Cookware - Saucepans

Back to:-   Main Cookware Page | Buy Saucepans

What you need  |  Types of Saucepans |  How Much to spend

If you are interested in cooking and want to stock your kitchen correctly, selecting the right pots and pans is an important first step. However, the sheer variety of cookware shapes and sizes can be overwhelming.

This guide will demonstrate some of the most popular saucepans to help you decide what you need, types to buy and how much to spend.

rgbdigital.co.uk - Fotolia.com Copper

Ivonne Wierink - Fotolia.com Aluminium

Peter Galbraith - Fotolia.com Stainless Steel

David Smith - Fotolia.com Cast Iron

What you need

Large Stockpot
A 2 gallon (8 quart) stockpot is very useful when cooking for guests or making large batches of soup or chilli to freeze and reheat later. You can also use it as the bottom part of a double boiler, for melting chocolate or mixing up a rich Hollandaise sauce. A large stockpot is also a great addition in a large family for cooking up stews and casseroles.

Mid-Sized Saucepans
Saucepans come in every size from tiny to enormous, but since you already have a large stockpot, it’s a good idea to pick a smaller saucepan. A 1 quart saucepan is ideal for cooking small portions of vegetables or using with your large stockpot as the top part of a double boiler. If that seems a little small for you or you have a large family, then select a 2 quart saucepan instead.

Large Sauté Pan
Whether it’s cooking chicken breasts for a dinner party or preparing a one-pan breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes all in one pan, a large sauté pan will come in handy. A fourteen-inch pan that is also safe for use in the oven is a good, flexible addition to your cookware.

Small Frying Pan
If you want to whip up something small and simple, such as a grilled cheese sandwich or a single serving of seared salmon, a small frying pan is an essential item to have in your kitchen. Eight inches is a good size for this purpose.

Flame Proof Casserole Dish
Whilst not strictly a saucepan, to round out your cooking ensemble, select a medium-sized flame proof casserole dish for those favourite tuna casseroles or chicken dishes. For maximum flexibility, select one that can be used on the stove top (flame proof not just heat proof), in the microwave as well as in the oven.

With these five items, you’ll be well on your way to a well-stocked kitchen with all of the cookware that you need to cook your favourite meals.

Back to top

What type of saucepan should you buy?

Now that you have a list of items to buy your next step is to decide on the type of cookware material that will best suit your needs. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each type to help with your decision making:
 

Stainless Steel Cookware Advantages • Durable • Scratch resistant • Reasonably priced • Easy to maintain Disadvantages • Not a good heat conductor	Cast Iron Cookware Advantages • Durable • Reasonably priced • Good heat retention Disadvantages • Requires regular seasoning • Reacts with some foods • Can rust if not properly seasoned • Can be heavy
Aluminium Cookware Advantages • Reasonably priced • Good heat conductivity Disadvantages • Reacts with some foods • Scratches and dents easily (buy anodized     aluminium to overcome this problem)	Copper Cookware Advantages • Excellent heat conduction • Beautiful appearance Disadvantages • Reacts with some foods • Requires a bit of maintenance to keep its      shiny appearance

Back to top

How much should you spend on your cookware?

This is a question that is often asked but the answer is simple – spend as much as you can afford. It doesn’t matter whether you decide on stainless steel, copper, aluminium or cast iron cookware, there is no point purchasing it simply because it is cheap. Poor quality cookware will deteriorate quickly and in many cases your cooking results will not be spectacular since the metal may be thin and heat quickly causing your meals to burn and the metal to warp.

Take your time searching for the right cookware for you and you will be rewarded with not only outstanding cooking results but with cookware that will last a lifetime.

Article provided courtesy of Only Cookware - a resource for

pots and pans, stainless cookware and enamel cast iron cookware.

Back to top

Recipes4us.co.uk is not a medical site. All recipes are published for your convenience and are both suitable and tasty enough to be eaten by anyone without  food  allergies,  as  part of a normal diet. We  advise you to consult a qualified doctor before starting any special diet.   If you suffer from and food allergies, always check the ingredients on the label  of commercially prepared products.   Sorry, unfortunately no correspondence can  be entered into regarding medical matters.

Find UK Holiday Cottages Click here to sign up to our FREE Monthly Newsletter for recent site updates &  food articles Culinary Videos New Section ! Concise, quality " how to" culinary videos featuring preparation & techniques. No  downloads  required. Find Cookery Courses Choose from over 30 cuisines in 30 countries from single lessons to complete vacations Online learning for Everyone

Whilst this is not meant to be a site about calorie counting,  we are confident that there is something for everyone and we are constantly adding new recipes and other cooking related material such as growing herbs and vegetables, culinary terms, ingredient analysis, UK Online Food shopping directory plus, we think, the best conversion charts on the net. For ease of reference,  below are direct links to most  sections on this site.   Soups & Starters            Soups        Fish        Other      Vegetarian        Gluten Free   Main Courses         Barbecues  and  Picnics       Beef  and Veal       Casseroles Fish and Shellfish      Lamb     Offal    Pasta, Rice and Pulses      Pork and Bacon    Poultry & Game    Salads      Stews      Vegetarian

Side Dishes             Dips and  Dressings      Jams,  Pickles  and  Preserves     Marinades      Pasta and  Rice        Side Salads      Salsas and Relishes        Sauces    Savoury  Sauces      Sweet  Sauces       Stuffings            Vegetables

 

Desserts, Puddings      Cold Desserts     Hot Puddings                Cakes & Bakes        Cakes, Breads, Biscuits (Cookies), Pastry  and Pastries

 

International           Cooking by Country      Chinese       Indian                  Special Diets       Dairy Free    Gluten Free     Vegan        Egg  Free

 

Other Recipe Sections    Cooking with Alcohol    Edible Flowers    Food in Film   Ingredients   Meals in Minutes   Party Food and Cocktails      Slow Food      Smoothies Section      Special days & Holidays      Sports Recipes   Summer Recipes   Weekday Menus      What's in Season

 

Reference Pages        5 - A -Day Portions    Cooking Holidays & Schools    Conversion Charts     Directories       Farmers Markets     Food Celebration Days     Growing Veg    Growing Herbs    Guide to Kitchenware      Holidays    Ingredients      Online Shop     Preserving Fresh Produce    Special days     UK Food Shopping Directory     What's in Season 

   

Search     About Recipes4us     Links     Contact Us     Advertise/Sponsor       Disclaimer/Private Privacy     Media Resources

 

Enter your search terms Submit search form

This Web Site was designed and created by Recipes4us.co.uk. Copyright © 2000-2008 [Recipes4us] All rights reserved.

Clipart © 1999 (2000) www.arttoday.com  Some Photos ©  www.fotolia.co.uk