Lets talk Cookware!

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

I love my Farberware indoor grill rotisserie! I cooked a duckling on the rotisserie the other day, and it was so cool watching it turn and brown right on top of the kitchen counter top. Those suckers can go for a good price on ebay. I also have the shish kebab attachment, and even though it wasn't made for the particular model that I have, I was able to get dh to modify a couple of parts so that it would work with mine. However, I use the grill more than the rotisserie or the kebab thingy. I have Magnalite, too, and those pots last forever!

We roasted a huge prime rib on the rotisserie at Thanksgiving and oh boy was that ever fantastic!
Yes, the magnalite pans come with a 100 year guarantee. I've had mine since 1991, so have a long way to go yet.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I'm mesmerized by this thread...

I'm interested in getting new cookware too. I rarely cook because I'm just not that good at is. I figured anything I make would be better with better equipment.

I currently have 2 fry pans, 3 saucepans, and a big pot with lid. All cuisinart. I don't like them at all. Metal handles..they get hot & I'm always accidently grabbing them & burning myself. Add to that a couple of cookie trays, and a few pyrex bakeware, and that's my whole stuff, along with a toaster, blender & teapot. I feel like I'm missing alot...

So, my question is....where the heck do all you people that have soooo much kitchen stuff, keep it? Does it all fit in the kitchen???

In the house I live in now (hubbys house) we have a big pantry closet that most of it goes in, we also have a buffet that I put a lot in. If/when we move back to my condo, I have NO idea where I'm going to put it.... we don't have the room there like we do here! Thats why I'm thinking I need to get new things that are more versatile, do more with less.

[Teresiana]

I can't live without my cast iron skillet. It's my baby! After thousands of uses & keeping it well-oiled & seasoned, it's better than any non-stick pan. I have a set of Cuisinart Multi-Clad Stainless, which is fine for everyday...nothing special. I have Calphalon Hard-Anodized too. But I prefer the Cuisinart Multi-Clad - which I got FREE from Citibank points .

I'm not a fan of non-stick. But everyone needs at least one good non-stick pan. My favorite is my non-stick skillet from The Pampered Chef. I've had that thing for years...and the non-stick coating still looks great!

I'll tell what changed my life though...my Kyocera ceramic chef's knife. That was my best kitchen investment ever! I even bring this knife with me when we vacation! 7" Professional Chefs Knife | Revolution Series | Ceramic Knives | Kyocera Advanced Ceramics LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

[MyDearSam]

Another die hard cast iron user here! I have some that were my great grandmothers. Talk about well seasoned!

My every day pots and pans are Wolfgang Puck. I love them, and plan to expand my collection very soon. I used non-stick for years, and just really not a fan anymore. I got too tired of having to baby the coating and replacing pieces that weren't.

That ceramic knife looks awesome! Definitely going on my wish list. I especially love the lifetime sharpening.

[chattiesmom]

I love my Town Craft stainless steel pots and pans and I just couldn't cook without my cast iron cornbread pan, my square cast iron egg pan and my Pampered Chef biscuit stone!

I need knives and a large cast iron pot for beans and stews. We eat a lot of basic good ole southern food here.

[celstu1]

I bought a Martha Stewert Dutch oven, which I think is an enameled cast iron soup pan, it's 5 quarts I think and I didn't use it for awhile. Started using it and OMG.. I LOVE IT!

I love cooking whole chickens in it way more than my crockpot now. Even though crockpot chickens fall apart, I always found the actual meat very very dry. Not in the dutch oven though. I just love it!

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by my2boyz

If you want a super delicious pasta dish (this is one of only a couple that I make since I don't eat a lot of pasta) that's easy to make try this one:

Bowtie pasta for the amount of servings you need or whatever pasta you want to use)
Shrimp...not breaded but the ones that are frozen for cooking
Alfredo sauce
Frozen veggies like broccolli or a mix.

Boil the pasta and drain
Cook the shrimp according to package directions and drain
Cook veggies and drain
Mix them all together with the Alfredo sauce and heat it all up again.

Serve with a salad and garlic bread...enjoy!

Mmmm super simple and easy and sound delicious! Thanks!!!

[my2boyz]

Originally Posted by celstu1

Mmmm super simple and easy and sound delicious! Thanks!!!

No problem...enjoy!

[concretegurl]

My aunt used cast iron when cooking she always put salt in it and wiped it with newspaper...maybe its an 'old wives tale' but supposedly it makes it nonsick.

[Tessa327]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

My aunt used cast iron when cooking she always put salt in it and wiped it with newspaper...maybe its an 'old wives tale' but supposedly it makes it nonsick.

Salt and newspaper

I can't see how the salinity and ink makes it nonstick. I suppose it's 0 transfat.

[my2boyz]

Here's an article on caring for your cast iron cookware from Paula Deen's website: Caring for Cast Iron — Pauladeen.com

My Mom and Grandmothers used cast iron cookware when I was little and I remember cleaning them with oil and paper towels and storing them with a paper towel between each one. We used wooden spoons and different kinds of spatulas and I remember that some did melt so you do have to be careful.

I think my Mom still has hers and my younger sister has some that were my Grandmother's. We see them a lot at auctions but I've never bought any...maybe I will at some point. There's nothing like cooking a meal in cast iron on a gas stove...especially fried potatoes and onions!

[KazzyK810]

I see alot of you have a cast iron skillet/pan in your arsenal. What's kind of food things is it a 'must have' for?

In the past, I've always had smooth glass top cooking surfaces, so I've had to buy pans that were best for them (how I ended up with the cuisinart...), but at my wee house I have a gas cooktop so can use anything on it, right?

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I see alot of you have a cast iron skillet/pan in your arsenal. What's kind of food things is it a 'must have' for?

In the past, I've always had smooth glass top cooking surfaces, so I've had to buy pans that were best for them (how I ended up with the cuisinart...), but at my wee house I have a gas cooktop so can use anything on it, right?

A cast iron skillet is a must have for cooking cornbread. They are also fantastic for food that needs to be simmered for a long time - beans, soups and stews. I don't know if its true or not, but my mom always told me that cooking with cast iron would add iron to the food .

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

My aunt used cast iron when cooking she always put salt in it and wiped it with newspaper...maybe its an 'old wives tale' but supposedly it makes it nonsick.

I should have said after she cooked in them while they were still hot-like she cleaned them with olive oil and then threw salt in and wiped it vigorously with news paper.

So far online it seems to just be an old wives tale.

[Teresiana]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

Another die hard cast iron user here! I have some that were my great grandmothers. Talk about well seasoned!

My every day pots and pans are Wolfgang Puck. I love them, and plan to expand my collection very soon. I used non-stick for years, and just really not a fan anymore. I got too tired of having to baby the coating and replacing pieces that weren't.

That ceramic knife looks awesome! Definitely going on my wish list. I especially love the lifetime sharpening.

You will LOVE the ceramic knife! I got all of my BFF's husbands to get them one 2 Christmases ago. We all LOVE them. We have dinners at each other's houses once a week...it's so funny, because we all bring our own ceramic knives with us to slice & dice for our weekly "supper club". LOL Get one!