Building Your Bessemer Collection: The Best Pots and Pans to Buy First

Frypan or multi frypan? Casserole or Dutch oven? It can be daunting with so many options, but building a cookware collection gets easier once you ask the right question: what do you actually cook, and which are the best pots and pans for that job?

Compare our range across the most common use cases, so you can be confident you're getting the right version of each piece of cookware, not something that looks great but sits in the back of the cupboard. This isn't a full catalogue tour; it's a considered guide to help you land on the three items worth building your Bessemer collection around.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. The Three Essentials - And Which Version of Each Is Right for You
2. Adding to Your Pot and Pan Collection Over Time
3. Ready to Build Your Collection?
4. Frequently Asked Questions

The Three Essentials and Which Version of Each Is Right for You

Choosing starter cookware essentials comes down to three categories: a frypan, a saucepan, and a deeper cooking vessel like a casserole or Dutch oven. Together, these are the cooking tool essentials most new kitchens need every week, and we are here to help make sense of the available options within each type:

Frypan or Multi Frypan?

Choose a standard Frypan for everyday searing and sautéing, and a Multi Frypan (32cm) if you want one pan to double as a stovetop-to-oven vessel with the Universal Lid. A frypan is one of the essential pans in any new kitchen, so it's worth getting the version right from day one.

Browse our Frypans range or the Multi Frypan collection to compare options.

Which Saucepan Size?

An 18cm or 20cm saucepan covers everyday cooking for one to two people. Go up to the 24cm Multi Saucepan once you’re cooking for more, or batching groups and sauces.

Check out the full saucepan range for all sizes and colours.

Casserole or Dutch Oven?

Pick a Casserole for everyday stovetop stews and braises with high side walls, or a Dutch Oven for stovetop braising when paired with a universal lid.

A roasting pan or grill is another great option, but it's the next addition once you're regularly roasting whole cuts, not a starter essential. If you’re looking to upgrade your cookware, read more here.

Explore all Casserole or Dutch Oven options to compare sizes and cooking use cases.

Adding to Your Pot and Pan Collection Over Time

If you've used your three essentials for months and keep bumping into the same missing size or piece of cookware for the job, that's a signal to invest in your cookware collection.

The colour you choose matters too: stick to one of the four (Black, Red, Teal or Stone) as you add pieces. This way, a piece bought this year will still look intentional next to one bought in five. Mixing colours part-way through building your pot and pan collection is the easiest way to end up with a set that looks accidental rather than planned. 

Once your essentials are covered and you're ready to think about what comes next, Upgrading Your Cookware? The Pieces You Actually Need (and Can Skip) lays out a great plan for additional pieces.

Ready to Build Your Collection?

If you’re ready to buy all the essentials in one go, a Starter Set is a ready-made way to get there, combining the best home cookware set essentials of a pot, frypan, and/or Dutch oven with a Universal Lid in a single purchase. 

For a single piece rather than a full purchase, our sale range has some fantastic bargains on individual items to build out your Bessemer collection for less. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Universal Lid with my first Bessemer pan?

Not for every pan, but it's worth budgeting for one if your first piece is a Multi Frypan, Casserole or Dutch Oven. A matched universal lid is what unlocks Oven-Effect cooking, letting that piece work as a stovetop oven for slow, self-basting meals.

What's the difference between a Casserole and a Dutch Oven?

Both are oven-safe and suit everyday stovetop stews and braises. A casserole pot has high side walls built for everyday stovetop simmering. The Bessemer Dutch oven does the job of cast iron without the weight, making it ideal for pairing with a universal lid for stovetop Oven-Effect cooking or popping into the oven for slow cooking.