SAUCEPANS
| Bakeware | Breadmakers | Microwaves |Mini Food Processors | Ovenware | Pressure Cookers |
What you need | Types of Saucepans | How Much to spend
If you are interested in cooking and want to stock your kitchen correctly, selecting the right pots and pans is an important first step.
However, the sheer variety of cookware shapes and sizes can be overwhelming.
This guide will demonstrate some of the most popular saucepans to help you decide what you need, types to buy and how much to spend.
Copper
|
Aluminium
|
Stainless Steel |
Cast Iron
|
What you need
Large Stockpot
A 2-gallon (8 quart) stockpot is very useful when cooking for guests or making large batches of soup or chilli to freeze and reheat later.
You can also use it as the bottom part of a double boiler, for melting chocolate or mixing up a rich Hollandaise sauce.
A large stockpot is also a great addition in a large family for cooking up stews and casseroles.
Mid-Sized Saucepans
Saucepans come in every size from tiny to enormous, but since you already have a large stockpot, it’s a good idea to pick a smaller saucepan.
A 1-quart saucepan is ideal for cooking small portions of vegetables or using with your large stockpot as the top part of a double boiler.
If that seems a little small for you or you have a large family, then select a 2-quart saucepan instead.
Large Sauté Pan
Whether it’s cooking chicken breasts for a dinner party or preparing a one-pan breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes all in one pan, a large sauté pan will come in handy.
A fourteen-inch pan that is also safe for use in the oven is a good, flexible addition to your cookware.
Small Frying Pan
If you want to whip up something small and simple, such as a grilled cheese sandwich or a single serving of seared salmon, a small frying pan is an essential item to have in your kitchen.
Eight inches is a good size for this purpose.
Flame Proof Casserole Dish
Whilst not strictly saucepans, to round out your cooking ensemble, select a medium-sized flameproof casserole dish for those favourite tuna casseroles or chicken dishes.
For maximum flexibility, select one that can be used on the stove top (flame proof not just heat proof), in the microwave as well as in the oven.
With the above five items, you’ll be well on your way to a well-stocked kitchen, with all of the cookware that you need to cook your favourite meals.
Back to top
What type of saucepan should you buy?
Now that you have a list of items to buy your next step is to decide on the type of cookware material that will best suit your needs.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each type to help with your decision-making:
Stainless Steel Cookware
Advantages
Durable
Scratch resistant
Reasonably priced
Easy to maintain
Disadvantages
Not a good heat conductor
|
Cast Iron Cookware
Advantages
Durable
Reasonably priced
Good heat retention
Disadvantages
Requires regular seasoning
Reacts with some foods
Can rust if not properly seasoned
Can be heavy
|
Aluminium Cookware
Advantages
Reasonably priced
Good heat conductivity
Disadvantages
Reacts with some foods
Scratches and dents easily (buy inodized Aluminium to overcome this problem)
|
Copper Cookware
Advantages
Excellent heat conduction
Beautiful appearance
Disadvantages
Reacts with some foods
Requires a bit of maintenance to keep its shiny appearance
|
Back to top
How much should you spend on your cookware?
This is a question that is often asked but the answer is simple, spend as much as you can afford.
It doesn’t matter whether you decide on stainless steel, copper, aluminium or cast iron cookware, there is no point purchasing it simply because it is cheap.
Poor quality cookware will deteriorate quickly and in many cases your cooking results will not be spectacular since the metal may be thin and heat quickly causing your meals to burn and the metal to warp.
Take your time searching for the right cookware for you and you will be rewarded with not only outstanding cooking results but with cookware that will last a lifetime.
Back to top
|