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Pots and pans may be made of various
materials, aluminum, enamelware, enameled cast iron, stainless steel,
ceramic, and nonstick metal.
Everyone has a favorite.
Aluminum
is preferred by many experienced cooks because it is moderately priced
and is a good heat conductor. It heats faster and is useful in quick
cooking. Unfortunately, some people complain about it being difficult
to clean.
Earthenware
is indispensable for numerous preparations and holds heat well. It will
break with sudden temperature changes.
Actually, a similar final result may be obtained from one material or
another, with some exceptions.
Nonstick coated,
from a practical point of view, in pots and pans as well as pie and
cake pans, have the great advantage of being as easy to wash as dishes.
They may simply be emerged in soapy water and cleaned with a soft sponge.
It is unnecessary to use abrasive products and they can be easily be
washed in the dishwasher.
We will, however, pass along a few valuable tips:
Aluminum pans
must be watched closely as food will heat quickly and can easily stick
to the pan.
Enameled pots have the same problems, but moreover, they must be handled
very carefully as they chip easily when banged on a hard surface or
if they are dropped. They should never be cleaned with abrasives.
Cast iron
is non stick by nature, (when new it should be seasoned by grease with
a little oil and leave in a hot oven for half an hour). It is easy to
care for, just wash and wipe dry, and should be stored in a dry place,
in a light or dark place.
When food burns or when longer cooking is necessary and food sticks
to the bottom of the pan, the best way to clean it is to boil some water
with a little dishwasher soap (which wont foam too much and will
not boil over, rather than regular dish liquid,). This method is also
effective for pots in which polenta or rice have been cooked and stuck
to the bottom.
Enameled pots
may be renewed when they lose their shine. Just fill it with water,
add a little liquid bleach and then wash and rinse well.
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