Cooking in Your Apartment: A Guide to Glass Cookware

Fewer renters are buying glass cookware for meal preparation. The concern is that it will break in transit when moving from one apartment to the next, or while doing basic cooking in the kitchen. While you do have to be careful when cooking with glass, it’s really not difficult to use it, and you can buy certain types of glass cookware that don’t break easily. You can actually enjoy your time in the kitchen using glass cookware, and there are many benefits that other cookwares cannot offer.

Pros of Using Glass Cookware

There a several key benefits to using glass cookwares that encourage professional cooks to use it more and more. Some are:

-Able to warm food up in a toaster or convection oven
-Warm leftovers in microwave right in the pan
-You can see through the pot and monitor what you’re cooking
-Prevent water from evaporating because of its visibility
-Difficult to overcook food since you can monitor it
-Freeze food in pan if desired
-Serve food from glass cookware
-Safe to cook in (no chemical reaction with foods)

These benefits can reduce your cooking time and eliminate the need to use additional food storage containers. You won’t have to buy additional serving dishes or microwave safe dishes to warm up leftovers, which will save you money in the long run.

Cons of Using Glass Cookware

You should consider the disadvantages of using glass cookware as well. Some cons that might make you hesitant about using it are:

-Can burn foods easily if you don’t monitor it
-Will shatter if you drop it
-Some types of glass cookware are tough to clean when food sticks to it
-Doesn’t distribute heat evenly
-Most are not light weight

Despite these disadvantages, glass cookware continues to appeal to those who want a healthier way of eating. There are no adverse health effects related to cooking with it.

Types of Foods

Keeping in mind the uneven heat distribution, and your need to monitor the foods while you’re cooking, there are some foods that are a great fit for glass cookware:

-Soups
-Boiled Eggs
-Pasta
-Any baked goods
-Vegetables
-Curry
-Boiled water for teas and other hot drinks

Avoid using it for deep frying, because the oil will stick and it’s tough to clean. Refrigerate what you cook in the pot, and pop it in your convection or toaster oven the next day to eat as leftovers.

Cleaning and Storing Glass Cookware

You may have to do a lot of soaking in order to wash glass cookware effectively, which is one of the main reasons why some renters choose not to use it often. The dishwasher doesn’t clean it well, and if you’re too busy for hand washing dishes, you may want to try another type of cookware. Only use mild soaps and dish detergents if you want to keep them for a long time. Avoid wire pads because they will scratch your pots and pans. Store them in their own area in your kitchen cabinets, so that you won’t bump or break them while storing heavier kitchen items.

Don’t let glass cookware intimidate you. Start with a baking pan, and you’ll experience great results that will encourage you to buy more.