Stainless steel pots are suitable for cooking many types of dishes. Russian-made stainless steel cookware has a number of specific advantages, for which it is worth buying even for those who do not cook very often.
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Advantages and disadvantages of pots and stainless steel
Kitchen utensils made of this material have many advantages over others. However, they are not suitable for all cooking tasks.
- The advantages include inertness, because for this reason the kitchen appliance does not react with food. This eliminates the need to use oil and fat as a protective layer when cooking.
- The kitchen tool heats up quite quickly, which is why it takes much less time to boil than usual. It should also be noted that stainless steel is resistant to such a type of deformation as corrosion. It does not rust and is not afraid of moisture.
- Such pots can be used for making compotes, pickles, because they are not afraid of oxidation at all. They are resistant to alkaline agents. As a rule, such kitchen utensils are durable and are not subject to mechanical impacts. No scratches, chips are scary. The steel itself is very flexible, so you can find various shapes of pots on the market.
- A very useful property is versatility, because devices made of this material can be used for any stove, including induction ones.
But, like everything in this world, such devices have their drawbacks.
- It is worth noting that they have low heat capacity. Such utensils cannot heat up above 100 degrees. This means that they are suitable for ovens or simmering. For such purposes, other utensils are needed.
- Such a pan is also not suitable for intensive frying of a dish, since without liquid, the dish begins to burn to the walls, to the bottom. Steel does not have the necessary useful properties for such procedures.
Types and purposes of stainless steel pots
High-quality pots made of such material can be suitable for cooking different types of dishes, as well as for canning and storing. There are very few products that cannot be cooked in such cookware.
Types of models for different purposes
On the shelves of shops you can find a large number of stainless steel pots. They can be used both for universal cooking and for highly specialized ones. Pots that are universal are intended for housewives who do not cook complex dishes and do not have a lot of storage space. Universal pots have the shape of a cylinder, and its bottom has a smaller diameter than the upper part. This shape is made to save energy and speed up boiling. Although the shape does not affect the taste of the dish in any way.
Tall pots are specialized for cooking pasta, vegetables, corn. For pasta, there are special pots with inserts that make the cooking process easier. You should take into account the height of the cookware, because it is not suitable for people of average height and below.
In order to cook manti or other dishes without fat, you should resort to buying a steamer made of stainless steel. If you are a porridge lover, there are special porridge cookers or milk cookers made of the same material. The bottom of such pans is double. This technology was not invented by chance. This is done so that the milk does not burn or run away. Such porridges are very tasty and have a unique taste.
There is also a juice cooker, which is designed for preparing juice in large volumes. The juice is prepared using steam, while being sterilized. Such a device will become indispensable for canning.
- A tagine is a dish with a cone-shaped lid. If you look at it from a distance, it resembles something between a frying pan and a saucepan. This type of kitchenware is ideal for stewing meat with vegetables in its own juice. The shape of the lid promotes steam circulation, which prevents drops from falling on the food.
- A ladle is a small saucepan with one long handle. It is convenient to cook vegetables, eggs and meat in such cookware. You can boil water and milk in it. It is not very large, so you won’t be able to cook portions for the whole family at once. Every housewife should have such a tool in her closet, especially if there are small children in the family.
- Pressure cooker – cooking in this device is carried out due to increased internal pressure created by a hermetic lid. It is distinguished by its thickness and durability.
Complete set of saucepans
On the shelves of shops you can find various sets of stainless steel products. They can include two, three, seven products. Such sets contain various products, the volume of which differs from each other.
Buying such a set will make cooking easier. All the utensils that appear will be a great addition to your kitchen. But not every set will have what you were looking for. The volumes of the pots in all sets are different. If you cannot find the devices you need in the set, it is best to create such a set yourself by buying all the devices separately.
It is also worth noting that some manufacturers write the number of items contained in the set together with the lids.
Volume of dishes and shape
The volume of pots today is very diverse. You can find pots with a volume of 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and even 30 liters. Such huge devices are perfect for certain purposes, for example, for thermal processing of vegetables, for cooking jellied meat and large pieces of meat.
In 10-liter pots it is very convenient to make various preparations in the form of pickles. A useful property in the form of inertness allows you not to worry about possible deformation. Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion.
For cooking first courses, 2-7 liter pots are perfect. The pot volume depends on the family itself, the number of people and preferences.
How to choose a professional stainless steel saucepan of good quality
What brand of stainless steel saucepan is better? The one that is safe and will last a long time is better.
Before making a choice, you need to familiarize yourself with the main quality criteria, otherwise your saucepan will not serve you for a long time. Only high-quality cookware will be safe and durable. There should be no defects in the form of scratches, chips, dents on the purchased cookware. Such devices are considered defective and are not suitable for cooking. Today, the norms and standards of quality are determined by GOST. If the cookware does not comply with the rules, then it is of poor quality and will not serve you for a long time. In some cases, it cannot be called safe at all.
Type of coating
The outer surface of the coating can be mirror or matte depending on the treatment. Polishing done during production allows to enhance the anti-corrosion properties. It is usually done both inside and outside.
Experts say they have identified one trend: glossy surfaces are used in budget and cheap kitchen items. Perhaps this is due to the fact that manufacturers are trying to hide the true quality of the product.
If the surface is shiny, be prepared for the fact that water droplets and fingerprints will remain on the surface, but if you take care of such dishes correctly, they will shine and resemble a mirror.
Polishing with a matte coating is more practical and convenient. On such dishes, defects in the form of scratches are practically not noticeable, and there are no stains from drops of water. Also, the pan heats up faster, so cooking is faster.
If you prefer beautifully decorated dishes, then models with enamel coating. This finish is intended only for models with a thick body.
Thickness of walls and bottom
Stainless steel cookware has always had problems with heat conductivity. But at the moment they are completely irrelevant, since the technology of multilayer heat-distributing bottom was invented. The essence is in the use of several layers of metal that have heat capacity. As a rule, such metal is aluminum or copper.
To make the bottom more durable, it is reinforced with a layer of carbon steel. The number of layers is not limited. In different models, it can reach 7. If you look at the GOST rules, the thickness of such a layer should be at least 1.5 mm. And if the metal is aluminum, then at least 3 mm. The layer should fit tightly so that there are no gaps.
If the bottom is thick, then the cooking process is uniform. Deformation of the bottom is excluded, even after prolonged contact with the flame. The walls can be made of one layer or encapsulated, that is, a heat-accumulating layer can be located inside them. This is a new technology that has been introduced not so long ago. It is called Tri-Ply. If the body is made only of a layer of stainless steel, then the thickness should be at least 0.5-0.8 mm.
High-quality cookware is the key to a deliciously cooked meal. In order to please yourself and your loved ones every day, buy the right kitchen utensils. Choose the cookware correctly. Make sure that it is resistant to various damages and serves you for a long time. Such containers can be used for a long time to prepare various dishes. You do not have to limit yourself to one cooking method. Stainless steel provides you with a wide variety. Cooking with such devices is a pleasure. They are used both in professional kitchens and in the kitchen of an ordinary housewife.
