Whether you’re stocking your very first kitchen, building a bridal registry, or giving your cupboards a refresh, I’ve got the tips to help you choose the Perfect Cookware for Your Kitchen. Here’s what I rely on in my kitchen (for everything from family meals to professional food styling gigs) and recommend for yours.
Many thanks to Anolon for providing the majority of the cookware featured in this story.
Cookware can be Confusing! So many brands, so many price points, so many different sizes, types and materials. It’s hard to know where to begin! I remember when I moved into my first apartment and my mom helped me pick out an inexpensive set we found on sale. Then choosing a “better” set while building my bridal registry a few years later. Looking back, I had no idea what I was doing and my choices reflected that fact.
Its been 10 years since we got married and, between culinary school, food styling gigs and more home-cooked meals than I could have imagined, I’ve learned a few things. I just finished giving my own cookware collection a long overdue overhaul and I’m spilling my secrets with you. Here are the pieces you need from brands that I trust. Even better — its all available at prices we can all live with.
Cookware Pieces You Should Have
- Large Stainless Steel Skillet (what I have: 10.5-Inch Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel French Skillet) This roomy skillet has a traditional finish that allows food to stick and brown, developing those golden, crusty bits that contribute to flavor.
- Large Nonstick Skillet: (what I have: 12-Inch Anolon Accolade Anodized Nonstick Skillet) Featuring an incredibly slick surface and sturdy handles, this pan in perfect for cooking large batches of scrambled eggs or frittata.
- Medium Stainless Steel Saucepan: (what I have: 2.5-Quart Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Covered Saucepan) The entire Analon Nouvelle line features heavy bottoms and a copper core for even cooking. This saucepan is the perfect size for making a box of Mac n cheese.
- Large Stainless Steel Saucepan: (what I have: 3.5-Quart Anolon Nouvelle Copper Straining Saucepan with Lid) The perfect size for hard boiling eggs.
- Large, Straight-Sided Sauté Pan: (what I have: 3-Quart Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Covered Sauté). The exact pan to reach for when tossing cooked pasta with sautéed veggies or making risotto.
- Stockpot: (what I have: 6.5-Quart Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Covered Stockpot) Perfect for boiling water for pasta, corn or lobster.
- Cast Iron Skillet: (what I have: 12-Inch Lodge Cast Iron Skillet) Don’t let cast iron intimidate you. It’s virtually indestructible and can’t be beat for creating a flavorful, deeply browned crust on everything from steaks to pancakes.
- Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven: (what I have: 6-Quart Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven). This insanely versatile piece can be used for everything from simmering stews to braising meats to baking bread.
Cookware Pieces That Are Nice to Have
- Small Stainless Steel Saucepan (what I have: 1.25-Quart Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Saucepan) Great for simmering milk or melting butter.
- Medium Nonstick Skillet: (what I have: 10-Inch Anolon Accolade Anodized Nonstick Skillet) A nice size for frying an egg.
- Small Stainless Steel Skillet: (what I have: 8-Inch Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Skillet) Nice for sautéing mushrooms to top a steak.
- 3.6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Casserole: (what I have: Lodge 3.6 Quart Enameled Casserole). Perfect for preparing an oven-baked risotto or a one-pan pasta dish.
Non Stick vs Stainless vs Cast Iron
Not sure if you should choose Stainless Steel Pan, Non Stick or Cast Iron Cookware? The right answer is “all of the above.”
Each material offers its own set of benefits, helpful in different cooking situations. Are you trying to sear a steak or a piece of fish and create gorgeous browning? You absolutely can’t bean cast iron. Boiling a pot of water, simmering tomato soup or sautéing some veggies? High quality stainless pots and pans are incredibly durable, safe to use with acidic foods like tomatoes and look gorgeous on your stovetop. Scrambling an egg? Bust out your non-stick skillets.
I reach for my stainless cookware most of the time. It’s an absolute workhorse and the pieces that I have from the Anolon Nouvelle collection are definitely the highest quality cookware I’ve ever owned. When it comets stainless cookware, you want to choose something with a heavy base made with multiple layers of metal for optimum heat conduction. The pieces in the Anolon Nouvelle collection have a 5-layer metal base with a copper core for super even heat retention and distribution. These pans are heavy and durable and beautiful, but also dishwasher safe. I’ve been really pleased with the Anolon Nouvelle collection so far. The line offers the performance and gorgeous look of super high-end cookware with a price point I would characterize as a “worthwhile investment” for anyone who cooks regularly.
Of course, there are situations where a nonstick pan is absolutely essential. If you’re preparing delicate foods like eggs, fish or tofu, this is the pan to reach for. Be sure to choose a high-quality surface material. The Anolon Accolade Pans in my collection have an anodized finish that can be used with metal utensils and have held up really well so far. I’ll be interested to see how they fare after years of regular use.
Finally, you should pick up a couple of cast iron pieces. They are basically indestructible — seriously my mom has been using the same skillet since the early 70s and it looks exactly the same as ever. You can get a good cast iron skillet for under $20 and use it for everything from pancakes and potatoes to pork chops. An Enameled Dutch Oven is another must-have. Pricey imported and designer brands can run in the hundreds of dollars but my Lodge Dutch Oven works beautifully can cost less than $60.
Cookware Set vs Mix-and-Match
Trying to decide between getting a full cookware set or choosing pieces individually? I recommend thinking about how much room you have to store cookware, as well as which pieces you think you’ll need and use most. You may be best served by picking and choosing individual pieces you need from a variety of materials. But if you have the storage space in your kitchen and like to cook, be sure to explore sale prices on full sets.
Since I use stainless steel cookware most often, it made sense to choose a stainless steel cookware set that had nearly every piece I needed. Then I supplemented with a few additional pieces made from other materials. Depending on your storage needs, price point and the sales you see while shopping, you can decide what works best.
Whether you’re buying fancy new pans with the most high-tech non-stick surface or a good ole fashioned cast iron skillet just like grandma’s, its important to choose cookware that suits your cooking style, is competitively priced and provides quality and durability you can enjoy for years to come.
Anolon Nouvelle provided cookware free-of-charge for me to photograph and test for this story. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, if you purchase something via one of these links, I will receive a small portion of the profits at no additional cost to you.
