How to Choose the Best Stainless Steel Cookware

Not just a passing trend, stainless steel has become the hot choice in contemporary cookware for very good reasons. Durable and easy to clean, stainless steel pots and pans keep their condition for years. Whether browning, roasting or frying foods, stainless cookware is an ideal choice.

If you love the look of stainless steel, it follows that you would want to use it in your kitchen. But stainless steel cookware runs the gamut from cheaply constructed pots and pans to All-Clad cookware, whose acclaim from professional chefs is only exceeded by its price tag. Here's what to look for, if you want to get the best stainless steel cookware for your home.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that, while stainless steel has wonderful qualities, it is not the best metal when it comes to heat conduction. This means that to achieve the best cooking results you will want to make sure that you have some other metals mixed into the cookware.

Some top brands, such as All Clad cookware, use 3- and 5-ply stainless steel pans that have aluminum or copper cores for better heat transmission. This is an excellent way to get the best of all metals in your cookware.

If All Clad is outside of your budget, look for stainless steel pans with an aluminum or copper bottom plate. This plate should be solid and heavy, and extend over the entire bottom of the pan. Some cheaper stainless steel sets have small inserts only in the middle of the pan, which don't work quite as well.

For an even better steel experience, look for pans where the plating extends over the sides as well as the bottom. This will ensure even browning on the sides of your food when pressed against the side of the pan, and will help protect your stainless steel when cooking on gas ranges, where the flames can curve around the side of the pan.

Finally, test the handles of your stainless steel pots and pans thoroughly before purchase. Their construction should feel solid, and they should be heat-resistant to protect you from injury.

Unlike Teflon-coated pans, stainless steel will not wear away over time. You can use practically any utensil you like on these pans and not worry that the surface will crack or flake. Because stainless steel is nonporous, it is impenetrable to other substances and thus, will resist scratches and keep out harmful bacteria.

Stainless steel is uncoated and therefore allows nothing to get between you and your food. Those who like to sear or brown their food will be delighted to find they can scrape the pan of all its leftover juices to make a delicious gravy or side-sauce.

Stainless steel cookware is almost care free but there are a few tips you should follow in order to ensure your cookware lasts a lifetime:

1. Before using your cookware for the first time, wash it well in warm soapy water.
2. Never store foods in your cookware.
3. Although most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe it is preferable to hand wash in warm soapy water and hand dry to maintain a beautiful shine.
4. Don't use harsh scourers that could scratch your cookware. Look for a stainless steel cleaner or a scourer that is not going to ruin the surface.

Article provided courtesy of Only Cookware - an unbiased consumer resource for cookware providing cookware reviews and information for better buying decisions.