The advantages of various cookware products: 

Like our customers, we have a great love for top quality cookware. Cooking and family functions are our passion. It was because of this passion that we created mykuzina.com.  Please take advantage of our free recipe offer. We will send you our most treasured family recipes with each order.  Just let us know if you are interested after you place your order, and we will email them to you. It’s that easy! Here is some information on the various cookware products and materials in our online store.  

Stainless Steel Cookware Stainless steel is an alloy that starts with basic iron with up to 8 alloys added, depending on the quality. The major alloys in stainless steel are chromium and nickel. The chromium provides rust and corrosion resistance and durability. Nickel provides additional rust resistance, hardness, and high polishing characteristics. The numbers 18/0 and 18/8 or 18/10, refer to the percentage of content of chromium and nickel. To be classified as stainless steel, the metal must contain at least 11 % chromium (no nickel required). Stainless steel used in cookware is normally 18% chromium and 8% to 10% nickel.  

• Extremely Durable.
• Has a smooth surface and is easy to clean.
• Dent and scratch resistant.
• Does not react to foods.
• Is easy to maintain mirror finish.

Heavy Gauge 18/10 Stainless Steel- Highest quality 18/10 stainless steel construction for durability and fast, easy clean-up. Use on all cook tops including induction cook tops. Aluminum Inner Core Bottoms- Encapsulated bottoms with thick aluminum disc for even heat distribution with no "hot spots."  Also, cookware with riveted handles, add to the durability of the product. Hollow handles add to the comfort of cooking, meaning they are less like to become too hot to handle during cooking. Cookware with 100% metal handles can be used in the oven up to 500 degrees F.  We carry many sizes and brands of stainless steel cookware, stockpots, saucepans and various other cookware items. All sizes, for all the different needs you might have. Large stockpots, for your party and banquet cooking, and smaller saucepots for everyday use.  Our stainless steel cookware sets and stock pots, saucepans, etc. are of the finest quality. We would never put in your kitchen, what wouldn’t go in ours.          

Aluminum Cookware Aluminum cookware can be formed either by pressing or by casting. Most aluminum cookware on the market today is formed by pressing. Casting of aluminum is a slower and more expensive process; however the end result is that the body thickness is generally thicker than pressed aluminum, and the bottom and the rims can be made even thicker than the sidewalls, which helps prevent warping or going "out of round". Cast aluminum is also more porous than pressed aluminum, which results in better heat retention. When polished or coated, it is difficult to visually tell the difference between pressed or cast aluminum. Aluminum cookware can also be improved by a process called "hard anodizing". This is a Electro-chemical process which increases the thickness of natural oxide film in aluminum, to give it a hard non-oxidizing finish. The surface of the aluminum actually becomes harder than steel, which dramatically increases the durability of the surfaces of aluminum. The exterior finish after the hard anodizing process turns to a dark gray color.   

• An excellent heat conductor.
• Relatively light in weight.
• Often has a non-stick coating.

  Non stick Cookware Medium and low heats should be used when cooking in non stick cookware. Preheat the pan for about one and one-half minutes over medium low or medium heat. Then add food and turn the heat lower. (Many meats are first browned on both sides over medium heat; then the heat is reduced to finish cooking.) High temperatures cause food residues to burn on, affecting the non-stick characteristics. Nonstick finishes on some pans may be marred by the sharp edge of a spatula or the point of a fork. For this reason, follow manufacturer's instructions as to the type of kitchen tools to be used on a nonstick utensil. Some reinforced nonstick coatings such as Excalibur and Quantum permit the use of metal utensils, however cutting with a knife is not recommended.  Wash non stick cookware in hot sudsy water, using a nylon scrubber. Most nonstick finishes are dishwasher-safe. Re-conditioning with a light application of cooking oil is recommended after dishwasher use.  There are definite advantages to aluminum and non stick cookware.  Our aluminum non stick cookware is not only light in weight, but built to last. One great advantage is cooking stews or sauces in a nice large aluminum dutch oven, where you know your meal will not stick to the pan. And clean-up is speedy fast!          

Cast Iron Enamel Cookware Cast iron cookware has been with us for thousands of years, going back to ancient China.   Cast iron utensils have been improved greatly over those of even the recent past. They are made of iron alloys that give additional strength to the utensil. And today there are cast iron utensils with colorful porcelain enamel exterior and interior finishes. Cast iron currently is used for utensils that include skillets, roasters and Dutch ovens, broilers, griddles, and some specialty items, such as muffin and corn bread pans. These utensils are excellent for browning, frying, stewing and baking foods. Porcelain enamel is essentially a highly durable glass which, with coloring oxides and other inorganic materials, is fused to metal at extremely high temperatures. It first found its way into the kitchen as a decorative finish for wood-burning ranges and cast iron utensils. Later, when techniques were discovered for applying it to sheet steel, it became a standard coating for coffee pots, roasting pans, and saucepans. In the manufacture of cooking utensils, porcelain enamel is applied after the metal is formed into its final shape. It can be applied to carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and cast iron. 

• Holds heat longer.
• Beautiful for cooking and then serving from the same pot.

It is one of the most versatile finishes, offering virtually an unlimited range of colors and design effects.  Cooking in our cast iron enamel cookware is just fabulous. The food just tastes better.  Our cast iron enameled cookware is much lighter in weight than the pricier brands. Our cast iron enamel cookware is the finest of quality, and almost 4 times less in price. And with a limited 25 yr warranty. What more could you want? Please visit our faqs page for more information.

*Take advantage of our FREE recipe offer. We will email you our old family recipes with your purchase from mykuzina.com. Please email us and let us know if you would like to take advantage of this offer, or put it in the notes after placing your order. It's a little extra thank you from My Kuzina to Yours!