There’s a saying that goes, "A carpenter is only as good as his tools," and the same statement is true for the home chef when cooking with stainless steel. The quality of your cooking utensils, stainless steel pots and pans, and other kitchen equipment has a significant impact on how easy and delicious your culinary results will be, plus, the intrinsic value of your highly crafted stainless steel pots and pans makes them an asset definitely worth preserving.
Believe it or not, the way you use your range top cookware can have a major impact on food flavors and the longevity of your cookware and how you cook with stainless steel cookware. When preparing meals and cooking with your stainless steel pots, these tips and tricks will have you cooking like a pro, and ensure that your 360 Cookware stays functional and beautiful for a lifetime as you experience the joys of cooking with stainless steel pots and pans.
Stainless steel pots and pans are a popular choice for professional chefs and those of us who want to cook healthier, due to their quality, consistency, and durability, but if you’ve recently made the switch from non-stick, or upgraded your cookware from inferior copies, the cooking techniques are a little different. However, by familiarizing yourself with a few simple rules, you can avoid any cookery mishaps, and/or damage to your stainless steel pots.
1. Keep the burner temperature at medium or lower.
This is the cardinal rule when cooking with stainless steel pots. Because highly tempered steel conducts heat so perfectly, medium to low temperatures are completely adequate for any recipe. Furthermore, heating or cooking with the pan at higher temperatures will cause unsightly discoloration, which can eventually affect the finish.
2. Always pre-heat the pan, unless the recipe specifically states not to.
This rather important and simple step allows your stainless steel pots to create the optimal cooking surface for searing meats, and ensures that the temperature is consistent throughout.
3. Buy the best.
Perhaps this tip should be at the top of the list, because you essentially get what you pay for. The price of cooking with finely crafted stainless steel pots may seem a little steep, but when you consider that not only will it cook foods splendidly, it will last a lifetime, instead of purchasing inferior grade cookware, buy a piece at a time if necessary.
4. Making sauces.
Stainless steel pots are perfect for searing meats and then creating tantalizing sauces. To ensure success, don’t move the meat until the pan releases it, this will sear the juices in and create the “browning” so critical for delicious sauces, and remember to add cold liquids to the hot roux for a satiny, smooth texture.
5. Use non-abrasive utensils.
Although your stainless steel pot can tolerate metal spoons and whisks, they can make small surface scratches. Using heat-proof silicone spatulas and other tools will prevent this. If any scratches do occur, a stainless steel cleaner or a simple mixture of baking soda and water works well for restoring the luster.
6. Rules about acidic foods.
Cooking tomatoes, citrus fruits, and other acidic foods in stainless steel pots is fine, however, don’t store such items or salted meals in the cookware because it can harm the surface.
Remember, your stainless steel pots and pans are created to last. By following these simple cooking techniques when cooking with our stainless steel cookware, your heirloom quality, 360 Cookware can be handed down to the next generation of home chefs.
