The cookware in your kitchen has served you for some time. You have enjoyed preparing meals on them that people couldn’t get enough off. You have used to the cookware to try new recipes as well as whipping up old ones.
But the cookware has begun to show signs of deterioration.
There are some things that you can do to extend the lifespan of your favorite pots and pans, but a time will come when you will have to replace them. Read on to understand the best cookware replacement practices.
Invest in the right cooking set
Top-quality cookware can last up to 5 years with proper care and maintenance and thus, you will not have to make replacements every so often.
Good quality cookware is able to withstand the rigors of regular cooking without warping or deforming and this way, you will be able to use them for a very long time. Staining has been highlighted as one of the reasons for cookware replacement but with proper cleaning, you will get the cookware back to their best.
By applying the best cleaning practices based on the type of material used to make the cookware, your pots will be able to maintain their quality for long.
Cookware experts are against the use of metal utensil in meal preparation as they scratch the surface to leave ugly scratch marks.
Most cooking mishaps on good quality cookware can be fixed and as such, there is no need to panic even when your pots get scorched or burned. Rust on your cookware can be fixed with proper treatment and this highlights just how important it is to invest in good quality cookware.
However, there are some damages that cannot be fixed and should you notice them on your cookware, then it is time for a replacement. Below are some of the instances that call for cookware replacement.
1. The cookware is warped.
When cookware is exposed to sudden temperature changes, the surface expands and contracts irregularly to cause deformation. The surface, therefore, takes an irregular shape and this will result in an uneven cooking experience.
This irregularity doesn’t pose a health risk but it greatly compromises the quality of your meals. Your meals will cook with hot and cold spots and this will make them quite unpleasant.
When your cookware gets deformed, there is nothing you can do to fix it and this calls for a replacement if you want to keep enjoying wonderful meals.
To check if your cookware has warped, place it on a flat surface and push one of the sides. If it wobbles, then the bottom has warped and it is no longer suitable for cooking.
2. The non-stick surface is scratched.
When the non-stick coating on your pan gets scratched, then it is time to get rid of it and buy another one. This coating ensures that food doesn’t stick to the surface when preparing your meals and when it peels off, the cookware will not be able to serve the purpose that you bought it for.
In fact, the loose coating will fall into the meals that you are preparing and this form of contamination can cause huge health complications.
There is little that you can do to restore the non-stick coating on your pans and when you do find some on your pans, then it’s time to say goodbye.
3. Damaged or broken handles.
The handles on your cookware help you hold onto it when cooking.
When they get broken, it will not be possible to hold onto the pot when cooking and this can result in accidents in the kitchen.
You can easily spill the food you are cooking or injure yourself as you hold onto a damaged handled.
The handle on your pots and pans could also get damaged when they are exposed to high temperatures in an oven.
If your cookware has not been certified as oven-safe, don’t place it in an oven as this can result in damages to the handles. Such damages cannot be fixed and when your cookware gets to this state, get a replacement.
4. The core metal of your stainless steel pots is visible.
The core of stainless steel cookware is usually copper or aluminum that adds substance and depth to the cookware.
The stainless steel exteriors add shine and luster to cookware to give it an attractive look.
Through continued use, the stainless steel exterior wears off to expose the inner copper or aluminum core. These elements are quite reactive and they will react with the meals you are preparing to cause discoloration.
They also rust easily and you could end up easting rust or corrosion when you prepare meals in a stainless steel pan that has an exposed core.
When your cookware gets to this point, a replacement would be ideal so as to maintain the best health standards in your kitchen.
Conclusion
Replacing the cookware in your kitchen is an expensive affair but sometimes there is nothing that you can do to restore them.
Getting the right cooking set will greatly increase their lifespan thus reducing the replacement intervals but all the same, you need to be on the lookout for signs that your cookware needs replacing.
Above are useful tips in that regard.
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