It seems like everyone and their dog are whipping up elaborate dishes at home these days. Our news feeds are blowing up with recreations of all the restaurant favorites that we miss. Or at least a ton of banana bread and Dalgona coffee. Not sure about your own skills? With these cookware essentials you’ll be out-doing your friends (and frenemies) in no time.
Air Fryer
With this healthy way of frying you’re sure to keep that “Quarantine 15” at bay. With an air fryer you can whip up some har cheong gai, spring rolls, crispy bacon-wrapped-anything, crunchy fried veggies, and fish and chips.
Cast Iron Skillet
If you don’t own a cast iron skillet, now is definitely the time to invest. Don’t worry, as you can see when you click the link, the investment is minimal. And the rewards are numerous and delicious! Cast iron is amazing for cooking meats to browned perfection, or even fried eggs and sauteed vegetables. It adds a layer of seasoning that gets better with each use — even better, you don’t have to scrub it clean!
Omelet Pan
This non-stick omelet pan will make your at-home brunch pics even more Insta-worthy by making sure your eggs are perfect ovals. Repurpose it for pancakes!
Mortar and Pestle
Now that you have the time, why not make your own spices with this ancient grinding tool? Whole spices last way longer, so buy whole peppercorns and cumin seeds then grind your own proprietary spice blend. Combine your spice blend with some air-fried chicken and Colonel Sanders will wish he had your recipe.
Spiralizer
If self-care is your mantra, then treat your body like a temple whether you’re stuck at home or out in the world by trading pasta for spiralized veggies. Trust us, this salad-meets-pasta idea isn’t as bad as it sounds. It’s actually a great way to get more nutrients in your meal! Start stocking up on that zucchini.
Eco Friendly BBQ Everywhere Pit
Whip out this baby on your next Friday evening Zoom sesh, and prepare to elicit some hungry looks. We can almost smell the sizzling skewers through the screen. It’s eco-friendly and so easy to set up and use.
Steamboat Pot
This is perfect for a solo mukbang at home, or sharing with friends. It’s half steamboat pot, half BBQ grill and 100% perfect for making restaurant-quality dining experiences at home.
Takoyaki Grill Pan
We’re not gonna lie, we’re missing the food from our favorite izakaya *a lot*. While it’s great to support your local dining establishments with take away orders, sometimes it’s fun to get down and dirty with a little DIY. With this takoyaki pan you’ll be an octopus grill-master in no time.
Brownie Pan
Perfectly fudgey, gooey, chocolatey, symmetrical brownies, here we come. With this baking pan with built in dividers, there’s nothing separating those brownies from being photogenic AND delicious. Because if you didn’t insta, did you even bake?
Bread Maker
Is it just us or has self-isolation prompted the rise of sourdough bread? If you don’t have the patience to get a starter started or leave a loaf to leaven, why not consider a bread maker? This one from Lazada boasts 19 modes for making all kinds of bread, from French bread and wholegrain bread, to even other non-bread options like cakes, and even rice porridge. Let this little invention be your companion through this lockdown so you’ll always be bready when you’ve got a hankering for some baked goods.
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