I need to know which cookware set is better. We are trying to get rid of the ones we have here. They are Teflon. I have heard that stainless steel (aluminum) and hard Ionized are good, but which is the best one.
Hard anodized generally refers to aluminum that has had a specific surface treatment. The benefit of aluminum is that it's a better conductor of heat than stainless, so it will heat up faster, depending on thickness. It's also lighter than steel, if that matters to you. As far as stainless steel, it all depends on the quality of the steel and of the construction. Some pots and pans are made from cheap grades of stainless which can suffer from corrosion problems. Though this shouldn't affect the taste of the food, only the appearance of the pan. Companies making bargain products may also skimp on materials by making the metal thinner; this causes hot-spots when cooking, In the case of skillets, thinner materials are more likely to warp over time. Stainless steel is generally stronger and tougher than aluminum- less likely to dent. Thought again, strength also depends on thickness. A good quality stainless pan is hard to beat in terms of durability, these things can last several lifetimes. On the other hand so will a good quality aluminum one.
A good quality stainless steel cookware set is a necessity- it is virtually indestructible and you can use the harshest of scrubbers to clean it. You will need a basic set that has a 8 and 12 fry pan/omelet pan, a large pot that holds a minimum of 4 quarts, and 2 sauce pots at 1 quart and 2 1/2 quart sizes. I have several pieces of hard anodized cookware too- they do a wonderful job but food will still stick. A must is at least one Green Pan- preferably a 10-12 fry pan. They are truly non-stick, clean up is a breeze and making foods like fried eggs is infinitely easier when they slide out of the pan without breaking. They do not have the same issues that plague teflon pans- scrapes and shedding that you are ultimately consuming. You can easily find them online and at your area Target store.
I have a set of Stainless and individual pots and saute/frying pans that are non-stick. Calphalon is a good brand and should serve you well for now. They are easy to clean and work well for most dishes. If I looked at the right set of pots, these should also be oven safe which is great for stews and roasts. If you get into cooking you will probably want to purchase some stainless for preparing sauces. The fond (which is the basis for many quick sauces) from meat, poultry and fish will not accumulate on non-stick pans as well as stainless pans.
