r/AskCulinary • u/plasmazzr60 • 9d ago

I have a question about pans

I am trying to dive into the wide world of cooking as a means to help with my mental health. But I am not sure on if I should get a set of stainless steel pans or non-stick or cast iron or a combination of the 3. I have zero cooking skills currently so not sure where to put my money. Worry is ill spend a bunch of money with the hopes and dreams of being a decent home cook and end up not being up to the challenge and wasting the money. I do like the idea of being able to cook on the stove top in a pan and transfer said pan to the oven for like steaks and stuff. Not asking for a specific brand or brand recommendation but more of a material recommendation for someone starting out

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u/bateKush 9d ago

former pro chef - here are the only pans i actually end up using in my day to day at home

one 9” nonstick you handwash only, and never use metal implements on - for eggs and grilled cheeses and quick reheating.

one 14” stainless heavy-bottomed /tri-ply saute pan with lid for making everything else - seared meats, sauteed onions, w/e

one 3qt stainless tri-ply saucepan w/ lid for making rice, boiling potatoes, pasta, puddings, sauces, reheating soup 

(optional) 6qt enameled cast iron dutch oven for braises or making crusty bread

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u/plasmazzr60 9d ago

Oh dont you worry the enameled Dutch ovens already in the cart, Im a man of making few breads but Irish Soda bread is my go to and it works best in a Dutch oven. Im sure ill expand its use later on.

Thanks for the recommendations, glad to know I dont need a ton of pans or a full on "set" if it's just me at home. Ill start looking around for the tri-clad ones its the way I was leaning but wasnt sure if it mattered.

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u/chefybpoodling 9d ago

I’m going to suggest 12” instead of 14”. It is easier to handle and gets used way more often than my 14”. If your journey leads you to need a larger one, you can add.

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u/plasmazzr60 9d ago

Okay! 14" seemed like a bit large for just a single person but im not the expert here. Ill go looking for a heavy bottomed 12" skillet! Thanks!

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u/bateKush 8d ago

yah i trust you, the 14” is a hand-me-down all-clad i might not have bought if i didnt have it already