For questions about identifying, choosing, and using kitchen equipment for heating food.
1
vote
1answer
130 views
Why should you scrub/clean cast iron cookware with salt?
I've seen this a number of times (for example here, or here at cooking.SE), and I do it at home, but I'd like to know for what reason salt is good for cleaning (cast) iron cookware.
I know it's a ...
8
votes
2answers
420 views
Where can I buy borosilicate (Pyrex) bakeware in the U.S.?
Because of the shattering dangers of the apparently inferior lime glass that Pyrex uses for manufacturing in the U.S. as exposed by Consumer Reports, I'd like to replace my Pyrex with borosilicate ...
4
votes
2answers
148 views
Alternative to Food Grade Silicone
I recently bought a new meat grinder and they recommend washing it with hot water, drying it completely, and spraying a food grade silicone to prevent the stainless steel parts from rusting. Can I ...
3
votes
2answers
607 views
Lining a frying pan with aluminum foil to reduce post-cooking cleanup?
I make a lot of stir fry in my frying pan, and I hate cleaning it up. Often, if I do not clean the pan immediately, the stir fry residue (little pieces I have failed to scooped out when moving the ...
6
votes
3answers
469 views
Navigating the different types of cookware - new kitchen advice
I am looking to buy new cookware and I am confused by all the choices I have. I am trying to balance healthyness vs. ease of use vs. taste of prepared food vs. total cost of ownership (in that order).
...
2
votes
4answers
206 views
Do breads always have to be baked in some vessels in an oven? If yes, then what shaped vessels would those be?
Is it even necessary to use a vessel for baking breads (assuming I don't care about the shape of the bread)?
In this link for (example) French bread I saw that the dough is not in liquid form, so it ...
6
votes
4answers
391 views
Using cast iron pans only
Some people use cast iron pans for certain foods or dishes but not much else. I have a beautiful set of copper pans and, like cast iron, they're heavy and cook beautifully but I hate cleaning them. I ...
4
votes
1answer
223 views
Does cooking in a pressure cooking destroy nutrients?
I've read that because of the higher temperature specially vegetables lose more nutrients in a pressure cooker as opposed to a normal cooking method. Is this true?
1
vote
1answer
124 views
How to know whether the default coating on the iron cookware has totally come off?
http://cooking.stackexchange.com/a/29609/6168
But you can't season a pan "on top" of the wax coating. The real seasoning would stick to the wax, and when the wax melts, the seasoning will come ...
0
votes
2answers
145 views
Disposable cookware
So I am moving into a new apartment tonight but the movers do not get here until tomorrow and I just realized that I forgot to bring any of my kitchen stuff down with me.
I have a set of nice ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Prevent scrambled eggs from sticking to stainless steel
I'm having the hardest time preventing scrambled eggs from sticking to stainless steel cookware. I've tried bringing the eggs to room temperature before cooking, slowly heating the pan, loads of ...
1
vote
1answer
352 views
differences between cooktop, range and stove?
I am looking for an apartment to rent. There is one that the agent said has no oven but only something I didn't catch from her speaking. I usually call those round things on the top heated by either ...
-2
votes
1answer
180 views
What are the odds that American household have a rice cooker? [closed]
We started a Kickstarter project of creating an e-book with online videos to show you how to make sushi, from a master sushi chef.
We are wondering what the odds are that an American family has a ...
6
votes
2answers
478 views
Stockpot double as beer brewing pot
I wanted to buy a large stockpot for canning tomato sauce and be able to use the same pot for the double purpose of beer brewing. I'm considering Update International Stainless 40 Qt. stockpot. It has ...
2
votes
1answer
236 views
What are the benefits of stewing on the hob over cooking in the oven?
When slow-cooking something like shin of beef in a gravy, what is the difference between cooking it on the hob and cooking in the oven?
I tend to use the oven for slow-cooking but a lot of recipes ...
0
votes
2answers
385 views
Can I use an induction cooker to restore silica gel's water absorbency?
It was mentioned in an answer to my previous question that silica gel can be heated in the oven to restore its water absorbent properties. I only have access to an induction cooker, so it possible to ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I roast in glass?
All,
Recently we moved house, and took it as an excuse to ditch a bunch of old and dying roasting pans.
We kept some glass trays (suitable for cooking in) though, and have ended up using them for ...
2
votes
2answers
12k views
What kind of cookware is suitable for a glass ceramic stovetop?
I have a glass ceramic stove surface. I need to buy some cookware, but I'm not sure what kind I need to buy.
The manual has the following opinions about what cookware I should use (paraphrased):
...
2
votes
2answers
154 views
Durability of Hard Andonised metal (Aluminum)
http://www.hawkinscookers.com/1.1.5.hawkinsconturaHA.asp
They are hard Andonised but haven't specified the metal used in the body, here.
...
2
votes
2answers
271 views
Do black metal vessels cook food more quickly than normal steel?
http://www.prestigesmartkitchen.com/default/deluxe-hard-anodized-pressure-handi-mini/p-33442-75884410482-cat.html
This is made of Aluminum. Does this make any difference to cooking speed as compared ...
1
vote
1answer
199 views
Foil over cookie sheet over broiling pan?
My wife was cooking a recipe and was confused by instructions to put foil over a cookie sheet which should sit on a broiling pan. Foil is pretty standard in recipes, but why have the sheet on top of ...
2
votes
3answers
857 views
flexible food grade plastics that won't melt at 105 C
I'm in need of a food-safe gasketing material for a maple sap-boiling setup. It needs to be squishy like vinyl tubing but I want to make sure it won't melt or decompose or react with steam.
Any ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
What should be the material of the vessels to be used in an electric oven?
Could you please provide a general guide figure out if a piece of cookware can be used in the oven, based on what material it is made of?
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Can microwave safe glass vessels be used in an electric oven?
Can microwave safe glass vessels be used in an electric oven?
I have this oven: http://www.cromaretail.com/Bajaj-28-Litres-2800TMC-Oven-Toaster-Grill-%28White%29-pc-469-468.aspx
I just checked and ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
How many times can I use a salt block?
I've been reading up on Himalayan pink salt blocks. I am mainly interested in cooking with them, like cast iron. But, I noticed that they are a bit pricey, about $40 to $70. It also seems that they ...
2
votes
1answer
5k views
Are stainless steel frypans oven safe?
I have a Cr-Ni stainless steel frypan which I'd like to toss in the oven. It doesn't have any plastic/wooden components ; the whole thing is SS including the handle.
Is it oven safe?
2
votes
2answers
407 views
How much could I safely heat a content-less cast-iron pan?
To which temperature could I safely heat my cast-iron pan on the stove, without any contents? I don't want to re-season it afterwards. Afterwards, I'd just let the pan cool off in room temperature. ...
16
votes
6answers
26k views
Does ceramic non-stick cookware “fail”, and if so, how?
I've heard of pans with ceramic non-stick surfaces; it seems some reports on internet say they may "fail" in about 6 months.
How can these pans "fail"? Do ceramic-coated pans require ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
What is a good place online to buy quality Sterling Silver Dinnerware? [closed]
I am looking to buy good silver ware both for cooking and serving purposes. Would be helpful to know of some places online which are vetted by the culinary community here.
2
votes
3answers
291 views
What precautions should be taken while cleaning silver utensils?
I have silver cups, plates, and bowls too.
Is it safe to clean them with normal washing powder? Or Does it need some extra attention?
Also, how do I clean the layer of black tarnish/patina ...
4
votes
2answers
341 views
Making cake without oven
In the case that there isn't an oven;
is it possible to make cake on electric cooktop by using basic kitchenware?
4
votes
4answers
288 views
What precautions should be taken while dropping cold vegetables in a hot Teflon cookware?
So, I use Teflon saucepans for cooking vegetables, only.
Tomatoes have to be added after the onions are done. Tomatoes have inherent water in them and are obviously below the pan's temperature.
I am ...
5
votes
4answers
671 views
How to take care of the teflon coated cookware to ensure their long life?
I know the following three rules:
Don't use metal spoons.
Don't put hot teflon utensils in cold water.
Cook on low flame.
Is there anything else important, which is often overlooked?
EDIT 1:
Q: ...
5
votes
1answer
244 views
Using a Dutch Oven as a Heavy Skillet replacement
I don't own a large heavy skillet - the one I do own is small and can't hold much. Is using my Dutch Oven on the stove a reasonable replacement, if I leave the lid off?
4
votes
8answers
2k views
please help identify this mystery cookware
I'm not the lister, I'm a potential buyer. I asked a question about a "Wonder Pot" a bit ago, and this item came up on a search. I don't think it's a wonder pot though. The center hole is ...
3
votes
4answers
405 views
Which cooking apparatus is best to make Croque Monsieur?
I'm looking for a small cooking apparatus that I can use to make Croque Monsieur. I've used this kind of device before but I don't know which words to use to google for it. Here's how I made a ...
2
votes
2answers
753 views
What can I use a tempered glass pot for?
I've recently been thinking about what I can get rid of in my kitchen, and I've been debating throwing out a tempered glass pot like this (without the lid):
It's a piece of Pyrex Visions that I've ...
5
votes
6answers
10k views
Is pyrex safe to use on a gas burner?
There seems to be conflicting views on whether a pyrex dish can be used on a gas burner. Can anybody here provide a definitive answer?
2
votes
1answer
973 views
Frying pan width - from base or rim?
I have a recipe that calls for a frying pan about 20cm across - should I measure from the base, or the top rim?
6
votes
1answer
636 views
Left my cast iron on the hot burner, now what?
So the other day, while baking off excess water after washing, I spaced out and forgot it was there and headed upstairs for say, an hour. When I got back down the pan had a white-ish ring in the ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Cooking on the stove: what is “too hot” for a pan?
I'm a novice cook and often hear about "learning one's stove". Obviously manufacturers, cooking methods, and appliance types vary and so "high" on one stove isn't comparable to another.
That said, ...
5
votes
2answers
825 views
Should you avoid cooling a frying pan with water?
Sometimes after I fry something, I wash it immediately in water because it's a bit easier to wash (before the remains stick to the pan).
Does this damage the pan in any way?
6
votes
3answers
813 views
What's the difference between a French oven and a Dutch oven?
I've been haunting the discount cookware sites looking for Le Creuset pieces that won't put me in the poorhouse. I found two pieces that are similar size and price - one is a French oven and the other ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Why would heating salt in a pan prevent food from sticking?
Quote from www.saltworks.us:
Preventing food from sticking - Rub a pancake griddle with a small bag of salt to prevent sticking and smoking. Sprinkle a little salt in the skillet before frying ...
0
votes
5answers
291 views
What to look for in a pot?
What to look for in a pot. I'm supposing somebody that's just starting to live alone or a couple. Help me complete this list.
Size: small, but not too small. Maybe 2L or 3L.
Material: Stainless ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What is a good brand for teflon pans?
I am going to buy a new teflon pan and seem to run into bad luck with cheaply made ones which flake off too quickly. Also can any good brand teflon pan withstand automatic dishwashers?
12
votes
6answers
9k views
How do I remove turmeric stains from metal/plastic cookware?
As much as I value tumeric for its rumoured cancer-battling qualities, I find its tendency to stain anything it comes into contact with (including 'stainless' steel) discouraging to the point that I ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
where can I purchase a “wonder pot”?
The "wonder pot" is a type of stovetop bakeware that seems to have been popular in Israel during a period of austerity. I'm looking for a (preferably USA based) supplier for a new one.
Here's a link ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Bowed bottom on Stainless Steel fry pan
Is there a way to "fix" my stainless steel fry pan that does not sit flush on my cooktop stove?
16
votes
2answers
1k views
How does thermal shock affect pans made of different materials?
In another question, I had a little comment-discussion with TFD on the effect of shock cooling on pans. In a nutshell, I said that it is bad for the pan, and he said that especially if the pan is made ...
