Cookware
Often times, a meal's success lies not just in the ingredients and the chef's competence, but also the choice of cookware. Choosing the right cookware can elevate a simple dish to a masterpiece, while poor choice can impede cooking process and affect results negatively. In this article, we delve into the various types of cookware every kitchen should have and their specific uses.
Saute Pans
Primarily used for sautéing, i.e. frying food quickly in a small amount of oil, sauté pans perform wonderfully when you need to concentrate flavours and cook food evenly. They possess large surface areas for cooking and straight sides to minimise spills.
Saucepans
Every kitchen must possess at least one of these. Saucepans are convenient for making sauces and gravies, boiling pasta or rice, or simply reheating leftovers. They come with lids to aid in slow cooking that requires simmering.
Pressure Cookers
Pressure cookers show their worth when you need to cook food quickly whilst also retaining its nutrients. They use the pressure generated by boiling a liquid inside to cook food more quickly than other methods.
Paella Pans
Perfect for authentic Spanish cuisine, these shallow, wide pans are designed for cooking paella. The pan's key feature is its large surface area, allowing rice to cook evenly and acquire the perfect 'socarrat' - the crispy layer of rice at the bottom.
Frying Pans
Frying pans or skillets have flat bottoms and flared sides, making them perfect for pan-frying, searing, and shallow frying. Essential for breakfast dishes like pancakes, eggs, or sausages.
Dutch Ovens
This heavy-duty pot is ideal for slow-cooking methods. The compact design and tight-fitting lid allow it to trap heat and moisture, making it perfect for stews, roasts, or casseroles.
Casserole Dishes
Ideal for slow cooking in the oven, casseroles are used to make stews or baked dishes. They come with lids to retain moisture and cook food evenly.
Tagine Pots
This North African pot is perfect for slow-cooking stews and is especially known for its conical lid. The unique design allows condensation to return to the pot, keeping the food moist.
Saucepots
Saucepots, or soup pots, have tall sides and narrow openings, making them perfect for simmering sauces and cooking soups.
Stockpots
For boiling large amounts of produce, be it for making stock, pasta, or even brewing beer, the tall and large stockpot is the cookware of choice.
Griddle Pans
Griddle pans are essential for grilling. They have ridges to allow food to sit above the grease, ensuring it doesn't get soaked and become unhealthy.
Lasagna Dishes
These rectangular, deep dishes are perfect for oven-baked dishes like lasagna or shepherd’s pie. The deep sides allow for layering and generous fillings.
While this list isn't exhaustive, it's a solid starting point to outfit your kitchen. Having a variety of cookware not only allows you to experiment with different dishes but also achieve the best results for each one. Remember, each piece has a specific use, so choose wisely and your cooking experience will improve exponentially. Your meals will be more delicious, and your kitchen will operate with greater efficiency.
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