Cook & Chef Tips & Tricks
Pressure cookers, your best allies in the kitchen
Have you ever asked yourself what the most appropriate kitchen utensils are? Have you ever wondered whether a cast iron frying pan is better than a stainless steel one? The answer will depend on many factors, but mainly on what kind of cooker you have and what dishes you usually prepare
Can you imagine cooking your next meal in a turtle shell, or having to submerge hot stones into a pit in order to boil water? It may seem far-fetched, but the first humans cooked with whatever they had. Fortunately, today we have different and innovative utensils that respond to our cooking requirements.
If you want to rely on a good cookery “toolbox” you need to understand the logic behind each utensil. That is why we talked with José Miguel Merino, who has been the Purchasing Director at Bergner Europe for the past 11 years and more, so that he could explain to us what we need to know before buying any kitchenware product. For him, there are five key issues.
Firstly, you should know what the components are: handles, finishing touches, body, edges, base, sides… Each one of these influences the functionality of the utensil. For example, the vertical sides of a frying pan are ideal for boiling on a low heat, while open-sided or bell-shaped pans help to reduce sauces and stocks that are prepared using evaporation.
The second thing to keep in mind is the material, as each has their own pros and cons. Cast iron is very resistant and distributes heat evenly, but it is quite heavy and takes longer to heat up; it is very useful for cooking at a low heat, for example. Stainless steel preserves the flavours well – it is ideal for stews, sauces and soups – but tends to be less economical. On the other hand, aluminium has excellent heat conductivity, but tends to lose its shape easily.
It is also important to know what type of cooker you use. If you use induction, the best frying pans will be those with a full induction base or edge-to-edge.
How do you plan to use the kitchenware? This is an essential question, as each utensil is ideal for different types of cooking and preparation. Frying pans are for frying, sautéing or searing; saucepans are for creating and reducing sauces and cooking small vegetables; while a deep pan is your best choice for roasting, stewing, deglazing, poaching and frying.
Lastly, Knowing how many people you are cooking for will help you to choose the size of your kitchenware set. Deep frying pans with a wide base will give you maximum conduction of heat, which may make it the most useful if you are cooking for a number of people.
We hope that this short guide will make it easier for you to buy your kitchenware. And if you have any questions
