Essential Items in a Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Are you a minimalist who's looking to pare back your kitchenware? Could you be a brand-new homeowner who's beginning to collect the tools that should be found in any respectable kitchen? Perhaps, you're revitalizing your 

. No matter what your goals are, you'll want to start with high-quality, versatile essentials that'll yield perfectly finished dishes and last you a lifetime.

5 Must-Have Pieces for Stainless Steel Cookware Sets

1. & 2. Stainless Clad and Non-Stick Frying Pans

With their slanted sides, frying pans are the perfect choice for foods that need to be flipped while they're cooking. Equip your kitchen with both a stainless and a non-stick variety for endless cooking options. With a

, you'll enjoy perfectly even heating while you take your dishes from the stovetop to the oven for finishing.

A

is essential for frying delicate, sticky foods like eggs, fish, cheese, or pancakes. Choose a high-quality, non-toxic, non-stick frying pan and gentle tools (plastic or wood) for easy cleanup, safe eating, and a pan that lasts. 

3. Saute Pan

While frying pans can handle many different recipes and cooking techniques, no kitchen is complete without a

. The saute pan's straight sides and included lid make it the perfect choice for simmering sauces or any recipe with a lot of liquid. With its greater capacity, a saute pan can also stand in (in some circumstances) for a wok, allowing you to stir-fry a big portion of vegetables all at once.

4. Saucepan

Whether you're making marinara or even casually heating soup for one, a saucepan should be your go-to cookware piece. Choose a high-quality,

that features an even bottom and walls. This will ensure your food cooks evenly on all sides without ever burning the sauce along the walls. 

5. Stock Pot

The

is the final item on our list of essential kitchen cookware. You'll turn to this tall, deep, double-handled pot frequently – whether you're boiling pasta or potatoes for a mash, making chicken noodle soup for someone with the sniffles, or concocting a fiery chili. 

Add New Pieces to Your Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Once you've outfitted your kitchen with the essentials, and you begin to feel like your recipe repertoire has outgrown your existing stainless steel cookware set, you can start adding new pieces to your collection. Invest in a

for Thanksgiving-worthy turkeys and savory stews. Dabble in the world of stir-fry with a

w

k

and

. Or you can expand your collection by exploring new sizes of

that'll allow you to multitask in your kitchen, preparing meals with perfectly timed courses. 

We also recommend investing in a carbon steel frying pan. A much-lighter answer to the classic cast iron skillet, a

can do everything the original does – but without killing your wrist or damaging your delicate, smooth cooktop. From baking a skillet of cornbread-topped chili in the oven to frying the perfect steak on the stovetop, an oven-safe carbon steel frying pan is an essential item to include in your kitchen's cookware – even if it isn't stainless steel. 

As your collection grows and you start to enjoy exploring new recipes, your kitchen cupboards might go from manicured minimalist to grandma's kitchen chic, but your food will start tasting as delicious as a grandmother's, too! Is it worth the sacrificed cupboard space? We think so (and so will your dinner party guests)! Shop stainless clad sets

.