| If you're just starting out on your culinary journey, | | | | full of boiling water and potatoes.Oven Dishes - |
| you may find the array of kitchenware available on | | | | Casserole dishes of varying sizes are useful. I like Le |
| the market a bit baffling, so here's a quick guide to | | | | Creuset cast iron because you can use it on top of |
| the must-haves for the first-time cook.Pots and Pans | | | | the stove to seal meat and prepare your dish, put it |
| - A student or single person may get away with one | | | | in the oven to cook, then put it on the table to |
| frying pan and a couple of saucepans, but a keen | | | | serve, thus saving on the washing up! Because they |
| cook or a family would certainly need more. Ideally, I | | | | have two handles, the weight isn't such a problem. A |
| would recommend a small (20 cm) frying pan and a | | | | baking dish is also a must if you're going to make |
| large one (24-28cm), preferably non-stick or very | | | | lasagne, cannelloni or pies of any kind topped with |
| well-seasoned stainless steel. In addition, at least | | | | sliced or mashed potato - earthenware, glass or cast |
| three stainless steel saucepans between 16 and 24 | | | | iron is fine. If you want to make pies topped with |
| cm plus a large (24cm) and small (18cm) non-stick. | | | | pastry, then a proper pie dish is almost essential and |
| The stainless steel ones will be fine for boiling eggs, | | | | the same goes for quiche - it really needs the right |
| rice, pasta, potatoes and vegetables and the | | | | dish for the job.Bakeware - If you're going to try |
| non-stick ones for sauces or frying off meat and | | | | your hand at baking cakes, try to choose an all |
| onions for chilli or a casserole. Buy the best quality | | | | purpose cake tin that you can use over again. The |
| you can afford, but avoid cast iron, which is just too | | | | type with a loose bottom or spring-loaded sides |
| heavy to be lifted by a single handle, especially if it's | | | | make getting the cake out of the tin much easier. |