If you’re hungry for good food and kitchen
knowledge, you should be following Angela Davis, aka The Kitchenista, on social
media. The chef, author and content creator cooks up amazing food that she
posts on Instagram and TikTok, but she also really gets into the weeds of food
and cooking on her Twitter feed.
Davis recently posted her thoughts on
the Perfect Pot, the latest viral cookware. Digital influencers
have been gushing over its Instagram-ready colors and sleek design, but Davis
says not to waste your money on the trendy pot.
Even though it holds your spoon, the
pot -- which is only oven safe to a limiting 425 degrees -- is not worth the
investment.
And though the main selling point seems
to be a built-in rest for your spoon, you can just cut to the chase and buy an actual spoon rest (they usually only cost about $10).
This tweet lead Davis’s followers to ask her
what she does recommend for cookware. Turns out Davis is a big fan of cast
iron, Le Creuset, stainless All Clad and hard anodized Calphalon and All Clad.
Here are some examples of Davis's recommendations:
She cautioned her followers not to go too far down the
non-stick rabbit hole, though. It became a “thing” in the early 1990s, but it might not
be the right pan for every job. Davis wonders why people are sticking so much
food anyway.
Her key to cooking without non-stick cookware? A hot pan,
some kind of fat like butter or oil and a good sear that will keep food from
sticking.
As for cast iron, Davis encourages her followers not to be
scared off by the fussy-seeming cookware. First off, modern cast iron is pre-seasoned,
so you can skip that step. And with its easier-than-you-think learning curve, these relatively
inexpensive pans can be easy to use, even if they’re not so easy to lift. Just
don’t put it in the dishwasher, and you’re golden.
Now that we’ve got our pots
and pans sorted, what about the other current must-have kitchen appliance: the
air fryer. Don’t buy into the scam, cautions Davis. Instead, a convection oven
is way more bang for the buck.
If you already have a convection oven, just buy a basket. Boom,
you now have a large air fryer.
If you’re in the market for a convection oven or another oven, buy a large convection toaster oven: it’s a second oven, a toaster and
an air fryer all in one.
Now that we've got the right tools for the job, it's time to get cooking!