induction - ProWare Kitchen

Emma Britton Q&A

November 28, 2023 12:50 pm Leave a Comment

The team at ProWare first met Emma Britton at the Spirit of Christmas at London Olympia and were wowed by her beautiful and innovative designs. From glassware and mirrors to napkins and splashbacks, Emma’s collection has something for every home.

With individually crafted and bespoke creations, Emma’s products are sure to give any kitchen a beautiful finishing touch. Intrigued by how Emma got started, we sat down and asked her more about it…

1.Tell us more about yourself/brand?

I am a decorative glass designer, meaning I put pattern onto glass. I launched my business, Emma Britton Decorative Glass Designer, back in 2010, and came up with an idea of putting repeated pattern onto glass splashbacks that wasn’t available at the time. I had a background in textile design but had worked in the glass industry, so my niche came from the marriage of these two areas of expertise.

2. What makes your splashbacks so special?

They are original and very much designed to bring joy or to complete an interior space. I personally oversee every project from design, to making and fitting. Each home and customer is unique so I work with clients to realise what they would like and help to solve their design dilemmas. My glass splashbacks are pretty yet practical, designed to last, suitable to use behind all kinds of hobs and cookers. Customers can either choose from one of my collections or commission a bespoke design – we have different price points depending on your budget.

3. Talk about your signature design style…

My work has a strong British aesthetic, it’s bold, confident and often colourful with a hint of nostalgia, mostly floral, and always inspired by suburbia and the way we decorate our homes. I paint all my designs by hand. My pieces are always practical though, and designed with modern living and entertaining in mind. In my spare time I love to be a hostess and really enjoy decorating my Edwardian home.

4. You also design for glassware…tell us more

I’ve been designing patterns for glassware since 2015. I wanted to expand my offering and it felt like a natural synergy to the splashbacks as its still pattern on glass. During the pandemic we bought all our glassware decoration in-house, something I am incredibly proud of and now decorate everything in small batches in my Derbyshire studio. I launched new designs at this point; my pretty etched Silver Birch Collection with dainty, dappled leaves and it has really taken off. I think people like to use nice things everyday, it just elevates the everyday, from a nice glass of water to a pretty glass of wine on the sofa and with friends.

What is your favourite dish to cook at home?

I really like to make a vegetarian version using quorn mince of coochinando’s Pasta Al Forna. It takes about two hours to make, so I usually do it on a Saturday afternoon when I can relax and enjoy the cooking process. I make a huge dish, or two at a time, so I can freeze some portions and also enjoy it the next day when it tastes even better! https://coochinando.com/recipes/pasta-al-forno-oven-pasta-bake/

See more of Emma’s splashbacks and glassware at: www.emmabritton.net

ProWare’s Guide to Gifts Under £40

November 16, 2023 5:09 pm Leave a Comment

Present-buying on a budget can be challenging, which is why we’ve put together ProWare’s Guide to Gifts Under £40. Spoil the foodies in your life but don’t break the bank with these great ideas…

Shop gifts under £40

Set of 2 Tea Towels: £20.00

Copper Tri-ply Mini Frying Pan: £25.00

Copper Tri-ply Mini Pan: £28.00

Mini Cast Iron Casserole: £22.00 or for 2 £39.00

Silver plated mini ladle: £20.00

Copper base 14cm Milk Pan: £39

Alchemist Cocktail Book: £14.00 or

in a set with a Copper Tri-ply Mini Pan £40.00

Stainless Steel Multi-steamer: £22.00

Large Jute Tote Bag: £4

Stainless steel tri-ply 9cm mini pan: £24.00

Stainless steel base 14cm Milk pan: £34.00

Looking for larger sets and bundles? We have a more extensive gift guide here so between the two you’re sure to find the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.

Upcoming Foodie Events: Winter Edition

September 28, 2023 9:26 am Leave a Comment

Winter is a time of culinary delight. With Game Season, Bonfire Night, Thanskgiving and Christmas, winter is the perfect time to head to a foodie festival! That’s why we’re bringing you a list of upcoming foodie events: winter edition. We have stalls at Spirit of Christmas, Living North and BBC Good Food festivals and we can’t wait to meet as many new and existing customers as possible so read on for more details!

Upcoming foodie events: winter edition — Don’t miss the chance to buy our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Roaster or non-stick frying pans (pictured above), perfect for winter dinners. As you can see, there’s much more on offer too!

Don’t miss the chance to buy our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Roaster or non-stick frying pans (pictured above), perfect for winter dinners. As you can see, there’s much more on offer too!

Spirit of London (30 October – 5 November)

Lighting up London’s Olympia is the Spirit of London Christmas fair. This is one of our favourite events of the year because it really gets you into the festive spirit. Spirit of Christmas have a great blog about ProWare up on their website here so go and have a read!

As well as visiting us at stall Q42 in the Grand Hall Ground, you can explore 700 ethical independent brands and designer-makers, curated in partnership with House & Garden, so there’s something for everyone.

Shop food and eat food in equal measure with award-winning artisans and producers nestled alongside Louis Roederer bars and a BRAND NEW José Pizarro at Spirit of Christmas Restaurant.

We will be selling all our ranges so come on down and treat yourself or a foodie loved one to the perfect christmas cookware gift!

Getting there: Olympia London is located at

Hammersmith Road
London
W14 8UX

Kensington (Olympia) has a dedicated rail station located directly beside the venue, and is also served by London Overground and National Rail services, and a limited service on the District line from Earl’s Court. If the trains don’t align then you can easily walk from nearby stations as it’s a 0.5 mile walk from West Kensington on the district line or a 0.5 mile walk from Baron’s Court on the Piccadilly Line.

Tickets: Day tickets from £22. Book here.

Living North: Yorkshire Christmas Fair (9 – 12 November)

Taking over York Racecourse is the Living North Yorkshire Christmas Fair at York Racecourse. We’re delighted to have a stand at the biggest seasonal event in the North and cannot wait to get into the festive spirit with new and existing customers so make sure you come and see us at stand EG3.

From local, artisan producers to homewares and fashion retailers, there’s something for everyone at this larger than life event! All four days of the event also promise fantastic chef demonstrations so whichever day you go, you’re in for a treat.

Getting there: York Racecourse is located at

York Racecourse
Racecourse Road, Knavesmire Road, York

Tickets:

Early Bird Discounted Tickets: £7
Concessions: £6

Booking fees apply. Book here.

Early bird discounted tickets are available until Midnight on 8 November. After this, tickets will be available to buy on the door at £9 each and concessions are also available.

ProWare's Chrismas Gift Guide — Christmas is a culinary feast! Make sure you’re equipped for it with ProWare!

Check out our minis here and see them at any of the festivals!

BBC Good Food Show (23 – 26 November)

Wrapping up our upcoming foodie events: winter edition is the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham. It promises to be a culinary cracker, with star guests already announced. These include The Hairy Bikers, Nadiya Hussein, Michel Roux, James Martin and Gennaro Contaldo so don’t miss them! Also make sure you hit the BBC Good Food Restaurant and star book signings alongside all your Christmas shopping stops.

Come and visit us at stand Q32 for all your Christmas culinary needs, or to chat all things pots and pans.

Getting there: The NEC’s address is

NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT

It is also connected to Birmingham International Station by a covered walkway so couldn’t be easier.

Tickets: General admission from £25. Book here.

And with that, Christmas stockings for the foodies in your life are sorted! If you’re looking for bigger gifts or gift bundles, then head over to our Christmas Gift Guide here and also keep an eye on our social media for any upcoming promotions or offers.

ProWare’s Christmas Gift Guide

September 20, 2023 1:57 pm Leave a Comment

Christmas is a time of culinary delight! From homemade mince pies and family Christmas cake recipes to the mouth-watering smell of roast turkey, there’s no denying that Christmas is the foodie gift that keeps on giving. With all this cooking going on, we’ve put together ProWare’s Chrismas Gift Guide to help you treat the foodies in your life.

Introducing our newest pan our stainless steel tri-ply Chef’s Pan

A ProWare Kitchen Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Chef’s Pan makes a fantastic Christmas gift for anyone who loves to cook—or wants to start! With its durable tri-ply construction, this pan ensures even heat distribution for precise cooking, whether sautéing, simmering, or searing. Its sleek stainless steel finish adds a touch of professional style to any kitchen, while the versatile design works on all hobs, including induction. A high-quality chef’s pan like this elevates everyday meals and inspires culinary creativity, making it a thoughtful, long-lasting gift that shows you care about both flavor and function.

RRP: £78.00 Buy here

Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Roaster

ProWare's Christmas Gift Guide - woman putting roasting pan into the oven — Our Roasting Pan is a Christmas must-have!

If you’re anything like us, Christmas reminds you how much you love your roaster. So why not treat a foodie loved one to the same joy?

Brad Carter, Chef/Owner at Michelin-starred Carters of Moseley loves using our roaster at home on Sundays… if that isn’t enough of an endorsement, we don’t know what is!

RRP: from £82.00 Buy here

Hand Crafted Chopping Boards

Craftsmanship is key in cooking, and at ProWare Kitchen, we blend art with functionality, knowing that great tools are essential for great cooking. This Christmas, we’re excited to introduce our new hand-crafted chopping boards, made by Robert, our ProWare co-founder. These beautiful, practical boards are the perfect gift for the food enthusiast in your life, showcasing Robert’s skill and enhancing the cooking experience. Each board is unique, so don’t delay, because when they’re gone they’re gone!

RRP: From £40 Buy here

ProWare’s Christmas Gift Guide to Mini Cookware

A firm favourite with Michelin-starred chefs, our mini saucepans, frying pans and casserole dishes are really versatile and a key feature of ProWare’s Chrismas Gift Guide.

They’re perfect for cooking and serving: cooking jus, sauces, delicate veg, and serving soups, sides, and individual portions. They’re showstoppers in professional kitchens so why shouldn’t they be showstoppers in yours, or your loved one’s?

RRP: individual items from £21.00

Shop for them here.

Mini Gift Set

This gift set really is the perfect stocking filler. With a gorgeous ladle – made from stainless steel and plated in Sheffield – and one of our versatile mini pans (seen in action above) this gift set is a must-have stocking filler for any foodie!

RRP: £41.00 Buy here

Ladle

Made from stainless steel and silver-plated in Sheffield, this ladle is a great addition to any kitchen or table. It’s part of our mini gift set (above) but also makes a brilliant present on its own. If you’re travelling light this Christmas, then it makes for the perfect portable stocking filler!

RRP: £20.00 Buy here

Large gift sets

Set of 6

All our ranges come in larger sets. Copper Tri-Ply (pictured), Copper Base, and Stainless Steel Tri-Ply come in sets of 6 and Stainless Steel Base in a set of 5.

These fantastic sets are the perfect bundle for setting up any home or professional chef for success. They all include 3x saucepans (16cm, 18cm, 20cm), and a 14cm milk pan and are completed by a variation of non-stick frying pans, stockpots, or saute pans.

RRP: from £208.00 Buy here

Set of 3

Within each of our four ranges we offer a set of 16cm, 18cm, and 20cm saucepans. Our sets of 3 give you a saucepan for every occasion.

We have designed the handles specifically so that the pans nest within each other for stylish and efficient storage

If you’re not sure which range is right for you, check out what we love about each of them here.

RRP: from £135.00 Buy here

Mini pan gift sets

Check out our mini gift sets, both coming with a beautiful ProWare tote bag so there’s something for every budget.

Small copper tri-ply gift set

The small gift set comes with the copper tri-ply saucepan and silver-plated ladle, plus ProWare tote bag.

RRP £48.00 Buy here

Cast-iron casserole gift set

These stylish and versatile mini casseroles are crafted from hard-wearing cast iron, suitable for all hobs types. They are perfect for making individual portions of oven baked dishes. Also comes with ProWare tote bag.

RRP: £42.00 Buy here

The Alchemist Bundle

If you’ve visited The Alchemist and enjoyed their exciting cocktails, you may have seen our Copper Tri-ply mini pan in action! Now, we’ve teamed up with them to offer a fabulous bundle: a mini pan and their cocktail book — the perfect gift for any cocktail lover.

RRP: £40.00 Buy here

The Alchemist’s Cocktail Book

For the friends who love to host, this might be the perfect stocking filler. No dinner party is complete without a cocktail or mocktail to kick things off and this little book of wonders has cocktail recipes to suit every tastes.

RRP: £14.00 Buy here

And with that, Christmas stockings for the foodies in your life are sorted! If you’re looking for bigger gifts or gift bundles, head over to our online shop here. Also, make sure to check out our gifts under £40 blog for more gift ideas!

7 things we love about our Stainless Steel Base Range

February 22, 2023 12:13 pm Leave a Comment

We have launched a brand new range! If you love the look of our Copper Base range but are cooking on induction then we have a treat for you!

Our Stainless Steel base range combines all the things we love about our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply and Copper Base range. Read on to find out just how wonderful it is…

1. Induction (and all hob tops) friendly!

The Stainless Steel Base Range has triple layer construction in the base only, creating an even heat distribution. Being made from stainless steel, it is also induction friendly!

The pans use less material around the sides than their triple layer counterparts and so they cost (and weigh) less but, just as with the other ranges, the pans have been carefully specified and engineered and they have been put through their paces in the test-labs and kitchens. As such we are proud to offer a lifetime guarantee on everything except the non-stick milkpan and frying pan (which carries a guarantee against manufacturing fault but unfortunately not on the non-stick coating).

2. Seeing is believing

There are so many reasons to use a lid. The heat efficiency achieves a quicker boil and saves energy whilst the lack of splash keeps the walls and hob top clean! The vented, glass lids are a firm favourite feature of our Copper Base range so we’re thrilled to launch it as part of our Stainless Steel range too. If you love keeping an eye on your cooking, be it a sauce, rice, or curry, then this range might be perfect for you!

3. Great capacity, and light!

Unlike competitor items our pans are nice and deep so you really can cook for a crowd (or just a hungry family!). Even with their fantastic capacities, they don’t weight too much either. The milkpan holds 1.25 litres and weighs just 670g, while the 16cm saucepan holds just shy of 2 litres and weighs just over 1kg, and the stockpot holds just shy of 6 litres! That’s perfect for a casserole or stew to feed the whole family!

4. Endurance and comfort

The comfortable soft grip handles are extremely practical and easy to handle. The silicone wrap means that they will withstand exposure to high temperatures and are oven safe up to 200 degrees celsius. A steep arch in the handle keeps it away from the heat source, and allows the pans to nest efficiently in cupboards or drawers. An eyelet where the handle meets the pan body disperses heat to ensure handles don’t get too hot and there’s a hanging loop if you want to make them the star feature of your kitchen.

Larger pans can be heavy when they’re full so we’ve added helper handles to the 18cm and 20cm saucepans. Heavy duty stainless steel rivets provide lifelong durability too so you, and your pans are truly set up for success!

5. All-Rounder

These pans work on every hob type; they can go in the oven up to 200ºC; and they’re dishwasher safe! If you prefer to hand wash your cookware, then Bar Keeper’s Friend is your best friend! We have some great top tips on keeping Stainless Steel cookware sparkling clean here.

6. Eye-Catching Design

As well as being practical, our Stainless Steel Base range looks great on the outside too! With hooks for hanging, they look great on show in any kitchen.

7. 5 Star Reviews

We sell through our own website and Amazon Prime. Our trust pilot rating is 4.9 out of 5 so don’t just take our word for it, check out the numerous customer reviews here. Don’t forget that we also have Copper Tri-Ply, Copper Base, and Stainless Steel Tri-Ply ranges.

Want to know anything else about our Stainless Steel Base range? Just get in touch and we’d be happy to assist.

Energy Saving Tips for the Kitchen

June 8, 2022 3:12 pm Leave a Comment

How much time do you spend cooking per week? Per year? Well, according to Ideal Home, cooking is the most time-consuming chore in our lives, taking up a whopping 253 minutes per week or 439 days in a lifetime! That might sound like heaven to chefs and foodies but that’s also a lot of energy being used in the kitchen!

Simple actions like heating up last night’s leftovers or making a quick cup of tea in the advert break can use up a lot more energy than you think. We’ve got some top tips for saving energy in the kitchen:

Make sure the pan covers the entirety of the hob. Any space outside the edge of the pan is where wasted energy will escape.
Make sure you pick the right size pan for the job. A bigger pan takes longer to heat up and you will need more water to fill it. It takes more energy to heat a larger pan with only one fifth full with water in it than it does to heat a smaller pan that is full of water.
Try turning off the heat a couple of minutes before your food is fully cooked. This works particularly well with electric hobs as they can take a while to cool and will continue to cook the food.
Don’t use more water than you need. Boiling extra water takes more energy and time.
Use a kettle. It is better to heat water in a kettle, rather than on the stove then transfer it into a pan once boiled.
Reduce the number of pans you cook with. This will in turn lead to less washing up, saving water, cleaning products and time.
Try a steamer – it’s not only the best way to cook your vegetables because of the way it retains the nutrients in them but you can also cook several things are once on one heat source. ie boil your pasta in the pot and steam your vegetables in the steamer on top. Check out our Stainless Steel Multi Steamer here. Michelin-starred chef Paul Welburn loves using our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Steamer to cook fish. Steamers are incredibly energy efficient, using the heat from boiling water below (which you can also use to cook pasta, vegetables, and much more at the same time!). It fits perfectly snugly on top of our saucepans which is great for cooking and storage.
Choose energy efficient products – our stainless steel tri-ply pans are made for induction not only very effective at heating up but the interior metal aluminium acts like a hot water bottle and keeps the pan hot and also helps product an even heat distribution. Also not all induction pans are made the same. We have tested lots of different pans on the market today and some of them even though they are induction compatible still take ages to heat up. We know our Stainless Steel Tri-ply pans are perfect for the job and heat up very quickly.
Try to avoid opening the oven too often. This lets out the hot air and wastes energy when the oven has to work it’s way back up to the set temperature wasting energy.
Have a lid? Use it! Water will boil faster and food will heat quicker when using a lid.

For more info, the Energy Saving Trust has great ideas here too.

Jöro Restaurant – Tasting Menu & Meet the Chef

May 10, 2018 1:08 pm Comments Off

Last Thursday the ProWare team enjoyed an 8 course tasting menu at Jöro. The open kitchen is quite unique which creates a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere. Seeing the talent and expertise of the chefs in action makes it an exciting experience. There must be an element of showmanship about it but whilst it was a very lively and busy evening in the restaurant there was an incredible air of control coming from that open kitchen. Head Chef Luke and the team delivered a wonderful and varied set of dishes. We were left not knowing which was our favourite. What we did leave with is an appreciation of unique tastes, ingredients and a memorable evening dining out at what is easily Sheffield’s best restaurant. In addition to the fabulous food, it was a treat to see our Stainless Steel Tri-ply pans and Copper Tri-ply Mini Pan in use during service.

ProWare Team at Jöror Restaurant Sheffield

The evening started with a series of amuse-bouches and some freshly made bread. Each dish was expertly explained by our host/sommelier who was a delight. He answered our haphazard questions with charm and interesting tidbits of information including where they forage for some of the food on their menu.

Jöro Restaurant Sheffield

The most popular dishes of the evening were the Cod with chevril as well as the Cumbrian Herdwick Hogget with wild garlic, jersey royal & mint pictured below.

Jöro collage

And of course, the Browned Butter Parfait which is one of the recipes Chef Luke shared with us for Christmas. Check out the recipe here.

ProWare Christmas Recipes Joro-87

To read more about Jöro check out our blog here and read more below to find out about how Luke got to the place where he is now.

Meet the Chef – Luke French

Starting Out

Beginning as a kitchen porter at The White Pheasant pub in Fordham, Cambridgeshire, Luke French worked hard to climb up the kitchen ranks, going on to become part of the catering team at the University of Cambridge. Over the following two years he amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience, thanks in part to the wide variety of events that he was tasked with catering, from student meals to large scale banquets, to fine dining for delegates and government officials. He also had the opportunity to try his hand at a great number of international cuisines, expanding his knowledge and refining his skills along the way allowing him to reach a height of Junior Sous Chef.

From here, he went on to work at a selection of high end restaurants such as Aliemtum, Graffiti, Hotel Felix and Gonville Hotel. During this time of working in AA Rosette and Michelin Star establishments, Luke also gained experience working with pastry, an area which had thus far remained unexplored.

Following this, in the months prior to embarking on a global travel adventure, he worked at The Fat Duck. With three Michelin stars and a recipient of the esteemed title of Best Restaurant in the World, Heston Blumenthal’s eatery is noted for its wildly inventive food, multi-sensory cooking and unorthodox flavour combinations.

Luke travelled first to India, on to Thailand, then Vietnam, Burma and finishing in Cambodia. Enjoying the street food on offer and immersing himself in the vibrant cultures introduced him to new, local ingredients. This time, he says, has become a rich source of inspiration for the food he is cooking today.

Upon his return to the UK, he spent some time in Cambridge, working as Head Chef, giving him free reign to develop his own distinctive style of cooking. He eventually moved to Sheffield and joined the team at local gastro pub, The Milestone, where he worked as a sectional chef for two years. A head chef vacancy opened up, an opportunity to which Luke jumped and a position he subsequently achieved.

Joro Restaurant - Luke French

On the Way Up

Alongside his duties as head chef, Luke worked with Stacy and Mat (Jöro co-owners) to open Craft and Dough, who serve indulgent, innovative pizzas with the finest craft beers available. This formula has proved successful, resulting in the three Craft and Dough restaurants opening in Sheffield and Luke acquiring invaluable experience.

While cooking at event hosted for a group of architects working on a new development, located just around the corner from The Milestone, Luke first heard about Krynkl. Twenty-nine shipping containers, combined to produce “a revolutionary new space created to showcase the best and most exciting independent start-ups and businesses from Sheffield, where they can share space, skills and ideas. A space built for work and play”. After the warm reception received by several pop-ups, hosted at The Milestone, it became apparent that Sheffield was ready for Joro to set up a permanent home. The restaurant opened at Krynkl in November 2017.

A New Direction

With the opening of Jöro, Luke set about redefining Sheffield’s culinary scene with his nature-inspired food, channelling the ethos widely adopted in Denmark and Norway; that cooking should be kept simple to really get the best out of quality ingredients.

“A meal made of many small plates” is the message that greets with you when opening the Joro website.

ProWare Christmas Recipes Joro Trout

To book your table:

Jöro Restaurant
0.2 – 0.5 Krynkl
294 Shalesmoor
Sheffield
S3 8US

0114 299 1539
Email

Opening Times

Lunch 12.00 – 15.00
Thursday – Saturday

Dinner 17:30 – 22:00
Wednesday – Saturday

(last orders for tasting menus at 14.00 & 21.00)

Closed Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays, Wednesday Lunchtime.

We can wholeheartedly say that everyone experience a meal at Jöro. We left the restaurant with full bellies and our taste buds tingling. We would like to say a big thank you to Luke and the whole team at Jöro for a wonderful evening. Also we’d like to credit Tom Kahler for the featured image about of Luke.

Why We Offer a Lifetime Guarantee

April 5, 2018 4:00 pm Comments Off

‘They don’t make ‘em like they used to’

This is a phrase that is thrown around all over the place these days. Whether its chocolate bars getting smaller or washing machines packing in after just a few years, it is becoming more evident that everyday items are gradually transforming into shadows of their former selves.

The cost of raw materials is increasing. As is the pressure to be competitive in a market saturated with products and outlets. It is therefore understandable that companies are de-spec’ing their products in order to make their production viable and profitable. An unfortunate downside of this is that product quality and longevity suffer, making items less durable in a society that is becoming increasingly throwaway.

Brands that continue to manufacture a product designed to last, who are unwilling to sacrifice quality to participate in a race to be cheapest and are now something of a rarity. We believe ProWare to be an example of such a brand.

Our cookware is used daily in professional kitchens

‘What would we want in our own kitchen?’

When developing our products, we wanted the result to be something we would be willing to buy ourselves, that would satisfy our appetites for quality and value.

For this reason, we went above and beyond when specifying our cookware. The Tri-Ply ranges have a minimum wall thickness of 2.5mm (up to 3mm in the Copper Tri-Ply). This is more than six times that of some commercially available items. The handles on all our pan ranges are cast stainless steel, as are the rivets used to attach them. Securing the handle with stainless steel rivets requires 200 tonnes of pressure and ensures the handle will never loosen. Most manufacturers use aluminium rivets, which are fastened using only 45 tonnes of pressure due to aluminium being a softer metal than stainless steel. This is considered a more cost effective choice but aluminium can deform as a result of sustained stress or frequent jarring. This can cause handles to loosen with time.

Perhaps the most vunerable part of any pot or pan is the interior. It is this surface that will be exposed to the most hostile conditions. The interior of a pan will regularly come in to contact with three potentially destructive elements; moisture, heat and acidity. These can combine to become detrimental to some metals over time so it is essential the correct ones are used. That is why we use 18/10 grade stainless steel for the interiors of all our pans. The name refers to the chromium and nickel contents of the steel. This is considered the highest grade of stainless steel in domestic use and is noted for its excellent resistance to corrosion.

You can find out more about the construction of our pans here.

Buy well, buy once

We are confident in the knowledge that we have done everything possible to make our pans as good as they can be. It is this which allows us to offer a lifetime guarantee across all ranges with the exception of our non-stick items. The non-stick we use is Teflon Platinum Plus, a market leader renowned for its toughness and longevity. As good as it may be, it will not last forever.

We hope you can share our faith in the cookware we produce and that you can make a purchase knowing it will stay with you through decades of use to be passed on to future generations.

Finding the Right Cookware for You

March 19, 2018 2:15 pm Comments Off

Buying new cookware can be difficult. Aside from being a financial investment, there is such a vast array of products out there that it is sometimes a challenge to choose correctly.

You may be lucky enough to know exactly what you want and exactly where to get it. Or perhaps you’ve had the same set of pans for the last 30 years and just plan on buying the same ones again.

If, however, you simply don’t know where to start, try asking yourself…

What do you cook on?

First things first, the type of hob you have (or plan to get) is very important. It will be either gas, radiant ring, ceramic or induction.

A lot of cookware can be used on all types of hob (*cough* our Stainless Steel Tri-Ply for example *cough*), but there are some types that cannot be used on induction hobs. This is due to the item having a non-ferrous base. In other words, the base is not made of a magnetic metal such a cast iron or certain stainless steels.

Pots and pans with a base made from a metal such as copper or aluminium are not compatible with induction hobs. Make sure to check your pans are induction compatible before trying to use them on an induction hob.

What is your style?

Your personal style and the aesthetic of your kitchen are factors that you should probably think about. As with kitchens, cookware is available in a wide spectrum of styles, from traditional to ultra modern. If you are planning on spending a lot of money it is important to go with something that you not only love but won’t get tired of. If you are easily bored, opting for high spec, expensive cookware is inadvisable.

When designing our cookware we set out to give them a timelessness, to make them look and feel at home in any setting. We did this by incorporating traditional elements such as riveted handles and hanging loops in to a fresh and contemporary shape.

ProWare Copper Base Saucepans

Who do you cook for?

Another consideration is the number of people you are regularly cooking for. Small saucepans (16cm or less) would likely be seldom used in a large family, thus it may be preferable to have 2 large pans (18 or 20cm) that will be used all the time than 3 or 4 of varying sizes, some of which may never leave the cupboard.

Conversely, if you are generally only cooking for two, smaller saucepans will be used much more frequently. That said, it would no doubt be favourable to still have a large saucepan on hand should you have guests.

With this in mind it may be better to purchase pans as individuals rather than in sets. Nobody can predict you cooking habits better than you. Explore our saucepans here.

What do you like to eat?

Most pots and pans are very versatile and can be used for all sorts, making them an essential part of any kitchen. There are certain items though that have quite niche roles in the kitchen, some of which may be of no use to you.

For example, non-stick frying pans. There is no denying that they are great for fried eggs and pancakes. However, we would recommend one with a stainless steel interior for just about everything else. If you never cook fried eggs or pancakes, perhaps a non-stick frying pan is not for you.

Likewise, the functionality of a milk pan is quite limited because of its small capacity. As their name suggests, they are perfect for warming milk and making porridge too. They can also come in very handy when cooking for small children or making sauces. Beyond this, their size can hinder versatility as a saucepan and potentially demote them to a non-essential item.

A milk pan is a must when making porridge

What do you already have?

If you already have some individual pieces, don’t replace them for the sake of it. If they’re good quality and still in working order, keep them. Many items, including the entire ProWare range, are available as individuals so you can tailor sets around what you already have.

Decision Time

We hope these tips have given you some useful pointers on making the right choice for you. If you have any questions or would like to share a tip of your own we would love to hear from you! Get in touch via social media or email us at info@proware-kitchen.co.uk.

Induction Cooking – Sheer Magnetism

March 2, 2018 3:00 pm Comments Off

Following the success of the Copper Tri-Ply and Copper Base ranges, and with the growing popularity of induction cooking we decided to put our heads together and develop a range that could be used with all hob types to make ProWare accessible to all. The Stainless Steel Tri-Ply range was what we came up with and we couldn’t be happier with it.

Su Sutton, from esteemed bespoke kitchen maker My Father’s Heart, estimates that induction hobs account for around 90% of their hob-top sales. This is frankly an astonishing figure. So what has prompted this sudden surge in popularity? Let’s find out.

Where did it all start?

Much earlier than you may think with the first patents outlining the principle of induction cooking dating back to 1909. Following some exposure at technology fairs in the 1950’s, induction hobs as we know them today were the result of work carried out at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation Research and Development Centre near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early 1970’s. The first commercially available induction hob was Westinghouse’s Cool Top 2, launched in 1973 priced at $1500 ($8260 in 2017 dollars).

Westinghouse Electric CT-2 1973 (image: Westinghouse Electric Corporation)

How does it work?

Conventional hobs work using thermal convection. In other words they use a heat source, whether it be with a gas flame, a radiant ring or a halogen filament to heat up your pots and pans.

Induction hobs work slightly differently. Instead they use magnetic induction to directly heat the vessel in which you are cooking. An alternating electric current is passed through a coil of copper wire located within the hob beneath your pot (1). This creates an oscillating magnetic field (2) which produces eddy currents within the pot. The pot’s resistance against these currents is what causes it to heat (3).

An induction hob

Why choose induction?

Perhaps the main attraction to a society that is becoming increasingly aware of energy consumption and it’s environmental impact is efficiency. Test carried out by the US Department of Energy found induction cooking to have an average of efficiency of around 75%, compared with 70% for electric coil and 44% for gas (read more here). This can be largely attributed to the significantly higher ambient loss attained with cooking methods that use a flame or heating element; compared to induction, which heats the pot directly.

Safety is another factor which falls in its favour. The absence of a direct heat source is of great appeal to families with young children, or for that matter, absent minded adults. Of course your pots and pans will get hot during cooking (that’s the whole point) but the hob-top itself does not emit heat. It will warm up due to heat transfer from your hot pan so caution is still recommended but it doesn’t pose the same risks as a naked flame or hot plate. In fact, Raymond Baxter once demonstrated on the BBC series Tomorrow’s World, that it was possible to cook through a slab of ice (don’t try this at home!).

In addition, many induction hobs are a single flat piece of glass. This means food being burnt on or getting stuck in nooks and crannies doesn’t really happen, so keeping them clean is a doddle. Also, being aesthetically very neat they appeal to those with contemporary tastes.

Are they still expensive?

Yes and no. If you are thinking of installing an induction hob in your new kitchen, it’s true that an entry level one will set you back around double that of the equivalent gas hob. This difference becomes less defined as you increase in spec level. The disparity in initial outlay may not sit well with your wallet, but you may notice benefits in the long run thanks to the increased efficiency of induction. Generally speaking however, they have reduced in price significantly since their introduction. You can get small portable hobs for as little as £30.

Another factor to take in to consideration is whether the cookware you have (or want) is induction compatible. If it isn’t, this will be an added expense in making the transition, which brings us on to our next point.

Are there any drawbacks?

A reliance on magnetism to heat your pans means that almost all induction hobs require the cooking vessel to be made of (or at least contain) a ferromagnetic metal such as cast iron or some stainless steels. Cookware made of copper, glass, non-magnetic stainless steels or aluminium does therefore not work on an induction hob. There are ways around this with the availability of discs that you place on your hob allowing it to function as a conventional hot plate, on which non magnetic cookware can be used. You will, however, forfeit the efficiency gained by opting for induction.

Induction hobs can be noisy. The source of this noise is two fold – it can be generated by the cooling fans housed withing the hob itself; they can also produce an audible electromagnetic noise as a result of cookware being exposed to a high magnetic field. This normally manifests itself as a humming or buzzing but most users find this to be minor and something grown quickly accustomed to.

ProWare Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Induction Hob

ProWare Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 16cm Saucepan on a BORA induction hob with integrated downdraft technology

What is next for induction?

It would be fair to say that thanks to their efficiency, cleanliness and good looks, induction hobs are here to stay. We asked Su her thoughts on the future of induction and where she sees it going in coming years;

“Leading the way now in terms of induction is downdraft.”

Downdraft refers to a type of extraction system that draws air down and out as opposed to the conventional hoods which draw it up and out.

“BORA is our best-selling hob-top brand with internal extraction within the induction cook-top. They are a relatively new company – being only about 8 years old – but they have changed the way people think about extraction and offer several different models of induction cook-tops that are well-engineered and designed. They are, definitely, one to watch.”

This revolutionary technology doesn’t come cheap with prices starting around £3,000. It does however give us a glimpse of how we all may be cooking in years to come.

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