Matching the Cookware to the Task
Some kitchen tools are better than others for specific tasks. While some pans can multi-task in a pinch (it's possible, but not advisable to fry an egg in a saucepan) professional cooks know that you'll get the best results by using cookware designed for the task at hand. Here are a few good examples.
FRYING PANS are best for frying, sauteing, etc.
They allow cooks to distribute the food more evenly and more directly over the heat source. The shallow, gently sloping sides let cooks turn and remove food easily. Also, the long handle provides some protection from oil splatters. Among frying pans, there are variations for more specific tasks such as making crepes.
SAUCEPANS are best for slow heating, reheating, boiling, etc.
A saucepan's sides are deeper than a frying pan to allow for heating a large quantity of food without spillover. They come in several sizes (the capacity is usually measured in quarts). They do everything from reheating, to boiling.
DUTCH OVENS are best for stewing and braising
A Dutch oven is bigger than a saucepan (though similarly shaped) and has two small handles on the sides, rather than one long handle. They are used for such tasks as cooking stews and braising large pieces of meat.
STOCKPOTS are best for large batches
Relative to the bottom diameter of the pan, a stockpot's sides are higher than those of a saucepan and Dutch oven. It's tall, relatively narrow, and typically holds more than 6 quarts. It is used to cook large batches of fluid foods like soups and also for anything that needs to boil in a large amount of water, like pasta.
DOUBLE BOILERS are best for cooking fragile foods
Double boilers appear to be 2 pans in one, with a top pan that nests in a lower pan filled with water. In fact, some manufacturers configure double boilers so that cooks can use the bottom pan as a separate saucepan. The water in the bottom pan will prevent the food in the top pan from scorching. It's also a gentler way to process temperamental foods (like melting chocolate).
STEAMERS are best for gentle cooking with even heat
They are similar to a double boiler, except that the top pan is thinner and has holes in the bottom. The top pan is almost always covered during cooking. When the water in the bottom pan begins to boil, it creates steam that cooks the food in the top pan. Some steamers come with more than one top pan, so that users can steam more than one type of food at once.
ROASTERS are best for baking large cuts of meat
These are very large (often oval) pans that usually have covers. Although most cooks seldom use them, there is no other pan that will accommodate a large turkey or a rack of lamb as well. Roasters are usually placed in an oven.
PRESSURE COOKERS are best for fast, high heat cooking
This ingenious pan that's been around for decades allows users to cook food at high temperatures without burning it. It's great for cooking food reliably and quickly. The downside is that it can be dangerous if you don't follow the pan's instructions to the letter. Knowing this, manufacturers incorporate safety features, such as automatic lid locks and safety valves. Some pressure cookers allow users to vary the pressure setting.
There are many other types of pans. Some are for very specialized tasks. You won't need them unless, for example, you cook omelets often.
Quality cookware will last you a lifetime. A basic set of pans will come with 2-3 different sizes of saucepans with lids, 1-2 sizes of frying pans, and a Dutch oven. Usually one of the frying pan lids will also fit the Dutch oven. Most manufacturers have additional matching pieces that cooks can add to their collection over the years.
About the Author:
Jeff Schweppe is president of Schweppe, Inc. a family-owned walk-in, online, and telephone order foodservice and restaurant supply business, with the best selection of professional-grade kitchen supplies and commercial equipment in the Chicago area. Schweppe's 40,000 square-foot store, located at 376 W. North Ave. 1/2 mile east of I-355, in Lombard, Illinois, is always open to the public. Visit their website at: http://www.SchweppeInc.com.
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