Which type of pan is the best for cooking?
Pots and pans come in many different shapes and sizes. For the home cook with little understanding of all the different types of pans, it can be difficult to make the right choice. Of course, it also depends on the method of cooking that is used in your kitchen. If you cook on induction you need a different pan from when you cook on a gas hob.
Pans can be bought in many different sizes and made of different materials. This affects the quality of the pan and the way you can cook with it. Also, the price of some materials is much lower than the price of some luxury pans. In addition, there is continuous renewal and innovation in this sector. Because the market is very large, there are many companies that compete with each other. Because of this, they are constantly trying to lower the prices or increase the quality. There is also a lot of experimentation with different materials.
Many frying pans nowadays have a non-stick coating. This means that the food that is fried in the pan no longer sticks to the pan. This makes it possible to fry with less oil and fat, for example. However, pans of this type are very dependent on the quality of the material. Various tests have shown that many pans still stick. This is not always the result of the price. An expensive pan can be disappointing, and a relatively cheap pan can still be very good. If you’re looking for a good non-stick pan, we therefore recommend you do some research into reviews from other people who have already bought such a pan.
Ceramic pans are sold very widely nowadays. They have many properties that are very useful when cooking. Also, for example, wok pans are increasingly made of this material. But wok pans can also still be bought from traditional cast iron. The most popular wok pans are those made of sheet steel. Therefore, they are not thick and heat up quickly, in addition, they are not too heavy. Cast iron wok pans are incredibly heavy but stay hot for a very long time. If you cook on induction, for example, make sure that you want a flat bottom instead of a completely round wok. If you want to buy a wok without a non-stick coating, we recommend a stainless steel wok.
Traditional saucepans are still very popular. Despite the rise of the pressure cooker, traditional pans are still widely sold. Here, the material stainless steel is still as popular as ever. Cast iron pans are mostly used by professional cooks and chefs. However, these are less easy to use. Especially when pouring off the pans it is very important to be careful. That is why a heavy pan is slightly less safe than a lighter stainless steel pan. You can also buy different systems for draining pans in a safe way. With these pans, too, the heat source you use is very important in making the right choice.
We advise you, when choosing a whole set of pans or a single pan, not to be blinded by the prices of the products. There are extremely expensive pans on the market and also pans that are extremely cheap. This does not always give a good indication of the quality or effectiveness of the pans. If you still want to be guided by the selling price, we recommend you to cross out the very cheapest and most expensive pans. Then it’s a question of material, ease of maintenance, shape and weight, among other things. This information should be easy to find on the pans you want to buy. If not, that’s probably not a good sign.
Many products around the kitchen and various cooking goods bear the name of a famous person or a well-known TV chef. Keep in mind that you often have to pay extra for this label on these products. However, it is not the case that these products are worse than those without the famous name. It is often the case that you pay a little more for the same quality. On the other hand, you can also see this as a sign that a certain minimum quality is guaranteed. Most famous chefs will not want their name to be used for bad pans.
Once you have decided which pans to buy, you are not done. Now you have to decide where you want to buy the pans. Will you go to your local cookery shop? Or will you order your pans online from a web shop? In any case, it can be tempting just to look for the lowest possible price. After all, it’s exactly the same product at different shops. However, it can still be the case that you need the service of the seller. For example, if there are problems with the delivery or if you need to make a warranty claim. In such cases, it is nice if the seller provides good service. That is why it is always a good idea to look up the reviews of the shop you want to buy from first. That way you avoid disappointment and you can get started with your new pans as soon as possible!
