Best Cookware for Indian Cooking?

Indian Cooking Pots: A Guide to Choosing the Right Indian Cookware for Your Kitchen

Kitchenairy helps you find the best cookware for Indian cooking in the USA! We review of some of the best utensils and tools that are perfect for cooking Indian dishes the world over.

Cooking is an integral part of Indian culture and the right cookware is essential to bring out the authentic flavors of Indian cuisine. With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right cooking pot that fits your needs. In this article, we'll discuss some of the popular types of Indian cooking pots and what to look for when purchasing one.

Choosing the right cookware is crucial for authentic Indian cooking. Whether you're looking for copper-bottomed kadai or hard-anodized cookware, there are plenty of options available in the market. So, invest in good quality cookware that suits your cooking style and preferences. With the right cookware, you can elevate your Indian cooking to the next level.

Popular Indian Cooking Pots

Copper Bottom and Copper Bottom Kadai

Copper-bottomed utensils are a popular choice in Indian kitchens for their heat conductivity and even heat distribution. The copper layer at the bottom of the pot heats up quickly, which helps to reduce cooking time. Copper-bottomed kadai is a must-have in Indian kitchens for making curries, stews, and fried snacks. The copper layer also gives a unique taste and aroma to the dishes. Some of the best copper cookware cooks the best Indian food.

Stainless Steel Kadai

Stainless steel kadai is another popular option in Indian kitchens. They are easy to maintain and durable. An easy to clean stainless steel kadai is perfect for everyday use and is ideal for cooking dry vegetables and making snacks like samosas and kachoris.

Nonstick Cookware

Nonstick cookware is gaining popularity in Indian kitchens due to their ease of use and low oil consumption. They are perfect for cooking delicate dishes like pancakes and omelets. Nonstick cookware is available in different shapes and sizes, including saucepans, frying pans, and tawas. Lots of quality non-stick cookware has removable handles too.

Hard Anodized Cookware

Hard anodized cookware is known for its durability and scratch-resistant surface. They are ideal for cooking rich and flavorful dishes like biryanis and curries. Hard anodized cookware comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, including saucepans, frying pans, and pots.

Spice Boxes and Masala Dabbas

Indian cooking is incomplete without masalas and spices. Spice boxes or masala dabbas are an essential part of Indian kitchens. They keep the spices and masalas organized and within reach while cooking. They come in different sizes and shapes, with multiple compartments to store different spices.

Induction-Compatible Cookware

Induction-compatible cookware is gaining popularity due to its energy efficiency and ease of use. They are compatible with induction cooktops and have a magnetic layer at the bottom that heats up quickly. Induction-compatible cookware is available in different shapes and sizes, including frying pans, saucepans, and tawas.

If you have an induction cooktop, induction base pots are perfect for you. These pots are specially designed to work with induction cooktops, ensuring that your food is cooked evenly and efficiently.

Clay Pots

Clay pots are an ancient form of cookware that has been used in Indian kitchens for centuries. They are perfect for slow-cooking dishes like soups, stews, and biryanis. Clay pots retain the heat for a long time, which helps to enhance the flavors and aroma of the dishes.

Indian Cooking Pot Must Have Features

Flat Bottom

Another important aspect of Indian cooking pots is the shape of the bottom. Flat bottomed pots are ideal for cooking Indian dishes, as they ensure that the heat is distributed evenly across the surface of the pot, preventing any hotspots from developing.

Premium Quality

At the Kitchenairy, we believe in Indian cooking should be done in pots of premium quality. Good Indian cooking pots are made from premium quality materials that are designed to last. Whether you are looking for a copper bottom kadai or a stainless steel kadai, make sure you choose one of premium quality.

What Is A Cooking Pot Indian Style?

Indian cooking pots come in many different shapes and sizes, and are designed to cater to the various cooking needs of Indian households. From biryani masala to chana dal, Indian cooking pots are perfect for cooking a wide range of Indian dishes.

Clay Pot for Cooking

Clay pots are a popular choice for cooking in India. They are excellent for slow-cooking stews and soups, and are also great for cooking rice and other grains. Clay pots are made from high-quality materials and are designed to withstand high temperatures.

Sets with Lid

Good Indian cooking pots come in sets with lids, making it easy to cook a variety of dishes at the same time. Whether you are looking for a set of stainless steel pots or a set of copper bottom kadai, make sure to buy the perfect set for your needs.

Ancient Cookware Qualities

Some Indian cooking pots are inspired by ancient cookware, and are designed to provide an authentic cooking experience. These pots are made using traditional methods and materials, and are perfect for cooking dishes like biryanis and curries.

Having the Right Pots for Indian Cooking

Indian cooking pots are an essential part of any Indian kitchen. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, having the right pots and pans is essential for cooking delicious and authentic Indian dishes. Kitchenairy know about a wide range of Indian cooking pots, from copper bottom kadai to stainless steel kadai, and everything in between. Read on to elevate your Indian cooking game!

Enhance The Flavor Of Your Food

Indian pots are an essential part of any Indian kitchenware collection. They are perfect for cooking a variety of dishes, from South Indian snacks to stew soups and biryani. These pots are available in various sizes and shapes, and they come with lids that help to retain the heat and flavor of the food.

Buy A Pot As A Gift For A Loved One

When it comes to gifting, Indian pots are a popular choice, and they are often sold in gift boxes that include spice mixes, cooking pastes, and other essential ingredients. These boxes are perfect for those who love to cook, and they make an excellent addition to any kitchen.

High Temperature Cooking

Indian pots are also known for their heat-resistant properties, making them perfect for cooking at high temperatures. They are typically made from hard-anodized aluminum, which ensures that they distribute heat evenly and reduce the chances of hot spots in the food. Additionally, many of these pots are also oven safe, allowing you to cook a wide range of dishes with ease.

Stew & Biryani

One of the most popular types of Indian pots is the clay pot for cooking. These pots are made from Indian clay, which is known for its ability to retain heat and moisture. This makes them perfect for cooking dishes like biryani and stew, as they ensure that the food is cooked evenly and retains its flavor and texture.

Easy To Clean Cookware

Another popular type of Indian pot is the stainless steel cookware. These pots are durable, easy to clean, and can be used on induction stovetops, making them a versatile addition to any kitchen. They typically come with glass lids that allow you to monitor the cooking process, and they are available in a range of sizes and shapes to suit different cooking needs.

Indian Cooking Utensils

In addition to pots, there are also a variety of Indian cooking utensils, such as tava griddles, sauce pans, and serving bowls. These utensils are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, hammered copper, and hard anodized aluminum. They are perfect for cooking a range of dishes, from chana dal to South Indian snacks. So which ones do you need? Read on to fins a list of our must haves for Indian cooking.

Indian Kitchenware You'll Love

Indian kitchenware, including pots, pans, and utensils, is an essential part of any Indian kitchen. With their heat-resistant properties, even heat distribution, and range of sizes and shapes, they make cooking Indian dishes easy and enjoyable. Whether you're an experienced chef or a beginner cook, Indian pots and kitchenware are a must-have for any home cook.

Ancient Cooking Tradition

Indian cuisine dates back over 8,000-years. India is a diverse melting pot of ancient history, inter-continental trade, multiculturalism, and spirituality. Its unique cultural landscape has laid way to a rich and varied culinary cornucopia of flavors and delicious delights. Each of these exotic dishes requires special utensils, we have tried to cover the best cookware for Indian Cooking.

Rich curries, tasty pastries, delicious sweets, much of which is vegetarian or vegan due to a predominantly Buddhist, Hindu, Jainist, and Sikh religious population.

Cook Robust & Complex Flavors

Above all, the food of south and northern India is full of robust and complex flavors achieved with the aid of exotic herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits like:

• Cloves, Cardamon, Garlic, and Ginger Beans, Chickpeas, Lentils, and Rice
• Carrots, Ginger, Onions, and Potatoes
• Chillies and curry leaves
• Garam masala and turmeric
• Tamarind, Guava, coconut and many more

Many other ingredients and spices have come from thousands of years of trade as well as from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, China and Pakistan.

With this ancient and diverse culinary history has come many different types of cookware and utensils to bake, fry, simmer and stew these delectable delights. There are also various kinds of cooking mediums and best cookware for Indian cooking like the traditional tandoor oven, resembling more of a large vertical pot than a conventional oven.

Indian food is enjoyed the world over. Above all, it has evolved in cooking methods flavours and recipes like all international cuisines. So what is the best cookware to use when preparing your favourite Indian dishes at home today? Read on to learn more.

Table of Contents

What is the best cookware for Indian cooking?

Firstly, with so many varieties of food in Indian cuisine, there is no easy answer to this question. Having a collection of the best cookware for Indian cooking is essential. Therefore, the kind of cookware you use depends on what you make. From slow-cooked curry, traditional Indian flatbreads, to grilling different meats and vegetables.

What is the best cookware for Indian curries?

Curry defines a wide range of dishes using a complex combination of herbs and spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, and fresh or dried chilies’.

Curries cook in a stew pot, known in India as a Degchi or Handi. Made from hammered brass or copper or hand made from clay, they come in a wide range of shapes and sizes depending on the region.

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Today, curries are made mainly in aluminium, cast iron or stainless steel pots that are just as effective as traditional Indian cookware. As a result, you can even purchase contemporary handi style pressure cookers.

Aluminum Cookware

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Cast Iron Cookware

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Stainless Steel Copper Bottom Cookware

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What is Fried Indian Food Cooked in?

Firstly, everyone loves an Indian fried delicacy. For most lovers of Indian food, ordering a curry and rice without a fried Indian side dish is sacrilege. This can include many types of flatbreads like chapati, roti, poori or paratha. Other tasty fried morsels could consist of:

• Onion bhaji
• Samosas
• Vegetable pakoras
• Kachori and more

Most fried Indian dishes cook in a karahi which is almost identical to a Chinese wok and could have a flat or round base. There is also a skillet style pan called a jalebi Kadai.

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The internet is packed full of amazing recipes for these fantastic Indian snacks, and you can use a traditional wok, or a stainless steel or iron skillet with the same results.

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How Do You Unlock Those Rich Indian Flavours?

No Indian kitchen is complete without a Tadka Pan. Tadka means “tempering” (also known as bagar, chhonk, phodni or other names depending on the region). It is a cooking technique used to cook down, unlock and release all the oils, exotic herbs and flavoursome spices before a to a dish.

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Cook base ingredients like turmeric, cardamom, cumin, mustard seed, chilli or even shallots and garlic in oil or ghee. Use a high temperature to bring out all the subtle oils, spices and flavours, therefore making them ultra-dense and aromatic.

A tadka pan often resembles a small, deep wok on a long handle giving you plenty of distance from the crackling and spitting spices as they flavour the oil.

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You need to use an oil that can handle high heat without producing an arid taste like olive oil. It is best to use oils with a high smoke point like ghee or coconut oil. Tadka is more of a cooking method than a pan and will transform the flavour of your Indian cuisine. It is a skill well worth learning.

What Utensils Do You Use In Indian Cooking?

Above all, most traditional Indian cooking utensils represent something you may already have in your kitchen. Here are some examples.

Chimta

A chimta is like tongs. Sometimes chimta have pointed tips for flipping flatbread like roti or stabbing at hot food.

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Belan

Almost identical to a small wooden rolling pin, a belan can flatten doughs and pastries.

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Jhaara (a.k.a. Jaldeer Karchi)

A jhaara is like a perforated ladle or strainer, used to remove and drain things from a fryer.

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Haman-Dasta

If you are planning on making your curries from scratch using raw ingredients, you may want to invest in a haman-dasta or mortar and pestle for crushing and grinding seeds, herbs and spices.

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One of the other secrets to good Indian cooking is having small bowls or Katori to prepare your ingredients before you cook. Katori bowls are also handy for serving your delicious samosas, dipping sauces or maybe some papadums.

Above all, you can cook healthy, tasty, authentic Indian food with much of the cookware you would find in most home kitchens.

If you have a stainless steel cooking set, an iron skillet or nonstick fry pans, a decent size stew pot, slow cooker or pressure cooker, as well as some basic utensils, then you have everything you need to cook tantalising treats, transcendental curries, robust rice dishes and brilliant flatbreads. You’ll feel like you’ve teleported to New Delhi!

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