Wondering how to start your cookware collection from scratch? Or how to pare down what you have to just the cookware that is worthwhile and necessary? The answer is a little different for everyone. Welcome to My Kitchen Essentials, a column by Made In staff detailing, well, their kitchen essentials.
Today, Made In Social Media Manager Bella Castillo shares her top kitchen must-haves. Bella runs an occasional pop-up bakery, develops recipes for Substack, and cooks at least five days a week for a household of two on a mostly pescatarian diet. (Except on the weekends, then, anything goes.)
10” Stainless Clad Frying Pan
I use my Stainless Fry every single day for cooking vegetables, searing skin-on fish, tossing pastas in sauce, etc. If it’s not entirely liquid and it needs cooking, it’s probably going in this pan.
2QT Stainless Clad Saucepan
For broths, curries, soups of all kinds, making caramel and small-batch deep frying — I almost never need a vessel bigger than this unless I’m entertaining.
Stainless Clad Butter Warmer
For browning butter, warming sauces, heating up maple syrup, boiling or poaching two eggs at a time and most importantly, for making hot fudge.
8” ProCoat Non Stick Frying Pan
For making the most perfect, custardy, pale yellow French omelets, which I make at least once a week.
Butcher Block and 8” Chef Knife
Almost permanently affixed to my counter, all the kitchen prep I need to do happens here.
Fish Spatula
Not just for flipping fish, but flipping pancakes, eggs, getting focaccia out of the pan, and a myriad of other kitchen tasks.
Small Tongs
As close to an extension of my hand as I can get and useful for any maneuvering I can’t accomplish with the fish spatula.
Bench Scraper
For portioning and getting doughs of all kinds off the counter, transporting chopped vegetables off the cutting board, collecting crumbs — last week I even spilled a latte in the kitchen and used my bench scraper to push it off the edge of the table and back into my cup (Reserve judgement, please).
Instant-Read Thermometer
For temping egg whites in meringues, judging the doneness of breads and pastries, and the occasional steak or roast chicken.
Bonus: Baking Slab
For slab pies, meal-prepped sheet pan eggs for a week, and project bakes. It never fails to get compliments from baking Instagram.
Ready to Cook?
I hope these selections offer you some guidance for the next time you’re shopping for cookware. If French omelets and hot fudge and curry for two is not exactly your vibe, I hope you enjoyed reading nonetheless and tune in for future installments of My Kitchen Essentials.
