If you asked us to build a kitchen setup from scratch, we can say for certain that stainless steel would be one of the first pieces added. Wonderfully versatile, long-lasting, and relatively low-maintenance, a great piece of stainless steel cookware is well worth the investment. But with the sheer number of stainless steel products—and huge range of prices—on offer, how do you choose the best one?

Please allow us to be your guide to stainless steel. As an award-winning producer of cookware, Stainless Steel Clad Cookware, we know what quality construction entails. From the types of metals used to why the full clad pan is the best choice, here’s how to shop for new stainless steel cookware.

• What are the benefits of stainless steel cookware?
• Main characteristics of stainless steel to be considered
• Are you ready to shop?

What are the benefits of stainless steel cookware?

At its best, stainless steel cookware is a joy to cook with – it is not only an excellent heat conductor, but also exceptionally durable.

Durability and lifespan

Not all stainless steel is the same. Stainless steel cookware, like the cookware itself, is made from the following materials: 18/10 stainless steel, the highest grade, is particularly strong and durable because it contains a higher percentage of chromium.

Non-reactive surface

Stainless steel,especially high-grade stainless steel, is a non reactive material, which means it is more resistant to corrosion rust than other types of metals.
This also means that your cookware will not react with acidic components such as tomatoes or wine, which can produce a metallic taste in cast iron, carbon steel, or other reactive cookware materials.

Easy to maintain

Cleaning stainless steel is very simple. Unlike materials such as carbon steel or unprocessed cast iron, you don’t need to worry about peeling off seasonings or scratching coatings (although you can use sharp tools or knives to cut ingredients in the pot to scrape the surface). No matter how dirty or burnt the stainless steel looks after cooking, you can almost always restore its original luster.

Excellent heat distribution and retention ability

Although stainless steel itself is not a good thermal conductor, it is. ”Coated or layered with more conductive metals such as aluminum, it has excellent thermal conductivity. This type of coating also helps with insulation and heat dissipation, so your pot will not experience hot spots or uneven cooking of food. When you purchase stainless steel cookware, make sure you are looking for coated cookware, such as Made In’s 5-layer stainless steel coated cookware, which thousands of chefs and millions of home chefs rely on for its professional grade heat distribution and grilling ability.

Main stainless steel characteristics to consider

Here are several key quality indicators that can help you choose the best stainless steel cookware.

Material quality and grade

As we mentioned earlier, stainless steel comes in a range of different grades. The highest 18/10 indicates a higher ratio of chromium to nickel, which not only makes the pot more durable but also safe for the oven – an important reason why stainless steel is so common in restaurant kitchens. There are other grades of stainless steel, such as 18/8 and 18/0. These are lower grade materials that are more prone to rusting over time.

Most high-quality stainless steel cookware is also suitable for induction cookers. Please make sure to search for the phrase “induction compatible” on the packaging, or as an induction symbol that looks like a roll of wire. However, don’t stop there! When purchasing induction compatible cookware, you want the cookware to have an induction layer built-in, as this will provide more uniform heat distribution on the induction stove. For example, the 5-layer cookware bottom layer of Globe Home cookware is a magnetic layer, making it not only induction compatible but also induction optimized.

Cooking utensil layer

You usually see stainless steel pots, pans, and utensils described as “three layered” or “five layered”. The “layer” of a flat bottomed pan refers to the steel being covered with a more conductive metal such as aluminum – for example, each piece is made in the United States. The stainless steel cladding series is made of pure aluminum, aluminum alloy, and 18/10 stainless steel cladding. The numbers related to ply indicate how many layers are wrapped together – in our example, there are 5 layers. Generally speaking, the more layers there are, the better, so 5 layers are better than 3 layers.

Globe Home’s five layer stainless steel makes a durable cookware that is more resistant to warping and dents, and performs well in heat dissipation.

Handle and lid

Stainless steel pots or pans should have a sturdy and comfortable handle, as well as an “auxiliary handle” for larger baking pans and frying pans. Because stainless steel cookware is often left on the stove for long periods of time, the handle and lid can become very hot, which is why we have added a calm handle to Globe Home to add a layer of safety to our stainless steel clad series.

Are you ready to go shopping?

A good stainless steel cookware will never disappoint you. Because we have seen all the features of this durable, multifunctional cookware – from grilling a perfect steak to simmering chicken soup – we want to ensure that what you are buying is the best.

Each stainless steel coated cookware manufactured is made of professional grade materials, providing a restaurant level cooking experience every time.