What is the best cookware material? For many people it is copper. If you love the subtle metallic flavor of your cooked food, copper is the ideal cookware material as it does not have a shiny surface or a porcelain or stoneware texture that will absorb flavors from your food. The metal’s naturally copper color makes it a great choice for those who enjoy a lighter-colored cast iron cookware set.
- Copper being the best cookware material for the kitchen is not without its disadvantages, however. Copper will tarnish and form a grayish coat on kitchen surfaces if your cooking methods leave the metal exposed to an acidic environment (soda, wine, fruit juices, vinegar, etc). This patina can only be removed by a professional cleaning and polishing treatment. If your chef likes to use acidic foods then this problem will not be a major concern.
- However, the greatest concern for most chefs is that the material will leach into the cooking liquids and do damage to the stainless steel pan or copper pots that are being used. This issue can easily be solved by purchasing a copper outer pan that has a tightly sealed coating. If the outer coating is constructed from copper bar stock the seal can remain intact. Another option for those who are concerned about copper is to purchase one of the new copper pans that have been treated with a Porcelain Enamel coating.
- There are some advantages to using copper pots and pans. Copper heats faster than other materials and it is very efficient at heating food. One of the major advantages of copper is that it is a conductor of heat, which means that it makes it ideal for high heat cooking. If you are looking for a cooker that will get hot on demand then consider investing in a copper or stainless steel pan that uses a metallic burner.
- If you prefer aluminum cookware for your kitchen you can also consider investing in non-metallic pieces. Aluminum, although extremely lightweight, is actually quite conductive of heat. However, if you are used to using pots and pans made out of stainless material you may not like the lack of heat conductivity. Another issue that you will need to address is the maintenance of aluminum cookware. It is an easy material to clean but the finish can be dull after it has been sitting on the stove for several hours.
When choosing the best cookware material there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Copper and aluminum are the two best options because they are very affordable and they are both very versatile. Stainless steel and cast iron are also great choices. No matter what type of cookware you choose to buy make sure that you check all of the important aspects of the cookware to make sure that you get the most out of it. The pots and pans that you buy should last you for many years and they should look great even after they have been sitting on the counter for many years.
