If you have decided to focus more on preparing healthy family meals at home, you may be wondering exactly what pots and pans do I need to make sure we can have a nice variety of meals to cycle through. It can be challenging to sort this out because there are so many to choose from!
Healthy meals are easy to make with the correct essential pots and pans. This article will discuss the many different types of pots and pans that you may want to have in your kitchen. We will talk about why they are essential, how to use them correctly, and which ones you should buy first, based on the type of cooking you plan on doing most often.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Invest In Quality Cookware
Cookware ranges in price and size, from individual pieces to sets of all shapes. Some cookware can be terribly expensive, some extremely affordable, and some can be cheap and nasty! There will always be a range of cookware that you can afford, but with so many available options, what should you buy?
Quality cookware does mean better quality cookware. Better quality cookware will last longer and will cook your food better. Better quality cookware is manufactured from better materials, is more durable, and is tougher than cheaper, poorer quality pots and pans.
Quality cookware is often made to last a lifetime and usually has a lifetime guarantee or warranty from the manufacturer. This essentially means that if you experience any major or minor issues with your pots and pans at any time after purchase, they will be repaired or replaced at no further cost to you! (Although some companies may require you to pay for shipping.)
Effectively, investing in a set of quality cookware will save you time and money in the long term as you won’t have to keep on repairing or replacing broken, scorched, or rusted cookware.
Cheaper pots and pans are often manufactured with poorer quality, more affordable materials. While more inexpensive cookware will get the job done, you might end up with overcooked food and scorched pots and pans, causing you to replace these often and costing you more money!
Your choice of cookware should be determined by what you have to cook your food on. Some pots and pans work best on a gas stove, while an electric stove is better served with different types of cookware. And, some cookware can be used both on the stove and in an oven. Be sure to match your cookware with your cooking methods.
Before you decide on which pots and pans to buy, consider these:
- Your budget. Buy the best that you can afford.
- Your lifestyle. Are you living on your own, do you have a family, are you downscaling?
- Your needs. How often will you cook meals at home and for how many people?
- Your menu. What type of food do you love to eat?
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What Pots And Pans Do I Need For Essential Cooking
What do you really need to invest in to make yourself a delicious meal? Are there absolute essentials for pots and pans, or can any be used as dual-purpose cookware?
Before buying any cookware, check the manufacturer’s recommendations to see if you can use the pots and pans on your particular cooking appliance, and always buy accordingly.
These are the most essential pots and pans for any kitchen:
1. A Cast-Iron Skillet
A cast-iron skillet is the best pan to have in your kitchen as it will last a lifetime. Cast iron is an excellent heat conductor, evenly distributing the heat across the pan’s surface, cooking the food evenly.
Cast-iron cookware is so versatile. You can use it on the cooker top or in the oven using any cooking method, and it is great for searing, sauteing, or baking! Invest in a good all-purpose sized pan of about 10 to 12 inches, but, remember, cast-iron is heavy, so buy one that you can safely manage to lift over your cooker!
2. A Non-Stick Skillet Or Frying Pan
A 10 to 12 inch non-stick frying pan or skillet is ideal for quick, high-heat cooking. This type of pan is excellent for tossing ingredients or frying the perfect egg.
A non-stick pan is generally easier to use for beginners, but you do need to use the correct utensils to prevent scratching the surface.
3. A Straight-Sided Saute’ Pan
This handy pan is excellent for shallow frying, cooking, and tossing pasta, and creating the best one-pot dishes! Choose a wide, flat bottomed 10 to 14-inch stainless steel pan with a lid.
Some pans are ovenproof, so check for heatproof handles before you buy.
4. A Saucepan
A saucepan is a pan with tall, straight sides designed to prevent moisture loss when steaming or blanching food. The sides and bottom of a saucepan are thick for even heat distribution and prevent food from burning. Use a saucepan to boil rice and potatoes, make gravies and sauces, melt butter, or heat milk.
Saucepans are available in different sizes, so buy the size that will suit your needs. Stainless steel is a good option for a saucepan as you will use this versatile item for cooking so many different foodstuffs that could potentially stick to the bottom of the pan. Stainless steel is easy to clean and scrub without damaging the surface.
5. A Stockpot
For those times when you need to cook a bigger meal, then this is the ideal pot. Invest in a good quality 10 to 12-quart heavy pot with a solid lid. You can make pasta, soups, stocks, or even a hearty stew with this high-sided pot!
A stockpot could become your go-to pot, and you might find yourself using it as a salad bowl, an ice bucket, or even an overnight marinading bowl! Buy stainless steel as you will need a heavy bottom, durable, and easy to clean pot for all occasions, and this pot certainly meets all the requirements!
6. A Dutch Oven
A heavy-duty Dutch oven is another essential go-to pot! Buy a 5 to 6 quart enameled cast iron pot with a tight-fitting lid and ovenproof handles. A good Dutch oven can be used for almost any meal cooked on the stovetop or in the oven.
Best used in the oven for cooking tougher cuts of meat or for cooking soups and stews on the stovetop, a Dutch oven of this size can easily feed up to four people.
7. A Roasting Pan
The best pan for the oven! Available in different sizes, make sure that you buy a pan that fits into your oven. Another one-pot cooking wonder, the roasting pan, allows you to roast meat and vegetables together, and, it can then be moved to the top of the cooker to make a gravy from the pan sauces!
Use a roasting pan to make lasagna, casseroles, and even as a baking pan for baking cookies! Buy a heavy-bottomed pan with a non-stick surface and easy-to-grip heatproof handles.
What Pots and Pans Do I Need For Different Cooking Techniques
Over the years, different pots and pans have been developed for specific purposes and cooking techniques. We have listed a few pots and pans with the particular purpose that each was designed for.
Although many people do successfully use various pots and pans for reasons other than they were designed for, its good practice and often easier to use them as they were intended:
- Pots are circular with high sides and a base with a handle on each side. Pots are used on top of the cooker for liquid-based cooking like soups and boiling potatoes. The high sides allow the heat to distribute evenly throughout the liquid and not only at the bottom of the pot. Pots are not used for frying or roasting and are generally not used in the oven.
- Pans are shallow, with smaller sides extending an inch or two from the pot with one long handle. The broader base and shallow sides are ideal for frying foods on top of the cooker as the food cooks quickly and evenly. Pans are not used for cooking foods that require a lengthy cooking time. Specific pans can be used in the oven if they are ovenproof but only occasionally.
- The frying pan. Use for braising or shallow or deep frying on top of the coker – do not use to boil liquids.
- The roasting pan. It is generally used as an oven pan and not on top of the cooker unless used for cooking gravies from leftover oven-roasted meat fats.
What Pots and Pans Do I Need For Making Quick Meals
For making tasty, healthy, quick meals, you need the following equipment in your kitchen:
1. A Wok For Making Quick Meals
If you are a fan of stir-fry, or even if you aren’t, a wok is a versatile piece of cookware to have in your kitchen! A wok is traditionally made with carbon steel, which warms up quickly, allowing the food to be cooked faster than traditional pots and pans. A wok is extremely easy to use and can be used on any stovetop– perfect for the busy cook!
2. A Skillet For One-Pot Meals
A skillet is perfect for one-pot meals! Using a skillet with a lid, you can quickly saute’, braise, sear, or sauce large or small pieces of food. The rim allows you to safely pour the contents out of the skillet onto a plate without needing any other dishes! No extra cleaning up!
3. A Versatile Saucepan
A saucepan can be used to reheat or cook just about anything in your kitchen. When it comes to quick meals in a hurry, a tin of soup or a packet of noodles can be warmed up in a few minutes using a saucepan. Add a few herbs and a sprinkle of cheese, and you have a delicious, healthy meal!
What’s The Difference Between Stainless Steel Cookware And Non-Stick Cookware
When cooking healthy meals at home, the cookware that you use can produce well cooked, delicious food or overcooked, burnt food. The materials used in your cookware should produce the types of foods you love without costing you money on replacing burnt, inedible foods.
Let’s discuss two of the more well-known cookware materials:
Stainless Steel Cookware
Stainless steel cookware is used in professional kitchens throughout the world because it is hardy and durable. Stainless steel cookware doesn’t have a coating to protect, so it can be scrubbed without fear of damage.
The pros of stainless steel cookware:
- Great conductor of heat for more extended periods
- Cookware can be used for searing, braising, sauteing, boiling, grilling, roasting, and frying
- Sears food because of the Maillard reaction, producing a distinctive flavor and brown color
- Completely oven safe as long as the handles are made from heatproof materials
- Compatible with all types of cooker tops, including open fires (if the handles are heatproof)
- Completely broiler and oven-safe up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (315 degrees Celsius)
- Stainless steel cookware will last a lifetime
The cons of stainless steel cookware:
- Expensive
- Food can stick to the surface
- Cookware can be challenging to clean
- Quick fried foods like eggs will stick to the surface
Non-Stick Cookware
Non-stick cookware is coated in a non-stick coating and is easier and quicker to use as it keeps food from sticking. If you are health-conscious and your goal is to produce healthy food, a non-stick pot or pan is ideal for frying as you don’t need to use any oil for cooking your favorite foods!
The pros of non-stick cookware:
- Cooked food will not stick to the surface of any cookware
- Less cooking time required
- Easy to clean without scrubbing
- Completely oven safe as long as the handles are made from heatproof materials
- Ideal for quick fryings like eggs, pancakes, and delicate foods
- Compatible with all types of cooker tops except induction and open fires
- More affordable than stainless steel
The cons of non-stick cookware:
- The cooking surface can wear down or chip, and you will have to replace it every three to five years
- Not broiler-safe
- Overheating can damage the surface
- Must be stored correctly to prevent damage
Buying A Cookware Set vs. Individual Pieces
Buying pots and pans for your kitchen should be determined by what you need and how much you can afford. There are pros and cons to buying cookware sets, and there are pros and cons to buying individual pieces. These are some of the reasons why you should or should not buy either:
The pros of buying a cookware set
- More economical and you will have a matching set
- No guessing – a pot and pan for every occasion is supplied
- Quicker and more convenient to choose a complete set
- All pieces require the same maintenance
The cons of buying a cookware set
- The quality might not be great
- Useless or unwanted pieces might be supplied as part of the set
- The set might not have non-stick pieces causing you to buy more pieces
- If you need to replace a damaged item, you might not be able to match the set
The pros of buying individual pieces
- You can buy pieces as you need them
- All pieces will suit your needs and taste
- You get what you pay for
- Better quality materials used
- You can mix and match pieces accordingly – stainless steel, cast-iron, non-stick
The cons of buying individual pieces
- Individual pieces can be more expensive
- It takes time to pick and choose and decide what you need
- You may not buy the essentials initially, leaving you without the proper pots and pans
- Different pieces might require additional maintenance methods
Other Cookware To Have In Your Pots And Pan Collection
When assessing the question of what pots and pans do I need, and you’re ready to move beyond the key essentials, you’ll find many other pots and pans that can be very helpful when added to kitchen. If you can afford a bit more on equipment to save you time in the kitchen, try these appliances:
- A cast-iron grill pan
- A baking sheet pan
- A broiler pan
What Pots and Pans Do I Need to Replace?
Good quality cookware might come with a lifetime warranty, but not all manufacturers offer this with their cookware. Some cookware brands are more durable than others, while some materials, like cast-iron and even stainless steel, could last forever with the proper care!
If this is happening to your cookware, it might be time to replace it:
- The cookware is beginning to warp and wobble.
- The stainless steel core is showing through the surface.
- The non-stick surface is badly scratched.
- The copper surface is worn down.
- The enamel surface is chipped and rusty or cracked.
- The pot and pan handles are broken, loose or melted.
But How Many Pots Do I Need, Really?
If you have a typical family size – like four – your core cookware should consist of some combination of four pans and some should have lids.
For many families the pots and pans a cook will use most often are a sauté pan used for cooking vegetables quickly in oil or butter over medium to high heat, a saucepan with the capacity to hold 2-3 liters/quarts of liquid (that’s enough for making pasta or steaming broccoli) and frying an egg or two (or browning some ground beef; cooking rice; heating soup; simmering chili), and one good size roaster with the capacity to roast a 15-pound chicken.
Assuming that the saute pan is small, you will also need a large frying pan or skillet. Ideally, you would have one pan that is able to go from the stovetop into an oven. This way, you can cook your casseroles, potatoes, and other dishes that require baking.
Bottom Line
Cookware is essential in your kitchen to cook your everyday, healthy meals. Are there certain pots and pans and materials which should be considered more essential than any other, or does it really matter which pots and pans you have in your kitchen?
Basically, what it boils down to is:
- How will the pot or pan react with the food you are cooking in it – will it cook your food without changing the color or taste?
- How well the pot transfers the heat from the burner underneath it to the food inside it – will it undercook or overcook your food?
- The price and what you can afford.
Closing Thoughts
Healthy meals are easy to make with the correct essential pots and pans. A good skillet or frying pan, a wok, a saute’ pan, a saucepan, a stockpot, a Dutch oven, and a roasting pan are all the pots and pans you need to create easy, delicious healthy meals.
While we have discussed the different pots and pans that are essential to have in your kitchen, you should purchase what you can according to your budget and needs.
Happy cooking!
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