Crafted by hand, this large oval cazuela baking dish is produced in the village of La Rambla in southern Spain, an area with 4,000 years of pottery tradition. Made from red clay collected in the Spanish cities of Zamora, Valencia and Teruel, each dish is shaped and dried in the sun before being fired in a 1832℉ oven. The 15-inch length and low sides make it the perfect size for cooking everything from fish to roasts. Unlike some terracotta tabletop items that cannot withstand high temperatures, this casserole can handle slow, steady heat, so foods cook gently and evenly in the oven or over a medium flame on the grill. Each glazed piece is one of a kind and may come with slight variations.

Crafted by hand, this large rectangular cazuela baking dish is produced in the village of La Rambla in southern Spain, an area with 4,000 years of pottery tradition. Made from red clay collected in the Spanish cities of Zamora, Valencia and Teruel, each dish is shaped and dried in the sun before being fired in a 1832℉ oven. The 16-inch dish with low sides is the perfect size for cooking lasagna, roasts and rice dishes. Unlike some terracotta tabletop items that cannot withstand high temperatures, this casserole can handle slow, steady heat, so foods cook gently and evenly in the oven or over a medium flame on the grill. Each glazed piece is one of a kind and may come with slight variations.

Crafted by hand, this versatile clay dish is produced in the village of La Rambla in southern Spain, an area with 4,000 years of pottery tradition. Made from red clay collected in the Spanish cities of Zamora, Valencia and Teruel, each dish is shaped and dried in the Spanish sun before being fired in a 1832 degree Fahrenheit oven. The 12-inch diameter and low sides make them the perfect size for hot dips, stews and larger tapas dishes. Unlike some terracotta tabletop items that cannot withstand high temperatures, these cazuelas hold a slow, steady heat, so foods cook gently and evenly. Use them in place of a skillet, a paella pan, a sauté pan, or oven casserole. Each glazed piece is one of a kind and may come with slight variations.

Made of black clay, a typical medium for traditional Colombian pottery, this lidded 5-quart casserole works beautifully for rice dishes, casseroles or seafood stews. Each dish benefits from a low, wide, flat baking dish and the steam-capturing lid. La Chamba’s casserole dishes are still made the traditional way, by families in central Colombia who practice their craft on the banks of the Magdalena River. This striking black baker transitions easily from kitchen to table; the unglazed clay has a light, sophisticated sheen and the casserole will retain heat long after coming off of the heat, thanks to the naturally occurring mica in the clay. As each piece is handmade by Colombian artisans, slight imperfections in form or finish are to be expected, including the fit of the lid to the casserole. It is appropriate for the oven or microwave, but despite being incredibly sturdy and long-lasting, black clay pieces should be heated slowly, as they can’t withstand drastic changes in temperature.

The oldest form of Chinese cookware is the ding, a round vessel that in ancient times symbolized power and was used for rituals. This modern cast-iron version recalls the original bronze models of the Shang dynasty but is much better for cooking—the pot heats evenly, works on all stovetops and in the oven, and has a white enameled interior that doesn't require seasoning before the first use. Traditionally, a ding was heated by lighting a small fire between the three legs; we love that JIA retains the three-legged design but features it on a separate base so that the ding can be used on modern cooking surfaces (the base is fitted with silicone so it's non-slip). The semicircular handles of the pot and lid give a visual effect of unity in the design, while the matte black material and raised base look dignified and elegant.

Made of black clay, a typical medium for traditional Colombian pottery, this 2-quart casserole works beautifully for roasting vegetables, poultry or meat or for baked pastas like lasagna. La Chamba’s casserole dishes are still made the traditional way, by families in central Colombia who practice their craft on the banks of the Magdalena River. This striking black baker transitions easily from kitchen to table; the unglazed clay has a light, sophisticated sheen and the casserole will retain heat long after coming off of the heat, thanks to the naturally occurring mica in the clay. As each piece is handmade by Colombian artisans, slight imperfections in form or finish are to be expected. It is appropriate for the oven or microwave, but despite being incredibly sturdy and long-lasting, black clay pieces should be heated slowly, as they can’t withstand drastic changes in temperature.

Exclusive to Milk Street in the U.S., this six-piece Breading and Mise Set from Wahei Freiz is the end-all tool for breading and frying. The durable set comes with four stainless steel rectangular containers, one stainless steel rack and a single snap-on lid. Most cooks grab a handful of bowls to dredge and coat food before frying, but that can make a mess and lead to uneven breading. Instead, this set is a perfect solution for breading and frying chicken cutlets or slabs of eggplant: Use one tray for flour, a second for liquid binder or beaten egg and a third for your breading mixture. Then, once your food is fried, use the fourth tray fitted with rack to allow any excess oil to drip off. The compact, stackable pans are excellent for all kinds of small tasks, like collecting prepped vegetables, herbs, cheese and nuts as you mise en place.

Our favorite feature might be the snap-on lid: Rather than clumsily dredging food in flour or bread crumbs with hands or forks, click the lid on and simply shake the tray until your food is evenly coated. And use the lid to store any leftovers or—even better—other mise en place jobs, like marinating meat or fish. Once you’re done, run the set through the dishwasher, then stack the pieces compactly together to store until your next job.

There is nothing worse than realizing your pan is to blame when a cake doesn’t turn out right. And while springform pans tend to be your best bet when it comes to cleanly removing a cake without any cracking, ripping or crumbling, most are made from cheap materials that don’t hold up well over time. But we were thrilled with the results from Suncraft’s Removeable Bottom Cake Pan, which works similarly to a springform pan but has a flat bottom with no lip and a solid band that doesn’t need to be tightened. Plus, it’s made from sturdy stainless steel to ensure lasting durability. It’s designed with straight sides for an even result, plus a bottom that stays in place during baking but comes off effortlessly to prevent sticking. You’ll never use your old springform again! For the best results, use this pan for thick battered cakes or pastries with crust layers, like cheesecake. We also recommend placing the pan on top of a baking sheet in the oven, to prevent any possible seepage.

Our resident pizza pro is a superfan of this pizza pan from Cuisipro. Made with a double layer of premium nonstick, PFOA-free coating, this carbon steel pan releases pies effortlessly—just tilt the pan, and your pizza, focaccia, or other baked goods will slide right off. Better still, these pans are designed for the high oven temperatures that top-quality homemade pizza requires. And while many high-end pans have only moderate upper-temperature limits (which practically guarantees subpar pizza), Cuisipro’s pan heats up comfortably to 500°F (260°C), significantly higher than other brands, with minimal warping and zero sticking. The circular pan accommodates up to a 12-inch round pizza, and the wavy texture on the surface of the pan is more than just decorative, promoting even airflow for consistent browning and baking. And the nonstick coating really works: Stuck-on sauce or cheese sprays right off when washing for easy cleanup.

Unlike nonstick pans that need to be replaced every year or two as their coating wears off, carbon-steel pans are designed for the long haul and actually become more nonstick over time. This durable roasting pan from French company de Buyer's Mineral B line is thicker than other brands and can be used in the oven as well as on the stove. We love its generous size (about 14 inches by 9.5 inches) and sturdy construction. The sleek stainless-steel handles are also more ergonomic than others we've come across and large enough to accommodate oven mitts—perfect for your next vegetable gratin or casserole. The dish is shallow to allow air contact for evenly roasting meats, but it will also catch juices and drippings better than a baking sheet. And with each use, the pan develops more of a protective surface coating that has nonstick properties. De Buyer even coats its pieces with a layer of beeswax to resist rust and provide a foundation for seasoning the pan. Before you use your de Buyer carbon-steel pan for the first time, clean it with very hot water and rub down the entire surface to remove excess beeswax. Heat oil in your carbon-steel dish on the stovetop—enough to cover the bottom—until it starts to smoke, then discard the oil and rub the cookware down with paper towels. The cookware's surface will go through a mottled stage before developing a perfectly smooth, fully blackened patina—in the meantime, we add a little more oil or butter to start and ensure the pan is fully preheated and evenly coated in fat before adding ingredients. In case of stubborn, stuck-on bits of food, scrub the pan with kosher salt moistened with oil, which will simultaneously season the pan. We also recommend wiping a thin coat of neutral oil across the pan’s surface for storage (with use and time as the patina improves, this will become unnecessary).

Unless you are a pastry chef, getting pie and cookie dough (even pasta dough) rolled out evenly to an exact thickness is perhaps the hardest skill to master in the kitchen. The Milk Street Precision Rolling Pin solves this problem so that even novice bakers can get it right the first time, every time. How does it work? Simply screw in the end caps for the desired height and roll out your crust or dough. (The ends are thicker than the middle by the thickness you want for the dough.) This system is extra-sturdy and easy to use and the pin is plenty long, 23 inches, to handle any width of dough. Plus, we added a laster-etched ruler to the length of the beechwood pin for measuring pans and ensuring your dough is just the right width. You can also use this pin without the end caps - it is 18-inches long and perfect for smaller, more delicate tasks.

Though the region is best known for wine production, the Loire Valley of France also once contained a secret gem frozen in time: Poterie Renault. Dating back to 1847, the French pottery workshop was filled to the brim with stoneware pieces, all handcrafted from some of the richest and finest clay France has to offer. And while the factory shuttered its doors in 2016, it left behind a treasure trove of salt-glazed ceramics that have become collectible items. Included in that collection—reminiscent of charming French country kitchens is this round baking dish. It’s designed for tourtières, savory French meat pies, but it will work beautifully for sweet pies, quiche, casseroles and side dishes. This is a set of 2 dishes.

Though the region is best known for wine production, the Loire Valley of France also once contained a secret gem frozen in time: Poterie Renault. Dating back to 1847, the French pottery workshop was filled to the brim with stoneware pieces, all handcrafted from some of the richest and finest clay France has to offer. And while the factory shuttered its doors in 2016, it left behind a treasure trove of salt-glazed ceramics that have become collectible items. Included in that collection—reminiscent of charming French country kitchens is this large vintage oval baking dish, perfect for cooking and serving casseroles, gratins, roasted vegetables and more.

Though the region is best known for wine production, the Loire Valley of France also once contained a secret gem frozen in time: Poterie Renault. Dating back to 1847, the French pottery workshop was filled to the brim with stoneware pieces, all handcrafted from some of the richest and finest clay France has to offer. And while the factory shuttered its doors in 2016, it left behind a treasure trove of salt-glazed ceramics that have become collectible items. Included in that collection—reminiscent of charming French country kitchens is this oval pie dish. The medium-sized vessel is perfect for desserts, quiches, casseroles and more; we also like them for serving warmed bread loaves or rolls.

Though the region is best known for wine production, the Loire Valley of France also once contained a secret gem frozen in time: Poterie Renault. Dating back to 1847, the French pottery workshop was filled to the brim with stoneware pieces, all handcrafted from some of the richest and finest clay France has to offer. And while the factory shuttered its doors in 2016, it left behind a treasure trove of salt-glazed ceramics that have become collectible items. Included in that collection—reminiscent of charming French country kitchens is this vintage baking dish. Complete with a handy rim for pastry, try it for baking pies and quiches or roasting vegetables and meat.

Made in central Japan, this striking blue casserole is a rarity: a ceramic donabe that’s electric-stovetop friendly and doesn’t require seasoning before first use. The donabe is made of banko ware, a traditional stoneware that’s become increasingly rare because of the high skill required to manipulate it. Often fired by direct flame, banko ware is valued for its durability and high heat tolerance. Lightweight and fast-heating, the donabe holds heat longer than other models we’ve tried, even after the heat is turned off, and easy-grip handles make transferring the pot to the table safer. Use the donabe to cook rice, soups, stews, braised dishes or even as a hot pot. The donabe can go on a gas or electric stovetop, as well as in the oven and microwave—and it’s beautiful enough to go from stove to tabletop.

Made of tri-ply clad stainless steel, these sheet pans and racks from Kana change the baking game. They’re built to last a lifetime, providing durable nontoxic performance that beats coated nonstick sheet pans by a mile. Kana’s are tri-ply, sandwiching an aluminum core between two layers of 304-grade stainless steel, so you get exceptional endurance and maximum benefit: the long-lasting durability of stainless steel, as well as the even, heat-retaining properties of aluminum. The pans are heat resistant up to 1,000℉ (583℃) and won’t warp when exposed to high heat; they’re even suitable over an open flame or a grill. And, our favorite feature: ergonomic handles on both the sheet pan and the custom-fit baking rack it comes with. (Why don’t more sheet trays include this thoughtful feature?) The quarter sheet will fit in high-capacity toaster ovens and can take on a mini batch of cookies or pastries, as well as small roasts; the half sheet is ideal for standard traybakes and baking or roasting projects. And, they’re dishwasher-safe, to boot.

Greasing your glass bakeware with butter, oil or spray is usually one of the first steps in a recipe—and more often than not, most baked goods still stick to the pan anyway. Not so with Cera bakeware, designed in Japan to be truly nonstick, without any need for extra greasing agents, flour or parchment. And it’s only available in the US at Milk Street. Made from ceramic-coated glass that is durable, easy to wash and completely nonstick, this square baker is the perfect vessel for baked goods, roasts, casseroles and more. Anything you cook in it will come out cleanly, without any fuss or mess. The frosted glass is also easy on the eyes, ensuring your dish can go seamlessly from oven to table.