Pots, Pans, and Essential Cookware

Choosing the right tools will help your job go smoother and kitchen tools are no exception. For today, let’s just focus on some of the “must-have” basic pots for any kitchen.

Sauce Pans—it’s good to have a variety of sizes of these. Don’t skimp on quality: lesser quality cookware distributes heat unevenly and you’ll burn your food, ending up with a ruined meal and a pan that’s hard to scrub clean. So think good quality and long-lasting durability. There are plenty of nice choices to fit most any budget- so buy the best pans that you can reasonably afford.

Skillets/Frying Pan- You’ll want to buy skillets in at least 2 sizes – an 8 inch and a 12 inch is a good place to start. Non stick is great for making omelets while a good old-fashioned black cast iron pan is wonderful for browning hash brown potatoes.

Dutch Oven- Whether you choose porcelain-coated iron or gleaming stainless steel, what’s great about a good Dutch oven pot is its ability to go from top-of-stove, to oven, to tabletop for serving. Again, choose the best quality you can reasonably afford because the right pot can last you a lifetime. The size you choose depends on how many portions you need to cook at once. For example, a 4-6 quart size would suit the average family nicely.

Some other essentials:

Baking Dishes/Casseroles- You can buy a nice variety of these and keep in mind that they’re generally appropriate for the oven only, not the stovetop.

Roasting Pans - Buy at least 1 large and 1 medium roasting pan. Another wonderfully popular option you may want to consider is the clay roaster and bakers. With the right kind of care, these will last you for years.

A Steamer – Cooking in a steamer is surely one of the best ways to retain the nutrition and freshness in your vegetables dishes.  

Coming Next: Some “non-essential, but really nice to have” cookware items.