We all know that cooking can easily be more efficient with the right types of tools to guide the way. Unfortunately, any chef knows that finding the right tools for the job can really make a huge dent in the family budget, which often makes buying what you want impossible. There’s a few ways you can make the most out of your cookware without having to spend money to create the perfect tools that are not only presentable but efficient when needed. Now, you can transform your kitchen into your own personal art studio as you create masterpieces that will certainly have the household craving your home cooking more than they do fast food and evenings out.

1. Save Aluminum Cookware
We all have that unsightly cookware we’re slightly embarrassed of due to the stains that have accumulated over the years. When it comes to aluminum cookware there’s usually very few ways to avoid this aging process apart from getting rid of the old to make room for the new. This can be a costly mistake though as those aluminum pans can be one of your biggest assets in the kitchen. Instead of tossing out the old try giving it a make over with a few quick cleaning tips. For many of these pans you can simply placing applesauce or tomato slices on the pan. Once the pan is coated turn on the burner or stick it in a hot oven. The acids from these foods will knock out stains quickly and you’ll have pans your happy to present to the world again. Another quick tip is to clean the pans with baking soda. This material has amazing cleaning priorities and will ensure you won’t have to mess with scrubbing again. Another way to avoid the stains, when you do buy new pans, is to keep them out of the dishwasher. Wash them thoroughly by hand and dry them right away for results that will last years.

2. Know Your Needs
When it comes to shopping for new pots and pans it is incredibly important to know what you need out of a pan. There’s a lot of different types of pans on the market for a reason, so a little research on your part is certainly in order. If you’re a beginner you may want to avoid pots and pans that are copper based as you may find your food sticking or being ruined while working with these advanced pans. Of course, if you do find yourself getting bored on the non-stick pans then you may want to consider copper as it conducts heat fast and could be just what you need to develop your skills. Cast iron skillets are great for household chefs who love to work a bit slower in the kitchen. These pans heat up slowly, but work great for making foods that need a little extra seasoning. One of the easiest bets is to stick with pots and pans that have Teflon. They’re not only a cinch to clean, but they will make cooking in a hurry a definite possibility.

3. Go Green
A lot of people are trying to make their kitchen a greener place. If this is the case in your home then you may want to try out some of the green friendly brands on the market. Most retailers should carry these amazing pans, but if you’re unsure what you’re looking for make sure to ask before you make any decisions. Green pans are a great way to cut down on your energy use. They tend to heat up quickly and cook faster without actually burning the food. This not only cuts down on the gas and/or electric you use, but will help prevent food wastage in the home. These pots and pans use a Teflon like substance that is incredibly ease to clean up too, so you won’t have to worry about running water over them for too long at all. One of the best things about the pan is they’re made of materials that are safe to use in the home and won’t harm the environment if they are actually discarded in the future.

4. Buy What You Need
One of the major problems with shopping for pots and pans is most people believe they need to have a matching set. This can be a terrible way to waste money if you aren’t careful. You should usually only buy a new pot or pan if there is something wrong with the one you have, which eliminates the entire process of buying a few set of cookware. Another problem many face is the need to match all of their cookware. You may find, through the years, that some pots and pans from one brand are better than others. This may leave you with a sauce pan from one brand and a classic skillet from another. This is a great way to keep track of the way you spend money on cooking ware though. The separate pieces will give you more freedom when shopping for replacement and you’ll never have to deal with the disappointment of buying a full set that you hate. It is also easier to upgrade your cookware piece by piece which will help you keep your monthly family budget in check.

5. Read Reviews
Sometimes you may feel a little lost when you go in to purchase cookware. There’s a whole lot of selection out there to choose from which means a lot of thinking on your part. Although you may, at first, feel tempted to go straight for the celebrity name brand you enjoy the most, you may want to take a step back and think about what the set actually gives you. This is where the internet will play an important part in your search for new cookware. Try looking on different sites for the product you’re interest in. There should be several reviews on the product, especially if it is one of the more popular brands. Make sure to read the longer reviews carefully as these will provide you with the most useful information. You may even want to take notes based on the reviews on different sites. After you’ve done your research then you’ll already be set to buy as you’ll already know where you can buy what you’re looking for at the cheapest price.

6. Splurge
Although it might not be a common practice to splurge when it comes to saving money, it is one of the best things you can do with your pots and pans. If you’re absolutely certain there is a great set out there for you then you should probably buy it. Even though this might be a bigger expense than you’d like to pay you’ll end up saving money in the long run. There are many reasons for this though. One of the main reasons is because buying an expensive set almost guarantees you that you’ll end up keeping the set for much longer. The pots and pans are more durable and will stand up to cooking and cleaning for years to come. Another major reason is you’ll actually enjoy cooking with them. Your food will taste better and you’ll feel more confident as a chef, which means you’ll want to explore more with different foods. With your love of cooking at its peak you’ll end up spending less money on going out which will help out the family budget big time.

7. Multipurpose Pieces
Purchasing cookware can be a pretty exhilarating experience if you know exactly what you’re looking for. One way to really max out the savings on cookware is to look for pieces that can be used for many different purchases. There’s a lot of reasons why a pot or pan should be able to hold up more than one job in the kitchen. One major reason is the fact that the kitchen can be a pretty busy place, so you need a pan that can hold up to cooking on the burner without being ruined by be put in the oven later on. This can be important to anyone cooking a big meal because no one wants their hard work to get cold while everything else is cooking. Another reason is to help keep the budget down while raising the functionality of your kitchen. A piece that can boil water one day and be used to a casserole the next is the perfect piece for a household looking to save money and time with their cookware.

8. Stick to Plastic
Your kitchen utensils can play a huge part in the health of your pots and pans. Although it might seems more efficient to use metal utensils while you cook this could be one of the fastest ways to destroy the insides of your pots and pans. The metal pieces are a lot more abrasive to pots and pans that utilize Teflon or other non-stick surfaces. Instead of opting for the more expensive metal pieces you can easily replace them with plastic. Plastics are a lot nicer on the inside of your pots and pans and will keep them from getting scratched and useless as quickly. Although plastics do have more of a potential to melt or break than metal utensils they are a whole lot easier and cheaper to replace than the pots and pans you spend so much money on.

9. Think Used
One of the cheapest ways to avoid spending a whole lot of money is to consider getting a used set of pots and pans. A lot of the time family will be more than happy to pass over their pots and pans when they decided to upgrade, so you may want to listen to see if anyone you know if planning on throwing out their old set. If this isn’t the case then there’s still a good chance you can find a good set at a local thrift store. Some people will donate full sets if you enjoy having all the same brand of cookware. However, you may have the most luck picking and choosing what you want to purchase in these locations. Most cookware stays in great shape for some time and the purchases you make at the thrift store could help keep your kitchen running smoothly until you decide to upgrade.

10. Shop Sales
The best way to get exactly what you want out of your cookware is to shop the sales. Cookware is one of the more popular items to go on sale so you shouldn’t have to wait very long to enjoy the set of pots and pans you’ve had your eye on. One of the best ways to keep track of sales is to download a shopping app that will update you whenever your favorite stores have a sale. You may also want to frequent stores that have your item to see if you happen upon a sale. Another simple way is to keep an eye out for coupons that could save you so much on your items. With a little patience and research you’ll have the set you’ve always wanted at a price you can afford in no time.

Your cookware plays an important role in the way your household functions which is why you should have just what you want to cook with. With these tips you should be able to find a way to find the perfect balance of cookware to make your daily meals a real treat. Now, your family will have nothing but compliments for your meals which will really make your job even more rewarding.