What is essential kitchen cookware?

When it comes to setting up a home for the first time, money can be tight. You don't want to waste money on things you don't need, but when you are just starting out, it can be hard to know what you need in your kitchen. This article will help you to buy the essential cookware you need for your kitchen.

What you really need

We've all seen the kitchen equipment on sale in department stores such as John Lewis. But whilst experienced cooks might conceivably use all these items, they are by no means essential. All you really need to equip your kitchen and to enable you to cook a variety of meals are the basics.

Basic kitchen pots and pans

You need a minimum of two saucepans, one small, one large.This will enable you to cook eggs, sauces, milk, vegetables and many one-pot dishes. A frying pan is also essential, not only for fry-ups but for stir-fries and for browning meat. A couple of casserole dishes are also a must. Again, try to buy them in different sizes and ideally with lids. If they don't have lids, you can always use foil paper.

Bakeware and other essentials

Even if you think you're not going to do any baking, some bakeware is a good idea. An oven tray for cooking in the oven, a roasting tray and a couple of sandwich tins will enable you to create a wide variety of dishes. A loaf tin will enable you, not only to bake bread, but also to make cakes and meat loaf. In addition to the above, you should also buy the following housewares. Cooking equipements You will also need at least one sharp knife for peeling vegetables, chopping, and slicing up meat. If you can afford it, buy a chef's knife. If you can't, buy the sharpest knife you can afford. They are often on sales in supermarkets and many department stores offer set of knives in a block for a reasonable price. A potato peeler is a good investment as it saves time and makes easy work of peeling all fruits and vegetables. To go with your knives, buy at least two chopping boards; one for meat and one for non-meat products. A colander will also save you from scalding yourself when draining pans. Metal ones are more durable, but plastic will suffice.

Where to buy

You can, of course, buy these items from specialist cookware shops but it is often more economical to buy them from department stores and supermarkets. Junk or charity shops are a good place to hunt for kitchenware as they are usually of good quality and require only cleaning.