Hi Bargainers,
I'm looking for a good stew pot for induction cooker, will be cooking curry mostly so would prefer the ones that are safe with acid (tomato). Would prefer bigger ones (at least 5 Liters). My budget is $150 (after discount) or $250 (RRP).
Was looking at the Tefal non-stick one that claims it has "safe" non-stick coating: https://www.myer.com.au/p/tefal-unlimited-premium-non-stick-…, not sure how safe it is with high temperature and acid.
Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately there is no IKEA in Darwin and the shipping will cost $30+, still within my budget though but don't want to pay the shipping that same price as the pot.
Lodge dutch oven will be within your budget, but you can get them cheaper if you're patient. Le Creuset is the upgrade pick, or you can get a knockoff from Aldi when they're on sale.
I use the $20 Big W 19L one on my induction cooktop and it works fine even though it doesn't say it in the specs (unless the product has changed since I brought mine) https://www.bigw.com.au/product/brilliant-basics-stock-pot-1…. There is also a smaller 7.5L one which I haven't tested.
The best way to check if it is an induction pot is take a magnet and see if it sticks to the bottom of the pot
https://www.bigw.com.au/product/tefal-daily-cook-5l-inductio…
5L isn’t that big though.
This one at Kmart says it’s fine for induction
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/11-litre-stainless-steel-st…
Or a smaller one https://www.kmart.com.au/product/24cm-stainless-steel-casser… also induction safe
I don’t worry about non stick for things like curry. Stainless steel is great as if something gets stuck or burnt on you can just soak in water and use a stainless steel scourer.
As already said, the best solution is an enameled Dutch oven. Bullet proof and cheap. Don't bother with big names. Just get one from a local shop.
I'd go with stainless steel.
Enameled cast iron can stain and chip and is a bit harder to clean and care for compared to stainless steel. Plus being cast iron (enameled), it would be super heavy.
Non enameled cast iron would not be a great choice for curries / acidic foods.
I have a set of Baccarat S/S pots that's 15+ years old and still looks like new. Excellent quality and I love the lip design, doesn't drip when you pour.
I prefer "brushed" interior finish as opposed to "mirror" finish. I think mirror finish is prone to scratching. My go-to for cleaning is using stainless steel cream (not expensive, from bunnings) with a paper towel. No need to use elbow grease (which could cause scratching).
Non-stick is not all that useful for stock / stew pot.
Lastly, consider getting an 8L pressure cooker instead, e.g. instant pot (because it comes with a stainless steel inner pot whereas other brands usually give you a non stick pot). Wait for black friday deals. You can use it to make curries of course, but also things like roast, pulled pork, ribs, etc.
Why do you care if there are scratches on a stainless steel pot? No judgement, just curious. I clang mine around without a care whatsoever.
dirt/stain can stay in the scratches, making it harder to clean in the future, plus cosmetic. I like my things looking good / clean / like new as much as possible, be it books, pots/pans, etc. It's easier to 'abuse' brushed finish than a mirror finish and get away with it too.
Fair enough
The only problem with the InstantPot is trying to get the curry smell out of the sealing ring. Might be a case of one ring for the curries and the other used for everything else.
My 3L one came with two rings, one white, one red.
My 5.7l one did too. That’s why I mentioned the division of use.
I know very little about cooking but pretty sure huge stainless steel ones are used for curries in professional settings. In which case, don't see why a simple pot from IKEA wouldn't suffice.
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/ikea-365-pot-with-lid-stainless…
There's 5L and 8.5L sizes and you can even get a glass lid if preferred (check size): https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/klockren-pan-lid-glass-20449206…
Or if really want non-stick coating one then: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/hemlagad-pot-with-lid-black-004…
All say induction hob safe.