Whether you’re building your first kitchen or reorganizing cupboards, it can be tricky to know what pots and pans are essential. This guide takes the guesswork out by sharing cookware every kitchen needs.
Regardless of the size of your cooking repertoire, a basic set should include a saute pan, frying pan and large saucepan with lids. The number of people you’ll be cooking for will also factor into your choice of pan sizes.
A large saucepan (typically 4 quarts or higher) is essential for making sauce, gravy and soup. It also works great for boiling rice and preparing potatoes, and it doubles as an excellent one-pot meal vessel.
Frying pans, also known as skillets, have a broad base and short sides. They are the workhorses of most kitchens, used for a wide range of tasks from making omelets and stir fry to reheating pizza or even making a blackberry cobbler.
The type of material your cookware is made from will determine how it performs and what types of foods you can use it for. Considerations for choosing the right metal are that it should conduct heat well, be durable and a good match with acidic food like tomatoes.
Stainless steel is an ideal pick since it tolerates high heat, can be used in the oven and holds up to repeated uses. It is easy to clean and can be found in a variety of styles and colors. A popular brand is Cuisinart cookware which offers a variety of options including a hard anodized non-stick that’s free of PFAS, PFOA and PFOS.