Looking for a high-quality induction cookware is not as easy as you think. You have to understand that a lot of salespeople would say that you have found “the best” package on the market. Well, they are more than entitled to puff up their offerings. That is, after all, the job of a salesperson. Their job is to sell.
Your job, however, is to make sure you make an informed decision. The needs of the salesperson might be very different from your needs. That person is just trying to make a sale. Your need is to maximize the amount of value you get for every hard-earned dollar you spend in the induction cookware you are shopping for.
This is why it is really important to define properly what constitutes “the best” induction cookware. The good news is that there are some objective standards you can stick to. This is not just a subjective adventure. This is not only all in your head. This is not just a matter of opinion.
There are certain objective standards that increase the likelihood that you would walk away with a great deal. By paying attention to these objective standards, you increase your chances of being very happy with your decision. At the very least, you ensure that you come up with an informed decision.
Pay Attention to the Number of Items in the Set
The first consideration that should be top of mind is how many items of cookware come in the set. A lot of induction cookware packages are exactly that. They come in packages. There is more than one piece. So, the more items the better.
This is very important because the more items in the set impacts how versatile you are in using that cookware. You can cook sauces. You can cook sautés. You can even cook casseroles. You should insist on versatility.
Moreover, keep in mind that the more items in the package, the bigger space you would require for storage. Always remember that. A lot of people might think that the more, the merrier; however, this is not always the case. If you do not have storage space, this can be a headache.
Material Composition
Make no mistake about it, all induction cookwares are not created equal. It all boils down to what material was used to create the cookware. Material choice impacts many things. It impacts the length of the product’s life. It impacts how efficient the cookware is in heating your food. It also impacts the overall look of the cookware. Cleanup and weight are obvious consequences of material choice.
The bottom line is pretty straightforward. You get what you pay for. So, it is really important to make sure that you are dealing with premium materials.
What are Premium Materials?
When it comes to induction cookware, you have to look for stainless steel that uses many different alloys of copper or aluminum cores. This is very important because aluminum and copper are not magnetic. They do not heat up due to oscillation. It is the stainless steel component that actually produces the heat.
The reason why aluminum and copper are mixed up with the stainless steel is to increase heat conductivity. This ensures better heat distribution as well as a light profile. Aluminum is very light. It is definitely much lighter than iron. All told, this combination produces a stronger heat that enables you to cook food in less time.
What is the Best Material?
With everything else being equal, the optimum material for any kind of induction cooking is cast iron. You cannot go wrong with this because as mentioned earlier, induction cooking is all about creating a magnetic field that generates a lot of heat that cooks the food contained by the cookware. The problem is cast iron is very heavy, bulky and thick. It takes quite a bit of effort to store and move around.
The second best option is to go with an aluminum alloy mixed with steel. You get the lightness of aluminum, but you also get the strong heat conductivity and durability of stainless steel.
Look for a Great Handle Design
The best induction cookwares have a handle design that gives you a sure grip. This grip is not heat conducting. All told, this design feature makes the cookware easy to handle and makes for a lighter cookware overall.
Cleanup Ease
Another consideration you should look for is whether the cookware is very easy to clean up. Look for nonstick surfaces. Look for ridged surfaces that food will not stick to. Whatever the case may be, there has to be some sort of simple cleanup feature. Look at the surface and see whether it would be very easy to wipe down or just pass over running water.
Its Lids are Well Designed
Well-designed lids seal moisture effectively. Why is this important? Well, when there is a moisture seal, you can be assured that the taste is sealed in. Furthermore, make sure that the handle of the lid is easy to work with. It must be light, and the handle must not get hot.
Total Value for Money
This is the most important factor. Whenever you spend your hard-earned dollars on anything, you have to understand that the more you use that item, the greater value you get. That is the bottom line. It does not get any simpler than that. If you were to spend the same amount of money on two items and one item only lasts a year while another item lasts 10 years, it should be fairly obvious to you which product yielded more value. Look for total product value. The secret here is not to obsess about the price. Instead, focus on whether you can maximize the usage of that particular product.
It is Not Easy to Find the Best Induction Cookware
The bottom line is pretty straightforward. It is not easy to find the ultimate product because if you are unclear regarding your needs. Different people have varied needs. Focus on the factors listed above and try to correlate it based on your needs and pick the best product accordingly.
