When compared to stainless steel and other cookware materials, hard-anodized cookware sets are relatively new to kitchens and to the cookware market. It's a new innovation featuring a trendy style along with a professional look. It also features the lightness of aluminum with the quality and durability of other metals. The hard anodized cookware is becoming the best-selling style of cookware being bought today.
Hard-anodized cookware sets feature a very smooth surface, making it naturally stick-resistant. Another benefit of hard-anodization cookware is that it resists corrosion and abrasion. The surfaces also will not chip or peel, the anodizing process actually affects the cookware itself, becoming part of the pan. The surface is not just a coating is actually what the pan itself made of. The inner aluminum core retains heat very well with very even heat distribution. The core also runs through the entire pan, not just the base only. This is a great feature because it allows for even heat distribution throughout the cookware and the handles stay relatively cool.
Hard-anodized cookware sets are fantastic for browning, sauteing, searing and glazing as well as steaming and simmering. It cooks meat very well and it stands up to acidic foods like tomatoes really well.
The process of hard-anodization is a controlled acceleration of the natural process of oxidation. What this process does is make the aluminum 30% harder than stainless steel while still retaining the light weight feature of aluminum. The process of hard-anodization also creates a chemically stable surface that will not decompose and is completely nontoxic. Also high heat will not damage it; anodized pans are very tolerant to heat the melting point of aluminum, which is 1,221 degrees Fahrenheit.