Pots & Pans

When it comes to pots and pans, the choices can be overwhelming but, ultimately, you need to think about a typical routine in your food preparation and then tailor your kitchen equipment or kitchen accessories accordingly. However, if this all becomes a little too much, there are always cook sets that package the essentials together so you've got all your bases covered.

Even cook sets can vary in their inclusions but a standard 10-piece cook set is likely to feature: 1 x sauté pan with lid, 1 x stockpot with lid, 1 x casserole pot with lid, 1 x roasting pan, 1 x medium saucepan, 1 x small saucepan, 1 x grill pan and 3 x fry pans in varying sizes.

You can always buy the items of a cook set separately, particularly if you already have an established set and you need to replace one or two pieces but, invariably, purchasing everything as a set is a wiser option.

When it comes to materials, aluminium pots and pans are great heat conductors while being very affordable but they're unlikely to last for very long. Stainless steel is excellent for acidic foods but it conducts heat less effectively, which means it can take longer to reach the desired temperature. Hard anodised pots and pans are extremely durable - double that of stainless steel - but that means they come at a higher price-point. Copper is an amazing heat conductor, and does so in an evenly distributed manner, which makes it a popular choice for professional chefs. And, finally, cast iron is tough, long-lasting and great for keeping food warm but can be quite heavy to handle.

Organising your cookware, pots and pans

Given that pots and pans are bulky and awkward to stack, storing them neatly and without causing damage can be a problem. But there are some inventive solutions that may save your kitchen drawers and shelves from turning into a disaster zone.

Hang them on a towel bar or pegboard

If you've got a spare space in your kitchen (e.g. the end of an island bench, etc.), you could attach a towel bar, just like the one you have in your bathroom, and then use hooks to hang your pots and pans. Similarly, a peg or tool board, similar to the garage, could be a great way to hang your pots and pans, and to also mark out their shapes with chalk so you know what goes where.

Get hooked

Sometimes, you may need to spread your pots and pans across the kitchen - under a bench and up a wall - if there's just not enough room in the kitchen to have them all positioned in the one place. In this case, hooks are your best friend so you can place them where they fit.

Dangle from overhead

It depends on your design preference but hanging pots and pans from overhead in the kitchen can be an effective and eye-catching décor concept. This approach particularly suits industrial-style interior design schemes that may repurpose old equipment to hang the cookware from the ceiling.

Don't forget the lids

The lids of pots and pans often cause the most problems when storing them away. A good tip to remember is to always store the lid upside down in the pot or pan so it doesn't take up too much room or scratch other items. Otherwise, consider creating or buying a purpose-built rack specifically for the lids, which can then be mounted on a wall in the kitchen.

Find the right cookware, pots and pans at Spotlight

Ready to buy? Before you shop, check out our guide on everything you need in kitchen tools and utensils. Alternatively, head into a Spotlight store to see what's available and speak with one of our friendly customer service team who'll be happy to answer your questions.