Christina asked me to talk about what kind of cookware to buy. At home and where I teach we used cast iron, enameled cast iron, stainless steel (a heavy, layered material), glass and carbon steel pans almost exclusively. These are natural materials that can handle most kitchen jobs. We do not use Teflon or non-stick coated cookware. The jury seems to be in and out on the long-term health effects of these products.

A good group of starter cookware would include a cast iron skillet, a soup pot, a pressure cooker, a 2-quart saucepan. Cast iron skillets run about $20. If you get high-quality brands of the remaining 3 items, they will be around $100-150 each. My favorite brands are All Clad and Le Crueset. These are tried and true brand names that produce cookware that will last a lifetime. Kuhn-Rikon makes sturdy work-horse pressure cookers. Check out our pressure cooker video.

Hey tell me what your favorite pans are and why they work for you.