Help! Too Many Choices!

When I was in college I had a lot of different jobs.  One job was at the JCPenney Home Store where I worked in the Housewares Department where I heard a lot of questions about cooking and products because people said there were too many choices.  Some of the most popular questions were: What brands are the best?, What's the difference in knives?, What's the difference between stainless steel skillets and non-stick skillets?.  I was able to help people out because of my classes in the Hospitality program at school and my own personal experience with cooking.  I figured that since a lot of people have these questions I would try and answer some of them here and maybe it will help you out.

What Brands are the Best?
This really depends on your preference.  Some people want to follow a specific brand and other people don't care, but if you really cook and you want your cookware to last you should invest in some good quality stuff.  Some brands that I really love include Farberware, KitchenAid, Cuisinart and T-Fal.  Most celebrity chefs have their own brands of cookware as well and they are generally good quality.  Something to really look for is that your cookware is going to last a long time.  I personally have Farbeware, which is what my Grammy has as well and she has had hers for 30+ years and it still works fantastically.  Some people that would come into the store thought these brands cost more than they wanted to spend, which I can understand, but you have to think of it from a long term perspective.  If you buy a cheaper brand it has the potential to get destroyed a lot sooner.  I once decided I was going to buy cheap cookware because I was a poor college student and needless to say I wore the pans out in just a couple months.  If you seriously cook then you need to invest in a product that will last you for years to come.  As I told all of my customers, you need to choose the brand that's right for you, which may mean you need to do a little research and shop around, but in the end its definitely a money saver.

What's the Difference in Knives?
When buying knives you need to look for a few things.  First the best knives are generally a full tang and triple riveted.  This means that the blade goes all the way through the handle of the knife and the triple rivets hold the blade in place (see image below).  Another thing you need to look for is how durable the knife is, if you can take the blade and bend it back and forth in your hand too easily it probably won't last long.  When shopping for knives there is usually a display case, don't be afraid to ask to see the knives and handle them.  The brand of knives you buy again completely depends on your preference, but the big names in kitchen cookware also make good knives.  I personally have KitchenAid and Farberware knives, but there are lots of wonderful knife brands out there.

What's the Difference Between Stainless Steel Skillets and Non-Stick Skillets?
The main difference between stainless steel and non-stick skillets is the Teflon coating on non-stick skillets.  This coating makes it more convenient for cooking sticky foods and makes for an easier cleanup.  The drawback however is that non-stick skillets don't last as long because of the Teflon coating.  Teflon coating tend to flake off after constant use, which can then end up in your food.  It also means you can't use any metal cooking tools, such as spatulas or forks while cooking.  Stainless steel skillets are a little harder to cook with because food may stick, but they last for years and years.  You have to use more oil when cooking, which could be a factor for some people who want to cook healthier.  I personally love to use stainless steel skillets because anything that sticks to the pan can be deglazed and used to make sauces or gravies that have lots of flavor.  This is one choice that really depends on you.  You have to decide what is more important, easy cleaning or long lasting pan. 

These are just a few issues people have when buying cookware and kitchen tools.  I hope that it helps some.  If anyone has any questions please feel free to comment and ask.  I am more than willing to help if I can.