Cookware: So many options, what to buy?

            When you start your search for cookware there may be a bit of hesitation on what to get. To be honest, I really don’t know where I would begin. I thought about it for a while and I started asking myself some questions. More like a quiz to see if I knew what I needed. Creating a list of questions for yourself will help. In the following paragraphs I am going to outline the questions I asked myself and maybe it will help you create a list of questions that will help you decide on the right cookware for you.

What do I like to cook?      I usually like to fry things, like eggs, omelets, fish, hamburgers, vegetables and so on. A good frying pan or a set of frying pans is important to me. Now that I know what I would do the most in the kitchen I can look for what kind of cookware will fit my needs.

How often do I cook?          If I was a guy who loved to be in the kitchen and loved to cook then I would want some cookware that would stand the test of time. A good product will last a long time but if you use it over and over, then you should probably get a great product. For example, take your favorite pair of jeans and wear them every day. At the end of each day put them in the wash. Over time, they are going to wear out. Relate that to your cookware and you may understand what I mean. A great product that gets used everyday will far outlast anything else. If you don’t cook very often, then a cheaper product maybe right for you.

Should I know what I’m buying before I buy?    I definitely always want to know what I am investing money into. An educated buyer is a smart buyer. After I asked myself the questions above, I sat down and did a little research. Today it is fairly easy to educate yourself in about five minutes online. So I sat down, typed in the word “cookware” and the search engine produced over twelve million results. I chose a blog site and read some product reviews. Trust me, it was definitely time well spent. Now I have a better understanding of what I want to buy and I know which products are better for certain applications.

Talk to friends and family.    The best advice I’ve always come across is direct input from people I know and trust. The internet is very helpful, but sometimes you feel better about what you are going to buy when you hear personal reviews instead of reading about it.  Families are filled with cooks from all generations. My grandma likes to bake, while my aunt makes great breakfasts and the eggs are always perfect. I got their opinions and found out what they use and what works best for them.

            After I asked myself some questions and did some research, I knew what I wanted to buy. All of this may sound like a lot of work, but it really wasn’t.  I did my all my research on a Saturday morning, made a few phone calls and I purchased my cookware by noon. There are a lot of options out there. Try not to get overwhelmed. Just educate yourself and you’ll be fine.