How to choose and properly use the saucepans

Choosing the right saucepan is a demanding and complex task. It’s not enough to choose a product that appeals both in terms of price and appearance. The type of product determines the quality of all subsequent cooking.

GIPFEL offers its customers a wide range of pots of impeccable German quality in many different materials. But first, some important tips.

To choose pots you need to make up your mind:

• What and how often you will cook in them
• Whether there are children or other household members in the house who observe a separate menu
• How many people live in the family this affects the volume
• allergies to certain materials

Once you have decided on the answers, making the right choice will be easier. Let’s tell more about the materials.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel pots are today considered a universal option. With metal thickness from 3 mm, they are excellent for cooking soups, vegetables, eggs, meat and fish, compotes. Thanks to the induction bottom this cookware is suitable for all types of stoves, including gas stoves.

Sets of stainless steel cookware attract buyers and impeccable appearance. The surface doesn’t change its properties from the mechanical effects of wooden spatulas or metal spoons and therefore doesn’t oxidize even after twenty years of intensive use.

Such dishes can be washed by hand as well as in the dishwasher. Generally speaking, it requires very little care, but it is not good for boiling rice or porridge.

Enamel coating

The surface of metal crockery is safe thanks to the durable enamel coating.

The disadvantage of models is that they retain their properties until the first damage to the enamel – “bare” metal reacts with food and liquids, and oxidizes.

Such pots are not suitable for cooking jams and syrups, as well as other sweet dishes, including milk porridge. Sugar and the milk it contains heats up too quickly against the surface and caramelizes, resulting in food sticking to the bottom and walls.

Non-stick coating

Until recently, aluminum cookware was in high demand. Lightweight metal is relatively cheap, heats quickly and looks quite aesthetic.

But research has shown that it releases harmful oxides into the food. As they accumulate in the body they can stimulate the development of oncological diseases. It is convenient to cook in such a dish, but it is not designed for storing ready-made meals.

Non-stick coated pans reduce health risks to zero. Such lightweight and cheap cookware is versatile. Cookware that meets the highest standards of hygiene and is suitable for all types of cooking. Pressed aluminum or steel cookware not only cooks but also stews because of its thick walls.

Non-stick coating made of Teflon, a more durable ceramic and requires care: Only use silicone or wooden spatulas to turn or stir your food. Other models are unpretentious and dishwasher safe.

Choose cookware by volume

The optimum dish capacity depends on the number of family members, the degree of occupation of the home cook and the eating habits of the inhabitants.

For example:

For a young couple, a small family with one child it is enough to buy a set of a few pots of small volume. A 0.5 litre version is good for boiling porridge, a 1-1.5 litre version for side dishes and vegetables and up to 3 litres for soup.

For a family with two or three children, as well as the older generation, you need more pots of different volume – from 0.5 to 5-7 and even 10 liters. In a large container you can boil compotes or soups for a whole week, put dough or make brine for winter preparations. If the family member in charge of cooking works full-time, it is easier for him or her to devote only one evening to cooking for the entire week.

Paying attention to detail

The experts from GIPFEL recommend it:

• on the handles, preferably they should be made of material with low thermal conductivity and be non-slip
• the thickness of metal: the minimum for the bottom is 3 mm
• The lid, which needs to be heat-resistant, must be firmly screwed on.

How to choose the perfect set

If you need cookware for different purposes and your storage system allows you to buy several models, it’s worth choosing pots made of different materials for porridge, rice and other grains, vegetables, soups and compotes.

A wide range of models within the same collection allows you to successfully complete your kitchen arsenal in a similar style. The GIPFEL online store will help you find the right cookware.