So here's the deal. I hyper recommend all-clad but it's expensive and can be a pain in the ass to deal with esp if you're new to cooking. I can help with that. We can do a zoom meeting to do some cooking practice.
Anyhow, you're going to want some cheap pieces that you care less about or are easier to work with.
Almost everything I'm going to
A cast iron skillet is going to be one of your most used items in the kitchen. Cleaning couldn't be easier. Hit it with hot water and you're done. If you gotta do more then you can use
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Can sear better than anything
- Almost impossible to damage
- Re-seasoning is super easy and oftentimes fun (i'll sometimes do it for giggles)
Cons:
- Fuckin' heavy
- Need an oven mitt or something to hold while cooking
- You can treat it like shit
- Shouldn't cook acidic things in it D* o not leave it wet
You want a dutch oven. You need a dutch oven. DO NOT GET LE CRUSET. That shit is too expensive and I don't get what you get out of it more than you would this. The world has been working, well, on shit that isn't "performance". Grandma did not have nice stuff and her meals were the best.
I'd murder for a couple more of her meals.
I'd commit murder guys. Many people would die.
Anyhow it's great, very heavy and will do you well for any long simmering meals you'd make. Sancocho would be excellent in here. I gotta learn how to make Sancocho.
Pros:
- It's a fucking dutch oven, christ.
Flatware. Get the cheapest you can get. Don't make the mistake that I made where I bought "nice stuff". No one else is gonna use it and you're gonna be low on forks, knives and spoons ALL THE FUCKING TIME.
I have 40 spoons. I paid 40 bucks for it (sans tax). Same for forks and knives.
If you wanna get a nice set for guests that's fine but I'd start here.
Dinning ware
Just get IKEA. Bowls, plates, et al. Whatever you get make sure it's thick china so it's sturdier. You're gonna bang it, you might even drop it. Thin shit breaks fast. If it chips it's okay on a thick plate but not on a thin plate.
You'll want bigger bowls than I have. These are the ones I might get in the future: https://tinyurl.com/yc4wc4aj
These are decent plates. I've seen them in person: https://tinyurl.com/yct34gys
This is the generic shit I've got at the house: https://tinyurl.com/tqczhh7
While I'm on the topic of Ikea get these for bringing food around. Plastic is bad. Stains. Glass does not. Ikea makes them cheaper than anywhere else you'd like and these are incredible quality. I have 10 of these at the house and highly, HIGHLY, recommend.
Okay, last thing I'll get into before I get into pots/pans is tools. Tools are super important. Almost as important as your cookware.
Knife. You have one. Go get it from the house. It's excellent and dishwasher safe.
- Get 2-5: https://tinyurl.com/ybaoshst
- Get 1: https://tinyurl.com/y8owpd4j
- Get 1-1: https://tinyurl.com/y9fx9eqk
- Get 2-5: https://tinyurl.com/y8a2954n
- Get 1: https://tinyurl.com/ycs8jdb2
These 4 pots/pans is what I would recommend if you have space issues and you don't cook much. This covers everything you'd need to do most of the time. It's mostly all I use.
The 6 pots/pans will be great, mind you, but if you don't cook much this is going to take up a bunch of space. Yes you can stack but it might be more than you bargin for.
Remember, whichever you choose the expensive pots and pans will require more care to maintain. They are premium and you need to give them love. You gotta clean them correctly. Hell, I refrain hitting them with cold water after I've heated them up a bunch (fear of warping) which I don't do with the cast iron. I only use 4 of the pans that I have and use the cast iron more.
Also, you'll need the proper cleaner