{"id":20283,"date":"2021-02-01T05:08:37","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T05:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/?p=20283"},"modified":"2022-11-03T23:32:53","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T23:32:53","slug":"stainless-steel-buyers-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/stainless-steel-buyers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Consider Before Buying Stainless Steel Cookware [+ Why Buy Nickel-Free]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
What’s the best stainless steel cookware? So many choices and things to ponder, like cost and quality. Generally, you’ll want good quality items at an affordable price. There are a few other variables to weigh up, which I cover in this guide to choosing the best stainless steel cookware for you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n What is stainless steel? Stainless steel is an alloy of several metals with about 13% or more chromium and 0 to 10% nickel. The chromium inhibits rust and corrosion. Nickel is added for shine and polish, for aesthetics and ease of clean up.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the benefits of stainless steel cookware? There are multi benefits of stainless steel cookware, which include rust and chip resistance, high heat use, durability, and compared to some others, a healthy choice in cookware.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They are easy to maintain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stainless steel is a lighter material for pans than cast iron<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an example: My 10″ 3ply stainless steel frying pan weighs in at just under 3 lb. Compare this to my smaller 8.5″ cast iron skillet, which weighs a good 4 lb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s both the versatility and durability of stainless steel cookware that makes them a part of many folk’s kitchen arsenal. Whether it’s saut\u00e9ing, frying, browning, searing, or slow simmer of delicious sauces, stainless steel will serve you well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They are tough in that they will last you a lifetime with care. Stainless steel cookware resists chipping, scratches, dents, and dings and is suitable for all cooktops (including induction if it has a magnetic grade stainless steel base).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recommend using non-metal utensils to ensure the cooking surface stays intact and to avoid marking the finish. See my guide to choosing stainless steel vs nonstick cookware.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some premium quality brands are safe to use in oven temperatures up to 800 \u00baF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you are ever done with these, you can recycle them<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also read: <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to choose stainless steel cookware? When buying stainless steel cookware, I would look for the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrote an overview of stainless steel vs other cookware<\/a> that you might like to read. I’ve also compared stainless steel to using pure ceramic in the kitchen<\/a> to help you choose the right cookware for you.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stainless steel can handle high heat. Are stainless steel pans safe in a fast oven? What will determine the oven-safe upper limit of temperature of the cookware as a whole: the lids and handles in terms of the material of their design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrote about this in my article on whether that pot can go in the oven<\/a>. Look for pots and pans with stainless steel handles if you want the opportunity to use it with high heat oven settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For convenience, most of us want a dishwasher safe option when it comes to cleanup of cookware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is stainless steel cookware safe in the dishwasher? Not all stainless steel cookware sets are dishwasher safe. It varies from brand to brand, so it’s worth checking this feature out and consider how important it is to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dishwashing can discolor stainless steel, though this can be temporary, as I explain in my article<\/a>, which includes what to do to fix it<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for high quality stainless steel cookware if you want the healthiest cookware material<\/a> in this range. If you’re looking to buy a stainless steel set, it’s got to be food grade quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The grade is sometimes stamped on the bottom of the pan. It’s written as fractions, e.g., 18\/8 and 18\/10.<\/em> The first number (18) indicates the chromium (Cr) percentage and the other is the nickel (Ni).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 316 vs 304 cookware<\/strong>: The food grade quality alloy of 18\/10 or 18\/8, equals the 304 SAE\/AISI (AISI:American Iron and Steel Institute), whereas high grade food and surgical stainless steel cookware is 316. The 316 stainless steel cookware<\/strong> uses 18\/10 grade but with a small amount of molybdenum added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Beware of the 14\/4 or 14\/1 grade as it is not as corrosion-resistant as 18\/8 or 18\/10. It has manganese substituting for nickel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 400 series stainless steel cookware correspond to the induction compatible<\/strong> range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is 18 10 stainless steel good or bad? The ratio 18\/10, like 18\/8, is a 304 food-grade stainless steel and is the best stainless steel pots and pans to buy for durability<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from chromium and nickel, other elements of the 304 stainless steel (18\/8 or 18\/10), albeit in minuscule proportions, are carbon, manganese, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen, according to Unified Alloys<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBenefits of stainless steel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lightweight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Versatile <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Super durable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Heat resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recyclable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to look for in stainless steel cookware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Oven safe temperatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dishwasher safe or not<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Food-grade stainless steel — yes!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
List of food grade stainless steel cookware markings: showing culinary needs in quality<\/h4>\n\n\n
Other alloy composition in 304 stainless steel:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n