If you’re a novice chef who’s new to the kitchen, getting into the groove of cooking on your own can be overwhelming. While finding recipes apart from your go-to peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a whole commitment on its own, you’ve also got to find the right cookware to make your cooking dreams a reality. But how do you know if you’re choosing the right pot and pan set to ensure that your cooking journey is a success? Luckily, you’re not alone, and we’re here to break down tips and tricks on how to find the best cookware to improve your culinary craft. Move over Gordon Ramsey, there’s a new chef star in town (hint: it’s you, reader!).
Start With the Basics
If you’re new to cooking, you’ll want to start out with a basic pot and pan set to get yourself comfortable in the kitchen. A great way to start is by getting a pot and pan set that includes at least one medium to large pan that you can use for scrambling eggs, searing meats, and sauteing vegetables for a variety of meals, as well as a small to medium pot for sauces, soups, and pastas. This type of set may be enough for you if you live alone. However, if you’ve got roommates of a full family to feed, you may want to buy a pot and pan set with various sizes of pots and pans so you can cook multiple things at the same time.
Once you’ve gotten used to cooking with basic pots and pans, you can expand your cookware collection and start to incorporate pots and pans for specialty dishes. For instance, if you like to cook stir fry or other popular Asisan dishes, you may consider getting a wok pan to easily toss together a variety of vegetables, meats, and delicious sauces. If you find yourself becoming a searing superstar, you might even get yourself a griddle pan for perfectly cooked steaks and salmon.
Don’t be intimidated by cooking just because you only have a simple cookware set on hand. There’s a lot of culinary magic that can happen with a good pot and pan.
Consider Nonstick for Easy Clean Up
One of the most daunting parts of cooking is, of course, the cleaning afterwards. It can be easy to feel discouraged from cooking just due to the sheer amount of dishes there are to tidy after a simple recipe. After a long day, all you want to do is eat and sleep, not scrub for hours. Luckily, there are nonstick pot and pan sets that make cleaning after mealtimes a breeze!
Nonstick pots and pans have a coating on them that make it harder for food to stick to them when exposed to heat. There are also hybrid nonstick pans that alternate layers of stainless steel with nonstick coating to create small peaks and valleys in the pan that help with searing and make it harder for food items to stick. This means that you don’t have to worry about your food falling apart or crumbling when you try to get it out of the pan, and it also reduces food residue left behind after cooking. Even better: many nonstick pot and pan sets are dishwasher safe, so all you have to do is cook, eat, and toss your dirty cookware in your dishwashing machine and relax.
If you’re looking for a nonstick cookware option without artificial coating, there are also ceramic pot and pan sets that are nonstick due to the ceramic material they’re made of. However, ceramic cookware is not dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to put in a little bit more elbow grease to clean them than you would with a nonstick coating and stainless steel hybrid pot and pan set.
Choose a Set that Suits Your Stove and Utensils
Another important factor to consider when choosing a pot and pan set is making sure that it’s compatible with your stove. Metal induction stove-tops have become increasingly popular recently, but they can also have specifications of what types of pots and pans work best with them. Be sure that the pot and pan set you buy will work with your stovetop before you place the order. In addition to this, make sure that your pot and pan set is metal utensil safe, as some cookware can be easily scratched and cracked by metal utensils.
Now, Let’s Get Cooking!
When you’re just embarking on a cooking journey, you might find yourself at a loss for where to begin. By taking the time to research and find the right pot and pan set for your needs, you ensure that your cooking journey starts out on the right foot. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different sizes of pots and pans, or with specialty cookware items like wok pans. The kitchen is yours to explore, and with a trusty pot and pan set by your side, you’re sure to come out on top.
