Your first set of cookware was the best complement to your newly furnished kitchen. As time passed, your kitchen still feels brand new; however, your cookware has already perished. After replacing your old pans for the nth time, why not purchase Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware this time around? These pans may be new in the realm of kitchenware, but these already far exceed the more veteran stainless steel and cast iron cookware.
What is Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware?
Hard-anodizing is simply known as hard coating. It involves electrochemical interactions, the harden aluminum. In this process, aluminum is first immersed in a sulfuric acid bath, where it gains an electrical charge.
The surface of the aluminum is then oxidized, thereby producing aluminum oxide. In a nutshell, you get a product that bears the convenient weight of aluminum and twice the hardness of stainless steel.
The anodized surface actually has a smooth finish. This makes it somewhat stick-resistant. However, you’ll still need some amount of oil to do your cooking. To make things even more convenient, the manufacturers of these pans decided to add a non-stick coating. This coating actually adheres better to hard-anodized aluminum than it does with standard aluminum pans. This way, you get the double bonus of the food not sticking to the pan and of the non-stick surface sure of not chipping off. Going through this process altogether justifies the quality of Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware.
Benefits of Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware?
After the rather costly and tedious hard-anodizing process, is the end product actually worth it? You’ll be glad to know that Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware actually boasts many benefits that can guarantee your cooking pleasure.
First, this pan is chemically stable and resists decomposition. It does not react with acids, allowing you to cook your tomatoes without worries. Moreover, the pan is resistant to the melting point of aluminum itself. It works well with ovens and broilers. It’s no wonder then why this cookware is a popular choice among restaurants, as it can well withstand countless strikes of high heat.
Second, the cookware can withstand corrosion and abrasion. The hard anodized surface is actually a part of the pan—it’s not just a coating. Thus, it’s not going to chip or peel. In addition, you don’t have to worry about metal utensils scratching the pan. If it appears to be grazed, you just have to scrub it off and voila—your pan is as good as new.
The hard-anodizing technology is actually used to protect the surfaces of satellites and race cars from friction and heat. To have these features in a cookware is just plain brilliant!
Lastly, the pan’s aluminum core is an excellent conductor of heat. As this runs through the entire pan, the cookware warms quickly and evenly. Thus, you are assured that your food will be cooked uniformly.
Though the Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware poses many benefits in itself, it still has a lot of features that indeed make it the best buy among other cookware choices. The primary thing to consider is the pan’s durability. As mentioned earlier, hard anodized aluminum is twice as hard as stainless steel. This naturally gives it more resistance and stability.
Another factor to look into is heat conductivity. Aluminum is a better heat conductor than stainless steel. Hard anodized aluminum, with its characteristic dark color, absorbs and conducts even more heat. Thus, these pans are far more fuel-efficient than standard aluminum pans and stainless steel pans. The components of the pan are also worth considering. Stainless steel consists of the metals molybdenum, nickel, and chromium.
These metals could leach into your food once the pan or its coating chips off. Hard anodized aluminum cookware has already undergone electro-chemical reactions that seals off the aluminum, leaving it with no chance to come in contact with the food. Lastly, the non-stick coating adheres better to hard anodized aluminum pans than to standard aluminum cookware. Cooking and cleaning have never been easier.
Also, read: Building An Acquaintance With The Hard Anodized Cookware Set
Best Value for Money Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware?
If you are concern with chemicals like Teflon, which emit toxic fumes when they are overheated, then consider buying the following cookware brands.