The term ‘cookware’ can mean any sort of vessel used in the preparation of food in the kitchen. The shape of the vessel will largely depend on its intended food in an effort to maximize cooking options. This can come in the shape of saucepans, skillets, frying pans, soup kettles, or saucepots, amongst others.
There’s a long history of cookware. People have been preparing food ever since fire was discovered and quickly came up with clay pots which were used to heat and cook their food. Some consider this to be the first type of baking ware. With the discovery of bronze and iron being used as a building material, the containers increased in their level of refinement. The arsenal of skillets, frying pans, and sauce pans that we use today pay homage to the 17th century, and only keep getting better and better.
Cookware comes in a variety of materials. Metal is prevalent, with pots and pans commonly constructed out of such metals as aluminium, copper, cast iron, and stainless steel. Many times the pans are coated with a material so that food doesn’t stick to them in the cooking process, known as non-stick pans. Other common materials used are glass, silicone, or ceramic. Each type helps the food cook differently, though this is left up to the personal preference of the chef.
There are a few specialty pieces of cookware that should be mentioned, such as Dutch ovens and casserole pans. These are used for stews, casseroles, braised meats, or anything else that should be cooked slowly, over a period of many hours. For quick cooking, a skillet is always a good bet, as you can quickly cook basic ingredients in a short amount of time. Griddles can be used not only for pancakes, but for any sort of grilled item that needs to be dropped onto a hot surface and needs to spread out, including omelettes or other food items that begin as a liquid and end as a solid.
There is also a whole different set of cookware that is designed only for baking, including springform cake pans, angel food cake pans, and pie pans. Flat sheets are used for cookies or other shortbreads, and loaf pans are used for bread. Basically, for any sort of baked good that you can think of, there is a piece of equipment specifically designed for it.
