Essential Cookware Accessories
If you cook professionally or as a serious hobby, then you probably already know that owning a set of pots and pans is only one part of the equation. You should also have in your possession some accessories designed for a multitude of different purposes. While that collection is not going to look the same for every chef, there are a few things that you should always have handy, at a minimum. For instance, you’ll want equipment designed to protect cookware, so you can have it performing at its full potential for as long as possible without damage. You’ll also want items on hand that can keep cookware clean while still protecting it. In short, look for any accessories that are going to make your job as a cook easier, while also prolonging the longevity of your main culinary implements. Take a look at some of the best essential cookware accessories that can help you achieve these goals.
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Most Practical
16 Pieces Pan and Pot Protectors
Useful Set of Pan and Pot Protectors. The sensible design of these pot and pan protectors ensures that you will find all kinds of uses for them around your kitchen.
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Some chefs neglect their cookware, and so they don’t get as much use out of it as they could. This 16-piece set of pot and pan protectors is designed to keep your glassware, bakeware, skillets, and more from getting scratched or damaged as you store them. The protectors come in three different sizes, four pieces per size. Place them between pots, pans, glassware, or ceramics, to prevent any harm befalling them, or use them as pads for hot dishes. You can also easily trim these protectors so that they better fit the sizes of your pots, pans, etc. They are made of premium polyester felt, and they are lightweight and entirely eco-friendly. Get it now.
Most Innovative
Amagabeli Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cleaner
Chainmail Scrubber for Cookware. If you hate scouring pots and pans after cooking projects, this durable chainmail scrubber can make your job so much easier.
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Let’s face it — nobody likes the cleanup from a sizable cooking project, particularly scrubbing pots, pans, waffle makers, Dutch ovens, etc. This three-piece set makes this part of the job a whole lot more manageable. It comes with a rustproof, stainless steel chainmail scrubber, and also two polycarbonate pan scrapers. They can get the tough, caked-on residue off of your various cooking surfaces, and they won’t scratch or otherwise damage them. You won’t need to use harsh detergents or soaps along with this set, just hot water. All of them are dishwasher safe, and you’ll never run out of new ways to use them. Cauldrons, hibachis, tortilla presses — they’re all fair game. Get it here.
Best for Camping
MSR Pan Handler Pot Lifter
Pot Lifter for Heavy Cookery. If you’re ever in a spot where you need to pick up a heavy pot or cauldron, this lifter has a firm grip and an ergonomic design.
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Some cooks might not even be aware of such a thing as a pot lifter, but once you understand its purpose, you may wonder how you ever did without one. The MSR Pan Handler Pot Lifter has a folding handle and supports up to ten pounds. It also comes with a cozy bag for easy stowing and transportation. It only weighs about ten grams, so you can take it with you anywhere with no trouble at all. While potentially useful in the kitchen, many intrepid backpackers and campers who enjoy cooking while out in nature swear by this accessory. If you’re going to pick up something ten pounds or heavier, then it is recommended that you get two and use one on each side. Buy it here.
Most Versatile
SWISH ABODE Red Silicone Oven Mitts Set
Handy Oven Mitt Set. While some oven mitts are only suited toward specific jobs, these can be used for just about anything, both indoors and outdoors.
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Some oven mitts probably won’t serve you very well if you’re roughing it, but these ones are capable of doing just that. This is a pair of silicone mitts that serve as thick, heat-resistant potholders. They are FDA approved and free of BPAs. They would do fine for grasping pot or pan handles, carrying steaming vats of soup out to the dining room, or even taking a hot dish out of the microwave. Outside of a kitchen setting, though, these mitts would do well at a barbecue, a camping site, or a picnic. You can use them to move hot trivets around as well. What’s really great about them, though, is that they can also be used for gaining an extra-firm grip when you’re trying to open stubborn jars. Buy it now.