|
|
Soup pot
Soup pot, also called a stock or cooks pot, is
important to every home cook because of its versatility. Soup pots are large pots
with sides at least as tall as their diameter. This allows stock to simmer for extended
periods of time without reducing too much. Stockpots are typically measured in volume
(6-36 L). Stock pots come in a large variety of sizes to meet any need from cooking
for a family to preparing food for a banquet.
Size: Soup pots typically come in sizes ranging as small as 4 qt.
to as large as 20-qt. before getting into commercial sizes. Although a soup pot
doesn't have to be as big as a stock pot because you typically don't make as big
a batch, you don't need to have one pot for soup and anther one for stock. I'm recommending
you look at a 6-qt. - 12-qt. range so it will be versatile for your other cooking
needs.
|
 Shape: As show in the picture on the left, a soup pot usually has
a round base, deep straight sides and a cover. Although this shape is more important
when making stocks and stock reductions, it works well for making soups too. Could
you use a shorter, smaller, wider pan for making soups? Of course and depending
on how much you are making you just may want to use a large sauce pan instead.
Structure: No matter what type of pan you buy, you want it to have
a thick, heavy bottom to prevent burning. This is especially true with soup pots.
Soup requires time to cook so the pan will be sitting on the stove tip for long
periods. You don't want the ingredients to scorch and stick to the bottom because
it is too thin or made of cheap materials.
Handle: Whether you are using it to make soup or just to boil some
corn, you want a well constructed pot with a handle that you feel secure won't fall
off when you are lifting a pot of hot liquid. So look for soup pots with handles
that are securely attached to the pot. So pick a pot that uses heavy screw or rivets
with their handles.
Some of the new cookware on the market have handles that resist getting hot when
using on your stove top. This is great if you want to move the pot from the burner
to the sink but you want to be careful if you put it in the over for any reason.
Cool resistant doesn't mean cool proof. Always use your Silicone Oven Mitts when
taking any cookware out of a hot oven.
Another think to look for in a handle is the shape and size. You want enough room
to be able to grab with potholders and a comfortable shape for picking up.
|