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 come in an extensive range of sizes starting at 8 quarts, okay for small scale cooking going up to 162 quarts! If youre looking to do some serious outdoor cooking for friends and family then youre going to need larger pots.
And if big is your thing then youll 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 & 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 its more expensive;
3. Its essential to go for 'quality' whether going for aluminum or stainless steel. Do take seriously the fact that there is a lot of cheap 'rubbish' in the marketplace at the present. I warn you, if you buy cheap then you'll soon come to regret it!
4. When selecting your stockpot, basket and lid, especially if you're buying a large pot, ensure that its made from the highest standard of commercial grade stainless steel or aluminum appropriate for that size of pot;
5. Go for a stock pot that has an indention just short of the top of the pot; this holds the basket off the bottom of the pot for 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. Ensure that the lid fits well, i.e. snugly and tightly and that the pot has a tidy rim that makes pouring from it easy;
8. Go for 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 you won't find a good quality range of stockpots in the local hardware store. You might find one or two pots from 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 and a good selection from each at a cookware specialty store you're likely to be paying far more than if you buy online.
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 come in an extensive range of sizes starting at 8 quarts, okay for small scale cooking going up to 162 quarts! If youre looking to do some serious outdoor cooking for friends and family then youre going to need larger pots.
And if big is your thing then youll 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 & 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 its more expensive;
3. Its essential to go for 'quality' whether going for aluminum or stainless steel. Do take seriously the fact that there is a lot of cheap 'rubbish' in the marketplace at the present. I warn you, if you buy cheap then you'll soon come to regret it!
4. When selecting your stockpot, basket and lid, especially if you're buying a large pot, ensure that its made from the highest standard of commercial grade stainless steel or aluminum appropriate for that size of pot;
5. Go for a stock pot that has an indention just short of the top of the pot; this holds the basket off the bottom of the pot for 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. Ensure that the lid fits well, i.e. snugly and tightly and that the pot has a tidy rim that makes pouring from it easy;
8. Go for 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 you won't find a good quality range of stockpots in the local hardware store. You might find one or two pots from 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 and a good selection from each at a cookware specialty store you're likely to be paying far more than if you buy online.
About the Author:
Stephen Kember is an authority on outdoor cooking equipment. He runs The outdoor cooking equipment Store. Before purchasing any stockpots take a look at the Bayou Classic range of Aluminum stockpots, lids & Baskets and stainless steel stockpots, baskets & lids stockpots, where at the moment, for a limited period prices across the range have been greatly reduced.
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