Perhaps you’re stocking up on cooking equipment for your first home, or perhaps you’ve finally realized it’s time to get rid of your old, damaged cookware. Maybe you just want to add a few key pieces to level up your cooking game. Whatever your reason, the following cookware items are essential, and we’re going to show you why:
Stainless Steel Pots And Pans
Chasing that restaurant finish for your dishes? Look no further than the best stainless steel cookware the internet has to offer. Stainless steel is renowned for its versatility and durability, and it’s also what you’ll find in most professional kitchens. Best used for whipping up a tasty homemade sauce or anything acidic, stainless steel cookware is non-reactive and won’t taint the flavors of your dish.
A Grill Pan
Chasing a perfectly seared steak with those delicious grill lines you enjoy at restaurants? A grill pan is the tool you need. Grill pans allow for stovetop cooking of anything you would normally place on the grill, and unlike flat-based pans, they carry the added health benefit of being able to easily drain away any fats and oils, so your food won’t be basting in any nasties while it cooks.
A Cast-Iron Skillet
If you’re looking to go straight from the stove to the oven, a cast-iron skillet should be your go-to cooking tool. Much like the above-mentioned stainless steel cookware, cast-iron evenly distributes heat and is entirely metal. This makes it perfect for baking and searing, and these skillets, like fine wine, simply get better with age.
A Large, Deep Pan
One-pot wonder recipes are great for saving you time in the cleanup stage, but if your pot or pan isn’t big enough for what you’re wanting to cook, you’ll end up using more dishes than you intended to while also running the risk of dishing up an unsafe meal if things haven’t cooked through.
To avoid this, make sure that you have a large, deep pan as part of your kitchen repertoire. Some meals will call specifically for a pot, but those that don’t carry much liquid can often be better prepared in cookware with a larger surface area. Bonus points if you go for a ceramic cookware option. Whichever style you go for, you can use this pan to cook pretty much anything; unless, of course, you’re making just one egg.
An Egg Pan
Speaking of cooking just one egg, if you’re the type that feels immense satisfaction at whipping up the perfectly round, sunny-side-up egg, an egg pan simply must be in your cupboard. These little pans are ideal for when you’re cooking for one or two people, but they’re also good at creating perfect circles when you’re whipping up eggs or pancakes for breakfast.
A Roasting Dish
Finally, no good cookware setup is complete without a quality roasting dish. As the name suggests, these dishes are perfect for roasting pretty much anything, but they’re best used for the protein portion of your Sunday night roast.
Pro Tip: Add water to your roasting pan until half of your meat is submerged. This helps your roast stay tender and juicy without adding oils. If you’re hoping to get pork to crackle, the water line must not cover any fat or skin; if it does, you won’t achieve the desired result with that portion.
These six cookware items are essential if you want to be able to whip up the best masterpieces possible in your kitchen, so what are you waiting for? Pick up some new cookware, and cook up a storm!
