Nearly 40% of Americans cook at home on a daily basis. Not only will it save you money, but it’s also better for your health.
For one thing, you’ll be consuming less fat and sugar. You’ll also be able to take control of your portion sizes, which can have a positive effect on your weight and blood sugar levels.
Thinking of changing your eating habits? Want to cook at home but don’t have the necessary equipment? Then you’re on the right page.
We’ll be going over some kitchen cookware essentials below. Keep reading to find out what they are!
Table of Contents
1. Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets are one of the best kitchen essentials that you can get. Highly versatile, they can be used for pan-frying, baking, searing, sautéing, roasting, and braising. Not only that, but they’ll also add iron to your food. In other words, you won’t have to worry about being iron deficient.
They also have a super long life span. This is especially true for nickel coated cast iron skillets, which are stronger and less likely to corrode than their classic counterpart.
On top of all that, they’re easy to clean. Unlike other skillets, they don’t require soap. All you need is water and a non-abrasive scrub pad.
2. Wok
A wok is a round-bottomed cooking pan with high walls and handles. Shaped like a shallow bowl, it can be used for steaming, poaching, stir-frying, deep-frying, searing, and many other cooking techniques.
For the best results, get a carbon steel wok. They hold heat decently and are as “authentic” as you’re going to find. They’re also relatively affordable as far as kitchen utensils go, especially compared to those made of other materials.
If anything, you just need to season it properly. The almost non-stick surface will make it easy to cook with and easy to keep clean.
3. Sauté Pan
A sauté pan is similar to a skillet except that it has straight sides; it also has a larger surface area, which makes it ideal for braising and searing. Not only that, but it’ll allow you to cook large batches of food.
They come in different sizes as well. Ideally, you want to get something that’s not too big and bulky as that’ll make it harder to work with. Stay on the small size. For example, you can opt for a 3 or 4-quart pan.
And remember, they’re an investment. Don’t hesitate to pay a little more for something of higher quality—they can easily last decades with proper care.
Buying Kitchen Cookware Essentials
Having these kitchen cookware essentials will allow you to cook pretty much any dish from stews to braised meats. Why buy takeout when you can make your own delicious food at home, right?
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