Whether you’re just starting out in your first apartment or are a seasoned food preparer, you still might not know exactly what cookware is and exactly what the category entails. Learning some of these distinctions can help you to stock your kitchen cabinets like a pro. Best of all, you will be ready for any meal preparation challenge that comes down the pike. Amazingly, you will only need eight basic items.
FRYING PAN
Available in several sizes including 8- 10- and 12-inch, frying pans have a flat bottom, a long handle and sides that flare out at an angle to facilitate air circulation and easy flipping. They are excellent for searing, browning, frying and any kind of quick cooking and are available with nonstick and traditional surfaces.
SAUCEPAN
Like a frying pan, a saucepan has a long stick handle and a flat bottom. However, it is heavier and its sides are higher. Use it when you need to poach eggs, simmer foods, make sauces or cook grains. In short, it’s the perfect option when you are using a good deal of liquid. Although smaller sizes are popular and readily available, the 3- and 4-quart pans are considered essential by most seasoned cooks.
SAUTÉ PAN
This pan also has a flat bottom, a long stick handle and moderately high vertical sides. Larger sizes should also have a “helper” handle opposite the stick handle. This pan is most often used for quickly cooking foods that need to be shaken or stirred throughout the process. A 4-quart pan is the most useful and versatile.
MULTIPOT
This big stock pot comes with two inserts. The larger has holes in it and is used for cooking food in water, and the smaller can be considered a steamer because it is suspended above water. Multipots come in 6- 8- and 12-quart sizes and are ideal for making large quantities of pasta as well as soups and stews.
DUTCH OVEN
This large pot whose sides are just a little smaller than the pot’s diameter has sturdy loop handles on each side and a lid that fits tightly in order to keep moisture in. Dutch ovens are great when you want to cook slowly for a long time. Prepare roasts, stews or casseroles in this type of pot, and the results are sure to be tender and delicious. The most popular sizes are 5- and 7-quart models.
ROASTING PAN
This pan is large and rectangular. Its low sides enable the heat of the oven to reach the foods that you are cooking. These pans usually come with a roasting rack on which you can keep food items elevated from the high heat of your oven. They come in traditional and nonstick varieties.
GRIDDLE
This wide, flat pan sits right on one or two burners of your stove and often features a nonstick surface. It is ideal for preparing fast-cooking items such as bacon, eggs, pancakes, steaks and grilled cheese sandwiches.
GRILL PAN
You don’t need to endure the elements to have fabulous grilled food as long as you have this pan, which has a ridged surface just like your outdoor grill and low sides to facilitate circulation. These pans are available in cast-iron, enameled cast-iron and copper varieties.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Take a trip to your local kitchen store, and you will quickly realize that these eight pieces of cookware are only the tip of the iceberg of what is available. The list of specialty pots, copper pans and gadgets is virtually inexhaustible. However, you will find over time that these items will be the workhorses that get you through breakfasts, lunches, dinners and potlucks throughout your cooking life.
The only challenge that remains is to decide what material you want your cookware to be made of; aluminum, stainless steel, copper and cast-iron are the most popular options. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on both your budget and your priorities. As you browse through the aisles of your favorite kitchen store, take the time to examine several options carefully before you make a choice. After all, these are the tools that can either make or break many a future meal. Most important, have fun. Cooking is meant to be enjoyed, and having a beautiful set of cookware is a great way to start.
