Cookware for Christmas?

Question

The holidays are almost upon us and my family, whom I haven’t seen for a couple of years due to the Pandemic, are getting all excited and have asked me for gift ideas.

Cookware is the one area in which I feel like there’s always useful stuff I don’t have, so I thought I’d seek some inspiration here:

What useful cookware are you hoping to be gifted this holiday season?

All ideas are welcome, but the most useful ones may need to recognise that we have a supply chain crisis is upon us, that my family wouldn’t know where to find very specialist equipment, and that they’re (unfortunately) not going to want to buy me expensive copper pans… :)

Thanks in advance,
Alex

Answer

How about a pizza/baking steel? Just got mine last and I'm about to use it for the 3rd time. It's great.

Answer

A good stick blender is hard to beat, if they don't have one. A Chinoise? 

Actually, I have no burning need for anything at the moment. Maybe a full range of small Cambros for storage. A better FLIR camera?

Never underestimate an assortment of Berard olivewood utensils or Ritz potholders.

Or maybe a gift certificate to Fantes or E, Dehillerin?

Answer

There's always the new Thermapen ONE. I also have their BIG alarm and oven therm.

Answer

I received an immersion blender for Christmas several years back (I cooked dinner for everyone, this was my reward). I use it frequently, very handy for smaller blending tasks.

Answer

I don’t personally need any more cookware. Here is my list of of what I use most often. . I am not a fan of cheap cookware (basically anything advertised on TV, anything with a celebrity name attached, anything available at Walmart etc.). Note I only have one non-stick. I generally dislike non-stick. It is nearly impossible to brown anything properly. My cast iron pans are so well seasoned they are essentially non-stick and brown beautifully. The most common brand for anodized aluminum is Calphalon. Common brands of good quality stainless cookware include Al-Clad and Cuisinart. If you have an induction cooktop, anodized aluminum won’t work nor will wok.

1 , 2 and 4 qt stainless steel sauce pans with a copper/aluminum sandwich bottom and glass lids .

8 or more quart stainless stock steel stock pot. 

Depending on how many you cook for , a 5 to 7 quart cast iron Dutch oven ( Le Creuset or Staub for example). I use mine all the time. It has replaced my slow cooker, my romertopf clay cooker etc. it used for many quick coking tasks as well 

10 inch cast iron frying pan ( preferable Lodge)

10 and 12 inch stainless or anodized aluminum sauté pans with glass lids

12 inch non-stick sauté pan with glass lid.

A anodized aluminum flat griddle unless your stove has built in one.

14 inch flat bottomed steel wok. Definitely do not get non-sick here. You can’t get it hot enough. Won’t work with induction ranges (you need to heat the sides of a wok as well has the bottom.) Avoid round bottom woks with a ring. The rings can interfere with the proper combustion on gas stoves

Answer

A set of US measuring cups and spoons, to make it easy to just cook/bake without needing to convert recipes to weights. A recipe I baked yesterday seemed to require one of every size both for wet and dry ingredients -- it was handy to have 2 sets.

Another kitchen timer. I am easily distracted so use a timer for each dish I'm preparing for dinner -- not uncommon for me to need 3.

Answer

https://view.publitas.com/williams-sonoma/home-for-thanksgiving-2016-catalog/product/1351083

I was given this beautiful set from William Sonoma, for Christmas, a few years back. Very well made, great handle design and their oval shape makes for easy scooping.

Answer

My family knows I will accept all Le Creuset products. (expensive) I am hoping that my parents buy me a food processor for Christmas. Mine died last year.

Answer

A good Vollrath soup kettle can't be beat----would make a nice gift.

Answer

If what you actually want is expensive copper pans or specialist equipment, I'd find the store(s) you would buy from and ask family to get you gift cards towards the specific things - share the picture or description to make it more concrete to preclude the asking-for-money taint. 

Better to have gift money go to investment pieces you really want than collect things you can't even think of yourself, imho.

When you do buy the piece(s), you could send around a picture of the item and/or something you cooked in it with a thank you note.

Answer

Are you able to get / would you like decorative Bundt baking pans? Nordic Ware is just a few miles from me so I get to see new items in their factory store shortly after they're made. I am yearning for the mini-braided Bundt pan, eventually. https://www.nordicware.com/products/categories/75th-anniversary-braided-bundt-collection/

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Cookware for Christmas?

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