Evidence index · Cookware

Cookware: where restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife agree

Only the cookware that restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife have independently backed. A product one group praises and the other has never mentioned does not appear here.

restaurant professionals is a community we read; r/BuyItForLife is a community we read.

13 people on record as restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife make 99 quoted claims about cookware across 15 sources. Membership is recorded with its own evidence — for a person by the trait they are on record holding, for a community by the source it was said in — and authority is scoped to cookware rather than to fame.

Which cookware do both restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife recommend?

Endorsements and objections about cookware from restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife, together, strongest evidence first.

Le Creuset dutch oven

3 voices 9 claims 1 objection

3:01 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

buy something like this this is a lro pot this is a great thing the lro set they're not cheap by any means but you'd be surprised that these are the same kind of pots that many top chefs use

recommendation Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites build quality, price (against)

3:01 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

they're fantastic they're heavy they're great for brazes it's a great like just finishing pot and you can serve your food in here and it looks great

use-case fit Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites appearance, heat retention

5:31 mixed Quality Collapse

Critics will say it is heavy. They will say it costs too much. They are right, but a $350 Dutch oven that lasts 30 years costs less than buying a $70 version every 5 years.

value Passing on someone else's experience The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)

All-Clad stainless pan

3 voices 7 claims 2 objections

2:00 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef paid by this brand

what I'm most excited about this pan is that it's an all clad this is one of the very few things that America produces that is like Best in Class

best in class Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites build quality

David Chang paid by this brand. Stated in the source: “I feel like one of those Hair Club for Men guys it's like not only do I like sponsor this like I use it myself” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

2:31 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef paid by this brand

they're just workhorses they're fantastic you know you don't even have to treat it well if you just clean it it'll last you your entire lifetime

durability Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites durability, maintenance

4:00 supports Quality Collapse

A $150 stainless pan used for 20 years is infinitely cheaper than buying a $40 nonstick pan every 2 years.

durability Passing on someone else's experience The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites durability, price

What do restaurant professionals and r/BuyItForLife say about cookware in general?

Not a recommendation for a specific product: technique, materials and what to look for in cookware. Citable on its own terms. There are 83 of them; the 40 with the strongest evidence are below.

14:03 supports Ian Fujimoto

But I can tell you with 100% certainty that if I was going to start my pan collection over again today, it would be made of three [music] pans. A 10-in stainless steel skillet, a 4Q pot, and a 12-in non-stick pan.

Three judgements rest on this sentence:

recommendation Owns it
recommendation Owns it
recommendation Owns it

Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

But it is worth the effort to learn how to cook on stainless steel [music] or cast iron or carbon steel than to always cook on nonstick because nonstick, it doesn't matter [music] if you spend $1,000 on your non-stick pan or $20.

So, do yourself a favor and get into something that is stainless steel because it is easier to get into than carbon steel or cast iron [music] and it's going to make you a better cook and it will last you a lifetime.

13:33 objects Ian Fujimoto

And when you're investing in quality, remember the number one most important rule. You do not need to buy a set. Period.

recommendation Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

And I want to start this by emphasizing the same rule we have for pans applies to knives. Do not buy a set. [music] You don't need it. Plain and simple.

13:03 supports Ian Fujimoto

But if you get quality stainless steel, it's going to last you and your children's lifetime and probably far after.

durability Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites durability

Just like your pots and pans, buying a quality [music] knife is going to last you a lifetime.

13:03 objects Ian Fujimoto

Or if you get a non-stick, yeah, that you're going to have to replace.

durability Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites durability (against)

That non-stick pan is going to need to get replaced within a [music] year of good use, guaranteed.

1:30 supports Lynne of The Splendid Table Home Cooks

The one pan I cannot live without is a 12-inch straight-sided sauté pan.

recommendation Owns it Lynne's Favorite Tools for the Kitchen

8:02 supports Fallow Chef

This is 24 cm. Really versatile. Definite definite recommend.

recommendation Uses it professionally Inside a Real Restaurant Kitchen: What’s Actually Worth Buying (And What Isn’t)

Cites versatility

1:00 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

I do feel that every kitchen needs a cast iron skillet they're all cheap and they're all indestructible

recommendation Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites durability, price

1:30 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

this is something for sure that if you take care of will last Generations upon Generations

durability Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites durability

3:31 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

C scroll dishes are surprisingly versatile and a great investment you only need one and if you look after it it will last you a lifetime

durability Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites durability, versatility

3:31 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

more importantly cast iron it conducts the heat so you can have the gas on absolute minimal or the oven down to its absolute lowest setting and the thing will just cook naturally

performance Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites heat conduction, heat retention

3:31 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

casserole dish absolutely essential when it comes to good home cooking why so versatile

recommendation Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites versatility

2:01 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

look for an ovenproof frying pan with a metal handle if you want to cook like pros by finishing off your dish in the oven or under a Hot Grill

recommendation Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites handle, oven safe

2:01 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

frying pan for me one of my favorites why cuz it's so versatile

best in class Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites versatility

0:30 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

the secret behind a great saucepan is the heavier the bottom the more heat it will conduct the thinner the bottom the more chance you've got actually burning your food

performance Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites base and rim, heat conduction

13:03 supports Ian Fujimoto

The way that I see it is if you invest [music] in quality pots and pans, they're going to last you a lifetime. You're not going to need to replace them.

durability Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites durability

1:30 supports Lynne of The Splendid Table Home Cooks

This is your roasting pan. This is your pizza pan. You can use it for sautéeing, stews, and sauces.

use-case fit Owns it Lynne's Favorite Tools for the Kitchen

Cites versatility

3:01 supports Billy Parisi speaking on Chef Billy Parisi Chef

I promise you this will be your new go-to pan for everything

recommendation Cook Like a Pro with These 15 Must-Have Kitchen Tools

2:00 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

this is what I like to call one pot cooking and this is the epitome of what I like the good thing is is it's great for brazes you can pop in the oven you can steam fish

use-case fit Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites versatility

1:00 objects David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

you want pans that you can put in the oven plastic handle stuff no bueno right

recommendation Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites oven safe (against)

6:33 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

the more solid your trays are the better then they won't buckle and they will last

durability Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites durability, warp resistance

6:02 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

a classic two-handled roasting tray brilliant for roasting whole Birds finishing sauces gravies on top of the stove over the Gast ring burner again versatile

use-case fit Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites versatility

6:02 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

roasting and baking tray these things so versatile great for baking whole fish on fantastic for making Breads and so cheap

recommendation Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites price, versatility

3:31 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

the beauty of this thing is the fact that you can actually use it on the hob or start it on the hob and finish it in the oven

use-case fit Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites oven safe, stovetop compatibility

2:01 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

whether you're searing the most amazing rack of lamb cooking duck breast soing chicken or even a quick omelette or even find an egg all in one

use-case fit Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites versatility

0:30 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

buy the best SAU buns you can afford take good care of them and they'll last you years saving you money in the long run

value Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites durability, price

0:00 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

you don't need a collection of 10 all you need really is two a mediumsized one followed by a large one

recommendation Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites heating speed, lid

and always get a lid which helps heat the pan up as quickly as possible

0:00 supports speaking on Bon Appétit

I think griddle's interesting cuz the fat stays around it, doesn't it? And gives you that crisp on the griddle is going to get so much more contact and everything is going to be much more crunchier. Texture is important. Super important. So that that's why the griddle for me works because it get the texture.

performance The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

Cites heat control, searing and crust, heat retention

13:33 supports Ian Fujimoto

If you're already a single person household or you're in college or it's just you, get a 10-in skillet. That's going to do 90% of what you need.

use-case fit Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites versatility

13:33 objects Ian Fujimoto

When you're buying cookware in a big set that's like, hey, here's every single piece. You're not going to use 60% of that, maybe more. you end up saving some money on the pieces that you want, but then spending money on stuff that you're never going to use.

value Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites price (against)

1:00 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

I love cooking meat in this cast iron skillet

use-case fit Uses it professionally Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

0:00 supports David Chang speaking on GQ Chef

this is something that you desire to cook in cuz it's a great conductor of heat it Cooks beautifully

performance Momofuku's David Chang Reveals What You Need in Your Kitchen | GQ

Cites heat conduction

6:33 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

cheap but seriously essential

value Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites price

0:00 supports Gordon Ramsay Chef

a small pan is great for sources heating liquids or rice whereas your large pan gives you space perfect for pastas stews or when you're cooking in bulk which keeps cost down

use-case fit Uses it professionally Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Kit | What You Need To Be A Better Chef

Cites size and capacity

10:03 supports speaking on Bon Appétit

non-stick pans have allow us to make amazing things.

performance The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

Cites safety, versatility

They've removed a lot of a lot of the chemicals that were prominent in the old versions of nonstick pan. Technology has improved.

10:03 objects speaking on Bon Appétit

I would say, uh, if you're losing your non-stickiness, it's because it wasn't good enough quality in the first place and you're using metal tools.

durability The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

Cites build quality (against), coating durability (against), durability (against)

I don't think non-stick pans will last forever.

7:32 supports speaking on Bon Appétit

And obviously a good set of pots and pans that would last you forever.

recommendation The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

Cites durability

7:32 supports speaking on Bon Appétit

But a knife. A knife's a good idea, too.

recommendation The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

If in doubt, get yourself a cast iron pan and you'll be fine.

1:00 supports speaking on Bon Appétit

Cast iron. Yeah. It has to be a stove top.

use-case fit The ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ Answer Cooking Questions From Reddit | Bon Appétit

Cites heat control

14:03 supports Ian Fujimoto

I understand the want for it because cooking on nonstick is a lot easier than cooking on some other stuff.

use-case fit Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

Cites ergonomics

13:33 supports Ian Fujimoto

Then get yourself a four C pot because [music] you're probably going to have to boil some stuff.

use-case fit Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools