Guide on How to Choose the Best Cookware Set

Choosing the best cookware set for your kitchen can be daunting if you have no one to guide you.

Especially if you are planning to renovate your kitchen, change your old cookware set, or you’re moving into a new home and will like to get a new cookware set.

Getting the right cookware set is important if you want to love your kitchen. However, you should also note that the right cookware varies. Just because you use non-stick cookware does not mean aluminum or copper cookware is bad or wrong for you. 

And it’s also okay to combine different types of cookware or stick with one type. It’s not one size fits all. Focus more on features like the health implications of the cookware, how large or little you cook, and what pot or spoon will work for your type of cooking. 

Let’s start this guide by describing the difference between the types of cookware materials.

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How to choose the best cookware set – Types of cookware materials you should know

Cast iron/Enameled Cast iron

Although heavier than other cookware, cast iron cookware is a great heat retainer. It is an excellent choice for long-term use as it doesn’t get rust easily. When buying cast iron or enamel cast iron cookware, it is preferable to buy your pans and Dutch ovens in cast iron material because of the form of cooking they are used for. They usually come in beautiful pieces but are not very easy to clean or maintain. 

Steel /stainless/carbon steel

A great heat conductor and is usually inexpensive and popular. However, it can easily rust because it gets hot easily. If you fry food a lot, steel will be a great option to use. When choosing the best cookware set for steel, kettles and broiling pans are the best options. It is easy to clean and can be kept in the dishwasher if it’s completely steel.

However, carbon steel might be quite the opposite. It is heavier than steel, not dishwasher safe, or easy to clean. But it has a nonstick surface and is a great heat retainer.

Aluminum

Aluminum is easy to clean and cooks evenly. However, because it is usually coated with copper it can affect the taste of your food when cooking meals with acidic or alkaline ingredients. It conducts heat well which makes it a great choice when buying large cooking pots or roasting pans. Anodized aluminum is usually a better choice because you don’t have to worry about scratches or rust when washing with a sponge or using a metal spoon.

Copper

Copper cookware usually looks pretty and aesthetically pleasing, however, using them for everyday cooking is a bad idea. When used a lot it can have adverse effects on meals. And when it rusts, it gets into the meal. It also reacts to acidic meals or ingredients.

Glass

Glass is an uncommon material for cooking because of its delicate surface. When kept on fire for too long without seasoning or water, it can break or wear off easily. If you will love to try cooking with glass cookware, you should be prepared to be extra careful and you should constantly control the heat. Because too much heat can lead to breakage. You should also avoid covering your pot when using glassware. It is preferable to use glass for serving dishes and bowls instead of cooking vessels.

Silicone

Silicone is a pretty great but new cookware material. But soon, many will come to love it. It is easy to clean, a great heat conductor and you don’t have to worry about getting your food burnt. It is more popular with cooking spoon sets. When they are used, they protect your pots from scratching. 

Clay/Stoneware

This is the oldest cookware material that dates back to the olden days. It conducts heat effectively and is easy to clean. It can be washed in the dishwasher and can be used in freezers and ovens too. However, stoneware could easily crack if not well maintained. If you love baking, clay/stone cookware will be a great try.

Nonstick

Non-Stick cookwares are everyone’s favorite. They don’t let your food stick to the surface. They are easy to clean. They don’t rust and they cook your meal evenly. However, it can be difficult to maintain a nonstick surface from scratches and rust if you use harsh sponges or metal spoons. 

They will cook your food with little oil but you should avoid leaving it on fire without oil or water. And when it scratches, you should stop using it to avoid chemicals like PFOA or PTFE that are found in nonstick pots from entering your meal. PFOA or PTFE nonstick cookware is not the best cookware material for your health. However, this can be avoided by buying original nonstick pots which are usually more expensive.

Ceramic

Ceramics cookware is a better bet for cooking because they are safer and comes in nonstick without the PTFE chemicals. However, it is important not to allow them to overheat to protect the nonstick surface. It can easily rust or scratch. It is important to maintain it carefully if you want the nonstick to last.

Now that you know the types of materials to look out for when buying a cookware set, let’s look at the factors to consider when buying a new cookware to ensure you’re choosing the right and best cookware set. 

Factors to consider when choosing the best cookware set

The Price: 

To get the best cookware set, you must be ready to spend. Of course, there are cookware sets that are cheap and inexpensive. However, they usually don’t last long and they might not be very good for your meal and health. 

The Quality: 

Every cookware comes in different quality. Some are of low quality while others have high quality. It is important to go for high quality because it will determine how long your cookware will last and sometimes how beautiful and aesthetically pleasing it will look. Sometimes, it is also important to buy from brands you can trust. Thick cookware is also known to have more quality than lighter ones.

The Aesthetics: 

What is great cookware without aesthetics? One of the ways to organize your kitchen like a pro is to color code your cookware to match the color of your kitchen interior. When choosing a new cookware set, you should also prioritize beauty and aesthetics.

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Most important cookware you need for your kitchen – Choosing the best cookware set

A Cast Iron Pan or Frying Pan

You are definitely going to fry some eggs and you need that flat surface to make the tastiest omelet. A cast iron or frying pan is a must-have.

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A Dutch Oven or a Medium-sized Pot

For your soap, stew, and other delicacies that can fit. A saucepan will also do the same job. You can get that too or just buy the whole set so whenever you need to try a new recipe, you don’t have to worry about not having the right pot. Buying a pot set is a better idea. It comes with a frying pan and every pot size you can think of for your meals.

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A Grill Pan

A grill pan to grill your chicken and veggies. It will also come in handy when preparing steaks and fish.

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A Kettle

If you can’t evade drinking a cup of hot tea, chocolate, or coffee in a day, you absolutely need a kettle. You don’t want to boil your water in a pot. Your cookware is not complete without a tea kettle.

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An Airfryer

Your cookware is also not complete without an airfryer. A great way to fry without using excessive oil and avoiding fat. You can use it to cook your chicken, plantain, fries, etc.

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Cooking Utensils

What is cooking without utensils? Ensure you get your cooking spoons, knives, and serving spoons to complete your cookware set.

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Having the best cookware set is not about getting every new appliance that comes out or changing pot sets once a month. It is usually about having the basics and buying according to how often you cook.

You don’t need to buy it all. If you have these basics, your kitchen is ready. Gradually, you can decide to build a cookware collection.