Oven Dishes: Five Simple Vegetarian Oven To Table Dish Recipes

We’ve all thought of endless ways to use our cast iron casserole pots but what about the humble oven dish? We’ve pulled together five simple veggie friendly, oven dish delights guaranteed to make any mealtime.1. Easy mac & cheeseIngredients400g macaroni50g butter2 tbsp. plain flour500ml milk250g cheddar cheese, gratedBlack pepperTotal time: 45 minutesDirectionsCook the macaroni in a large pan of boiling water according to cooking instructions. Melt butter in a small saucepan, add flour and stir for one minute over a low heat. Gradually add...

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Bakeware Sets: The Pros And Cons Of Silicone Bakeware

Silicone bakeware sets are not always taken seriously in thebaking world. Traditional metal and glass have stood the test of time, so why change now? Here are the pros and cons of using silicone bakeware sets. Pros       No greasing or oiling required Silicone bakeware has a fantastic non-stick surface, meaning little if any greasing is required when using it for baking purposes. Using little to no oil means much healthier results. Bonus tip: It is advised to grease your silicone bakeware when using it for...

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Induction Cookware Buyers Guide

About Induction An induction hob is probably the cleanest and fastest way of cooking to date.  Under the ceramic top heat is generated from an electric current induced by an electric coil. Induction cookware with a magnetised base reacts with this energy and the pan becomes hot - unlike other forms of heat, with induction cookware the heat is generated directly in the pan. When you remove the pan from the hob it will stop reacting and will start to cool. Induction cookers are the safest choice. Perfect for those with a young family. Cookware...

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What You Need To Know About Buying Cooking Pans

One of the vital ingredients of success is having the right tools, and this is true when it comes to choosing new cooking pans. With the popularity of television cooking programmes, celebrity chefs and food blogs on the rise, more Brits are whipping up a storm at home in the kitchen. There's a dazzling array of food-related gear on the market, but selecting a few key pieces should set you on the right track to producing a culinary delight.  All shapes and sizes Many cookware companies and cooking pan brands offer a variety of shapes and...

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The Chef Knife Guide

A great chef needs exceptional knives to stay on top of their game. There are a range of chef knives that will make you neater, faster and more productive in the kitchen. Great knives also reduce the possibility of injury. To help you get equipped with an elite kit of knives for the kitchen, here is the ultimate chef knife guide: Chef’s knife A chef's knife will be one of your best friends in the kitchen. It has a longer blade, which makes...

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Pan Fry The Perfect Chicken

To pan fry the perfect chicken, all you need is a good frying pan, a couple of fresh chicken breasts (preferably free-range) and a few other ingredients. Pan frying the chicken breasts and bringing a delicious midweek meal to the table takes hardly any time. This recipe couldn’t be simpler and includes just a few ingredients, but you can chop and change it as much as you like, depending on the ingredients you have to hand. With a good quality frying...

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Give The Gift Of Cookware This Christmas

If you've been to your local high street in the last few weeks, chances are you will already have seen signs that Christmas is very much on the way! It's the time of year when many people start turning their attention to gifts, and more specifically, what they are going to buy and for who. Cookware sets are a wonderful Christmas gift idea, and they really are a perfect example of a gift that keeps on giving too. A good quality cookware set will last the recipient for years and help them to create all manner of delicious meals time and time again. Perhaps...

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Classic Food Deserves The Best Cookware

Buying cookware in the UK has never been easier, as ProCook offers a fantastic range of gourmet kitchenware. Iconic meals such as fish and chips, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding can be created using ProCook deep fat fryers and roasting tins.  Who can resist mouth-watering apple pie and cream to follow your main course? It is a perfect dessert at this time of the year, and shops are full of newly harvested Bramley apples - the essential ingredient for the best apple pies. ProCook has a wonderful range of gourmet baking products that can...

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How To Choose The Right Cook’s Knife

Buying a quality knife set can be a great way of ensuring that you have the right cook's knife for the task in hand, so what are the basic knives and what are they used for? Paring knife A paring knife is a short knife used for delicate jobs, such as peeling garlic, trimming mushrooms, slicing smaller fruits, and coring. The blade is between 2-4 inches long. A contoured handle that fits well adds to the feeling of control. Utility A utility knife is handy for tackling all sorts of jobs in the kitchen, such as cutting cheese and chopping vegetables...

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How To Season A Cast-Iron Griddle Pan

Seasoning a cast-iron grill pan helps protect it, stops it from rusting, and locks flavour into your cooking. Best of all you only have to do it once, and with some simple care and attention it will last forever.  Well-seasoned, good-quality cast iron pans get passed down from parent to child for generations. 4 steps to season your cast-iron griddle: 1. Wash the griddle with soap and warm water Using a rough-backed sponge, wash the griddle pan well all over. This is the only time you will ever use soap when washing the griddle, but it’s...

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Frying Pans: Is Non-Stick Always The Best?

Non-stick frying pans have many benefits - they are inexpensive, widely available and do their job very well in preventing many food items from sticking to the pan. Watch a professional chef, however, and you'll very rarely see them using non-stick frying pans. Cast iron and steel are in constant use in a professional kitchen, so is non-stick always the best?  As any good cook will tell you, it depends on a) what you're planning to cook in your frying pan, and b) how much heat you need to cook it. If you're not sure on which type of frying...

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Three Unique Ways Of Cooking With Your Wok

Many households own a wok, but only tend to use it for the ubiquitous stir fry. Although this is one of the most popular uses for a wok, it's not the only cooking method available with this versatile piece of cookware. Here are three unique ways to use your wok that will make it one of your essential go-to items in the kitchen:  1. Smoking food in the wok  Many home cooks tend to presume that smoking food is only for professionals, and although countertop smoke boxes and dedicated equipment are available for those who love to smoke...

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Evolution of the Wok

Woks are known and used around the world as useful and versatile cooking vessels. Ask most people about the wok’s origin and they will probably mention Asia – and specifically China. The source of the modern wok is often attributed to Guangdong province, and yet there is still a surprising amount of discussion and debate about its history. Certainly, the wok has evolved – both over time and over distance. A modern wok in a Western kitchen is now likely to have a flat base, which is more suited to use on an electric stove than the rounded bottom...

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Choosing The Right Casserole Dish For Your Kitchen

Casserole dishes are a staple cookware component for millions of household kitchens. Being able to slow cook something in the oven leaves you free to get on with preparing for your dinner date or playing with the children, safe in the knowledge that dinner is taken care of. When it comes to buying a casserole dish there is a wealth of choice. Nowadays casserole dishes come in a variety of beautiful colours, shapes and sizes. However, there...

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Cheap Kitchenware: A False Economy

In the current economic climate everyone loves a bargain. However, when it comes to kitchenware those bargains can be too good to be true. Buying the cheapest kitchenware on offer, whether that is a set of saucepans, a toaster or a casserole dish, can very often be more expensive in the long run than investing in a quality set in the first instance. Low priced goods are usually low priced for a reason. Generally they will be made from very lightweight materials that are either not durable or will not perform well. Kitchenware items are used...

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Cook the Lot with Chinese Woks

You can cook a huge variety of different dishes in a flash with versatile Chinese woks that make fabulous stir fry meals in an instant with generous pan sizes that cater for large numbers of people. Chinese woks are a worthwhile addition to any kitchen.  Not only can they fry up fabulously large portions in a flash, but their ingenious design allows for excellent heat retention and hassle-free cooking on a high heat. From Chinese dishes...

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Why Buy A Pepper Grinder?

You can enjoy seasoning your supper with a pepper grinder that is as stylish as it is functional, with adjustable and contemporary design that makes it anything but run of the mill. The humble pepper grinder is a classic western table accessory.  Found in almost every restaurant and establishment in Britain, the pepper grinder has been redesigned time and time again. From quirky figurines to stylishly functional mills, there is a pepper...

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Stainless Steel Cookware: What To Look For

When you are cooking up culinary treats in the kitchen, you want to be able to use The Best Pots And Pans possible for what you can afford.  Stainless steel cookware could be the answer you are looking for as it is durable, versatile and perfect for amateur and professional kitchens alike! What do you need to look out for when buying stainless steel? The price is usually the first thing you look at, buy within your means; you don’t want to have to re-mortgage the house to get a good set of pans! The quality of stainless steel is based...

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How To Take Care Of A Non-Stick Frying Pan

The one piece of cookware that most people could not live without would be a frying pan.  They can be used for anything from scrambling eggs to frying and shallow frying, sauces, poaching and stir-frying. The main benefit of a non-stick frying pan, especially for those on a diet, is that oil is not necessary for cooking. A good quality frying pan should be in your kitchen for many years, so how can you take care of it? The first thing to do is take a good look at the care instructions, which can be found on most of our product pages. ...

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How To Season Non-Stick Frying Pans

Like all hard-working tools, your frying pans need looking after if they’re going to stay in good condition, work properly and last for years. Though many people know it’s necessary to season cast iron pans, few realise that seasoning your non-stick frying pans is just as important if you want to achieve the very best culinary results. So if you’ve recently invested in a brand new pan or even replaced all of the cookware in your kitchen, here’s how to season your non-stick frying pans and get fantastic results every time. Preparing your pan The...

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Cheap Sauce Pans

When it comes to saucepans, it’s definitely worth investing in the best you can afford. As with so many things, quality always shines through in the end and your choice of cooking equipment is no different. Buying a good set of pans is investing in the right tools to help you cook delicious meals for many years to come. We’ve all bought cheap pans and often lived to regret it. When you’re just starting out in your new home or trying to get by on a student budget, buying the cheapest set of saucepans available can be tempting. If all you want...

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