GAUGES
Gauge refers to the thickness of the metal. Metal thickness can be stated in inches (thousandths), millimeters, or gauge.
In the cookware industry, aluminum cookware is usually stated in
gauges. The point to remember in this terminology is: the lower the
number, the thicker the metal. Most stamped aluminum cookware in the
mass market is 10 gauge on frypans and a thinner 12 gauge on saucepans
and dutch oven. Better quality aluminum cookware would use a heavier 8
gauge on frypans and 10 gauge on other pieces. Cast aluminum cookware
is equivalent to 6 gauge. Consumers are trading up to more durable open
stock frypans in recent years - either 6 gauge or a very heavy 4 gauge.
Promotional lightweight frypans with "generic" non-stick coatings are usually 12 gauge or 14 gauge.
In stainless steel cookware, the thickness is generally referred to
in millimeters, perhaps because of the influence of imports in this
category. The standard for top of range stainless steel cookware is 0.6
MM for bodies and lids. Premium department store brands will have
stainless steel bodies and lids in the range of 0.7 MM to 1.0 MM thick.
Low end stainless steel cookware and low end mixing bowls and
accessories are generally 0.5 MM thick.
If the cookware has an aluminum sandwich bottom, the aluminum is
usually 3.0 MM thick, with a 0.5 MM stainless steel protector plate. In
the case of a copper sandwich bottom, the copper thickness will vary
from 1.0 MM to 2.0 MM, depending on the brand. In the case of some
copper bottom cookware, the copper on the bottom is not a disk - it is
applied by dipping in a tank - and is very thin (less than 0.5 MM) and
hardly visible in a cross sectional view. That type of copper coating
is more cosmetic than functional.
Aluminum and copper sandwich bottoms normally include a stainless
steel protector plate to avoid the unsightly oxidization and stains
that otherwise would appear on the unfinished aluminum or copper disk.
Better quality stainless steel cookware will have a "capsule" style
protector plate, which wraps up the sides of the disk as well as the
bottom, completely concealing the disk in stainless steel.
Thickness Tables |
| Stainless Steel |
|
Aluminum |
| Millimeters |
Inches |
|
Gauge |
Inches |
Millimeters |
| 0.5 |
0.0197 |
|
4 |
0.204 |
5.18 |
| 0.6 |
0.0236 |
|
6 |
0.162 |
4.11 |
| 0.7 |
0.0276 |
|
8 |
0.128 |
3.25 |
| 0.8 |
0.0315 |
|
10 |
0.102 |
2.59 |
| 0.9 |
0.0354 |
|
12 |
0.081 |
2.06 |
| 1.0 |
0.0394 |
|
14 |
0.064 |
1.63 |
|
|
|
16 |
0.051 |
1.30 |
|
|
|
18 |
0.040 |
1.02 |
|
|
 |
20 |
0.032 |
0.81 |
