As a beginning cook or an advanced one, you've likely been seduced by those shiny ads showing beautiful omelet pans, copper skillets or the like. You may yearn for that one pan that will turn you into a regular Julia Childs, but when you check out the price tag, you have sticker shock. So is it a good idea to spend hundreds of dollars on a single pan when there is a discount variety available? Is cheap the way to go on something, like cookware, that is used often?
You may be tempted, especially when on a budget to go shop for cookware at discount stores. But this isn't always the best idea, since cheap pots and pans really are that - cheap. They are manufactured as inexpensively as possible and are meant to last. Take the ordinary non-stick skillet - perhaps just a few dollars at the discount store. The first few times, it will work great. Your eggs or chicken won't stick. However, the non-stick coating will wear off quickly and you'll soon have rust flakes in your country herb omelet. Yuck. Same thing with cheap baking sheets - rusty chocolate chip cookies will not impress anyone.
In order to determine what you spend on a piece of cookware, you just need to do some simple math - and I truly do mean simple. Take the initial cost of the pan and then figure out how many times it can be used. Now consider the cost of a replacement pan - something you will have to buy if you go cheap. You might find that the cheaper pan may not be the bargain it's cracked up to be. There is one exception - you might find a great sale at a high end cooking store. Also be sure to check out discount restaurant supply stores. It will take a bit seeking and price comparing to understand the difference between just plain cheap and a true bargain - be sure to shop around and get familiar with full the price of cookware before you go discount hunting.
If you must, and money truly is an issue, don't deny yourself the pan - you can purchase cheap. Just be prepared to replace the cookware sooner rather than later. The best option is to save up and purchase one quality piece of cookware at a time. Play the part of an educated consumer and shop around. Ask the chef at your favorite local restaurant and check in with family or friends. Quality cookware is an investment, and when taken care of properly, those pots and pans can truly last a lifetime.
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