Cooking with Stainless Steel Roaster

Do you use your stainless steel roaster often or just a few times a year on special holiday occasions?

Roaster is not only used for roasting turkey on special occasions, but is also useful as an additional cookware and can be used as often as we like.  Roaster can be used for roasting turkey or a large portion of any kind of meat.   Roasting is a simple way of cooking meat and usually yielded a tender interior and browned the exterior.  One aspect of using a roaster is that while the meat is roasting, we're freed to do any other cooking tasks.  Roasting meat is easy with the following steps by steps to prepare your meal.

• Prepare your meat.  Before roasting, the meat should be already trimmed, tied and seasoned, and seared.

• Preheat your oven to suggested roasting temperature.  Usually, the standard temperature for roasting is 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  However, the lower the heat of the oven, the better the final roasting meat will be.  At a lower temperature, the meat will take longer to cook but will produce more flavor and moisture.  Nevertheless, never roast meat at a temperature below 200 degrees F (93 degrees C).

• Place the meat on the rack and in the middle of the roaster.  Leave about 2-3 inches from the edges of the roaster all around the meat.  This allows the heat to circulate and cook the meat evenly.

• Cover the roaster with the lid and place it on the center rack of the preheated oven.   Roast the meat until its internal temperature is reached.  The internal temperature depends on what kind of meat you're roasting.  Most meat thermometers have standard internal temperature for each type of cooking meat.

• Let the meat rest in the roaster for about 5-10 minutes after remove it from the oven.  Transfer the meat to a platter and allow it to rest for another five minutes.  Resting the meat after roasting will help to distribute the natural juices throughout the meat.

• Remove the string from the exterior of the meat.  Be cautious as the meat might be still hot.

• Slice the meat and serve.

What kind of roaster do you have?  Stainless steel roaster or aluminium roaster?  Start using your roaster often and enjoy the experience cooking when preparing a delicious roasting dish for your meal!  Don't have a roasting pan yet, browse roaster to find one that fits your needs.

  

How to Restore Discoloration on Stainless Steel Cookware

Cooking on high heat can cause brown or blue stains on stainless steel cookware.  Burnt food, if not removed, also cause the stains when the pot or pan is reheated.  Mineral solids in water, over time will leave water stains on stainless cookware as well.  Bar Keepers Friend and white vinegar are often used to restore the discoloration from stainless steel cookware.

Bar Keepers Friend

Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) is a premium cleanser that works without chlorine bleach which can be used on stainless steel.  BKF can be purchased online or at local stores at the household cleaning aisle and can be found in either liquid or powder. 

• Make sure the cookware surface is wet before applying BKF onto the surface then lightly rub in circulation with a wet soft cloth where the stains present.  If using powder BKF, sometimes it's a good idea to mix the powder with water to turn it into a paste form before rubbing in order to remove stubborn stains.  Also, leaving BKF on the wet cookware surface for a while before rubbing would make the stains gone off easily. 

• When the stains are disappeared, rinse the cookware through warm water and wash it with soap to wash off all chemical residues. 

• Finally, rinse the cookware thoroughly with hot water and use dry clean towel to wipe it completely.

White vinegar

• Fill the discolored stainless steel cookware with one cup of vinegar and add water as needed to cover the stains. 

• Boil the vinegar water mixture for about five minutes then allow it to cool down completely. 

• Wash stainless steel cookware with soap and hot water using a soft dish wash cloth or a nonabrasive pad. 

• When done cleaning, rinse the stainless steel cookware thoroughly with hot water and dry it completely with a clean towel.

Best of all, in order to avoid discoloration, remember not to put stainless steel pots and pans over high heat.  It is recommended once the pots and pans are hot after preheating, maintain medium or medium-low for cooking.  Clean pots and pans after each use and wipe it with dry clean towels would certainly help the cookware remain spotless.

Do you have any other tips in removing the discoloration?  We appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Making Scrambled Eggs with Stainless Steel Pan

Do you worry that eggs will stick on your stainless steel pan?

As a matter of fact, there's no need to worry as there's no reason you should hesitate to cook eggs with your stainless pan.  Cooking eggs in stainless steel pan or skillet is simple and easy.  To make scrambled eggs, you'll need to have eggs (suggesting 3 eggs per serving), cooking oil, salt and pepper to taste and a spatula.  Before cooking, make sure your pan or skillet has been seasoned.

• Prepare your eggs before cooking.  Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl.  Thin the eggs mixture with either milk or water.  Use approximately one teaspoon of milk or water per egg.  Mixing eggs with the liquid will make the cooked scrambled eggs more tender.  Whisk the egg mixture until well combined.

• Preheat your pan/skillet on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes or until you feel the hot air when putting the hand over the pan/skillet.

• Put in enough cooking oil to cover the bottom of the pan/skillet then immediately turn the heat down to medium-low and pour the egg mixture in.  Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.

• Let the eggs begin to set before stirring the egg mixture.

• Use the spatula to scrape the eggs from the edge of the pan to the center, forming large soft curds.  Continue scraping your spatula along the bottom of the pan to redistribute the eggs as they cook.

• When the eggs look wet but are no longer liquid, gently mound the eggs into the center of the pan/skillet.

• Turn off the heat and leave the pan/skillet on the stove.  The heat from the pan will continue cooking the eggs.

• Transfer scrambled eggs to a plate and serve.

The key to perfection is that you'll need low, gentle heat and patience in order to make good moist scrambled eggs.  You stainless steel pan also needs to be seasoned and preheated before cooking.  The cooking oil layer serves as non-stick coating as well as adding flavor to the eggs.

Looking for stainless pan and skillet?  Browse stainless steel cookware to find out more.

Seasoning New Stainless Steel Pan

Stainless steel cookware is well-known for its corrosion and scratch resistance. Taking a good care of it from the first use and thereafter would help to maintain its durability.  Seasoning stainless steel pan is one of the most essential things you could do to keep your new pan cooking well and maintaining its shiny looking.  Seasoning the pan would help to protect it from corroding.  The seasoned layer also acts as a non-stick coating.  The following steps are instructions on how to season your new stainless steel pan.

• Wash your pan with soap and warm water using a wash cloth or non-abrasive sponge.

• Rinse your pan thoroughly with hot water after cleaning.

• Wipe it completely with dry clean towel.

• Coat inside the pan with oil and use paper towels to spread the oil throughout the pan.

• Put the pan on the stove and set the heat to medium.

• When the oil starts smoking, take the pan off the stove immediately.

• Let the pan cool down.

• Wipe out the oil with paper towel.  Your pan is seasoned and ready for use.

Seasoning stainless steel pan would help to keep the pan cook well and maintain its durability.  Cleaning the pan after each use and then seasoning it to make it ready for the next would help to maintain the pan at its best performance.  With proper care and preparation, your pan would look as new as it was first brought home for the years to come.  Looking for a new pan, browse stainless steel cookware to find out more.

Choosing Stainless Steel Cookware

All stainless steel cookware is made differently.  When it's time to look for a new cookware, depending on your needs for everyday cooking or special occasion, there are many factors to consider.

• Look for stainless steel cookware that is more resistant based on the content of nickel.

Stainless steel cookware often contains 18% of chromium with either 10% or 8% of nickel or lower.  The content of chromium and nickel in stainless cookware also refers as 18/10 or 18/8, etc.  The lower nickel content reflects the higher corrosive rate, less durable cookware.

• Look for aluminium or copper-coated base stainless cookware.

The aluminium or copper-coated bottom increases the cookware's performance in spreading the heat evenly thus providing better heat conduction. 

• Aluminium-base vs. copper-base stainless steel cookware.

Depending on your cooking needs, determine which one will fit best.  Aluminium-base takes longer time to heat up but retains cooking temperature longer while copper-base is quickly in heating up and cooling down. 

• Look for the disc thickness for better heat conduction.

For excellent heat distribution, choose aluminium disc thickness between 3.0 mm and 5.0 mm.  A good copper cookware will have the disc thickness from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.

• Determine if tri-ply is necessary.

Ply refers to the layer of metal used to construct the cookware.  The most popular tri-ply is stainless steel with aluminium.  In this type, the aluminum core is sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel which provides better heat conduction and durability.  It also has a classy look and mirrored finish.  Keep in mind that the more layers of metals in the cookware, the thicker and heavier the pot or pan is, and the more expensive the price it tends to be.

Review these suggestions and choose the best cookware that meets your budget and cooking needs.  Knowing what you want and what you can afford, the pot and pan you purchase is worth the investment for your everyday cooking entertainment.  Ready to look for a set or pot or pan, browse stainless steel cookware to find one that meets your needs.

How to Use and Care for Stainless Steel Cookware

To maintain your stainless steel cookware, follow these tips to use and care for stainless steel.

Wash before first use
Before using the pots and pans for the first time, make sure to wash it in soap and hot water with a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge.  After washing, rinse it through hot water thoroughly and wipe it completely with clean dry towels.

Preheat before cooking
It is recommended that the pot or pan be preheated before cooking.  Put your pot or pan on medium heat for a few minutes until the base is hot before adding foods.

Frying 
Preheat your pan as recommended before adding oil to it.  Add enough oil or butter to cover the base of your pan then add the food.  After adding the food to pan frying, let your food cooked until it reaches the achieved cooking level without disturbing.  As it's cooking, the food's natural sugars caramelized on the cooked surface developed great flavors and lift the food off the cooking surface naturally. 

Sticking prevention
To prevent sticking when frying or sauté, pay attention at the set heat.  This will vary depends on what type of stove you're using.  When adding your food into frying pan, listen for a sizzling sound when it touches the pan.  This indicates that the pan is hot enough and that the food is cooking as it makes contact, and that a natural barrier is created to prevent sticking.  If the frying sound is more cracking than sizzling when the food initially in contact with the pan, it indicates that the heat is too high and sticking may occur.  Aluminium or copper-based stainless steel pan has good heat conduction when preheated, thus it is best to maintain medium or medium-low heat when frying.  Also, sticking may occur if your frying pan is not clean.  Make sure the pan is clean when preheating it before frying. 

Cooking with salt
Because salt can destroy the protective layer of passivation that protects stainless steel and leave stains on the cookware which diminishes its beauty, add salt after the food has started to cook or bring the liquid to boiling before adding salt and stir well.

Cause of discoloration
Overheating stainless steel cookware might cause brown stains on its surface.  Burnt food, if not removed, will cause discoloration when the pot or pan is reheated.  Mineral solids in water leave water marks on stainless cookware which will also cause discoloration.

Cleaning 
In order to avoid damaging, never put hot pot or pan directly to cold water.  Allow it to cool down before cleaning.  Clean stainless steel cookware after each use with soap and hot/warm water using soft cloth or sponge.  After cleaning, rinse the pot or pan thoroughly with hot water and wipe completely it with clean dry towels.

Understanding the proper ways how to use and care for stainless steel cookware, at no time you'll be experiencing the joy of cooking with stainless.  To find your favorite pots and pans, click stainless steel cookware today!

Cooking with Stainless Steel Cookware

If you're thinking to experiment your cooking with stainless steel cookware, consider the following suggestions:

Choose a high quality/heavy-duty stainless steel cookware 
If you don't want to have the whole cookware set, look for a pot or pan that fits your needs, but choose high quality, heavy-duty.  Heavy-duty stainless steel cookware provides better cooking performance as it endures high heat and has better heat conduction.  Also, make sure to check if the pot or pan is oven-safe.  Most of the heavy-duty stainless steel cookware could be used in the oven, but make sure to check so you don't be disappointed later.

Use appropriate cooking temperature 
Pay attention when cooking.  Avoid putting your pot or pan on high temperature or low temperature at the beginning as high heat might brown the food too quick (especially meat) before it's cooked, and low heat will take a longer time to make it hot.  Before cooking, put your empty pot or pan on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes or until you can feel the hot air when putting the hand over it.  By then the pot or pan has been heated evenly and is ready for cooking.  When the empty pot/pan is hot, put enough oil or butter to cover the base then reduce the heat and start frying or sauté your favorite food.  Always keep in mind, "Hot pan, cold oil, food doesn't stick!"

Clean after each use 
Be sure to clean the pot/pan after each use in order to maintain its resilient condition.  Avoid leaving salt unintentionally in stainless steel cookware as salt can eat through and destroy the protective layer of passivation that protects stainless steel from corrosion.  Using soap and warm water with soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge to scrub the cookware.  If needed, soak it in hot water for a while before cleaning.  After cleaning, always rinse it thoroughly with hot water and wipe it completely with dry towels to avoid water stains.

Start to experience your cooking with stainless steel cookware today, you'll come to like it more and more after every upcoming day.  Browse stainless steel cookware to find the set of pots and pans that fit your needs.

Tips to Keep Stainless Steel Cookware Last

If you've been looking for tips to maintain your stainless steel cookware, consider the following suggestions to keep your favorite pot or pan last.

Routine Cleaning 
If your stainless steel pot or pan has been in storage for a while and is covered with dust, wipe the dust off by using soft cloth and warm water.  If you use your pot or pan daily, after each use always remember to clean it with warm water and soap with soft cloth or sponge.  For more aggressive cleaning, use detergent with warm water and non-scratch sponge or soft clean cloth.  To remove food stain from stainless steel cookware, use a small amount of vinegar added the scouring powder.  When done cleaning, remember to rinse the pot or pan in clean hot water and wipe it with dry towels.

Stubborn stains
When the stains are difficult to scrub off, consider using 3M Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish or household cleaners.  Household cleaners are divided into two categories - detergent (non-abrasive) and abrasive cleaners. The abrasive cleaners are more effective but will probably introduce the possibility of scratching the surface of the stainless steel cookware.  Therefore, a neutral cleaner low in chloride is strongly suggested for the use of cleaning pot or pan.  Lightly rub your preferred cleaner on your stainless steel cookware using dry damp cloth until the stains come off.  When finish rubbing, always rinse the cookware in clean hot water and wipe it completely with dry towels.

Burnt food 
When burnt food cannot be removed easily, consider to use Scotch-Brite Power Pad 2001, Easy-Off, De-Grease-It or 5% to 15% caustic soda solution.  These are excellent removal and useful when rubbing cannot be applied.  As always, after each cleaning remember to rinse the stainless steel cookware in hot water thoroughly and wipe it with dry towels.  Even though using the cleaners labeled with "for stainless steel", it is not guaranteed that the product is not abrasive or low in chloride.

The simplest and safest way to clean stainless steel cookware is to wash it with warm water and soap using a soft clean cloth.  Avoid cleaning your stainless steel cookware with chloride-containing detergents.  Be sure to rinse the cookware after cleaning through hot clean water and wipe it with clean dry towels.  Maintain the stainless steel cookware clean either while in storage or being used is essential in order to help keeping its maximum corrosion resistance as stainless steel surface will thrive with frequent cleaning.  The final act of rinse the cookware through hot water and dry it with clean towels completes the process and eliminates the possibility of water stains.

Looking for a stainless steel cookware set?  Browse stainless steel cookware.

What Makes Stainless Steel Stainless?

Have you been wondering what made of stainless steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and nickel.  To be stainless steel, the chromium content needs to be at least 10.5%.  The higher content of chromium enhanced the corrosion resistance.  At 10.5% or higher level, the chromium forms a passivation layer (a shielding outer layer of corrosion which spontaneously occurred in nature) when exposed to oxygen.  Because the layer is extremely thin, it is invisible and the steel remains radiant.  The layer is resistant to water and air, thus protecting the steel beneath.  This layer also is rapidly reformed when the surface is scratched.  This process explains why stainless steel stainless.

How to choose a high quality stainless steel cookware?

Stainless steel cookware often contains 18% of chromium with either 8% or 10% of nickel.  The percentage of chromium and nickel in the cookware also refers as 18/10 or 18/8.  The lower percentage of nickel content reflects the higher corrosive rate.  A cookware set labeled with premium stainless steel 18/10 is considered more resilient than the set labeled with 18/8.  It is important to understand that high quality stainless steel cookware endure high heat.  In order to have the best heat conduction, look for stainless steel pots and pans with aluminium or copper-coated bottoms.  With aluminium or copper-based feature, the cookware will increase its performance in spreading the heat evenly.

Will stainless steel corrode?

The high percentage of chromium will enhance the corrosion resistant of the steel but it does not mean that it can prevent rust.  The steel will corrode with the presence of chlorides as chlorides will significantly aggravate its conditions for fighting corrosion.  Chloride is also used to form salts that can preserve food such as sodium chloride.  Salt can eat through and destroy the protective layer of passivation that protects stainless steel from corrosion.  Leaving salt in stainless steel cookware unintentionally after a period of time would damage it eventually as salt will spread and destroy the stainless steel.  The pot or pan will ultimately stain thus not stainless as it supposed to.  In order to prevent corrosion in stainless cookware, make sure to clean the pot or pan after each use.

With proper care, stainless steel cookware will maintain its durable feature and last for a long period of time.  If you’re thinking to look for a stainless cookware set, browse stainless steel cookware.

The Benefits of Stainless Steel Cookware

Are you thinking of having a stainless steel cookware set or just a pot or pan for your kitchen?

For a long time stainless steel appliances and cookware have been the symbols of commercial cooking, but recently, the trend to use stainless steel products has been part in home and personal preference.  Why people opt to have stainless steel appliances or cookware for their home? Among the many benefits it offers, the followings are the most advantages people think about when looking to have a piece of stainless steel cookware as its benefits worth the investment into a pan set or just a pot or pan to enjoy cooking experience.

Modern and attractive appearance 

With the smooth and glossy surface, stainless steel products give the home a new and inviting looking.

Corrosion and scratch resistance

Since being discovered, stainless steel has been known for its durable and rust-free feature.  It is not easily rust or stained by the environment especially with heavy-duty feature pieces.

Heat resistance
This is also one of the highlight benefits of stainless steel. It resists scrabbling and maintains strength at high temperatures.

Do not alter flavor or color of foodOne of the reason most people are likely to have stainless steel cookware in their kitchen as it does not have chemical reaction with acidic or alkaline foods such as tomato, asparagus, onions, etc.

Sanitation
With its smooth surface, stainless steel is easy to clean providing the hygiene and cleanliness feeling.

Long term value
Because of its corrosion and scratch resistance, a good piece of stainless steel product under proper care would last for a long time.

Cost 
Although it is costly when looking for a high quality stainless steel cookware set, it is still much affordable in comparison to other expensive high end brand name cookware. Giving its durable feature and long term value, investing in a good set of stainless steel cookware is a better choice where costs are considered.

Look for stainless steel products which fit with your liking and benefits. You will not be disappointed and come to experience the pleasure to have it in the kitchen.