Loading ...
Home Cookin’ Part III – Rattle Those Pots and Pans
Home Cookin’ Part 3
Thoughts on Pots
If you really are a newbie and haven’t spent money on outfitting a kitchen yet, the best deal by far are cast iron skillets. They come in all sizes, and last forever. Bonus: cooking in them will give you a bit of an iron boost into your system. The only thing you have to do is season them, if they’re brand new and have never been cooked in. To do this, scrub it with steel wool and wash in mild soapy water. Coat the skillet with vegetable oil, using a paper towel or a basting brush. Heat the skillet for 2 hours in an oven set to 250 degrees F. That’s it! You’re good to go. After cooking, clean your skillet by draining off excess oil, wipe with a paper towel, and (if necessary) wash with hot water and a brush. Avoid using soap–if there’s something stuck, use baking soda.
This 3rd world cook has every required cooking tool in this minimal kitchen. Anything you choose to add will be luxury.
Another great set of kitchen pots are those made by Revere Ware: our favorites are stainless steel with a copper bottom–chefs swear by them. Planet Cheapskate inherited their vintage 50s set that still stands up to daily use, but you can find deals on them at garage sales or ebay.
Other Articles in Our Home Cookin’ Series:
Where Ms. Hubbard Went Wrong — A Well Stocked Pantry makes cooking easy
We’re Making a List! — Planning your weeks’ Cheap meals and Cookbook tips.
—the Editors, on March 26, 2009
