pots, pans, etc…my faves & essentials!

(and shopping your mom's cabinets first lol)

I always say, you will have a better cooking experience when you have GOOD pots, pans & cookware tools! There’s nothing like whipping out your fave cast iron or dutch oven pot just knowing that steak and/or stew is going to be fucking delicious!

First things first…if you are blessed to have your mother and/or grandmother still in your life PLEASE go shop her cabinets (sorry, mom lol) and grab the following:

•her cast iron: most likely, this has been around FOREVER and is seasoned to the GODS which means the amount of flavor and heat that it can hold is insane. Also, just because it’s hers I truly think the food comes out better.

•her crockpot: I still absolutely LOVE a crockpot. My mom gave me the one that has been around literally for 30+ years. The handle is broken lol but it’s great! I don’t do a lot in the crockpot but sometimes I do whip it out because it truly does all the work for you and again, because it’s hers, the food is that much better.

Ok, let’s get to it…

Knives: I don’t say this gently, I’m actually yelling at you but PLEASE buy a GOOD chef’s knife. Your food and yourself will thank you. A good sharp knife will prevent you from cutting yourself and it makes the pre-cooking (i.e chopping) process that much better AND quicker.

• Material Kitchen: I keep going back to this knife. It’s amazing for home cooks, relatively priced, comes with a knife sharpener and comfortable to hold. It’s incredibly sharp so it makes the cooking process great!

• HexClad: This is my second go to after Material Kitchen! Impeccable sharpness for chopping process!

• Miyabi: I used this on set and absolutely LOVE! A little pricier but worth it.

Tip: you should be getting your knives sharpened every couple of months to be honest, depending how much you use them.

• farmers market: my local Hollywood farmer’s market has a guy who sharpens knives and fairly priced. A lot of farmers markets do this too so I would ask around!

• Sur La Table/William Sonoma: They both sharpen knives as well and I think for as low as $5 a knife!

THEE pot: If you are Caribbean, African, Hispanic you know what this pot is and this is my absolute fave and my mom has had hers for YEARS! If your mom/auntie/grandad has one just take it (ask for forgiveness later lol) but also buy one for yourself to have!

• IMUSA: IYKYK! My mom has had one for YEARSSSS! 10/10, no notes

Dutch Ovens: You 100% need a dutch oven. Great for braising, low & slow cooking. Throw it in the oven and let it do its thing!

• Great Jones: love my Great Jones one! I have two? The big one and smaller one and use both depending on what I make. Reasonably priced as well!

• Le Creuset: you’ve heard the hype and yes, it’s worth it. Have your boo get you one for Christmas when they go on sale or treat yourself to one.

Cast Iron:

• Lodge cast iron: no, notes. Get large & small one!

  • pre-seasoned and as long as you wash it right, you will have it for years to come.

Tip for cleaning: this is how I clean mine! I add water to the pot, let it come to a roiling boil. As it’s boiling, scrape remaining food with a wooden spoon. The heat is killing any food bacteria. Once all food is loosened, dump the water out and just wipe it down with the hard side of the sponge, absolutely no soap. Take a dry paper towel, wipe it down. Then add neutral cooking oil, like veggie oil and wipe the oil all over the cast iron pan…done!

Your everyday sauté & simmer pots:

• Hexclad: Personally OBSESSED! Love the hybrid sauté fry pan & 7qt deep sauté (i made oxtail in these and MIND BLOWN!

• Great Jones: Deep cut & saucy for making sauces, sauteeing, etc! Great everyday pans

Cutting Board (wood & plastic): PLEASE throw those flimsy cutting board away! Yes, technically you are supposed to use two different cutting boards. Plastic for raw meat/seafood so the blood/juices i.e any bacteria leak into the wood cutting boards and get stuck and live there if not properly cleaned…i know, gross lol

• John Boos (wood): when you have a GOOD cutting board, you will have it for yearsssss! As long as you keep it in good shape you will have it for years. Available on Amazon as well

• Material Kitchen (plastic): A good sturdy plastic cutting board is good for cutting raw meat.

Cleaning tip for wood cutting boards: I thoroughly clean mine with HOT water & soap and then turn it vertically, didn’t side up to drain anh excess water. water obviously does not mix with wood & can split your cutting board which = it won’t last long. After the cutting board is dry, wipe it down with some vegetable oil to seal it in. This cleaning process will have your cutting board in tip top shape for years!

Cooking tools…the wooden spoons, spatulas, etc.: I’m a huge fan of quality cooking tools just because you will have them longer AND treat them better.

• Material Kitchen: They have a great set that comes with a spatula, slotted spoon, whisk, etc. Also, love their wooden spoon too!

• Great Jones: I personally love their wooden collection because my go to in the kitchen, is the wooden spoon!

…etc. other tools you will need:

• a microplane zester/grater

• stock pot: boiling pasta, etc

  • love Hexclad

• mesh strainer

• cooking/baking tray

  • love Great Jones

• metal prep bowls (small, medium & large)

• measuring cups (metal)

• measuring spoons (metal)

• small plastic spatula

• box grater

ok, that’s it for now…happy cooking, hot saucies!