Choosing The Right Cookware

Hello, My name is Ty Johnson. I have been a cooking hobbyist for more than 18 years now and along the way I have become an expert on many subjects cooking related including cookware. My article is all about giving you the benefit of that knowledge without you having to spend a lot of time choosing a safe set of cookware for your family. I mean there are so many questions like "what cookware should I buy?" or "is aluminum cookware safe?" or "what's the best type of cookware on the market these days?" Don't let these questions confuse you. Our health is the most import thing we have, The foods we put into our bodies makes the difference between health and illness and it all starts with the cookware we use to prepare our food. I will do my best to help you choose a set that matches your style, preference and budget so that when you make that purchase you won't waste your time or your money!




To answer the question "what cookware should I buy?" first you have to know some basic information like what different kinds are available. The 5 most popular kids of cookware these days are anodized aluminum, cast iron, copper, porcelain enamel and stainless steel. What type you buy is a matter of personal taste for instance I have a cast iron set, porcelain set and a stainless set in my kitchen. I use the stainless more than the others but there are times I need a different kind depending on what I'm making for instance I can make great bacon in my stainless fry pan but I choose to use my cast iron pan simply because I love how crispy it makes my bacon. on the other hand you just can't beat porcelain for making stews and chili. the pots just add to the earthy flavors I like when eating a hot thick beef stew on a cold day. I will give you some basic pros and cons on these 5 types of cookware so you will be able to choose what type and set to buy that matches your budget and personal taste.




Now the big question lately seems to be is aluminum and anodized aluminum cookware safe. Aluminum cookware these days is almost always anodized which means they add a protective coating over it to keep metal from leaking into your food. This process does make the cookware last longer and be more durable than aluminum however over time that layer can break down and once again you may become susceptible to metal leaking into your food. of course the big advantage to anodized aluminum is that it cost less than stainless and has better thermal heating properties but in the end stainless will outlast aluminum and in my opinion stainless is worth the extra money. however if you want to avoid metal leaking into your food and still want to take advantage of the thermal properties of the aluminum I recommend a set of cookware that has the aluminum on the outside bottom and stainless on the inside this gives you the best of both worlds. You get to keep the excellent heating properties of the aluminum but your food will never ever come in contact with it.




As far as whats the best type of cookware on the market I can not say that any one kind is "the best" I believe all kinds have there place so long as they don't pose a health risk. for example I would not recommend aluminum or Teflon for any reason. I know the whole thing about aluminum has not been "proven" but what I know for a fact is that aluminum can and will add a grey color to your food especially anything acidic like tomato sauces and it can ruin the flavor of the food and Teflon is fine so long as it's not pealing or chipping but Teflon never seems to last long before it gets a scratch or a chip in it. So what set should you buy? I have a list with my personal choices from each of the 5 types along with a short pro/con written up about each type of cookware at www.tyreenskitchen.com Take a few minuets to look it over before you decide whats best. Just remember the most important thing with any cookware you buy is to follow the directions for cleaning and care, that is the life and performance of any cookware set you will buy regardless of style, type or price.