Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Made In, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
When we move into our first apartments, many of us are faced with using the kitchen on our own for the first time. We’re pros at timing microwave ovens so our bagel bites don’t bubble over too much and can practically brew coffee with our eyes closed, but not everyone moves into their first apartment knowing how to use their stove or oven.
There’s a learning curve that comes with learning to “actually cook”. It takes patience, practice, a little luck, and a lot of skill. Plus, we all have to get to know the quirks of our stoves, ovens, and cookware.
When I was on my own for the first time, cooking was a big chore. I didn’t know the quirks of my kitchen or my brand new cheap cookware I purchased during back-to-school season. I didn’t have time to learn how to cook with everything else I was doing. I still really wanted to cook at home because it’s far healthier and much less expensive than easting out every meal.
Even though I had a kitchen available to me, cooking was too frustrating to deal with.
Then I started asking myself what I could do to make things easier. I mean, there are so many people who cook every day with schedules more hectic than mine…how can I do it, too?
One of the first things I learned was that having quality cookware in the kitchen made a big difference in how much I was motivated to cook at home. Simply put, it makes things far less frustrating.
Cookware is available left and right, in-store and online, in so many different colors, styles, and shapes. Home cooks, especially new home cooks, have to do a little research and shop around for what’s best for them. It’s too easy to purchase the wrong cookware for your needs, just because there is so much out there.
I’ve definitely purchased the wrong cookware before–I’ll admit it. Instead of buying something that works well and lasts a little longer, I went for the cheapest cookware I could find.
How did that turn out? Well, my kitchen smelled like fish every time I made pasta.
Gross.
So, how do you know that you’re buying quality cookware? Where do you shop for it? How much does it cost? Is what I have already good enough?
Instead of extensively researching what to buy for hours, it’s much easier to stick to a good brand that is known to create quality cookware. Who really has time to spend hours on researching cookware anyway?
After getting the chance to try a nonstick 10-inch pan from Made In, it’s clear that they’re great at creating quality cookware that looks good, too. The pan I have is a beautiful and shiny sapphire blue with a stainless steel handle. Lighter than a MacBook pro, it’s easy to maneuver in the kitchen especially when making things that require you to lift the pan away from the flame, like omelettes.
I hate making omelettes. They’re simple and something most people know how to make, but I never really got the hang of it. Bad advice led me to believe that homemade omelettes just don’t turn out the same as restaurant omelettes and that restaurant omelettes are just plain better. I think I would always overcook them or let them sit just a little too long.
Anyway, to test out this pan, I made an omelette. Yeah, I went ahead and made a food that I don’t really like to make and also don’t really care for the taste. I didn’t add any special ingredients like mushrooms or spinach because I wanted to see if I could really make a simple omelette with no help from supporting ingredients.
I have to say, even a simple omelette turns out great with this pan. The omelette turned out soft and full of flavor, not dry. The omelette heated and cooked evenly, even though I know one side of my range is hotter than the other. It totally debunked my belief that homemade omelettes don’t taste as good as restaurant omelettes. This was one of the freshest and softest omelettes I’ve had the pleasure of having.
This pan has a recipe for omelettes etched into the back, so those of us who just can’t seem to remember all the steps or need a refresher could always consult a “cliffnote” version of the recipe. I thought that was pretty cool, especially for people who don’t make omelettes often like me.
When it was put to the test, the Made In 10-inch nonstick pan definitely shined.
A couple of things to know about Made In products:
- Made in the USA
- Their non-stick coating is PFOA-free.
- You don’t need oil and butter, but this cookware won’t go bad if you use oil or butter.
- Dishwasher safe (but it’s always good to hand wash your pots and pans! Be gentle!)
- Induction compatible.
They also have a Stainless Steel Cleaner (green bottle) that helps keep your stainless steel cookware nice and shiny. Stainless Steel can lose it’s luster over time, so this stuff will help keep your cookware looking brand new. In addition to that, Made In also has some great care tips for their products that come with their cookware.
Instead of buying every item you want on their website one by one, Made In offers kits that bundle their products based on use. The Starter Kit, for example, is perfect for a studio apartment and comes with a fry pan, sauce pan, and stock pot. Buying all the pieces individually would cost far more than buying the kit.
Made In cookware is perfect for your own kitchen, but it makes a great wedding gift or Christmas gift, too.
It goes to show that quality cookware can make simple recipes so much better. Good cookware and kitchen tools mean it’s much simpler and far less frustrating for first-time cooks to put easy meals together.
