
If food needs to be cooked for an excessively long time, consumers risk drying out the food or having to use excessive liquid such as oil to compensate. The type of cookware material will determine how well it conducts heat and how long food needs to be cooked. They are measured by their quart capacity. Versatile, they are used to make liquid-heavy dishes such as soup, chili, stock and to boil pasta. Stockpots: These large, deep pots come in a variety of sizes.Their curved bottom allows even stirring for items that burn easily, such as risotto. Saucier pans: Not as deep as saucepans, saucier pans are still measured in quarts based on capacity.

Their capacity is measured in quarts, and they are typically used on the stove top to cook rice, heat soup and cook vegetables.

Skillets or frying pans: The workhorses of the kitchen, skillets are primarily used for stove-top cooking, although they can be used to finish cooking food in the oven.It is best to understand the difference before investing in pieces. While certain shapes are multifunctional and best for everyday use, other shapes won't be used that often in the kitchen. Cookware comes in various shapes, each designed with a specific function in mind.
