subject: Stainless Steel Cookware Pros And Cons [print this page] It is true that coated, nonstick cookware has run away with the market in both the US and Canada, making up more than 60% of the sales of cookware in those markets. This is not to say, however, that there arent other excellent options available. A significant minority of people prefer (for various reasons) some other option or alternative, and for those, a stainless steel cookware set is but one of many choices available.
There are three primary reasons why this is so, outlined below:
1)Tradition: If your great grandmother passed down her much cherished, well cured cast iron cookware, you may have come into it by way of inheritance, and be reluctant to change. Well and good, and the people who use cast iron absolutely swear by it. I have one cast iron frying pan that I came to own just that way, and I love using it, so I know how the traditionalists feel, however, I dont have a complete set (after reading a number of stainless steel cookware reviews, I ultimately went in that direction for my own home).
2)Potential health concerns: A good portion of nonstick cookware is made via the application of potentially harmful acids called PFOAs. True, you can get non stick sets that are not, but youll pay a premium for them, generally speaking.
3)Price: Nonstick sets tend to be more expensive per piece, than other options, and for price conscious shoppers, looking at an alternative like stainless steel cookware might not squeeze your budget so much.
In a head to head matchup, stainless steel vs non-stick cookware, youll typically find that stainless steel wins on price, while the non-stick varieties win in terms of easy cleanup and convenience. Stainless steel also has the (somewhat minor) advantage of being dishwasher safe and generally more durable.
Whichever you choose for your kitchen, you wont have a shortage of options to select from. At the end of the day, the most important consideration is to find a set that does what you need it to do, cooks evenly, and is at a price point that wont break your budget.
