The perfect cookware depends on the way you cook. For the ultimate kitchen collection, customize your equipment by choosing the pieces, sizes and styles that are exactly right for you and your family. Start with the essentials for everyday meal prep, then add specialty pieces from there.
To decide which pots and pans you need, ask yourself a few questions: How often do you cook? What sorts of foods do you prepare most often? How many diners are you typically cooking for? Do you like to entertain? Is low-fat cooking and easy clean-up important? (If so, nonstick surfaces are great.)
Whichever pieces you choose, go for the best. Top-quality cookware gives you top performance – and a lifetime of great meals. Think of it as an investment in good cooking that will provide an everyday payoff for years to come.
Fry Pan
For pan-frying meats, seafood or chicken, as well as making omelets and scrambled eggs.Most popular sizes: an 8" nonstick pan, plus a 10" to 14" regular or nonstick pan. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/ruffoni-hammered-stainless-steel-10-inch-fry-pan
Sauté Pan
For sautéing, browning and searing. Add the lid for braising and other covered cooking techniques. Most popular size: 3 to 4-quart capacity. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-d5-stainless-steel-4-quart-saute-simmer-pan
Saucepan
For simmering sauces and gravies, as well as cooking rice, oatmeal or vegetables. Most popular sizes: 2 and 3 1/2-quart capacity. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/demeyere-atlantis-stainless-steel-saucepan
Stockpot
For cooking soups and stocks – plus boiling large quantities of water for pasta, lobster or corn on the cob. Most popular sizes: 8 and 10 to 12-quart capacity. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/mauviel-m365-11-quart-copper-stockpot
Dutch Oven
For slow cooking, braising, pot roasting, making casseroles – even baking crusty artisan-style breads. Most popular size: 5 1/2-quart capacity. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/le-creuset-round-dutch-oven
Roaster with Rack
For roasting meats, poultry and vegetables – without the rack, it can double as a baking dish for lasagna. Most popular sizes: 12" x 14" (holds up to a 12-lb. turkey) or 13" x 17" (holds up to a 20-lb. turkey). http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-stainless-steel-nonstick-roaster
Pressure cooker
A busy cook's dream come true: ultra-safe, easy-to-use and reduces cooking time by up to 70%. Count on it for amazing short ribs, braises, soups, stews and beans. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/fagor-futuro-10-quart-pressure-cooker-glass-lid
Multi-Pot
The ultimate stovetop multi-tasker. It's perfect for quick one-pot meals – the versatile stockpot comes with a pasta insert and vegetable steamer. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/calphalon-contemporary-nonstick-multi-pot-8-quart
Grill Pan
A simple way to recreate outdoor flavors on your stovetop. High ridges sear foods with authentic grill marks while allowing excess fat to drip away. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-d5-stainless-steel-square-grill-pan/
Griddle
A mainstay for crowd-pleasing breakfasts: it's perfect for making big batches of everything from pancakes and French toast to bacon and eggs. Also great for grilled sandwiches, quesadillas and flatbreads. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/le-creuset-reversible-griddle-grill
Saute/Simmer Pan or French Skillet
These super-versatile covered pans combine the surface area of a fry pan with the high sides of a saute pan. Use them for all sorts of tasks– from frying and sauteing to simmering and braising. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-stainless-steel-saute-simmer-4-quart
Wok
A wok is ideal for stir-frying because its cooking surface and sloping sides heat quickly – and keep ingredients from flying out as you shake and toss them in the pan. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/hammered-round-bottom-wok-ring
Shop our complete selection of cookware at Williams-sonoma.com. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/cookware/?cm_type=gnav
My best purchase ever was an All Clad 8 quart low stock pot. Due to weight, it's taken the place of my Le Creuset dutch oven, does pasta quickly and is perfect for soups and stocks. Would not live without it.
A wok or two can take the place of a sauteuse.
A griddle that is an accessory to the range is a great option ( eg Dacor, Viking)
A steam oven can take the place of several other pans.
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