Your stockpots will be amongst your most important and most frequently used items of all your outdoor cooking equipment. It really makes good sense to buy a good one and to see it as an important investment in your outdoor cooking equipment portfolio.

The size and quality of both stainless steel and aluminum stockpots vary enormously . Deciding which to go for and what sizes you want to buy are the 2 key questions needing answering first off.

With stockpots the idea that one size fits all doesn’t apply. You will need a few stockpots when cooking outdoors so buy with that in mind. If you can’t afford a full set now buy the size that youre going to use the most and then buy more later.

Stockpots typically come in a domestic format ranging from 8 quarts, okay for small scale cooking to 12 quarts for everyday bigger scale cooking inside; but if you’re looking to stock up your outdoor cooking equipment then youre going to need larger pots.

And if big is your thing then you’ll find stockpots ranging in size from 24 to 36 to 44 to 62 to 82 quarts going right up to a 162 quart stainless steel stock pots. Its up to you. Remember: the larger the stockpot the more powerful the burner you’ll need to heat it up with.

So you want to buy a stockpot? Here are ten essential tips:

1. Aluminum is lighter in weight.  It heats evenly and quickly without heat spots.  It will cost less size for size than stainless steel; but on the down side, it easily dents, is harder to clean, and doesn’t look quite as good as stainless steel.

2. By contrast stainless steel is easy to clean, lasts longer, doesn’t dent easily, and it looks nice as a piece of cookware. However, it does suffer from heat spots, it is heavier, and it is more expensive.

3. It’s a must that you go for ‘quality’ whether buying aluminum or stainless steel. There is an awful lot of cheap ‘rubbish’ in the marketplace. If you buy cheap, then you’ll soon come to regret it!

4. When selecting a stockpot, particularly if buying a large one, ensure that it is made from the highest standard of commercial grade stainless steel or aluminum appropriate for that size of pot.  Also, make sure the same applies to the basket you buy to go with it.

5. Check if your stockpot has an indention just below the top of the pot.  This holds the basket off the bottom of the pot when steaming.

6. Make sure you select a pot with a thick base.  This is where you’ll get wear, especially with poorer grade aluminum pots.

7. Make sure the lid fits snugly and tightly and ensure the pot has a tidy rim making pouring easy.

8. Go for a pot with well designed, good quality spacious handles that are secure. Poor quality rivets and small handles are an absolute no-no as you’re going to be lifting some very hot liquids bearing considerable weight!

9. Don’t be concerned about the width versus height argument. Some say the height has to be greater than the width; but, in all my outdoor cooking with every conceivable size of stockpot, including the largest of pots, which typically have a wider base than depth, I don’t find any difference whatsoever in respect of the taste of the food that is served up. Indeed, I would go for the counter argument for practical reasons. If you have a wider base, especially when you’re cooking over a big flame outdoors, you’ll find it far easier to brown and to stir in a wider pot rather than in an overly tall pot.

10. Finally, it is highly unlikely that you’ll find a good quality range of stockpots in your local hardware store. You might find one or two pots from the odd one or two good brands, but you’re much better off going online and investigating the many great offers across the whole range of sizes that you’ll find there. And whilst you might find some great brands at a cookware specialty store, you’re very likely to be paying far, far more than if you buy online, a lot more.

Tags : Cooking
Categories : Cooking