Things You'll Need:
- Chef's Knives
- Baking Pans
- Chef's Knives
- Cooking Pots
- Cutting Boards
- Large Pots
- Peelers
- Saucepans
- Skillets
- Spatulas
- Tongs
- Wooden Spoons
- Saucepans
- Spatulas
- Skillets
- sauté pans
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Step 1
Assess your needs. Basic cookware is fine for those who mostly cook for themselves and don't go gourmet too often.
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Step 2
Choose a 9- or 10-inch skillet or sauté pan, a 4- or 5-quart pot and a baking or roasting pan to start. You can cook most recipes with these three items.
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Step 3
Add to your basic set with an extra sauté pan, a 1- or 2-quart saucepan and a larger 8- or 10-quart stockpot.
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Step 4
Avoid plastic handles if possible - some brands are made to withstand lower oven temperatures, but many others can't be put in the oven.
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Step 5
Choose cookware with riveted or welded handles. You don't want a handle coming off in your hands as you attempt to remove a pot from the stove.
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Step 6
Choose stainless steel or thick aluminum cookware if possible. Heavier pans conduct heat more evenly.
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Step 7
Start out with a spatula, tongs, a vegetable peeler and a few wooden spoons as your basic cooking utensils.
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Step 8
Be sure to get at least one good, sharp knife.









Comments
Anonymous said
on 7/8/2006 You need a wooden or plastic cutting board, and a knife sharpener. If you go to a knife store, they will be able to explain specifics.
In brief:
No cutting board makes your knife dull fast, and your counter slowly wears. On a side note - buy a large board. No sharpener means no sharp knife.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 To the items mentioned here, let's add a tea kettle - there's always a need for boiling water. But no need to use your big pot for it.