While planning to purchase a pot or set of pots, one of the hardest decisions to make is what size of pot to buy. The reason why choosing a pot size can be difficult is that pots come in a wide range of sizes, ranging from small to large, which are mostly used in restaurants.
One thing to note is that the pot size you choose can make or break your cooking experience and the quality of your food. If you choose the wrong pot size for meal preparation, you might end up steaming your food (vegetables, for instance) instead of searing it; liquids can evaporate quickly, or your food might be watery. This is why choosing the right pot size is important.
If you read this article to the end, you'll have nothing to fear because I'm going to teach you everything you need to know to choose the right pot size that suits you. Let's get started.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pot Size
The funny thing about reality is one thing doesn't suit everybody. The same thing applies to pots. To know the pot size that actually suits you, there are various factors you need to consider. Let's discuss those factors.
1. Type of Meal or Dish
If you have prepared meals more than a few times, you should have noticed that some meals are best prepared with small pots and some other types of meals are best prepared using large pots. For instance, cooking sauces is best done with small pots, while cooking meals like soups is best done with large pots.
This is evidence to the fact that the meals you find yourself frequently preparing are a crucial factor you need to consider, or else you'll ruin the quality of your food and your cooking experience.
Here are types of dishes and the pot size that are best prepared with:
Soups and Stews: These types of meals are best prepared with large pots of size, 5 quarts or more. This gives a lot of room to accommodate plenty of liquids and ingredients for preparing your soup or stew.
Pastas: Medium pot sizes are mostly suited for meals like pasta because they allow water to circulate freely. I prefer a pot size of between 3 and 6 quarts for preparing pasta. Sometimes, you might want to exceed that pot size depending on the quantity of pasta you're preparing.
Sauces: Sauces are best prepared with small pots because the quantity of the sauce you'll mostly prepare will be small and you'll need to have better control, which means a reduced surface area. The size of pot preferred for cooking sauces is between 1 and 2 quarts.
2. Number of Servings
Of course, the most crucial factor to consider when choosing a pot size (which might be obvious) is the number of people you'll be cooking for. What's the number of times you're going to serve yourself or relatives from the meal you prepared? That's the question you need to ask yourself.
Mostly, single persons just need a small pot as they only serve themselves (1 serving) or maybe themselves and one other person, while a large household, on the other hand, needs a large pot as they serve 5 or more people.
I've come up with a list of servings and the size of pot that suits them.
1 - 2 Servings: If you're cooking for just yourself, or yourself and one other person, then between 1 and 3 quart pots is what suits you.
3 - 4 Servings: If you frequently serve 3 or 4 people from a meal you prepare, between 3 and 4 quart pot sizes are what you should go for.
5+ Servings: 5 servings or more requires a pot of size 5 quarts or preferably more.
3. Storage Space
If you have a limited amount of space in your cabinet to store pots, you might want to take into consideration the size of the pot you want to purchase. You should go for a pot size that is stackable, which will reduce the amount of space pots occupy in your kitchen.
Some people tend to forget or ignore this factor, which might lead to having a messy or unorganised kitchen if you have limited space in your kitchen.
Common Pot Sizes and Their Uses
Cooking is an art in which everything matters, including the size of pots. If you choose the wrong size to prepare a type of meal, you might end up with food that isn't as good as it should be. That's why I want to discuss the common pot sizes and what they are best used for in this section, so you won't view cooking as torture for nothing.
1. Small Pots (1 - 2 quarts)
Small pots are usually between 1 and 2 quarts. They are best used for
- Making sauces or gravies.
- Boiling eggs or cooking a small quantity of rice
- Reheating small quantities (like a single serving) of soup or leftover food.
2. Medium Pots (3 - 4 quarts)
Medium pot sizes are usually between 3 and 4 quarts. They are best used for
- Cooking grains like rice, quinoa, or couscous for small families of about 3 or 4.
- Cooking stew or soup for a few people of between 2 and 4.
- Boiling vegetables or a small quantity of pasta.
3. Large Pots (5+ quarts)
Large pot sizes are usually 5 quarts and above. They are best used for
- Preparing meals like soup, stew, or chilli for medium to large families.
- Cooking pasta for a large number of people.
- Preparing meals for preservation, like preparing your food for freezing and so on.
Check out Article: Copper Vs Stainless Steel Pots: Pros and Cons
Understanding Pot Capacity and Measurement
I've mentioned quarts and pot size a lot in this article, but you might not be familiar with what quart means or how pot capacity is being measured.
That's why I included this section where I can teach you how pots are being measured and what the quarts (you've heard a lot) really mean.
Pots are measured in quarts, which is the amount of liquid they can hold. Quarts and litres can be used interchangeably because they are approximately the same measurement.
Now, let's go more practical.
If a pot is of size 1 quarts, it means the pot can hold approximately 4 cups of liquid. And a 1-quart-sized pot means it can hold approximately 1 litre of liquid.
Also, if a pot is of size 2 quarts, it means the pot can hold approximately 8 cups of liquid. And a 2-quart-sized pot means it can hold approximately 2 litres of liquid.
Here are more examples.
- 1 quart = 4 cups ~ 1 litre
- 2 quarts = 8 cups ~ 2 litres
- 3 quarts = 12 cups ~ 3 litres
- 5 quarts = 20 cups ~ 5 litres
What's the Best Pot Size?
This is the question most people would want an answer for, but the truth is there is no pot size that suits all needs. The best pot size mostly depends on the quantity of food you're cooking and the number of people you're cooking for.
If you find it difficult to figure out the right pot size for you while considering the factors I've mentioned, don't panic because I've come up with a list of lifestyles and the pot size that matches those lifestyles. So, if you fall under any of those categories, you can just go for the pot size for that category.
For Singles or Couples
For single people or couples (that is, just you and your partner), you can go for pot size between 1 and 3 quarts. One of the reasons why 1-3 quarts is best suited for you is that it's easy to clean and it takes up less space.
For Families
For families of between 3 and 6 members, medium to large pot size of between 4 and 6 quarts is what you should go for. This way, you can prepare your meals without overcrowding your pot or spilling your meal.
For Meal Preppers
If you're the type of person who usually prepares food in bulk, you should go for a larger pot of size between 6 and 8 quarts or probably larger than that.
Check out Article: Can You Put Pots In A Dishwasher?
Conclusion
Choosing the right pot size for you is crucial, as it can affect the quality of your food and your cooking experience. The way to do that is by considering the type of food you frequently prepare and the number of servings. If you choose the pot size that suits you, you'll definitely enjoy efficient cooking and better results.
Sources:
Post a Comment