Cookware and Bakeware: Kitchen Essentials at Abt

A great chef is only as good as their cookware and bakeware. Having a solid set of pots and pans is key to crafting any meal, whether it be as simple as a pot of spaghetti or a more complicated roast chicken. Purchasing kitchen essentials is often overwhelming with so many different brands and materials to choose from. Abt carries a variety of cookware and bakeware for everyone from the novice home chef to the aspiring chef. We have staples like frying pans, sauce pans and skillets plus more specialized cookware and bakeware like pressure cookers and woks. Bakers can find all that they need too, with our variety of sheet pans and porcelain baking vessels.

Finding The Right Collection

The right cookware and bakeware depends on your goals in the kitchen. If you are starting from scratch, one of our complete sets will have everything you need. Abt carries a variety, from two piece sets to fourteen piece sets, perfect for any size kitchen. Brands like Cuisinart, Viking and Zwilling J.A. Henckels are all top of the line and made to last for years.

Replacing your current collection? Start with those pots and pans you'll use most often. Invest in a good frying pan or skillet for scrambling eggs and flipping pancakes. Add a stock pot to your repertoire for pasta and soups, a saute pan for those veggies and stir-fry and a saucepan for sauces and grains. Add in a cast iron pan, which with proper care will last a lifetime, and you'll have a well-rounded kitchen.

Choosing the Material

The biggest challenge in picking out cookware and bakeware is figuring out what material to purchase. You'll most commonly find stainless steel or non-stick. Non-stick is great for those novice chefs as stainless steel can be more fickle to temperature changes and food sticking.

Scanpan is a great brand to check out for all of your non-stick needs, and Cuisinart is a good place to start if you venture into stainless steel. You'll see variations of these materials, like ceramic non-stick, also gaining popularity.

Copper is a beautiful material and is known for its heat retention. However, pure copper equipment doesn't always react well with acidic items and it can be very difficult to clean. Many brands like Hestan and Viking offer copper versions with a stainless steel interior so you'll get the beauty of copper without as many cons.

A cast iron skillet or carbon steel model is a kitchen essential that gets better with time. Use it for that gorgeous seared finish on meats or even to make desserts like this impressive caramel apple rose tart receipe.

Baking Creations

If chocolate chip brownies or casseroles are more your speed, we have plenty of oven-ready gear for every need. Muffin tins, pie plates and casserole dishes for sweet and savory creations just brush the surface of our offerings. Beautifully hued enameled cast iron and stoneware offerings from brands like Le Creuset are also great gifts.

Specialty Kitchen

Once you've mastered the basics, add some specialty cookware and bakeware to your repertoire. A large roasting pan is great for holiday dinners. A pressure cooker helps you speed up otherwise lengthy dishes like short ribs. Perhaps you'll even say "oui" to a crepe pan.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the great products out there. Our cookware buying guide is a great primer on what's available. Our team is also here to help. They'll help you find the best cookware and bakeware for your lifestyle and the type of range in your kitchen. Stop into the store or give us a call at 800-860-3577 and we'll set you on the right track.