The Surprising Truth about Cast Iron Cookware

Posted on July 18, 2011 by admin

You may think cast iron cookware is suitable only for campfire cooking or for your great-grandparents who were cooking around the turn of the last century, but you would be wrong.  Cast iron cookware is in many ways the ultimate in cookware, with few downsides.  It’s little wonder that major cookware companies such as Le Creuset have adopted it as their cookware material of choice.

The cast iron material, when seasoned properly, is a naturally non-stick material.  There are no chemicals to worry about or non-stick surface to peel off into your food, ruining your much-anticipated meal.  After all, why buy organic food if you are going to cook it in a pan that makes your meal filled with chemicals?

Cast iron is the most durable cookware material.  It will never warp, as copper cookware is so prone to do.  It can be used on the stove or in the oven, or even over a campfire.  If it ever rusts, you only need to use steel wool, and it will be good as new.  Even if you tried to hurt your cast iron cookware, you’d be hard-pressed to do so.  Cast iron cookware really will last a lifetime.

There are a few small downsides that you must be aware of before purchasing cast iron cookware with confidence.  When you purchase the cookware, you must be sure to season it properly.  Seasoning cast iron cookware is done by putting a small amount of oil in the hot pan, so that it fills in the natural pores of the material.  Seasoning is what creates the natural non-stick of the cast iron.  You will have to season your cookware periodically.  Lastly, you cannot boil water in cast iron cookware because it leeches the material into the water and causes it to rust.

As you can see, adding a piece or two, or even a whole set, of cast iron cookware can really be a good idea.  Then and now, it’s really a superior material for cookware and will make a valuable addition to your kitchen.

Posted in Buying Cookware | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cuisinart Makes Your Life Easier

Posted on June 6, 2011 by admin

266705352 5868aec517 e1305001464678It’s the little things in life that make life special, no?  I’m sure you would agree.  The makers of Cuisinart cookware agree too, and have designed their cookware line with all the little things that make cooking easy and enjoyable, without being overly expensive.  Let’s take a look at the ways that Cuisinart could be the best choice for your cookware needs.

The Cuisinart cookware line is made of three layers of metal – an aluminum core, surrounded on each side with stainless steel.  The aluminum core is easily bent and scratched.  Just imagine what a disaster making a pot of soda can material would be!  But aluminum is such a great conductor and distributor of heat that it makes an excellent core for cookware, without being able to dent and ruin your precious cookware.  The stainless steel that surrounds the aluminum is tough.  It won’t bend or scratch easily.

Because of the three layer design, Cuisinart cookware can be used all throughout your kitchen.  It can be cleaned in the dishwasher.  It can, to the surprise of many, be safely used in a broiler or oven.  And of course you can use it on your stove top.  This cookware is very versatile.

Cuisinart has many features that you will be glad you have, but will make cooking so worry-free that you won’t even think about them.  The pot rims are all drip-free, so when you pour that perfect meal into a serving dish, you won’t have to worry about stray drips messing up your stove top.  The pots are also heavier on the bottom, so they are less likely to tip over and cause a huge mess.  Finally, the lids cover perfectly and make a good seal with the pots and saucepans.  This is exactly what you should expect from a fine company such as Cuisinart, but is sadly missing in many other companies’ designs.

Because of the excellent three layer design, versatility, and unique features that will make your life easier, you should consider Cuisinart cookware.

Posted in Cookware Manufacturers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Farberware Cookware Sets Make Great Gifts

Posted on February 21, 2011 by admin

Are you searching for a great wedding gift to buy a couple just starting out?  Or your child or niece or grandson who is headed off to college and needs a great cookware set?  Since they’re just starting off with cooking, you want to give them a set they can use, but not a high priced set they might not appreciate.  You should consider the Farberware lines of cookware.  They are great for durability, variety, and functionality, without being too hard on your wallet.

Farberware is made of durable stainless steel.  You can be confident that whatever they try to throw at it, the material can take take it.  The stainless steel won’t warp or dent or scratch easily.  And if a handle does fall off, Farberware offers replacement parts on their website, a unique feature among cookware manufacturers.  There is also a limited lifetime warranty, so you can have Farberware replace or repair the cookware if the problem was not one of user error.  The Farberware company has been around for over one hundred years, so you can be sure they will be there for you if something goes wrong.

Farberware offers great cookware sets that are sure to fit anyone you might be buying for, or even yourself.  Their smaller sets start off with nine pieces and could be perfect for your high school grad who is headed away to college but doesn’t want to gain those dreaded pounds at the cafeterias.  Farberware’s larger sets are ideal for those searching for a smart, economical option for cookware, but also want to make sure they have everything they need.

Farberware cookware is above all functional.  Their cookware pieces can be used on the stove-top, the broiler, the oven, and even the dishwasher.  You won’t have to wonder if you can use it in a situation or feel hampered by the fact that you can’t throw it in the dishwasher and forget about hand washing.

After reading this article, you can buy Farberware cookware with confidence.  It is the ideal cookware for many needs, maybe even one you have right around the corner.

Posted in Cookware Manufacturers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Staub is Up and Coming Cookware from France

Posted on February 5, 2011 by admin

If there’s one thing the French can do well, it’s cook.  Is it any wonder then that the French company Staub would make fine cookware that is catching everyone’s attention?  Staub produces superior cast iron cookware with the quality of their materials and versatility.  At the end of this article, you will agree that Staub has caught your attention too and maybe you need to consider their cookware products.

The core of Staub is the material called cast iron.  It has been used in cookware for centuries now because of its great ability to conduct heat well and evenly.  This produces even cooking without burning food.  The material also retains heat well so that when you bring your cookware to the table, the food will still be warm, even when your guests serve themselves second or third helpings.

Staub cookware isn’t all about the wonders of cast iron.  Over the cast iron is an enamel covering.  This keeps your food from tasting like metal.  You also don’t have to season your cookware as you would with plain cast iron cookware.  Staub’s enamel is made with quality, so it won’t chip, dent, or discolor over the years.  And the enamel feature of Staub cookware introduces a nice addition of color into your kitchen.  Plain cast iron or the ordinary stainless steel certainly can’t claim the yellow, red, blue, and green colors, one of which is sure to be a fine addition to your kitchen decor.

Finally, Staub cookware is versatile.  The enameled cast iron is oven safe.  The lid too is oven safe, because of the brass or nickel knob, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  This will be perfect for just about every dish you could cook with your Staub cookware.

Even though Staub is a relatively new company, they deserve a look when considering a cookware purchase.  They have a solid line of cookware with great features, all from the country known for their cooking expertise.  How could you go wrong with it?

Posted in Cookware Manufacturers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pros and Cons of Copper Cookware

Posted on January 20, 2011 by admin

So you see the famous cooks on television and you wonder why almost all of them use copper cookware.  Is copper cookware only for the stars, or is it fit for regular cooks, too?  Even if you think you’ve made up your mind, you should read these pros and cons of copper cookware.

The superior heat distribution and conductivity of the copper cookware make it the leading candidate among cookware options.  Ever wondered why it’s copper electricians use?  Copper conducts electricity and heat like no other metal.  When used in cookware, the copper material reduces heating time and overall cook time for your meal, while cooking evenly.

The copper surfaces of the pots and saucepans are a breeze to clean.  Even though you cannot put them in the dishwasher, you’ll have no complaints for the clean up time involved.

Finally, copper cookware has a classic, ever-popular look.  You will want to display your copper cookware for all to see.  Everyone will be convinced that you must be a professional cook when they see your cookware.

There are downsides to copper cookware, however.  Copper is the most expensive type of cookware.  For many people, it’s simply out of their price range.  It’s also extremely heavy, the heaviest of cookware.  These are two major downsides to copper sets.

But the most striking downside of all is that what you buy isn’t necessarily the same product that you’ll have in months or years.  Even though copper cookware is so heavy, it is easily dented.  Scratches too will mar your once perfect pots.  And if you cook acidic meals frequently, the inner lining of the pot will tarnish as the metal is leached into your meal.  This effect can even be toxic.  In this case, you must find an expert for specialized polishing and repair.

In many ways, copper can be the best cookware, superior to the other choices in many ways.  Before you make your purchase decision, it’s important to keep in mind both the pros and the cons of this material.  For some, it can be a very good decision, for others, it would be a poor choice and one they would regret.

Posted in Buying Cookware | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment