Whether you’re an experienced chef or a home cooking enthusiast, cookware is an essential investment. Investing in a set or buying individual pieces is a tough decision. However, if you’re looking for a convenient, space-saving solution, a set is the right choice for you as it comes with the advantage of easy storage. When you get pots and pans individually, chances are their size won’t match and they won’t fit inside or on top of each other well.
It’s a great choice if you care about aesthetics, too, because a set can give the kitchen a cohesive, polished look. For a vintage-inspired look, you can opt for a cream or brown set. If you want to complement your kitchen décor with a clean and timeless appeal, buy a white cookware set, and if you want to make a bold, stylish statement, go for a black set.
Things to Consider When Buying a Cookware Set
Material
The material plays a big role in the quality of your dishes and the overall cooking experience.
Ceramic
Ceramic provides a natural cooking surface free of chemicals. It doesn’t require chemicals like PFOA, PTFE, cadmium, or lead to achieve a non-stick quality, so you don’t have to worry about potential health risks. It works well on its own, so you can even use less oil or butter for prepping the pan and cook healthier meals.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is one of the most popular options lately due to its durability, versatility and sleek appearance. Stainless steel pots and pans have a quick-heating surface and maintain their polished look for a long time.
Glass
Glass cookware is a stylish and elegant solution for almost any kitchen. It’s versatile and can be used for baking, roasting, and more.
Cast Iron
It’s a robust and versatile material that’s renowned for its excellent heat properties. It’s suitable for slow cooking, frying, baking, roasting and more.
Cooking Style
Consider what you like to cook most often. If you prefer grilling a lot of lean protein, chicken, steak, etc., cast-iron cookware is a great choice for enjoying your favourite meals even more.
A ceramic set is an excellent solution if you want to achieve faster cooking times. It ensures even heat distribution, so the chicken will be well-cooked both in the middle and on the sides. On the other hand, if you cook more soups and stews, then stainless steel pots might be a better choice.
Stove Compatibility
Make sure the set you choose is compatible with your stovetop before making a purchase. The good thing is that these days most sets are engineered to be suitable for any kind of stovetop, gas, electric, or induction, and some are oven-safe, too.
Size and Variety
Most cookware sets come with pots and pans in different sizes and styles. A standard cookware set might include a frypan and saucepan or a sauté pan and stockpot, and allows you to complete different cooking tasks and prepare various quantities of food.
Budget
Determine a budget first. Then look for a high-quality cookware set within the budget. The good news is that there are many options available, especially if you buy online, as you can run into great discounts.
Types of Cookware Typically Included in a Set
Frying Pans
They feature flat, shallow bottoms and sloping sides. A frying pan is perfect for quick cooking and flipping foods.
Saucepans
This type of cookware features high, straight sides and a long handle. They’re versatile cookware that any kitchen needs. A saucepan can be used for simmering sauces, of course, but also for cooking soups, boiling liquids, and more.
Sauté Pans
Similar to frying pans, but their sides are straighter. Sauté pans, as the name implies, are used for sautéing, browning, and deglazing food.
Stock Pots
They’re ideal for making stocks, as well as soups, and big batches of pasta if you’re a true pasta fan or cooking for a group of family and friends. This type of pot features a wide base and sturdy handles and lids.
Griddle Pans
They feature a flat and smooth cooking surface that’s perfect for getting grill-like results. A griddle pan can be a lifesaver when outdoor grilling is not an option.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re up for a kitchen upgrade or looking for a simple way to enhance your cooking zone, selecting the right cookware set can make a big difference in the ambience at the heart of your home.
It’s a convenient, easy-to-store solution that can help you maximise space in your kitchen. Also, you can complement your kitchen aesthetics with a black or white cookware set, or any other colour, depending on your existing colour scheme.
An extra tip: if you choose to stack the pieces of the cookware set, be sure to place a paper towel on their surfaces before nesting them on top of one another. This way, you can create a barrier between them and ensure that the non-stick surface doesn’t get scratched or damaged.
