pots/pans/trays etc - what's your favourite?

WhiteHorse

Pyrex casseroles. Stainless steel pans (wooden handles). Heavy baking tins and trays. Old fashioned enamelled braising tin (with dimples in the lid). Old fashioned electric whisk.

Katie-Kat-Kins

I would recommend a trip to Dunelm, at the moment they have some fab cast iron cookware very very cheap! I bought the casserole and it is super, I've used my Mum's Le Cruset and have been coveting it for ages, but at over £100 couldn't afford one. At £27 my dunelm one is a bargain that does just as good a job. If I had the cupboard space I'd buy the whole range!

I also have a lidl saute pan which I use for just about everything on the hob and it is so far lasting really well. I use it most days and the non-stick surface is like new, although the paint round the outside is looking a bit scruffy, it has a glass lid too. I use it as a more manageable alternative to a wok, as a big frying pan, as a large pan for sauces, everything. It cost less than a quarter of the equivalent on John Lewis!

I'd also recommend arcoflam suacepans if you can get them. They are made from glass a bit like pyrex and are suitable for the oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher and freezer. The handles are plastic and they clip on and off so that they can go in the oven/microwave/freezer and to make them easier to store. My Mum has had them for years, and has bought them for my sister, my friend and I and we all love them.

Generally I wouldn't spend much on non-stick as you inevitably scratch it. Just buy cheap supermarket stuff and replace it when you need to, it is normally better quality than you expect!

I would by stoneware crockery though. You need far less cookware if your tableware can go in the oven/mircowave/freezer. I got through three years of uni using my denby factory seconds plate as a plate/roasting tray/grill pan/baking sheet etc. I had a full set of Denby as a wedding present, it was one thing I really wanted and it is soooooooooo useful because it is so tough and hardwearing but it looks good. No need for transferring stuff out of a pan and into a serving dish, and therefore less washing up too! Result!

Katie-Kat-Kins

Oh and I'd second the recommendation of a slow cooker too! Especially with a little one, as you don't have the hob or oven going and don't have to try and watch a pan and a baby at the same time.

pumpkinlife

I love my cast iron skillet, the patina (?) makes it non stick and it cooks pancakes, omelette, flatbreads and anything you would like to fry evenly and quickly.

We also have a large enamelled stockpot to make batches of soup and chilli and it doubles up as a large mixing bowl.

Quality not quantity is definitely the key. Good heavy based saucepans with tight fitting lids. I prefer metal ones because I am a clutz and have shattered more than one glass one.

I like pyrex oven ware as it is good quality but cheap and not too heavy. Though one day I will get my cast iron cookware...

Tiddlywinks

Triker wrote: »

I am ever so slightly obsessed with cast iron pots, pans and dishes..

Heavy but lovely to cook with and versatile and will last a lifetime.

I agree - I spent many years thinking that Le Creuset pots were overpriced and then spent a fortune over those same years on Tefal middle of the range stuff that didn't really stand the test of time.

I bought my first Le Crueset about 10 years ago and I've never looked back - yes, they are pricey but when you work out how much they cost over their lifetime then they become more moneysaving. A friend has got a set of brown ones with wooden handles that are now 30 years old - not a bad return on her investment.

Also couldn't do without....

- Halogen oven - saves putting the big one on for smaller items

- Panasonic breadmaker - had a cheaper one first time round and the results were hit and miss - the Panasonic is consistent (so less waste)

- Lakeland plastic wooden spoons - don't know what they're actually called but they are the same shape as wooden spoons but made from black plastic - much more hygenic and they don't absorb flavours.

- Lock n Lock boxes - again there are cheaper versions but these seem to last longer.

- Good oven gloves - you've only got one set of fingers :rotfl:.

Good luck in finding your perfect kitchen:D.

babychick

I have plain stainless steel pans - judge ones, le creuset casseroles and mermaid baking sheets - which are absolutely brilliant and don't warp at all - they hold the heat too which means less time in the oven for my biscuits! they do a few different ones but I have the hard-anodised ones that can't go in the dishwasher (but you say that's not a problem!) I've seen them on ebay and amazon too...:)

Ballymackeonan

My favourites are cast aluminium - I have a bit of arthritis in my hands and cast iron is just too heavy (especially with something in it!) I got mine 20+ years ago and they're still going strong.

I'd recommend a Dutch Oven if you can get one - mine is like a standard large saucepan but with lugs not a handle, and a ceramic knob on the lid, so it can be used both on the hob and in the oven - very versatile!

scotsgirl_3

Thanks everyone!

I think (possibly, maybe, if I don't change my mind again!) I'm going for:
a Circulon Elite 5 anodised piece set (amazon)
a big prestige stockpot (reduced bargain in debenhams)
a saute pan (possibly a judge one from amazon)
a slow cooker (undecided as yet, pref 6.5 litre as I borrowed one from MIL before but it was too small to be useful)
Roasting tin with rack (debenhams)

I have tried a le crueset (borrowed from MIL again, kitchen gadget queen!) but it was far too heavy for me to cope with unfortunately as I'm coveting the purple ones!

does this sound reasonable? still planning to get a couple of baking trays/tins etc when OH isn't looking. Has anyone tried the masterclass smart silicone ones - they have a rigid frame but silicon inner? I think there were jamie oliver tefal ones which were similar.

I already have a breadmaker too- morphy richards fastbake - hasn't been getting much use because I can't slice it properly but I picked up a slicer on freegle the other day so it'll be coming out to play too I think.

Hubby thinks I've gone a bit mad

paulwf

scotsgirl wrote: »

Thanks everyone!

I think (possibly, maybe, if I don't change my mind again!) I'm going for:
a Circulon Elite 5 anodised piece set (amazon)
a big prestige stockpot (reduced bargain in debenhams)
a saute pan (possibly a judge one from amazon)
a slow cooker (undecided as yet, pref 6.5 litre as I borrowed one from MIL before but it was too small to be useful)
Roasting tin with rack (debenhams)

I have tried a le crueset (borrowed from MIL again, kitchen gadget queen!) but it was far too heavy for me to cope with unfortunately as I'm coveting the purple ones!

does this sound reasonable? still planning to get a couple of baking trays/tins etc when OH isn't looking. Has anyone tried the masterclass smart silicone ones - they have a rigid frame but silicon inner? I think there were jamie oliver tefal ones which were similar.



I already have a breadmaker too- morphy richards fastbake - hasn't been getting much use because I can't slice it properly but I picked up a slicer on freegle the other day so it'll be coming out to play too I think.

Hubby thinks I've gone a bit mad

The Circulon hard anodised range is fantastic, a very good choice to make. They have a good weight to them (not flimsy but not stupidly heavy like some cast iron) and the hard anodised coating lasts 10 times longer than non stick.

I got a reduced price stock pot as well, they are so handy for cooking batches of soup or large portions of rice, potatoes or pasta.

Saute pan - what I would actually suggest is rather than getting a 5 piece pan set, stock pot and saute pan I think you can reduce this down. Get 3 pans, a stock pot and then a 30cm hard anodised pan. I don't see the need to have the 24cm pan that is part of the 5 piece set. We have a 24cm and a 30cm and the 24cm rarely gets used. We do however have a little old frying pan just to do little things like fried onions.

Masterclass smart silicone - I want some of these! I have found silicone bread pans (without reinforcing) to be much better than non stick metal ones but they bulge. The Masterclass ones really do look like the best of both worlds.

So, I think you have a really good selection, but I think you can possibly cut out a saucepan and the small frying pan.

scotsgirl_3

Thanks! I did think about getting the individual pans - We'll probably use the milk pan and the two bigger saucepans, and possibly the frying pan as ours is knackered, but the 5 piece costs about the same as the 3 pans do. I tend to use the frying pan when there are other things on the cooker, and it's only 50cm wide (stupid kitchen design!) so I wouldn't get the 30cm pan on the cooker very easily, otherwise I'd have it instead!

I think I may have to have some of the silicon too.... oh dear!!! I have a silicon muffin tray which I love, apart from the bulging and flopiness.