When setting up your kitchen, keep in mind that you don't necessarily need a lot of stuff you just need the stuff that fits your needs. Before you go shopping, think about the kind of food you like to make. In general, you'll always be better off with multifunctional pieces than with ones that serve only one purpose. Here are some of our Food Network must-haves, along with
recipes to cook in them:
The kind of pots and pans you buy depends on your own personal preference. Generally, stainless is the most versatile, though both hard-anodized and nonstick have their fans. Look carefully at cookware sets while they're often a great deal, they may not include exactly what you need. Our ideal set-up includes:
9-inch omelet pan
12-inch skillet
8-quart stockpot with a lid
1.5-quart sauté pan with a lid
1.5-quart saucepan with a lid
3-quart saucepan with a lid
In addition to that, you might want the following:
Food Network.com may be a great source for recipes, but there are times when nothing beats cracking open a cookbook. And they make great gifts for your food-loving friends.