Commercial Cookware Buying Guide

Looking for new commercial cookware for your restaurant? Servu-Online has a great selection of commercial cookware to choose from. Servu-Online offers commercial cookware made from stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum and carbon steel.

Stainless steel cookware: Stainless steel commercial cookware is easy to clean and requires little maintenance. Stainless steel does not react with food, and is virtually resistant to rust, stains and corrosion. The primary fault of stainless steel commercial cookware is that it does not conduct heat very well. Stainless steel commercial cookware tends to develop hotspots. For that reason, it is important to get "encapsulated" stainless steel cookware. This means the bottom of the pan includes a layer of copper or aluminum to ensure even heat distribution.

Cast iron cookware: If you need to cook food on a low, steady temperature, cast-iron cookware will serve you best. Cast iron heats up and cools down slowly, which means it retains heat better than any other metal used for cooking. That is why cast-iron skillets and Dutch ovens are perfect for outdoor cooking. The metal heats up and stays that way for a long time, even when the temperature around it constantly fluctuates.

Carbon steel cookware: Woks are usually made of carbon steel because it heats and cools so quickly and evenly. Carbon steel cookware also needs to be seasoned before the first use, and it requires a little more work to keep it in good shape.

Aluminum cookware: Aluminum pots and pans are excellent lightweight heat conductors. Hard-anodized aluminum goes through a process that hardens the aluminum and gives it a grey finish. Cast aluminum cookware is another variation that is thicker and stronger than regular pressed aluminum.

Nonstick cookware: Nonstick coatings on the interiors of pots and pans can make cooking and cleaning very easy. Good nonstick cookware will have several layers of nonstick coating. Decent pots and pans have at least three layers, and the best will have up to seven. The added layers of non-stick coating will ensure a smoother surface and longer lasting pans.