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To make a delicious roast crispy chicken and roasted root vegetables for the main course, it is essential to know the 4 basic pans for the oven.
From hors d’oeuvres to dessert without forgetting main courses, with these 4 essential pans for the oven, you’ll be able to make all sorts of dishes: beautiful bread rolls to accompany your green salads, a slow roast lamb shank, and dessert that reflect seasonality like baked apples in winter and peaches in the summer to finish beautifully!
Cooking in oven is very versatile and not difficult at all: meat, fishes, bread, vegetables, gratins, cakes, fruits, crumbles… every ingredient can find a way to be prepared in a oven!
You have three dependable ways to go for ovenware: metal (including metal pans coated in enamel), glass, and ceramic. There’s nothing glamorous about taking metal pans to the table, but if you’re new to cooking, that’s where I suggest you start, since they will be the most versatile and economical. You can always add to your collection later.
Here are the 4 Essential Pans for the Oven
1. Rectangular roasting pan:
Rectangular roasting pan, preferably metal: The standard measurement is 9 × 13 inches. Make sure it’s at least 2 inches deep so it holds at least 12 cups of food or liquid. The large surface area makes it perfect for roasts of all kinds, baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, and all sorts of sweet and savory baking.
2. Large rimmed baking sheet:
Large rimmed baking sheet: You might buy two as well. Also known as jelly-roll pans, these are more versatile than rimless baking sheets and work great for cookies, as well as crisp roasting meat or vegetables and baking and warming things like burgers, fritters, and savory cakes.
3. Square pan, 8 or 9 inches:
Square pan, 8 or 9 inches: Universally useful, but essential for quick breads, brownies, cobblers, cakes, and the like.
4. Large gratin dish:
Large gratin dish: Not quite as big or deep as your main roasting pan. It can be oval, round, or rectangular and made of glass, ceramic, or metal. Ideally it will hold about 8 cups of food. With it, you can make virtually all of the gratins we propose on this blog.
These are pans you’ll always use; they’ll last for the rest of your life. Start with these, then move on to the next list when you’re ready.
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Read also: Potato & Shrimps Salad
