stone, glass + camo cookware: which pot handles the heat?

Whether highlighting an emerging technology or presenting an age-old material in a novel way, the cookware presented at HOMI in Milan exemplify the industry trends. Patterned pots, stone culinary tools, and glass pasta boilers differ in medium and methodology, yet each maintains a strong and unique relationship with the food they’re meant to cook.

stone, glass + camo cookware: which pot handles the heat?
(above) the pastasi family in 5 liter

Pensofal army edition is a line of multi-use cookware that features a camouflage-printed pattern on its façade. The Italian manufacturer call their series ‘the smart weapon in your kitchen’, highlighting its stainless steel double bottom, and biomineral non-stick coating. New technology for the pot collection is featured through four layers of reinforced materials — anchorage, intermediate resistance, non-stick with a honey comb structure, and performance — that build up into a resistant and study design. A locking cover allows for perfectly strained pasta, vegetables, and rice, directly from the pot.

‘vaspi’ camouflage printed wok

 
‘patasi’ pot with attached strainer

The minimal, transparent cooking volume called the ‘knpro’, designed by Massimo Castagna for Italian manufacturer knindustrie, is made from borosilicate glass — commonly known as pyrex– the material’s very low degree of expansion makes it resistant to thermal shock. Advantages of the translucent medium include its versatile temperature characteristics, easy maintenance and absence of chemical properties. Its non-porous behavior decreases its absorptivity, meaning both food tastes and odors aren’t transferred from meal to meal. Non-reactive and chemical-free, glass can be used to cook any type of food, minimizing the risk of acidity or metals migrating into, and affecting the quality of the cuisine. When glass is tempered, it can withstand extremely high temperatures and can even be flame proof. The clear pot comes with its own portion basket, which allows the easy preparation of two different kinds of pastas.

the knpro by knindustrie

the clear pot comes with its own portion basket

using the pot for cooking

the minimal and transparent cooking volume
image © designboom

Linea pietra (stone line) by Italian manufacturer Pentole Agnelli is a series of cookware crafted from the dense and durable natural material. Countering the seeming fragility of knindustrie’s glass vessel, the heavy and imposing structure looks like the cooking tools found in ancient times, as the smoothly carved soap stone mimics vessels from a per-historic era. Most suitable for cooking under a flame for a long amount of time — when roasting stews and soups — the pots retain heat for an elongated duration, best for slow brewing and baking. Although the material gradually warms and typically heats at a slow pace, the rich texture of natural cavities is optimal for certain types of cuisine.

linea pietra (stone line)

stone pot by pentole agnelli
image © designboom

cookware crafted from the dense and durable natural material
image © designboom

the pot on display at HOMI
image © designboom