Which Pots and Pans to Buy? A Step-by-Step Guide

This is one of those questions that search engines are probably sick to death of :) There are countless answers, just like to the question of the best pots and pans. It's also hard to put much stock in pot and pan rankings. Why is choosing the right pots and pans such a headache?

1. When we decide to buy pots and pans, we expect them to serve us for years (and perhaps even generations!). Hence the caution that makes us do thorough research.
2. A decent set of pots and pans is a significant expense. Another reason for heightened caution before buying!
3. The range of pots and pans available on the market is enormous. How do you go about finding the best ones?

Don't trust pot and pan rankings. You won't find any here either. Why? Because we don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. The products that serve us best are those tailored to our specific needs. The same goes for pots and pans. What's the point of a 10-piece set if you're a singleton? Or, conversely – you cook for a family of five, so what will you do with that stylish saucepan that your singleton friend raved about? ;)

This might sound immodest, but at FormAdore, there are no bad pots and pans. Which doesn't mean we'll just let you dive headfirst into our vast array of cookware. If you stop reading this Magazine now and buy the first pot you see, you'll be satisfied. However, we ask for a few minutes of your time – we'll guide you step by step towards the perfect pot for you. To say you'll be satisfied with it would be an understatement!

Below is a brief plan for finding the best pots and pans for you:

STAGE I – Your needs

The principle of from general to specific is a golden rule worth following when making difficult decisions – and choosing good pots and pans is certainly one of them. At this stage, you also need to answer the question of budget – how much am I willing to spend on very good pots and pans? So, before you start thinking about the colour of the pots and pans and the material they're made from, ask yourself a few important questions about your needs. It might sound strange, but sometimes it's easy to forget that the product should be for you, not you for the product.

I ONLY COOK FOR MYSELF

YES: Here, you need to be cautious. Does the fact that you cook only for yourself mean you need a small pot? Absolutely not! It's very possible you prepare meals for two or three days at a stretch. So, the best pot for you is one that can hold up to three portions.

NO: When cooking for several people, avoid small pots, unless you want to drive yourself mad. Check out our range of large pots – with capacities from 6 litres upwards.

I COOK A VARIETY OF DISHES

YES: If you like to experiment and there's a lot going on in your kitchen, consider an extensive set of pots and pans, which will include both large and small pots, tall and shallow, as well as an essential saucepan. A complete set of diverse pots and pans will give you plenty of freedom in the kitchen and will definitely make it easier to tackle even the most complicated recipes – the entire process can happen at the same time, on a single hob.

NO: If you're always cooking the same thing, there's a good chance you don't really feel at home in the kitchen, right? Skip the pot and pan set; you don't need it to be happy, and it'll only take up space. Opt for one good, large pot or a classic set of pot + saucepan or pot + deep frying pan, which will be convenient for reheating dishes.

DESIGN IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME

YES: We're glad to hear that, because FormAdore is the home of good design! Here you'll only find beautiful pots and pans. If you're looking for something truly unique and designer, check out the Italian Alessi pots and pans from the Mami collection or the copper Copper Line pots and pans from Eva Solo. Their price is higher due to their original design.

NO: Even if design isn't important to you, don't worry, you don't have to leave us :) We have plenty of pots and pans where all the ingenuity in their design was focused on achieving maximum functionality. In other words, there's only one answer to the question "which pots and pans to buy" – from FormAdore.

I HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE IN THE KITCHEN

YES: Don't worry, even if your kitchen cupboards are bare, you don't have to buy an eight-piece set of pots and pans. Perhaps you rarely cook and only for yourself – in that case, filling your kitchen with pots and pans doesn't make much sense (see the question I ONLY COOK FOR MYSELF). If, however, you spend most of your day in the kitchen and absolutely love cooking, then go wild and opt for a pot and pan set.

NO: You face a challenge. You need to equip yourself with a number of pots and pans that will fit into your cupboards. Be wary of pot and pan sets – they might contain items you won't use, and which will take up space. It's best to put together your own set, strictly tailored to your needs. Also, consider whether it's worth swapping one pot for a deep frying pan, which will not only be shallower but will also serve as a "container" for another pot.

STAGE II – Let's take a look at the pots and pans

As we've already established, the best pots and pans are those that are tailored to your needs. If you already know (more or less) what you need and in what quantity, it's time for the most enjoyable part of the job: choosing specific pots and pans.

Key pot and pan functionalities: induction, dishwasher, oven

IS THE POT SUITABLE FOR INDUCTION?

Currently, most pots and pans manufactured are suitable for induction. However, remember to always check the product description to see if a particular pot is suitable for use on an induction hob. We recommend opting for induction-compatible pots and pans, even if you cook on gas. Who knows, you might move to a home or flat with an induction hob sometime in the future.

Which induction pots and pans can you find at FormAdore? There's no single answer to this question, as induction can be applied to the production of truly diverse pots and pans – you can see this for yourself in two ways. Go to our separate category of induction pots and pans or use the "Induction" filter, which you'll find on the left-hand side of every page with pots and pans and saucepans (even if you enter such specialised categories as black pots or large pots!).

CAN THE POT BE WASHED IN THE DISHWASHER?

A dishwasher is one of those household appliances without which it's hard to imagine life. That's why many people, when choosing kitchen items, set a condition – the ability to wash in a dishwasher. And this is perfectly understandable. With pots and pans, the situation is a bit different... It's worth remembering a few things:

1. It often happens that, in theory, a pot can be washed in a dishwasher, but the manufacturer doesn't recommend it. Strong detergents found in dishwasher liquids and tablets can, over time, damage the individual layers of even the best pots and pans; pots and pans stay with us for years (and sometimes generations!), so during their service, they go into the dishwasher many, many times. We place pots and pans in the dishwasher upside down, so their bottom – the horizontal surface where corrosive detergent easily settles – is particularly vulnerable.
2. There are a number of materials that, as a rule, should not be washed in a dishwasher. These include cast iron, copper, and highly polished stainless steel. If dishwasher compatibility is a priority for you, rule out these materials from the very beginning.
3. What if we risked saying that washing pots and pans in the dishwasher is simply... inefficient? Firstly, a pot takes up a lot of space; it's better to put dirty cutlery or a few plates in there instead. Think about what will take more time – washing a few plates/a bunch of cutlery or one pot? Secondly, the jet of water often simply doesn't reach deep inside the pot, leaving a lot of dried food residue on its sides.

IS THE POT SUITABLE FOR THE OVEN?

The last of the three basic pot functions that are important for most cooks is the ability to use it in the oven. And here again, a practical filter will come to your aid, which you'll find on the left side in every pot and pan category at FA.

Tick "yes" in the "Oven" filter to see only those pots and saucepans that can be used in the oven. At FormAdore, most products in this category meet this criterion!

The most popular oven-safe pots and pans are those made entirely of a single material, such as cast iron pots or stainless steel pots.

Final selection: material, colour, other features

At the beginning, we wrote that when wondering which pots and pans to buy, it's worth starting with the most important issues and leaving the less crucial ones, like the colour of the pots and pans or the material they're made from, for last. When it comes to colour, it's obvious we want pots and pans to be attractive and match our kitchen, but probably no one would consider their colour a decisive factor in purchasing.

The situation is slightly different with material. Some of you might have a specific pot and pan material in mind from the very beginning – aluminium, stainless steel, cast iron – which is convenient because it effectively narrows down the assortment (whose breadth can be overwhelming). However, we recommend not assuming from the outset that a particular material is ideal for us. As we demonstrated above, other characteristics of pots and pans are more important; their construction, capacity, capabilities, functions. Contrary to appearances, these do not stem from the properties of the material (in most cases), but from the quality of the product's craftsmanship itself.

To the point.

You are now at the final stage of your pot and pan selection journey. You know how many pots and pans you need, what capacity, for which hob (induction or gas), whether you want them to be dishwasher safe, etc. 99% of the time, you will see pots and pans made of various materials in front of you. How do you make the final decision? Below, we outline the characteristics of the most popular materials. And this is where we leave you. The final decision on which pots and pans to choose is yours ;)

* Beware of lightweight steel pots and pans! Their base is probably thin and food will burn easily.

* At FormAdore, there are no "ordinary" aluminium pots and pans, i.e., those without any coating; such pots and pans are cheaper than stainless steel ones.