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