(NC) – Registering for wedding gifts can sometimes be one of the most stressful parts of planning your wedding.
As a recent bride, I was flabbergasted by the choices of everything from bed sheets to the kitchen sink. But how do you know which towels are the most absorbent or which china pattern won’t go out of style? The experience can be overwhelming.
When it comes to cookware, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of cookware materials is the first step in choosing the best cookware to suit your needs.
Here are a few tips to help you recognize quality cookware, and hopefully make registering for gifts a bit easier.
Copper is by far the most efficient heat conductor, but at the same time, can also be the most expensive. It is second to none for quick, uniform heating and is beautiful to look at; however, copper cookware can be difficult to maintain. It easily oxidizes (discolours), and must be cleaned with a special solvent.
Stainless Steel is the material of choice for many consumers. Stainless steel is a metal that is comprised of various alloys – chromium and nickel being the principals. Most cookware-grade stainless steel is made of 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel. Chromium provides the strength and corrosive resistance to the stainless steel, while nickel provides the lustre.
Stainless steel’s major advantage over other cookware materials is its durability and ease of care. This cookware resists corrosion and is dishwasher safe.
Stainless steel, by itself, is a poor heat conductor. That’s why Cuisinart combines the premier heating capability of copper with the durability of stainless steel.
‘A layer of copper is sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel on the bottom of each piece of our Cuisinart Everyday Stainless cookware collection ‘, commented Beverley Melnick, marketing manager for Cuisinart, a division of Conair Consumer Products Inc. ‘This ensures even heat distribution and precise temperature control, every time you use it.’
Because every cookware material has its disadvantages, manufacturers such as Cuisinart have taken the idea of bonding various materials to the next level.
Cuisinart’s MultiClad stainless cookware collection features a triple-ply construction of the finest quality materials with a core of pure aluminum that is bonded to a highly polished stainless interior and brushed stainless exterior. The aluminum core delivers superior heat conductivity, while the premium 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface is both non-reactive and stick-resistant.
Unlike Cuisinart’s Everyday Stainless cookware, which contains a layer of copper along the bottom of each item, the MultiClad collection features a layer of aluminum throughout the entire piece of cookware.
Cuisinart’s patented Heat Surround technology maintains even heat distribution along the bottoms and up the sides of the cookware. This ensures maximum heat retention and distribution.
The Essentials
Now that you’ve chosen the cookware material that best suits your needs, you now need to determine what it is that you cook most frequently. This will help you determine which pieces of cookware will be most useful, and what size set you need.
‘Our cookware is offered in both sets from 3 pieces to 13 pieces, as well as open stock,’ said Beverley Melnick. ‘This allows the consumer to purchase an entire set, or simply add the pieces they need to complete their current sets.’
In addition, all Cuisinart cookware is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Whatever sized collection you chose, remember to look for well-balanced pots and pans, with strong and secure handles, and tight fitting lids.
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