Not all cookware with one long handle can be considered a saucepan. A ‘real’ saucepan should have these defining attributes:

First, it should have vertical sides (unlike, say,  skillets or frying pans). Second, the height of the pan should be of similar length as the diameter of the pan. Finally, most saucepans have a capacity of less than 2 litres;  any pan with a larger capacity automatically falls under the ‘sauce or soup pot’ category.

Here are some tips on finding the right one for your kitchen:

1) What is your purpose?
Saucepans typically range from 1 to 2 litres. A 2L pan should be sufficient for a household of four. Larger 4L saucepans would be tiresome to hold since it has only one handle.
If you are a heavy user, consider investing in better quality pans for prolong its lifespan. Choose a size that best suits the number of people in your household.

2) Specialty saucepans
Most saucepans come with vertical sides but there are specialty saucepans in the market with unusual shapes or other unique features:

Saucier: This saucepan has a wide top and round sides which facilitates evaporation as they increase the surface area for evaporation to occur. The shorter side makes it easier to access to whatever you are cooking so stirring is made easier. Puddings, custards and risottos will be cooked perfectly in a saucier.

Windsor pan: This pan has a sloped side extending from the base of the saucepan. The flare sides allow sauce to be dissipated at a faster rate as there is a bigger surface area for evaporation. This design is great for sauces but not as versatile as the classic design.

Milk pan: This pan is essentially used for heating milk hence its name. The rim of this small saucepan has a slight indentation which allows the milk to flow out of the pan in a smooth, thin stream. A milk pan is  good for reheating small amounts of liquids.

3) Materials
The most common materials used to make saucepans are copper, aluminium, cast iron, stainless steel and a combination of different materials. Every material has its pros and cons so pick the one that suits your needs best. One point to highlight is to check if your saucepan is oven-safe if you regularly need to put your cookware in the oven for the last leg of cooking. Generally, cookware that has a plastic or wooden component should not be oven safe unless stated otherwise. Non-stick coated cookware should not be heated above 250° C as well.

4) Handles
Look out for pans with medium-length handles as your hands are constantly gripping it. A longer handle means you are further away from the heat. A sturdy handle is a must, so get a saucepan with handle securely attached with heavy screws or rivets. Although some handles are heat-resistant, it’s still safer to use an oven mitt when removing the saucepan from the oven. ‘Heat-resistant’ does not necessarily mean heat-proof and it might still be too hot for your hands.

The de Buyer company was founded in 1830 and has been creating and manufacturing the best kitchen and pastry utensils for the professional and the hobby chef.

Baking requires precision and hence is more like a science rather than actual cooking. Mess with the correct ingredient ratio and you have just wasted precious hours in the kitchen. Take guesswork out of your hands with these measuring tools and let them give you the confidence for a successful bake.

Measuring spoons
Measuring spoons usually come in 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon measures. These spoons can be used for measuring wet and dry ingredients. When measuring dry ingredients, remember to level off the ingredient to get an accurate amount. For maximum convenience, having a designated set of measuring spoons for both dry and wet ingredients is recommended. This means no need to spend time on washing when switching from dry to wet ingredient or vice versa. Additionally, choose measuring spoons with narrow surface areas instead of round ones so that you can scoop directly from narrow neck containers.

Measuring cups
Liquid measuring cups spot a distinct handle and sprout for easy pouring and sizes range from 1 to 8 cups. A 2-cup (500ml) size should be sufficiently versatile for most applications. Measuring cups made of glass would be ideal as you might need to measure hot liquids. For dry measuring cups, the volumes range from 1/4 to 1 cup and are usually available without a sprout in stainless steel or heavy-duty plastic. Avoid measuring cups with sprouts as they might affect the measurements of your ingredients.

Kitchen scale
Kitchen scales measure ingredient mass rather than volume. This handy gadget offers precise measurements for any type of dry ingredient even in large amounts. It does not have the same limitation as measuring cups and spoons which can only provide accurate measurements in cases where added amounts correspond with designated increments. You can choose between manual or digital Kitchen scales. The more expensive digital scale, which can measure ingredients up to 0.1g accuracy, would be a better investment for serious bakers.

Thermometer
Kitchen thermometers come in various types such as digital, dial or pop-up which serve different purposes. Digital thermometers are handy when you need to check on the doneness of your cakes or pies. They are the most accurate as they can measure to 1°C accuracy. Thermometers are also useful for cooking. A cooking thermometer saves you the hassle of having to cut into the meat to check for internal temperatures. Choose those with long inserts so that inserting into thick cuts of meat (like a whole turkey) can be done easily.

Timer
The humble timer can be a lifesaver when you are busy multi-tasking in the kitchen. It helps you manage different cook times of different dishes to avoid under or overcooking. A timely beep alerts us from other tasks at hand. Some digital thermometers come with multiple alarm options which allow you to set different timings at the same time.

Weigh ingredients wet or dry with the Jamie Oliver Electronic Wet n Dry Kitchen Scale. Capable of weighing up to 5kg, this scale features a sleek stainless steel design that you can use with or without the bowl. With an easy to read large digital display and a dishwasher-safe design, this is a must for an aspiring cook!

The term, “sous vide”, literally translates to “under vacuum” in French. This cooking method requires sealing food in special airtight plastic bags and submerging them in a water oven. Foods cooked this way are known to lock in food juices and flavours as well as preserve their nutritional qualities.
Thanks to its accurate temperature control, what you get are consistently great tasting meals! If you are a busy professional who craves home cooked meals but dreads the hassle of having to check in every now and then on your cooking, consider investing in a sous vide appliance. All you need is some time for food preparation and just leave the cooking to your capable digital assistant!

Here are some points to consider:

1) Water oven capacity
Factors such as the power of the device, its size and water pump to circulate the water in the oven to ensure even heat distribution will determine the required capacity that suits your needs.
A 10-litre digital water oven such as the SousVide Supreme, which takes up minimal space in the kitchen, will likely be sufficient for domestic use. Do note that you would need to cater for space between food pouches to allow the water to circulate properly. Ideally, only about half of the water oven’s total capacity should be filled with food pouches.

2) Temperature stability matters
In conventional cooking, temperatures can rise up to 200°C which means a risk of over-cooking on the outside whilst still having a raw centre. The sous vide method, on the other hand, allows precise temperatures to be maintained throughout the entire cooking process, which translates into delicious meals at all times.

3) Water oven container
Certain recipes require a long cooking time beyond 18 hours. Sous vide water ovens are perfect for such situations. Water oven containers for sous vide generally have superior insulation to save energy and a lid that minimizes water evaporation which is significant when using the machine for a long period. Other sous vide devices such as immersion circulators however are not insulated and have no lid that can accommodate the equipment in the pot.

4) Equipment Size
A typical all-in-one sous vide system tends to be bulky but there are compact versions like the 8.7L SousVide Supreme Demi, which is only slightly bigger than an average oven toaster. Depending on your kitchen countertop size, choosing a machine that takes up too much space might bring about more hindrance than convenience.

5) Key safety features
It is important that the food pouches are completely submerged in water during the cooking process. With long cooking durations, water evaporation can compromise the quality of your food. Do check the safety features before purchasing your new kitchen gadget. Some machines come with lids that reduce evaporation while others measure water level and trigger an alarm or shuts down automatically when the water level dips below the minimum level. Another crucial safety feature will be overheating protection and temperature control, now standard on most all-in-one systems.

The award-winning SousVide Supreme is the world’s first water oven designed to make the gourmet sous vide cooking technique easy and affordable. Sous vide cooking locks in the juices and flavor and preserves the nutritional quality of the food. The result is incomparable taste and texture: steak perfectly cooked edge-to-edge, vibrant vegetables, juicy tender chicken breasts, and ribs with the meat literally falling off the bone. All at the push of a button.