What's New in Cookware & Bakeware

What's New, Nov/Dec 2001 by Rushing, Hugh

Cookware and bakeware manufacturers have been busy studying consumer's habits in their kitchens and are introducing a number of innovations in cooking and baking equipment this year. While some of these innovations were featured at the Gourmet Products Show in New Orleans earlier in 2001, others have made their debut in the marketplace in time for the holiday shopping season.

T-FaI has introduced Restaurant Gourmet cookware with Prometal, a professional quality nonstick finish, covering both the inside and exterior of the pans, which is safe for use with metal utensils. Recommended by Paris' Le Cordon Bleu, Prometal features a hard, but elastic, polymer undercoat and multiple layers of T-FaI nonstick that will stand up to metal tools that protect the aluminum. Restaurant Gourmet also has T-Fal's stainless steel bottom disc for durability, resistance to warping and compatibility with all-even induction-cooktops. Polished stainless steel handles and lids enable Restaurant Gourmet to be used inside the oven, up to 400 degrees.

Calphalon, long a well-known name in hard-coat anodized cookware, has expanded its brand line with Pots&Pans Stainless Steel Cookware. Featuring a lustrous stainless steel cooking surface many cooks prefer, Pots&Pans Stainless also offers the cooking control only highly conductive aluminum can provide. Each pan incorporates a substantial aluminum bottom core, encapsulated in 18/10 stainless steel, for best-of-both-worlds performance. Rolled-steel handles, featuring the firm's patented arch-vent design, stay cool even during prolonged stovetop cooking. Tempered glass covers make it easy to see what's cooking. Pots&Pans is a full-line offering from saute pans through stockpots and is popularly priced.

The KitchenAid Cookware Roaster 15'' × 11 3/4'' × 4'' rectangular roaster has an interior and exterior made from the world's finest 18/10 stainless steel. The inside core is made of aluminum. The stainless steel exterior provides a bright, durable and non-reactive cooking surface. The aluminum core spreads heat evenly. This means it not only does a great job in the oven, but the pan can be transferred to the stovetop to finish making a gravy or be used to brown meat before roasting.

The Circulon Classic 5-Quart Straining Colander Pan features a specially designed lid that allows you to drain foods from the pan without transferring to a colander. This unique lid allows for easy, safe straining for both large and small foods. The lid has two sizes of holes. The large holes provide faster draining while the smaller ones keep smaller foods in the pot.

Cuisinart has introduced a new line of MultiClad Stainless cookware. The new collection features a triple-ply construction of quality materials. A core of pure aluminum is bonded to a highly polished stainless interior and brushed stainless exterior. The aluminum core delivers superior heat conductivity, while the premium 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface is both non-reactive and stick resistant. The Exclusive Heat Surround(TM) technology maintains even heat distribution along the bottoms and side walls of the cookware.

From Wearever comes Perfecta. Traditionally, consumers use time and visual cues to tell when food is cooked. Not only are these unreliable methods but potentially dangerous. Perfecta will be the first cookware that can tell exactly when food has reached the correct and safe temperature. The innovative design allows a food probe to slide through the lid of the vessel directly into the food in the pan while it cooks. A reading from the probe can be seen on the outside of the lid. No more guessing or using unreliable methods to know when food is done.

Meyer Cookware has debuted Anolon Titanium, said to be the first dishwasher-safe, hard-anodized, nonstick cookware. The line's newly developed HollowCore cast stainless steel handles keep lid, side and stick handles cool during stovetop cooking. The product can also go into an oven up to 500 degrees. The titanium composite exterior is stain resistant and won't streak or discolor when placed in a dishwasher. Interior surfaces are finished with DuPont's Autograph, that firm's most durable nonstick coating.

Nordicware originated the Bundt pan more than 50 years ago. For 2001, the firm has updated its offerings with three new styles of pans. The Bavaria and Fleur de lis designs were originally WilliamsSonoma exclusives that are now available at other retailers in time for the holiday baking season. They provide three-dimensional beauty for cakes baked within their decorative shells. Both are produced by pressured cast aluminum molding techniques and finished with nonstick interiors.

So whether you are shopping for easy cleaning, design or cooking convenience, this season offers a host of exciting new lines.

Hugh Rushing is the Executive Vice President of the Cookware Manufacturers Association based in Huntsville, AL.