All the Cookware You Need – the Best Buying Guide

If there is one good thing that came from the lockdowns during the past two years, it is the fact we stayed more at home, which led to us consuming more home-cooked food. Home-cooked food is not just more delicious and healthier, there is also this very unique and special ritual of preparing it and enjoying it that creates a stronger bond for families and brings so much cosiness and joy. However, in order to be able to become the next master chef of home-cooked meals, or at least prepare all the food you enjoy and try all the new recipes you have always wanted to, there is no doubt that a good set of cookware is much needed. What better time to stock your kitchen with new cookware pieces if you find your current ones a bit worse for wear.

However, once you have a look at the cookware market, you are most probably going to be overwhelmed by the breathtaking variety and choice. So many different types of cookware, shapes, materials, and, of course, prices – it is easy to get lost in all the information you will be immediately bombarded with. In order to help you make the best choice, which means to choose all the pans and pots you actually need for your kitchen depending on how often and what you are cooking, today we provide you with some really helpful information about cookware that will definitely come in handy when you are planning to stock your kitchen with new additions.

Cookware: Sets VS Open Stock

First things first, before you rush to the checkout of the online store you are purchasing cookware from, make sure to have a good and thorough look at the cabinets in your kitchen. Take notice of everything you already own and is in good condition, so it can be used further. Think of what items you are using often and what pieces you are hardly ever touching. This will help you determine what you need to replace with new pieces and what are new pieces you actually want to have.

Open stock is a term that applies to all individual pans and pots that are sold separately. Respectively, cookware sets include a few items, for example, a few pans, a few pots, and sometimes even a mix of a few pans and pots by the same brand, in the same style, and usually from the same material. Now, if you notice that your kitchen is lacking way too many important items or almost everything needs to be replaced as soon as possible, maybe it is a better idea to invest in a cookware set.

You can either go for a smaller set that consists of all essentials or all of the most popularly used sizes and models of pots and pans that are universal. However, if you are cooking a lot and experimenting with new recipes often, you better invest in a bigger cookware set that includes a great variety of pots and pans. Of course, if you find yourself in need of just a couple of new pots and pans, you better buy them individually and not in a set.

Think of What You Are Cooking

The food and meals you are cooking will strongly determine your choice of cookware. Naturally, if you are trying to cut on greasy food and if you rarely fry anything, then maybe investing in a few pans is not the best thing. If you and your household are not particularly big fans of soups and similar meals, then a couple of pots will do the job and there is no point investing in a 5 piece pot set. In addition, not only the method of cooking your food is important, pay attention to the meals you enjoy at home most often. For example, non-stick pans are a great choice for eggs, pancakes, delicate foods such as fish, etc. A cast-iron skillet would be a great choice if you are a carnivore and searing meats often. Stainless pans come in handy for any food that requires searing and browning.

Match Your Cookware with the Cooktop

Another very important aspect you need to pay attention to is if your cookware is suitable for the cooktop you have. There are different types of cooktops and depending on the one you have in your kitchen, you need to choose cookware made from a suitable material, otherwise, you will not be able to use it. If it comes to a smooth cooktop, make sure you are getting pans with a flat bottom. Gas range cooktops, on the other hand, are suitable for most of the options on the market. An induction cooktop is suitable for cookware made from materials with magnetic properties such as iron. You can easily find out if a pan is suitable for an induction cooktop by bringing a magnet with you when you shop for cookware. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of the pan, it is suitable for your induction cooktop.