There is no question that waterless cooking is a healthy way to prepare meals, but using waterless stainless steel cookware can offer other advantages as well. Not only will you be delighted in how wonderful your food looks and tastes, but you can also be assured that you are using safe cookware that will literally last a lifetime. In addition, because this cookware distributes heat so efficiently, you will save time in the kitchen. Care and maintenance is also easy. Assuming you are convinced that waterless cookware is a wise purchase for you, what criteria should you use when deciding WHAT set to purchase?
Before answering that question, it important to understand that for cookware to be categorized as waterless, four requirements must be present:
A high-grade stainless steel must be used. Waterless cookware must be a minimum of 5-ply. You will often see advertisements for products with 7-ply or 9-ply or possibly more. More plies means more layers. However, beyond a certain point, the actual number of plies is more a marketing tool and a cooking requirement. When you have a good grade of stainless steel, the cookware is easy to clean. Further, surgical stainless steel is one of the most sterile environments in which to cook. You never have to worry about coating from other metals leeching into your foods, as can happen with Teflon or aluminum. To some degree, the layering is important. Stainless steel is a great material for waterless cooking, but stainless steel is not known for fast heat transfer. Thus, the addition of a layer of aluminum in the center of the stainless steel provides for the fast and even distribution of heat.
A Flat-bottomed pan is needed for efficient heat transfer. The bottom of a waterless cooking pan needs to be flat to provide for even heat distribution.
A thicker bottom plate is necessary to evenly distribute the heat. The special design of the encapsulated bottom of each stainless steel pot provides strength and rigidity that prevents warping. It also eliminates hot spots that may burn food. Heat is distributed evenly in all directions.
A special lid is used to keep the steam from escaping. Waterless cooking will not work if a proper seal cannot be formed. When a seal is created, it locks in the natural moisture that escapes from the food during the cooking process. Thus, foods are cooked in their own natural juices, retaining vital vitamins and minerals. This is really the key to waterless cooking-a vapor seal must be created
Once you know that the cookware you are considering purchasing meets tthe criteria above, you should also consider two additional factors. For example, we offer a number of different waterless cookware sets on our Internet store site. All the sets are of comparable good quality. How then can you decide what set is best for you? Ask yourself:
What particular pieces are offered with each set? Does the set you are considering fit your particular lifestyle? Are you likely to use the pieces offered in the particular set?
Which type of knob do you prefer to use--the steam-release knob or the thermo-control knob?
The lids on waterless cookware must be heavy enough to prevent steam from pushing it upward and therefore allowing steam to escape. During the cooking process, it is important to maintain the correct temperature so that the food inside the pan is cooking correctly. If the lid feels like it is locked onto the pot, the temperature is too low. If the lid is bouncing and a lot of water or steam is escaping from the lid, the temperature is too high.
Stainless Skillet
While most sets have a steam-release value or a thermo-control knob. Some sets have just a plain knob. Waterless cooking has been around since the 1920's and were made initially with plain knobs. The instructions for cooking with this plain-knob set are similar to the sets that operate with the steam value. When your food reaches the stage in the plain-valve set where you see or hear the steam being released from the steam valve, you will see and hear the lid bouncing slightly and steam will be escaping from around the lid. This is your cue to turn the heat temperature down and begin the cooking process. If you are using the correct temperature during the cooking process, the lid of the pot should spin freely during cooking. If the lid feels like it is locked, then the temperature is too low. In contrast, if the lid is bouncing around and a lot of steam is escaping from around the lid, then the temperature is too high.
The steam-control value is another way of creating the seal that is necessary for waterless cooking. When a seal is created, it locks in the natural moisture that escapes from the food during the cooking process. Thus, foods are cooked in their own natural juices, retaining vital vitamins and minerals. To get this vapor seal, simply start cooking your food over medium heat until the steam control valve whistles in the open position. Then, turn down the heat to a low simmer and close the valve. At this point, the lid will form an air-tight seal. Note: If steam is escaping around the lid, reduce heat to a lower setting.
The thermo-control value is still another way of creating the seal necessary for waterless cooking. The unique thermometer knobs are built into the lids to help you regulate cooking temperature. That means when you are trying to accomplish six things at a time while cooking, a simple glance at the thermometer tells you immediately if everything is fine. These thermo-control knobs make your waterless cooking easy. The thermometer gauge shows three different colors and different numbers to represent the temperature. The first color is yellow representing the lower heat temperatures. The second color, green, represents the medium temperatures of heat. When cooking, this is where you will probably be most of the time. The last color, red, represents the highest heat levels. In summary, if the temperature dial shows yellow, the heat is too low. If it is in the red zone, it means it is too high. The green zone shows the temperature where your food will cook exactly as it should.
In summary, consider the purchase of waterless cookware an investment in your health. Quality stainless steel cookware will last a lifetime. Therefore, it is important to take the necessary time so that you can make an informed decision. If you have more questions about waterless cookware, induction cookware or waterless cooking or you are just looking for healthy recipes to prepare for your family, check out our site-- The Gourmets Cookware.
What You Should Know Before Purchasing Waterless Cookware!
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