When to replace the old cookware with a new one?

When you’ve tried out new dishes and whipped up old favorite meals for ages, you cannot help but fall in love with the cookware that you’ve been using for a while. When you see the signs of it wearing and tearing there are only a few things you can do to clean and repair. You try to extend the life of your favorite dish maker, but when do you realize that the kitchenware has run its course? When do you know that it’s time for you to replace it?

Common cookware problems:

Warping – If your pot or pan starts rocking when placed on a flat surface, it has warped. It causes cooking hot spots as the pan no longer retains full contact with a heat source and food may burn.

Weak Joints – In this case, the pan might allow the liquid to leak while cooking. Issues with handles and rivets must not be taken for granted.

Replace Your Nonstick Pan:

No matter how careful you are with your pan, few minor scratches on nonstick coating is expected over the life of a pan. The problem arises when the nonstick coating starts to chip off. Not only will the food begin to stick to the pan, but bits of coating will mix in with your food too.

Replace Your Stainless Steel Pan:

You can maintain the sheen and effectiveness of the stainless steel pans through proper stainless steel care, but if the core is beginning to peek through the steel, it is a sign for you to replace.

When to Cast Out Your Cast Iron:

Battling rust on your cast iron pans with vinegar, steel wool and dish soap to no avail? Excessive rust can result from a pan constructed from miscellaneous metals. And no one wants to eat rust.

How Long Before You Keep Your Enamel Cast Iron Pot:

Over time, Chips will occur in the enamel at the top of lined cookware. Those aren’t troubling, but once the enamel starts to flake along the bottom or sides where you stir, it will continue to fragment and can get into your food.

Beyond the physical cookware aspects that can compromise cooking, consider these questions:

• Are the exterior surfaces of your cookware dented or discolored?
• Is your pot and pan collection mismatched?
• Do you find yourself using pans that are too big or small for your needs?
• Do you use one cookware piece more than any other?
• Does your cookware dampen your joy of cooking?

If you’ve answered “yes” to one of these questions, you could be ready to source a new cookware set. Whether you’re a fledgling foodie or a seasoned pro if you’ve seen the aforementioned signs in your pans, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and replace that cookware as soon as possible.