Cookware - The Extras

“We’d all be better off today if we admitted that there is really no such thing as gourmet cooking – there is simply good cooking.” —The Fannie Farmer Cookbook

We’ve already covered some of the necessary cookware items that every kitchen should have. Today we’ll cover some of the extra neat things to have on hand for preparing a variety of special dishes. This list is not exhaustive, but gives you some great ideas of ways to round out your kitchenware collection & experiment with different dishes and cooking methods.

Bean Pot – Typically made of ceramic or stoneware, these deep, wide-bellied containers are perfect for long, slow cooking of bean-based dishes.

Clay Cookers- Dating back to the cooking methods of the Romans, these wonderful pots are noted for requiring no added fats or oils as they seal in the juices naturally. They must always be soaked for 15-20 minutes before each use to absorb water before cooking.

Griddle – This is nice to have handy when you’re making a batch of fresh blueberry pancakes or sizzling up a family-size portion of bacon. You can opt for the stove-top that covers two burners or an electric version.

Pressure Cooker- This heavy-duty pot creates an air-tight seal, cooking food rapidly under pressure. Useful for cooks in a hurry! For those in mountainous regions it’s worth noting that the pressure cooker allows cooking at high altitudes.

Saute Pan- Sauteing uses a small amount of fat in a shallow pan over relatively high heat.  A saute pan then will have a wide flat base and low sides, to maximize the surface area available for heating. The low sides allow quick evaporation and escape of steam. The sides of a sauté pan are rounded, and flare outward, to allow quick turning of ingredients without a spatula, simply using pan movement to turn ingredients.

Stock Pot – Stock pots generally range from 6 quarts up to 20 quarts. The mid-size range can be use both for making stock or making soup. Quality stock pots will have deep, straight sides and a thick bottom to prevent scorching.

Wok – A longtime favorite as a bridal shower or housewarming gift! Mostly used for stir-frying, the wok is versatile enough for steaming, frying, stewing, or making soup. Classic woks have a rounded bottom, while other woks are made with flat bottoms for easier use and even cooking on an electric stove.