Cooking Tools Contemplation

[silverthorne]

So, when my tax return gets back, depending on how much the vet bills end up being, I may or may not replace my Zune with a new player.

However, regardless, I am thinking of getting a bakeware/oven set, regardless of whether or not there's enough left over for the player.

My question to those with more oven cooking experience is this:

I'd like to be able to do casseroles, small chicken/fish dishes, and broiled veggies, but I already know that budget wise, I can probably only afford one 'kind' of set over another for the time being.

So, would I be better served to invest first in a set of glass casserole dishes? Metal pans? One stoneware (or whatever it's called these days) baking pan (you know--the metal ones that are typically either black or blue with the white speckled spots)...or something else altogether?

I don't mind slow cooking the food, either (most of my oven work will be on weekends where I can be on hand for several hours to check the progress).

I do request that it stays in the $50 or below range, if possible. :)

And...if the suggestion is for metal pans, please point me in the direction of a good set that doesn't attract rust just by virtue of sitting unused for a few months (yes, my very cheap, $5 metal pan set did just this, which is the other reason why I'm looking to buy a new set of something...When something rusts when it hasn't even had water in it, there's something wrong...)

So, help me, Oven-Wan-Kenobi...you are my only hope source of info (Since Dad, unless it's ribs or involves an outdoor grill or the simple solution of laying foil on the oven rack, is not much better at knowing this stuff than me)

Comments

[bigymchugelarge.livejournal.com]

Need stuff to cook in? I would just get a crock pot. I feel kinda silly saying this when everyone else is listing really specific stuff. But seriously. They're cheap and it cooks EVERYTHING. Soups, meats, casserole, etc.

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've got one of those--that was my grandma's housewarming gift. And I use it. A lot. (Actually, I'm contemplating getting a tiny roast today to throw into the pot with some veggies for an easy week of lunches). :)

Some dishes though retain certain 'tastes' and textures depending on the method they're cooked by, and that's what I'm looking for. Stuff like chicken pot pies, or veggies mixed in a certain way, or grilled/broiled meats (I have a tabletop grill, too), or just an oven roasted chicken I can break down for other meals during the week (cheaper that way, actually, than buying a flat of pre-cut chicken parts, usually). That, and although oven cooking is slow (2-4 hours on most things), crock pots are slower still on most foods (at least on what I would cook in one), so I'm also trying to find the equipment for the meals that I can do in between the grill/microwave/stovetop and the crockpot time wise.

And I love my crockpot, BTW. You are right that it does a lot. :) (And I am also a soup queen...)

[bigymchugelarge.livejournal.com]

Ah. I figured you would already have one, but I was just being sure. Cause I know that'll be one of the first things I'll buy when I move out.

As for what to get, listen to those people up there. I wouldn't know what to tell you to get besides "some pans" and "some pots."