What to Look for When Buying Cookware

  Today we're going to look at what qualities to look for when buying cookware.

 Heat Conductivity

The better the heat conductivity of your cookware, the more evenly and quickly your food will cook.  Some metals conduct heat better than others.  Since no one material is perfect, multi-ply cookware is ideal.  Multi-ply cookware combines several metals in one pot or pan.  Multi-ply cookware usually has a copper or aluminum core (great heat conductors) with a stainless steel or nonstick interior (for cooking style).  The exterior can be a number of different materials.  This combination of strengths makes multi-ply cookware the most versatile and user-friendly.

Price

Your budget will most likely determine what you end up buying.  Keep in mind that your cookware purchase is an investment.  The general rule of thumb with cookware is to buy the best you can afford.  Saving and investing in one piece at a time is better than a "great deal" on a cheap set that does not perform well.

Durability 

Durability in cookware varies.  Some types last longer and some look better longer.  Stainless steel is often thought to be one of the best.  Cast-iron is also known for its durability and, if well maintained, is often handed down within families.

Gauge is the thickness of metal used in cookware.  The lower the gauge number, the thicker the metal.  For example 18 gauge is thicker than 22 gauge.  Range-top cookware is generally 10-18 gauge.  Cookware any thinner than 20 gauge is too thin for use over direct heat and can result in anything from burnt food to a warped pan. 

Reactivity

Some metals react to some foods.  For example, aluminum tends to react to acidic foods, such as tomatoes.  Your food can absorb some of the metal and your metal can become discolored.  Make sure

Maintenance

Do you enjoy and have time for shining your cookware every night?  Neither do I.  Therefore, you need to consider the amount of maintenance needed to keep your cookware in good shape.  Copper and cast-iron cookware can require a lot of work to keep it looking great.  Stainless steel is pretty easy to maintain, while non-stick is even easier.


Coming up:
Thursday - Type of Cookware

Let's Talk Cookware

Cookware is an investment. You use your cookware day in and day out.  It can make your time in the kitchen easy or miserable.  The problem is that there are many different types of cookware and often we don't know the appropriate type to use for the desired job.  Also, we tend to be intimidated by the price of good cookware.  So instead of investing in a piece that will last, we look for the latest deal.  The problem is that cheap cookware doesn't perform well and doesn't last, costing us frustration in the short term and more money in the long term as we regularly replace under-performing pieces.  So, as you shop for cookware, keep the following in mind:

1. Better cookware will cook your food better
2. How much cooking you do (and how much you anticipate doing with tools you enjoy using)
3. What type of cooking you do
4. What you can afford
5. In general, you get what you pay for

This week, lets take the mystery out of cookware.  We will cover what to look for when buying cookware and different types of cookware.

   

Super Bowl Foods

Are you looking for something delicious, yet healthy to take to your Super Bowl event?  Here's a list of ideas:

• Salsa and baked corn chips
• Veggie tray (I'm noticing that these are going over very well at parties lately) with low fat hummus - check the nutrition label, not all hummus is the same
• Vegetarian Chili
• Fruit (grapes, clementines, apple slices)
• Roasted Almonds
• Popcorn - top with your favorite seasoning mix instead of the oils/butters

Food and Nature

This blog has evolved over time as I have learned more about nutrition and health, and as I work to feed my family on a rather frugal budget. Since starting this blog, our family has moved to a more whole foods, plant-based diet and I want to move the blog in that direction as well.  So, from here on out, I will focus on food and activities that will help us feel good now and in the long run. 

I recently found a quote that I find quite motivating when it comes to following a healthy lifestyle - “Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels.” That being said, we have a lot of fun developing great tasting, healthy recipes in what I affectionately call our family “test kitchen”. I look forward to sharing many of them here, as well as ideas for fun activities that help keep us active.

Here are some changes that you can look forward to:

1.  More frequent posts - yes, I am going to be better about this!
2.  Weekly video selections, alternating between nature and food/nutrition
3.  Links in the left-hand margin to more information about living a healthy lifestyle
4.  A facebook page!
5.  Regular themed posts:  recipes, cooking tools, quotes, culinary tips/terms, etc.

I hope you enjoy future posts and thanks for reading!

--Kathy

Blog update

This week I'm going to focus on updating and revising this blog, so you will be seeing some changes. Hopefully I'll have it done for a fresh start and routine on Monday, February 4th!

Kale Chips

Kale chips are my new, favorite snack.  Our meals and snacks are mostly whole food, plant-based, but every now and then I still want to snack on something thin and crispy- like potato chips.  However, I don't like the way I feel afterwards.  Enter kale chips.  These are light, quick and easy to prepare and they satisfy that need to crunch.  Also, kale is a nutritional powerhouse.  Check out these stats:

One cup of raw kale =
33 calories
5% RDA fiber
2g of protein
9% RDA calcium
6% RDA iron
206% RDA vitamin A
134% RDA vitamin C

source:  Self Nutrition Data

Plus, there's an added bonus. The British Journal of Nutrition published a study titled Association of dietary fat, vegetables and antioxidant micronutrients with skin ageing in Japanese women in May of 2010. This study showed that "A higher intake of green and yellow vegetables was significantly associated with a decreased Daniell wrinkling score". Wow! Eating more green and yellow vegetables will decrease those crows feet! I'm sold!

Kale chips are so easy to make that there's no need to buy the pricier pre-made ones.

1.  Take a bunch of kale, cut the leafy part off the ribs, and cut the leaves into relatively uniform shapes (throw the ribs in your garden or compost pile!).

2.  Wash and dry kale leaves (a salad spinner is an excellent tool for this).

3.  Lay leaves out on a cookie sheet (you may want to use parchment paper to prevent sticking) or microwave chip maker.  Season to taste (I like a light sprinkling of sea salt).

4.  Bake in a 350 degree oven or microwave (2-3 minutes) until crisp, but not burnt.

5.  Serve!

This is also an excellent way to preserve an abundance of fresh kale. I've stored kale chips in glass jars or Tupperware containers and then added the kale chips to soups and stews. Yum!

Speaking of not liking how I feel after eating a bunch of potato chips, I came across this quote recently:  "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels."  As someone who has been following a mostly (we did just go through the holidays) whole foods, plant-based diet since mid-summer, I can say that this is true for me.  I feel better and I have effortlessly reached a healthy weight.  I mentioned the holidays.  I admit that over the holidays I indulged in some of the traditional foods.  Did my taste buds enjoy the rich fare?  Sure.  But it wasn't worth the heaviness that I felt (for days) after.  This year we plan to keep our holidays whole food, plant-based.  However, we will not be sacrificing taste!  There are many delicious plant-based recipes out there.  We're even creating some of our own.  I'll share as I am able, so keep checking back to see what our latest culinary adventures have been!

New Link - Happy Herbivore

Well, so much for trying to post more often.  Fall is crazy busy around here, I think even busier than the rest of the year.  I am trying to develop a routine though, and plan to work posting into that routine.

To start off the new year, I'm adding a new link to the Food Links:  Happy Herbivore.  A friend recommended this site to me and I am really enjoying it.  I have subscribed to the e-mails and I have 2 of the cookbooks (after not wanting to part with the first one when I borrowed it from the library).  If you're trying to eat a more plant-based diet, Happy Herbivore is a wonderful resource.  Enjoy!  We are!