It may stain
- Pan warps under thermal shock
- Coating contains PFOA
Also, Read: Is Cooking With Non-stick Pans Healthy Or Not?
5. Cast iron cookware
Pots and pans made from cast iron material are great and especially due to their even heat distribution and durability.
The cookware does not pose any health risks and especially because iron is necessary for the formation of red blood cells.
Related: How is Cast iron Cookware Made
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- distributes heat evenly and retains heat well
- If properly cared for will last a lifetime
- It can be used over any cooking source
- Inexpensive
- Naturally non-stick if properly seasoned
Cons
- It’s extremely heavy
- Not easy to maintain, and need to be seasoned occasionally. ( if not it can get rusted)
- After each use it a must to oil it and store it
- Takes a long time to heat it up
Suggested Reading:
- Tips To Keep Your Cookware Brand New
- Best Cookware Sets Under 100$
- Everything You Need To Know About Cookware Sets
Conclusion
While these are the most common and respected types of cookware, it is good to look at other things such as design as this will help determine your cooking style and safety.
For example, fry pans are ideal for scrambling, searing and sautéing while sauce pots will be ideal for cooking sauce and stews among other things.
This is in addition to the information on the different types of cookware that will help you answer the question, “what is the best type of cookware?” The best cookware will be determined by the material and your style of cooking.
