Kitchen Pots And Pans

     Some people never cook. If they do cook it means putting something into the microwave oven. Of one of those frozen dinners in the oven. As most of the time they eat out. Perhaps they get take out or even delivery.
     There are the folks that cook at home. Nothing fancy but do their best with food that is within the budget. It requires a stove, oven and refrigerator.  As almost any place of residence has these appliances it works. Basic and useful. There are little things as well. I have lived here for 13 years and have just recently realized that when the light goes out on the oven it is at the set temp. Duh!
     When setting up a decent home kitchen you need pots, pans and bowls. Knives and utensils. My take on frying pans are get at least a 12 inch pan. You can put less in a large pan but not more in a small one. Same way with sauce pans. One or two for recipes. That's all you need. 
     Most hook up with a cheap department store package that comes with a stock pot, frying pan and two sauce pans. That is all you really need. But you should really think about getting a pan or pot one at a time. Get a nice one that will last. Maybe get a 12 inch Lodge iron skillet, the best in class. Available at Walmart. Less than $30. I also have a Tranmontina tri-clad stainless pan with lid in the 12 inch size. It can be a pain to clean and a lot of food will stick if you do not know how to use it properly. I have recently bought a T-fal stainless steel bottom non stick 12 inch pan. The box says you can use metal utensiles with it. By when you open up the box is states otherwise. So I do not. And do not forget yard sales and relatives. Mom hooked me up with a 10 Revevre Ware frying pan and a couple of sauce pans. Stainless steel with copper bottoms. The standard in the USA in the 1940's to 1960's homes.
     Sauce pans can be used for many things. Making sauce. Heating canned vegetables. I have had cheap department store pans for years and they do work. Just not that fancy. If you can snag a couple of nice ones fine. But get one or nice ones and you will mostly be done. Yard sales may be a good place to go. But try to get a lid with it as it is very useful. 
     Now we will talk about Dutch ovens and roasters. I bought two to make a test. A Granite Ware (you know the blue thing your mother and grandmother used) a 5 quart Lodge cast iron Dutch oven. I was suprised as the Granite Ware roasted a whole chicken just as well or better then the Lodge which was much more expensive and a pain to clean. The Dutch oven in the cheap set will not likely take the oven heat. The Lodge will take any heat you throw at it and I think the Granite Ware will as well. 
     Then we come to a stock pot. I got the Tranmontina 8 quart stock pot with a pasta cooker, steamer and lid. You can make some kicking soup with this one. Even if you are not making 8 quarts! And you can use the other accoutrement's in the event you need them. 
      The thing of it is that you have enough instruments to get the job done. In the event that you will even use them or need them .