You may have heard of hard-anodized cookware and wondered what is it.  The material in this type of cookware is aluminum. But instead of combining it with other metals like stainless steel, it undergoes a process called electro-chemical hardening. There it is treated with sulfuric acid before the electrochemical process. After the process, the result is very hard and sturdy cookware, probably even tougher than stainless steel.  There are advantages and disadvantages to hard-anodized aluminum cookware.  Let us list down some of these points to help you make up your mind whether these cookware sets are something you should get.

Advantages of Hard-Anodized Cookware

As already discussed above, hard-anodized aluminum cookware is very hard and durable.  Because of this, it does not easily dent during accidental bumps or knock-offs.  It could last for generations with suitable maintenance.

One of the most asked questions when buying cookware sets is if they could use them in an oven.  So, can you use hard anodized cookware in the oven? That is not a problem at all if the cookware has metal holders.

Hard anodized aluminum pans are non-stick so there is no need to worry about your dishes sticking on your pans.  You can also prepare healthier dishes as it is nonstick, and there is no need to put a load of oil.  This saves you also on the cost of cooking oil.

Unlike stainless steel cookware, is non-stick which makes it more convenient to clean. This means less effort of taking out sticky food items stuck on your pan surface. In rare cases you get some clingy food stick on your pan, a tested technique to get it out is to soak it with baking soda mixed with water for a few minutes.  You may afterward wash it normally.

Hard anodized is one of the best cookware because it is aluminum metal which is a good conductor of heat.  Translating this into practicality means that you can cook your meal faster and you avoid hot spots as the entire cookware is made of aluminum, not just the core.

Disadvantages of Hard Anodized Cookware

The first turn-off of most potential buyers of even the best hard-anodized cookware set is the price.  Because of the tedious process involved in creating this high-quality cookware, the production cost is quite high and so does the selling price.

Hard-anodized cookware is pretty heavy.  It is after going through the coating process that it weighs a ton. So for petite chefs, this might not be very ideal for you.  You need extra precaution when transferring this cookware with a hot meal.

Unlike ceramic or glass cookware which can store food for reheating at a later time, you should not do it with hard anodized cooking ware.   Aside from it being heavy, it also does not have a tight-lid cover, and giving air access to the food while in storage may spoil the food.

So this is a big disadvantage for those who love the convenience of washing dishes in the dishwasher. You should do only manual washing to protect the coating of this cookware.  After all, who wants aluminum contaminated food when the coating goes missing?