Pots and pans take up a lot of valuable space in our kitchen cupboards, but they are an essential item for almost all home cooks. It therefore pays to invest in the right pans to improve your cooking and help organise your kitchen effectively. Here are some things to think about before buying a new pan set.
How many people do you cook for?
If you live alone or only cook for yourself and your partner, your needs will be very different to the cook catering for a crowd. If you only ever cook for one or two, you probably don’t need huge pans and can save storage space by having just a couple of smaller pans. However, if you cook for a large family or entertain regularly, large pans will be a useful addition to your kitchen kit.
What do you cook?
Different recipes require different size pans. For example, rice and pasta usually get best results when cooked in a large pan where the ingredients have room to move freely. But if you’re boiling an egg, a smaller pan is best to stop the egg bouncing around and cracking.
If you want to cook large or long vegetables such as potatoes or asparagus, they will need a bigger pan than smaller vegetables like diced carrots or peas. It might sound obvious but it’s a good idea to consider what your favourite ingredients are before investing in pans.
Do you need specialist pans?
Some dishes and ingredients require specific types of pans. For example, if you regularly cook stir-fries, investing in a good wok is essential. Or if you like to poach whole fish, a fish kettle can be a great investment.
What type of hob do you have?
Different styles of cooker hob sometimes require different kinds of pans. If you have a ceramic hob, you can use most types of pan but stay away from glass or those with a copper or stainless-steel base. Choosing a pan with a smooth base will provide the best contact with a ceramic hob.
If you have an electric hob, you can use most styles of pans but avoid copper.
A gas hob gives you the greatest flexibility and can be used with all types of pan. When using gas, lightweight pans are usually a good choice as they allow you to get the most from the controllable nature of a gas hob.
Induction hobs require a pan with a magnetic base such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel.
How much storage space do you have?
You might be tempted to buy a large range of different pans so you always have the most suitable pot for the job. But think about where you will store your pans.
If you have restricted cupboard space, you might not want lots of very large pans. There are, however, alternative storage solutions that you could consider – for example, hanging racks that allow you to store pans outside your cupboards. If you’re choosing this option, it’s a good idea to buy decorative pans that will look attractive when on display.