subject: Learn The 3 Types Of Aluminium Cookware [print this page] Aluminum cookware has been around for a long time and has been improved a lot from the early days. It s one of the most popular types of cookware a long with stainless steel and cast iron. More than 50% of all cookware ever sold is made of aluminum. Research has suggested that aluminum can cause Alzheimer's but there is no evidence to prove this in the case of cookware. To be on the safe side, avoid cooking highly acidic or salty foods in aluminum pans as low grade aluminum cookware will leach out small amounts of aluminum into your food and the pans get pitted.
There are some different types of cookware on the market such as pressed, cast, and anodized. Lets take a look at these.
Pressed aluminum is the most inexpensive and is usually found in the cookware aisle of the supermarket or retail store. Its cheap to buy and usually has the screw in type handle and are thin in thickness. Its also the most made on the market. They don't last very long and the handles usually fall off or get loose easily, after all, you get what you pay for. I do notdon t] recommend this type because you will end up spending more money in the long run and your food quality will not be as good.
Now, cast aluminum is satisfactory and worth the money that you spend on it, being manufactured in a slower, although more costly, process, the final product being one which is typically thicker than the pressed aluminum cookware. Further, the bottom and the rims of the pots and pans may be fashioned to be of greater thickness than the sidewalls. A result of such construction is that the aluminum utensil will be less likely to warp or become "out of round." Cast aluminum has a higher heat retention quality than pressed aluminum because it is more porous. With the exception of copper, aluminum cookware is known to be the best in conductivity. You must exercise caution when purchasing the first two kinds of aluminum cookware and be certain that you read the label. Most brands are polished or coated, and so knowing exactly what you are buying can be extremely hard, and you certainly do not need to spend more than is necessary.
Finally, anodized or hard anodized aluminum cookware is the top and this is the kind which I advise that you buy. Hard anodizing results from an electro-chemical procedure which enhances the natural oxide film found in aluminum. In addition, this procedure results in the aluminum having a hard, non-oxidizing finish that does not stick and is resistant to scratching. There be be no reaction between the aluminum and the salty or acidic foods. And the surface achieves a hardness greater than that of steel. It is not difficult to understand the durability which the aluminum then has. This type is the best of the three. Hard anodized aluminum cookware can be identified by the dark gray color it assumes due to the anodizing procedure. This kind of aluminum cookware is the most costly of all types, but it is well worth the money. Food won t stick, it is simple to clean and it is light weight. This kind of aluminum cookware is in the class of stainless steel, cast iron and copper cookware.
