Collection: Pots & Pans
What You Should Know About Pots & Pans
Pots & Pans are often confused with each other. However, when you look closer you can see that there are clear differences between pots and pans. Pots are small containers made of clay, porcelain, glass, or pottery that contain a liquid that will form into a baked dish. Pots are ideal for roasting, making soup, cooking the food in a Dutch Oven, cooking a full meal, etc. Pans are similar but instead of having a thin liquid to form into a dish, the food is cooked directly on the top of the pan.
Pots and pans are often used together in the kitchen but they are two different cooking methods. Cookware is generally used on a stovetop or range top, while pots are used on an oven or range top. Some utensils may be considered both pots and pans. For example, a frying pan may not be considered a pot but it does have a handle, a heat setting, and the ability to be used for heating and baking.
When comparing pots and pans, it is important to determine which item is which. In the kitchen the items needed for cooking are quite different. The cooking vessels I'm talking about are clearly defined by the items they replace i.e. pans and pots.
If you want to cook food quickly and easily, then large pots and pans are what you need. A large saute pan is perfect for quickly cooking soups and sauces. They are also great for making stocks, curries and sauces. Large pots also help reduce the time it takes for food to cook in the oven or on the range. Another great example of pots that replace other types of cooking vessels in the kitchen are the slow cookers. You can heat these slow cookers using a propane gas or charcoal lighter.
A great example of a very versatile piece of cookware material is the cast iron pot. If you want your every day cooking to be fast and easy, then cast iron is definitely the best choice for you. These pots & pans are available in a wide range of colors, shapes and designs. Not only do they look good in every kitchen, but they also last forever.
If you would like to change up the look of your kitchen then you can go with enameled cast iron pots & pans. An enameled piece of cookware will make any piece of food that is cooked on it look beautiful. Although you can buy pans in a variety of different materials, the enameled cast iron is probably the best choice. The only downside to these pans is that they can be very expensive. Therefore if you are just starting out, you might want to go with a cheaper, less quality set of pots and pans so that you won't have to spend as much money in the beginning.
Something else that you should know about pots and pans is that most of them will be made of either enameled or stainless steel. These materials are both great at helping to reduce bacteria growth in your kitchen and are great for anyone who prefers to cook healthy foods. However, there are some cookware sets which use other materials in their construction. Bamboo for instance is a popular material for many cookware sets, although cast iron is probably the most well-known and preferred.
One of the most popular materials that you will find used by professional chefs around the country is copper pots and pans. There are several reasons why copper is such an excellent chef's choice. For one thing copper has a very even heat distribution. This means that you can be able to turn up the heat for different parts of your food quicker and more evenly than you would be able to use some of the other types of cookware material. Copper also conducts heat so you will not have to worry about burning anything when heating things up. Plus, this heat conducting property means that your cookware will last a very long time and will continue to keep your meals hot and delicious for as long as you may need to cook them.