Pots and Pans 101: A Guide to Your Essential Cookware 101 Part 1

Wondering which pots and pans and how many you will need to have at home? We’ve covered the 4 essential pots and pans in our previous upload! Essentially, there are only 8 essential pots and pans that you will need that will allow you to cook just about anything you want.

The Fry Pan
This is a flat-bottomed pan with a long stick handle and low sides that flare out at the top to encourage air circulation and for easy flipping and turning of the food.

Best for: 
For sauté, searing, frying or browning. Perfect for fast cooking.

Tips:
Opt for a 12 to 24 cm nonstick and preferably ceramic coating pan. In order to preserve the coating, do not use metal utensils; soak and clean with a soft cloth or sponge and dishwashing liquid.

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The Sauce Pan
A heavy pan with a flat base, tall vertical straight sides to prevent rapid moisture loss and a long stick handle. The walls of the pan should be as thick as the bottom for an even heat distribution.

Best for: 
Cooking with a fair amount of liquid, such as soup, cream, etc. For simmering, boiling, and making sauces.

Tips:
Opt for a 16 to 20 cm round pan and the one that has a lid. Do not use cast-iron or regular (non-anodized) aluminum pot for sauces as their reactive surfaces can discolor and alter the taste.

The Sauté Pan
Like the fry pan, this pan has a wide and flat bottom, but with vertical and moderate sides and a long stick handle. Large sizes sauté pan normally has a “helper handle” opposite to the stick handle.

Best for: 
For stirring food, tossing and shallow frying. Perfect for fast cooking.

Tips:
Opt for a 20 to 24 cm and for a material that heats quickly and retain even heat, such as stainless steel, aluminum or copper core.

The Multi Pot
A tall pot that is similar to a soup or stock pot with a large perforated insert for cooking food in water and a smaller perforated insert for steaming food above water.

Best for: 
For steaming (e.g. vegetables) and boiling (e.g. pasta).

Tips:
Depending on the size of your family, you may want to opt for a medium to large sized multi pot. Stainless steel pots are preferred.