Advantages of Using Waterless Stainless Steel Cookware

Whether an experienced cook or just a novice, stainless steel cookware will make your life in the kitchen easy and pleasurable. Stainless steel cookware has become increasingly popular. Why? Stainless steel cookware is made up of a mixture of metals. It combines iron, nickel, chromium, and several metals. Because stainless steel by itself is not a good conductor of heat, the additional metals offer the user the best of all worlds. The encapsulated bottoms normally have copper or aluminum components that allow for even distribution of heat. You never have to worry about hot spots!

Stainless Steel Cookware Advantages

The popularity of stainless steel can be attributed to its advantages. They include:

• Surgical stainless steel is both durable and tough. With proper care, it should last for a lifetime. It is not prone to chipping, rusting, or even staining. It won’t dent or scratch easily. You don’t have to worry about particles from the pan getting into your food. While stainless steel cookware is made up of steel and other metal alloys, it is only stainless steel that is on the outer portion of your cookware. Therefore, you will never taste any of the metal alloys in the food that you cook. The non-stick protective coating prevents that from happening.


• Stainless steel is hard and non-porous. This makes it crack proof and leak proof. Because of its surface, it is typically found in hospital environments because it one of the most sterile surfaces. The 304 surgical stainless steel prevents the growth of bacteria because it is corrosion resistant, temperature resistant and is not easily scratched or warped. With proper care, stainless steel cookware will remain looking like new for quite some of time.


• Easy Maintenance. Proper maintenance is not time-consuming; yet, it can insure will look like new 10 to 20 years from now. Stainless steel contains nickel, an alloy that helps it maintain that polished new look.


• Multi-ply stainless steel cookware disperses heat evenly. Stainless steel is not a good conductor of heat. However, the aluminum added to the bottom improves this heat transfer process. This ensures that heat is distributed throughout the pan and food is cooked evenly and quickly.


• Stainless steel cookware is perhaps the safest cookware to use. Unlike Teflon, particles from the pot or pan will never chip off and enter into your foods. You do not have to worry about metal poisoning. However, there is one exception. If you are allergic to nickel, you should avoid using stainless steel cookware.
  

If you use waterless stainless steel cookware, cooking and eating will be a pleasure. Not only will you be cooking healthier because you are using less fats and oils in the food preparation process, but going waterless means that your foods are cooked in their own juices. The result—enhanced flavor and texture with minimal loss of vitamins and minerals.

The set we are currently recommending is Maxam’s 17-piece Waterless Stainless Steel Set. This is one of Maxam’s finest! Cooking will be a dream with this set! This 17 pc. set is considered to be one of the highest quality Steam-Control Surgical Stainless Steel "Waterless" Cookware Sets that Maxam makes. Each piece of this KT17 set is constructed of extra heavy surgical stainless steel and guaranteed to last a lifetime. The 9-element construction spreads the heat quickly and evenly. The 9-ply construction includes the following elements: chrome, nickel, manganese, silicon, aluminum, iron, copper, molybdenum, and vanadium. The Chrome adds longer life, the iron adds strength and the copper adds durability to this quality cookware.

The steam control valve makes "waterless" cooking easy. You can cook healthier in this cookware because it eliminates the need for grease or oil in cooking. To use the steam control valve, start cooking on medium heat (never use high heat). Then, when the valve begins to whistle, close the valve and turn the heat down to low and finish cooking. The 9-element construction allows you to stack cook with this cookware. Begin cooking on individual burners and when the valve whistles, you can stack the pans to finish cooking. The phenolic handles are superbly styled and are resistant to heat, cold and detergents. This set includes a cookbook with instructions and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Waterless Cookware Set Contents:

1.7 qt. covered saucepan

2.5 qt covered saucepan

3.2 qt covered saucepan

7.5 qt. covered roaster


11-3/8" skillet


Double boiler unit with capsule bottom that can also be used as an extra 3 qt pan


5 egg cups


5 hole utility rack

High dome cover for skillet or roaster

Some additional key features about this product:

Stack Cooking - The 9 element construction allows stack cooking with this cookware. Start by cooking on individual burners. When valve whistles, you can stack the pans to finish cooking.
Double Boiler Unit - the double boiler unit has an encapsulated bottom so that it can be place directly on your stove-top as a cooking utensil when not being used as a double boiler unit.
Size - A description of the size of each pot is clearly visible on the bottom of the pan
Handles - The phenolic handles are resistant to heat, cold, and detergents and have been tested for durability in ovens up to 350 degrees. However, the manufacturer does not recommend placing the pots in an oven. They are really made to be used on a stove top. This cookware actually allows you to bake food right on top of your stove. Each handle is molded with a large eyelet that permits you to hang your utensils. Also, for convenient storage, you can invert the cover, nest it in the proper pan, and hang or stack your cookware.


This set is a great all-around set and will serve you well and it is currently selling at a great price--$234.95. If you have an induction stove, however, you will need special cookware. We have a model KTULTRA that is similar to this one. However, it has special carbonized steel in the inner layers and is more expensive.

We hope you found this information helpful. Click on http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/ for other great cooking tips and recipes and great deals on waterless cookware! We have included some great waterless cooking recipes on our site http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/healthywaterlessrecipes.html This month we are featuring a fantastic Father’s Day Menu plus some great summer chicken recipes!

Interested in Purchasing Stainless Steel or Waterless Stainless Steel Cookware?

If you are considering the purchase of stainless steel or waterless surgical stainless steel cookware, the article below written by a reviewer on ebay might be helpful. If you have additonal questions, please visit my website: http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/


Stainless Steel & Waterless Cookware Buying Guide



Cookware buying is a major purchase. Cookware is expensive and since your choice of cookware may affect your family's health, you need to choose carefully. As the industry evolves, there are all kinds of terminologies that can be quite confusing. Manufacturers and marketers are using all kinds of gimmicks to entice you to buy their products. The purpose of this guide is to explain the different terms used so that you can make a more informed decision.

This is a fairly in-depth guide. However if you're pressed for time, I'll highlight the main points here so you don't have to read the whole guide.

Quick Tips for buying ANY stainless steel cookware:

Surgical stainless steel (most stainless steel cookware already fall into this category)
Multi-ply - 3 ply is good, 5 ply is better, 7 ply is awesome but 7 ply can be physically heavy and may not be suitable for arthritis sufferers. (I personally use a 5 ply and it's quite heavy, so 7 ply is not a necessity. I'm simply mentioning what's available.)

Encapsulated bottom - This will help to spread the heat quickly and evenly and avoid "hot spots."

Lifetime Warranty - All good cookware sets come with a lifetime warranty. The warranties are generally limited to normal use and knob replacements are not covered. Please note that if you buy one of the big "name brand"cookware sets on eBay, they will not honor your warranty. They don't like eBay sellers competing with their distributors.

Quick Tips for buying waterless cookware:

All of the above points PLUS a steam control method. Some waterless cookware have a thermometer to regulate the heat, others have a steam control valve. I've used both and the steam control method is by far the superior method. The steam control system will whistle to let you know that it's time to reduce the heat, so there's less pot-watching.

As you look for the perfect combination of value and quality, you may be tempted to believe that one has to be sacrificed for the other but this is not always the case. This guide is not written to promote any brand while discrediting another. The information contained here will apply regardless of the cookware brand.


There are some cookware (name) brands out there that make great cookware. There is no denying that. The big drawback is that only a small percentage of the population can afford them. Does this mean that the rest of us must settle for inferior cookware? Absolutely not!

Stainless steel is an iron alloy and the most popular metal used in cookware for a variety of reasons. I’ll go into these in depth shortly but first let us briefly touch on a few other metals that are commonly used in cookware.

Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor, second only to copper. However, it’s not as durable as stainless steel. It tends to react adversely with acids (tomatoes, for example) causing a change in the flavor. There were “rumors” that suggested that Aluminum caused Alzheimer’s disease. However, as of this writing, that has not been proven and has been discredited by the FDA. Aluminum is lightweight and food tends to burn easily. It’s also porous and subject to dents, scratches and discoloration. In today’s world, aluminum is always used in conjunction with another metal, usually stainless steel.

Copper is the best heat conducting metal used in cookware. Hence most of the copper cookware sets are copper-bottom.However, it’s not a “clean” metal. Copper cookware is lined on the inside with tin or stainless steel to provide a sanitary cooking surface. Tin will wear down with time and so stainless steel is the preferred “liner” used in copper cookware because of its durability. Although very beautiful to look at, copper cookware is also very expensive and high maintenance. It requires proper cleaning and polishing to keep looking beautiful.

Titanium is a highly reactive metal in its bare form. When used in cookware it’s usually lined with titanium dioxide to make it non-reactive with foods. Titanium is very thin and light weight. It also doesn’t conduct heat very efficiently. It heats very quickly and produces hot spots. It’s very good for camping utensils (when you need something lightweight), and woks where the cooking method requires constant stirring. Again, stainless steel is often used in conjunction with titanium.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the recurring theme here. Stainless Steel. Stainless Steel is the all around best value in cookware for many reasons:

Durability – It’s one of the toughest metals used in cookware. It’s resistant to chipping, denting, cracking and nicking. It does not wear out.

Corrosion Resistant – It can withstand a wide range of weather conditions without corrosion, staining or tarnishing. If stains appear with long term use, they can easily be removed with stainless steel cleaners that are readily available.

Sanitary – Stainless steel is non-porous, so there are no pores to harbor bacteria.
Easy to Clean – Stainless steel cookware can usually be easily cleaned with a sponge and soap water. It’s also dishwasher safe.

Protects Flavor - Whether you’re a professional chef or just cook for your family, you’ll appreciate the fact that stainless steel cookware will protect (not alter) the most delicate flavors. Temperature Resistant – Can go from the freezer to the oven.

Low maintenance – Stainless steel doesn’t require any special care. You use it, you wash it and you’re done!

It’s Beautiful – It’s the most attractive metal used in cookware. It looks good in any décor. The satin-like interiors and highly-polished exteriors will look great for years with little care.

Stainless steel has one big drawback, though. It doesn’t conduct heat as efficiently as aluminum and copper. This is why you’ll see all GOOD stainless steel cookware having a layer of aluminum or copper in the bottom layers. With the addition of aluminum or copper, stainless steel cookware is simply the best value for money.



18/0-18/8-18/10???


As mentioned before, stainless steel is an iron alloy. An alloy is simply a mixture of metals. Stainless steel is mostly the base metal of iron mixed with chromium and nickel. It is the chromium that gives stainless steel its well-known qualities of rust and corrosion resistance and durability. Nickel provides additional rust resistance, hardness, and high-polish capacity.

The first number 18 refers to the chromium content. Stainless steel can have as little as 12% but 18% is standard in cookware.

The second number, 8 for example refers to the nickel content. The higher the second number, the better. Cookware that is 18/10 will be more resistant to corrosion and will have a more shiny finish. However, 18/8 is an acceptable mixture. 18/0 is generally avoided unless it will be used on an induction stove top or in the oven for roasting, etc.

How to tell? Most cookware listings will tell you the type or composition of the stainless steel. T304 (surgical steel) is a feature that tends to be highly advertised. Most cookware sets are made with this grade of steel and better. If it doesn’t say, simply ask the seller before you buy.

There used to be a fairly easy "magnet test" to tell whether or not you were buying 18/0 cookware but that no longer works. The reason is that many cookware manufacturers are adapting their cookware for use on induction stoves as well as conventional stoves. What they do is add a layer of magnetic steel to the cookware, so the magnet test has become unreliable.

Surgical Steel – It simply means that the steel is of the same quality like that which the medical industry uses. Most of the stainless steel cookware on the market will fall into this category. “Surgical Steel” is often used when referring to T304 (or Type 304) stainless steel..

Ply – What does it mean? A ply is simply a layer of metal. The more “plies” a cookware set has, the thicker the bottom which helps to spread the heat evenly and prevents “hot spots.” The best cookware will be at least 5 ply. There is also 7 ply cookware which is great. It has a nice heft to it but as far as cooking, you’ll probably not notice any difference (besides weight) in 5 or 7 ply cookware sets. Your food will taste just as good! :-) Multi-ply cookware also lets you stack cook thus saving time and energy. You can actually stack the pots atop each other to finish cooking. Most popular store bought brands are 3 ply. This is perfectly acceptable if it's a non-waterless cookware set. Please note that you can't stack cook with 3 ply cookware.


How About Elements? So what about all the “elements” you see advertised? A major advertising gimmick! Pure hype! All cookware is made up of many elements. The number of elements does not matter as much as what those elements are. Some elements may enhance the cookware but many others have no added value. Again, it’s not the quantity of elements but the quality that matters.

Waterless Cookware:

This is probably the healthiest, most energy efficient means of cooking. During “waterless” cooking, you (sometimes) use water but very little. The cookware converts the water into steam and your food is steam-cooked.

If you’re cooking dry foods like rice, you’ll need a small amount of water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pot.

You can steam vegetables without using any water. The vegetables will cook in their natural juices. There’s no straining, so no loss of nutrients. This method preserves the natural nutrients, flavor and colors of your food.

This method of cooking takes some getting used to but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never go back to conventional cookware.

Waterless Cookware MUST haves:

I see all kinds of cookware being advertised as waterless and one look at them tells me they’re not. There are three basic features that any and all waterless cookware set must have:

Thick, encapsulated multi-layer bottom. (Must be 5 ply or better)
A steam control valve in the cover or elsewhere on the lid (or some form of steam control) ***see note below.

Stainless steel on the inside and the outside.
***Note: Some waterless cookware manufacturers elect to use a thermometer in the lid to regulate the temperature and steam. These sets are generally less expensive but require more "pot watching" as you have to look at the thermometer and adjust the heat as necessary. (With the steam control valve, you will hear a whistle which lets you know that the heat can be reduced or turned off completely).


The Warranty

The rule of thumb is that the more expensive the cookware, the better the warranty. Manufacturers who offer a lifetime warranty demonstrate confidence in their cookware and you (usually) won't have any problems with their cookware. However, if you do, you will most likely have to return the defective item to them at your expense for repair or replacement. Chances are, though, that you'll never have to enforce your warranty.

Most store bought cookware do not come with any kind of warranty although the store may have a return policy for defective items. Cookware in the under $500.00 may have a limited lifetime warranty. Non-metal parts are often not covered. Cookware costing $500.00 or more should have a full "bumper-to-bumper" lifetime warranty.

Ready to Buy? As your Mamma told you, “you’d better shop around.” That said, when shopping around, you need to compare apples to apples to make sure you’re making the right decision. For instance, you can’t compare a name brand 3 ply set to an off-brand 7 ply set. That’s not a fair comparison.

Consider this: Are you willing to spend $3000.00 (or more) for a popular brand when you can get the same or better quality for $300.00? In other words are you buying the name brand or the quality?

Regardless of brand, here’s what to look for when buying your next cookware set:

5 Ply or 7 Ply for waterless cooking (3 ply is okay for non-waterless cooking but won't allow you to stack cook)

T304 Stainless Steel (also known as surgical steel)

18/8 is good; 18/10 is better (18/0 or AISI 430 if you’re using an induction stove)
Extra thick multi-ply bottom (Often referred to as "encapsulated" or "sandwich" bottom.

Steam control valve – ONLY if you’re looking for a waterless set

Among the well known manufacturers of waterless cookware are NatureSeal, HealthSmart, Maxam, BelKraft, World’s Finest, Chef’s Secret and West Bend.
This article came from http://reviews.ebay.com/. I hope you will find the information useful. If you would like further information, visit our website: www.thegourmetscookware.com