Setting up a kitchen pot and pan collection is essential to making delicious meals for many years to come. But with so many options, how do you know what to choose? This guide will give you some practical advice on what pieces, collections, and materials will work best for you.
Getting Started
Ask yourself some questions first to determine your true needs. How often do you cook? What do you cook?Do you have ample storage?
Answers to each of these questions will influence what you purchase. If you cook infrequently, then you probably need only a handful of basic pieces. If you love to experiment in the kitchen and try new recipes, then having extra tools like a grill pan or a Dutch oven will come in handy.
Another great question that any home cook might ask is: Do I buy a set of pots or buy pieces individually?
If you’re just starting out and it’s your first kitchen, buying a set may be a wise decision. Having a whole collection will give you options to discover what you use the most. If you’ve already mastered cooking and you know which key pieces you need or just want to replace worn-out pots and pans, then consider purchasing them individually. Another benefit of buying pots and pans separately is mixing different materials. For instance, you might get a stainless steel sauté pan, an iron skillet, and an enamelware Dutch oven. It all depends on your cooking preferences. Most serious cooks have a mix of pots and pans that are made of different materials.
Materials
When it comes to materials pots and pans are commonly made of, each one comes with its own pros and cons. Stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, copper, ceramic, and enamelware are the main choices. Stainless steel is an excellent heat conductor; it transfers heat evenly and cleans up nicely. Consider stainless steel for a sauté pan, saucepan, and stock pot. An enamelware Dutch oven is a popular choice and a great material. Copper is an excellent choice that some home cooks swear by. It heats quickly and conducts heat evenly, but it can be more expensive than other materials. Bonus: It looks great! Cast iron is heavy-duty, heats to a very hot temperature, and works indoors and outdoors. The drawbacks are that it is heavy, harder to clean, and can have hot spots.
Sets
Most pot and pan sets come in 10-piece, 13-piece, and 17-piece varieties. Brands like Calphalon, AllClad, Cuisinart, Le Creuset, Lodge, Staub, and T-Fal are popular and have been around for decades, but there are plenty of good brands to choose from. Many celebrity chefs have their own line of cookware sets that rate well. Compare prices and reviews before you buy; don’t be swayed by aesthetics alone.
Essential Pots And Pans
Sauté
One of the most used pans in the cooking arsenal, a sauté pan is an absolute must for any cook. It can be used to sauté, fry, braise, or stir-fry.
Iron Skillet
An iron skillet (10 to 12 inches) is a versatile workhorse in many kitchens. You can use it to sear meats, make cornbread or pizza, roast vegetables, or prepare any kind of one-pot meal. Oh, and don’t forget the crispy potatoes. It can go from stovetop to oven and when seasoned well and cared for properly, it will last a lifetime.
Stock Pot
A stock pot (12 to 16 quart) is another must for making soups and stews and boiling pasta. Many stock pots come with a built-in colander for steaming vegetables or seafood. A stock pot is a staple in any kitchen.
Saucepan
A medium-sized saucepan is an excellent tool for cooking or heating liquids like pasta sauce or boiling water for rice or pasta.
Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven (5.5-quart size) is an underestimated piece of cookware that can be used in a number of ways. This pot with a lid is most often used to slow-cook meats that taste best cooked low and slow. But it is also great for roasting a chicken, cooking a pot of chili outside on an open fire, or baking a loaf of bread.
Grill Pan
A grill pan is handy if you like grilled foods, but don’t want to hassle with the grill. Grill pans are similar to frying pans but have ridges along the bottom that when hot emulate the grill plates of a barbeque grill. The ridges get hot and when food is in contact, it chars like a grill.
Rimmed Baking Sheet
An aluminum baking sheet is essential for not only baking cookies, but roasting vegetables, potatoes, or meats like chicken or pork tenderloin. It’s also great for re-heating prepared frozen foods.
