Cookware Gift Ideas and How to Use Them

All Clad D5 Stainless Steel Cookware

Tried and true, All-Clad’s D5 line is the very best their is in stainless steel cookware, used by industry professionals and home cooking enthusiasts alike.

Still proudly manufactured in the U.S.A, All Clad is manufactured with American steel - a rare feature in contemporary cookware.

All Clad’s D5 line is defined by (and named after) their five ply design:

This 5 ply design alternates layers of high-grade 18/10 stainless with internal layers of aluminum and a stainless steel core.

This layering design maximizes the best features of both stainless steel and aluminum, creating a cookware line renowned for its industry-leading even heat distribution.

In addition to its even heating, stainless steel cookware is highly durable, rust and stain resistant and can be used at high-temperatures - it can even be easily transitioned from the stove top to the oven (and vise versa).

The durability and versatility of stainless steel cookware make All Clad’s D5 line a true work horse in any kitchen - and it’s 18/10 construction means that it’s induction compatible too!

Cookware Recommendations:

All Clad D5 10” (26cm) Stainless Steel Brushed Frying Pan:

A staple in any kitchen, a stainless steel frying pan can be used for searing, pan sauces, and just about any task you can throw at it. At 10” in diameter, this All Clad frying pan is a great fit for cooking for 1 to 2 people, or for smaller sized dishes - if you’re looking for something slightly larger, check out the D5 fry pan in the larger 12” size!

All Clad D5 2qt. Stainless Steel Brushed Sauce Pan:

The properties of stainless steel make it the perfect choice of material for saucepans and stockpots. At a relatively smaller size, this saucepan is best suited to smaller everyday cooking tasks, be it whipping up some oatmeal for a hearty breakfast or cooking up some rice, quinoa or another side dish for a dinner meal.

All Clad D5 10 Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Set:

Includes:

• 8” fry pan
• 10” fry pan
• 1.5 qt sauce pan w/lid
• 3qt. Saucepan w/ lid
• 3qt saute pan w/lid
• 8qt stock pot w/ lid

Giannini Vegetalia Non-Stick Cookware

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While most often associated with their hallmark Giannina espresso maker, Giannini has been breaking into the realm of world-class cookware with their new revolutionary line of Vegetalia cookware. 100% designed and manufactured in Italy, the Vegetalia line is a direct response to the modern concerns with Teflon non-stick cookware.

Using a newly patented technology, the Vegetalia line is completely non-stick while being 100% PFOA and chemical free

With a combination of natural vegetable oils and minerals, Vegetalia offers all of the benefits of non-stick cooking without any of the worry. As an added bonus, it also features a high-quality 18/10 base, making it induction compatible.

Given its non-stick properties and patented vegetable-oil cooking surface technology, the Gianinni Vegetalia line lets you cook your favourite dishes without the need for additional oils, fats or cooking sprays, making it a great choice for those looking for a leaner cooking option.

Cookware Recommendations:

Giannini Vegetalia Non-Stick 28cm Wok:

Given Vegetalia’s non-stick, lean cooking properties, this wok is the perfect fit for fast weekday vegetable dishes and stir frys!

Giannini Vegetalia Non-Stick 28cm Frying Pan:

A good, non-stick fry pan or skillet is an imperative tool in any home cooking arsenal - and Vegetalia definitely delivers on this front! This natural non-stick chemical free frypan is a great choice for everything from eggs and lean breakfast cooking to cooking up your favourite vegetables and side dishes. Just keep in mind that Vegetalia is NOT stove-top to oven compatible - if this is a feature that is important to you, check out our stainless steel and cast-iron options with All Clad (above) and Le Creuset and Lodge (below).

Giannini Vegetalia Non-Stick 28cm Deep Pan:

Offering a larger volume than either the wok or fry pan above, Vegetalia Deep Pan is great for when you need just a little bit more room on the stove top. From boiling or simmering side dishes to whipping up one-dish stove-top meals, this deep pan adds versatility and options to your fast, non-stick, healthy weeknight cookware!

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Cookware

With a rich history and almost 90 years of experience, Le Creuset has become a golden-standard in kitchenware excellence. Le Creuset, (which roughly translates to “the cauldron” )was founded in 1925 by French casting specialist Armand Desaegher and enamel expert Octave Aubec, with the aspiration to build on the durability and rich culinary history of cast iron cookware through coating it with a protective enamel glaze.

Unlike traditional cast iron, which requires seasoning and careful maintenance, Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron is ready to use out of the box and requires no additional seasoning, making it both easy to use and incredibly versatile.

Cookware Recommendations:

Le Creuset Dutch Ovens:

Great for making breads, braising meats, or preparing hearty stews. Our very own Roasted Maple Cinnamon Squash Soup recipe makes use of the Le Creuset dutch oven,  and our previous Winter Holiday Recipes article uses the dutch oven for everything from Aged Cheddar and Bacon Bread to Christmas Eve Beef Stew to rich and creamy risottos.

Le Creuset Skillets and Grill Pans:

The ability to seemlessly move from stovetop to oven makes the Le Creuset skillets enormously useful in the kitchen for everything from a quick and easy frittata to hearty breakfasts or even baking our Winter Holiday Recipes article highlights the Le Creuset Skillet in a rustic Peach Clafoutis.

Le Creuset Sauciers:

Perfect for side dishes, the Le Creuset saucier is a great choice for whipping up greens,sauces and so much more - this saucier can tackle a rich sweet potato casserole just as easily as some healthy (but tasty) warm mustard greens!

Lodge Traditional Cast Iron Cookware

Durable and well made, cast iron has long had a reputation in kitchens and amongst cooks for being rugged and long lasting - cast iron pans and skillets can easily last generations and generations with basic seasoning and maintenance.

Backed by over a hundred years of experience, Lodge Cast Iron is still proudly made in the U.S.A.

Cookware Recommendations:

Lodge 12” Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet:

An essential tool in any kitchen, a good cast iron skillet is known for it’s incredible heat retention - while it might not heat as evenly as the All Clad D5 stainless steel cookware above, what it will do is hold that heat, meaning that once it gets hot, it stays hot! This makes it the perfect choice for searing - some of the best steak we’ve ever had has been made in a Lodge Skillet! As with the Le Creuset skillet above, this workhorse can also be used for baking and can easily transition between the stove top and oven - in fact, it can be used on any heat source (including induction AND open flames or campfires).

Lodge 20” Reversible Cast Iron Griddle:

To me, a griddle represents one thing - breakfast! This griddle’s large cooking surface spans two stove-top burners, making it a great choice to whip up a batch of big, fluffy pancakes. The large cooking area also makes this a great choice when cooking for a crowd, and can be used to fry up anything from bacon to burgers.

Lodge Cast Iron Mini Serving Bowls & 9 oz. Oval Mini Serving Dishes:

The small size and rustic aesthetic of these small Lodge bowls and serving dishes make them absolutely perfect for dishing up single-serving portions straight from the oven to the table! Be it rich and gooey mac n’ cheese or a hearty dip (or even a breakfast dish like eggs in purgatory), these small cast iron dishes keep your food piping hot while serving, and will look good doing it - so much so that they are often used instead of plates in restaurants!