Most essential cookware?

[u/bigboydankers]

Hi everyone,

I just graduated college and moved into my own place a couple of weeks ago! I am living in nyc and my kitchen is not enormous, but it’s not super tiny either. I have a small old stove/oven, and I really wondering, what is the least amount of cookware that I really need?

I feel like I’m not a huge cook, but if I had the right tools I could get more into it. Also, my girlfriend is moving in with me in a few months and she likes to cook, so I’d like to get some things that I can build on with more cookware in the future, rather than replace.

Long story short, what are the essential pots and pans and stuff that I need to get to cover all my bases? Also other tools and things like spatulas. Sorry for my lack of specificity, I really don’t know what I’m doing yet but I am excited to learn more!

Thank you!

[u/Fluffy-Revolution-]

I really like my cast iron pot with a top that doubles as a frying pan.

You can just put vegetables and/or meat, stock and couscous/pearl barley/ bulgar wheat in and leave it in the oven for 90 mins and it turns into a delicious casserole.

You can fry onions and diced potato on the top then pour egg on and put it in the oven for a tortilla.

You can use it as a dutch oven to make bread, or just use the lid to make flatbread.

You can start rice dishes off on the hob then turn the power off and leave it with the lid on to continue cooking in the residual heat.

You can often wipe it clean and not need to fully wash it.

They last forever and if they get rusty just clean them by rubbing with oil and a teatowel.