One of the importance of building your cookware collection is not in how much cookware you own but in the quality of your cookware.
Anyone can have as many cookware as they like but how long can your cookware last?
- Is your cookware scratch-resistant?
- Is it rust-resistant?
- Is your cookware stain-proof?
- Will it retain the color and odor of your meal or will it remain shiny and new no matter how long you use it?
- Does your cookware contain PFOA which is toxic to your meal and body system?
- Will your cookware last longer than 6 months to one year?
- Can you use any of your cookware in the dishwasher?
- Is it easy to clean?
And many more are the questions you must ask when adding any cookware to your collection.Â
You must understand what is important to you. Why do you want a cookware collection?
You should have a cookware collection depending on what is important to you. Here are some reasons people build a cookware collection.
- For aesthetics and a “perfect” kitchen.
- To own the right cookware to cook any and every meal.
- Just because they love variety.
- To have a functional kitchen
- To show off their money or how beautiful their kitchen looks.
Interestingly, anyone can have one or more reasons why they want a cookware collection. What is your reason?
When you have decided why you want a cookware collection, the next thing is to build your own.
How to build your cookware collection
You need 3 types of Pot
Your pots should consist of a Dutch oven which is usually medium-sized, a saucepan—smaller, and a stock pot—big.
You can learn more about cookware in this guide.Â
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Get a frying pan or two
You definitely need a frying pan; for your eggs, plantain, and anything that needs frying. You should get two different sizes of fry pans. One big, one small which can serve for frying different quantities of meals.Â
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An air fryer too
Air fryers help you fry with less oil which is good for your health. With an air fryer, you can fry your chicken (which already contains oil) with little oil. You don’t have to worry about feeling that oily taste when eating your chicken. It comes out crispy dry and well-fried.Â
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Grill pans if you love a good grill
If you are a grill lover, you should definitely get a grill pan. Grill pans are not only for making barbecue, you can also use them for your fish, sausage, etc.Â
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Also Read: 10 Best Grilling Tools and Essentials for Beginners and Professionals in 2023
How to Stay Safe When Grilling – 10 Essential Grill Safety Tips
A grinder/blender
No better way to keep your meal healthy than grinding your pepper by yourself instead of taking it to a commercial grinder whose source of water you don’t know or taking it to a commercial grinder that you don’t know when last they cleaned their grinder.
Get a quality blender with about 1500 – 2200 watts. It might be more expensive than a 500-watt blender, however, its work is unmatched.Â
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Set of plates, serving bowls, and cutleries
Here are set of cutleries you should have in your collection. Feel free to add more.
- Spoon set (silverware, gold, plastic, steel)
- Fork set
- Table knives
- Dining plate and bowl set
- Dining set which comprises spoons, forks, table knives, etc.Â
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Trays
It could be wooden, steel, aluminum, or plastic. Some trays can serve decorative purposes on your dining table or kitchen counter. You can place your flower vase on them to beautify your dining room or you can place your recipe book, plants, and candles on them in the kitchen.
Some trays like sheet pans can also be used for grilling while some can be used for serving meals or grilled food.Â
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Set of knives
You need different knives for a variety of reasons in your kitchen. Stack up on several types of knives. They will come in handy. It also saves time. You don’t have to clean the knife you used to cut your chicken when you are about to slice your yam. You can clean them all at once when you’re done cooking.Â
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Features of a good cookware
- It’s not cheap: If you notice that you want to buy a pot set and it is below 30,000, just know that you will not use it for more than 6 months to a year (without maintenance) before it starts rusting, producing PFOA substances, and the nonstick starts peeling away.Â
- It is nonstick: Back in the day, we had steel pots and aluminum pots that made our food burn and stick, it also took a while before we could wash the burnt part away. But with the advent of nonstick, cooking is easier. No more burnt food (except you slept off and left your rice boiling on the cooker). No more sticky food (you can wash your pot immediately even if you make Semo or Amala with it because it will not stick). You can also make a nice flipped-fried egg if you like. Non-Stick cookware void of PFOA is also healthy for you.Â
- It is scratch-resistant
- It is rust-resistant
- It is stain-proof
- It will not retain the color or odor of your meal
- It is PFOA free
- It is dishwasher safe
- It is easy to clean
- It lasts for a long time.
How to maintain your cookware collection
- Wash immediately after use to avoid retaining stains and odor
- Do not use hard sponges, steel spoons, or hard substances on your cookware. It will scrape the nonstick coating away.
- Do not put your pot or fry pan on fire alone without oiling it or adding water. Putting on fire alone for a long time can spoil your pot.
- Dry after washing so that the water will not cause it to rust.
- Store in a clean dry place.
Conclusion
Building a cookware collection is one of the most exciting journeys anyone can go through. It can also get overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you should get for your collection. I hope this article was able to fully guide you on what to buy and what not to buy.
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