Otoshibuta Adjustable Stainless Steel Drop Lid
In Japan, cooks have a clever tool for ensuring that simmering foods stay below the liquid instead of bobbing along the surface. They use an otoshibuta, or drop lid. Though drop lids are traditionally made of wood, we like this new and adjustable stainless steel version, designed to fit a variety of pot sizes. It also doesn’t absorb flavors the way wood can. To use, simply set the otoshibuta over food in simmering liquid, which weighs those items down just enough to keep them below the surface. The drop lid also forces liquid to circulate (so food is evenly covered with no stirring required), holds ingredients in place to prevent breakage and promotes faster cooking. We like to use them when blanching kale or chard, which can puff above boiling water, or when simmering black-eyed peas, lentils and other legumes to keep them fully submerged.
Fiero Forni Italian Pizza Stone
From an Italian maker famous for their wood-fired pizza ovens, this pizza stone is the real deal. Thanks to its refractory material with a high ratio of alumina, this pizza stone will heat up quickly and produce a crisp crust with every use. Its porous, very thin surface helps produce steam—moving moisture away from the pie, ensuring it doesn’t reabsorb into the crust—while also preventing burning. The refractory stone diffuses heat at the same rate over its entire surface, for an even bake every time. Plus, it has high heat resistance, so sudden changes in temperature (as might arise when using a grill) are much less likely to compromise an evenly cooked pie. The stone sits in a handy steel frame complete with handles and is quite lightweight, so it’s easier and safer to transport than a typical flat stone (with oven mitts, of course). Also, the “pizza backsplash” prevents your pie from sliding off the stone during cooking and while maneuvering it in and out of the oven. The Italian-made refractory stone (composed from natural raw materials) is incredibly thick and durable, so it can be used not only in the oven but also on the grill, which would burn other pizza cookware. The stone also comes beautifully wrapped in artisanal, traditional Florentine paper, making it a stunning gift for the pizza lover in your life.
Garcima Pata Negra 15-Inch Paella Pan
This classic paella pan produced in Valencia, the birthplace of the Spanish rice dish, is made of heavy-duty, professional-gauge carbon steel, with an extra-thick bottom that holds more heat—and evenly cooks your paella. It’s the only pan we’ve tried that cooks evenly regardless of heat source. We tested this on gas, induction and electric stoves, plus an oven and grill to boot. The rice at the base toasts to form a socarrat, a thin layer of crispy rice at the bottom of a paella, without burning, while the rest cooks through until fluffy and tender. And the sturdy construction means it will turn out dozens of paellas without warping. The 15-inch pan comfortably serves 4 to 6 people, and bolted-on handles help maneuver the heavy vessel. Named as an homage to Spain’s prized Ibérico ham, pata negra translates to “black foot,” after the dark color of Iberian pigs.
de Buyer 12-Inch Mineral B Paella Pan
While most Mineral B handles are epoxy-coated and not oven-safe, the handles on this 12-inch carbon-steel pan are made solely with oven-safe stainless steel for recipes that finish in the oven. It’s ideal for any braised dish, even roasts. We love the big surface area, which can handle a boatload of chicken parts or enough food for a party—it’s even great for paella! As opposed to one long handle, the ear-style handles are easier for carrying and fitting inside ovens and grills. Each Mineral B pan has an all-natural beeswax coating that protects against rust and provides a foundation for seasoning. Over time, your pan will transform from its original gray to mottled blues and oranges before developing a lustrous, fully blackened patina. As the seasoning builds, the surface also becomes smoother and more nonstick.
de Buyer Mineral B Steak Frypan
de Buyer Mineral B Egg Pan
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 egg 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. This compact pan is the perfect size for everyday use, when you want the benefits of carbon steel but don't want to deal with cleaning a large pan; it's also great for toasting small amounts of spices or blooming spices in fat to make infused oils. And with each use, the pan develops more of a protective surface coating that has nonstick properties.
de Buyer 9-Inch Mineral B Omelet Pan
This carbon-steel pan from iconic French company de Buyer has rounded sides that are just the right shape for turning or rolling French-style omelets, then gently sliding them out of the pan when done. And it is by no means limited to omelets: The round sides that help with rolling an omelet are also nice for sautéing and flipping any food. Each Mineral B pan has an all-natural beeswax coating that protects against rust and provides a foundation for seasoning. Over time, your pan will transform from its original gray to mottled blues and oranges before developing a lustrous, fully blackened patina. As the seasoning builds, the surface also becomes smoother and more nonstick.
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. Before the cookware develops a fully blackened patina, we recommend adding 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).
- Net Weight: 2.9 pounds/3.2 pounds
- Dimensions: Diameter: 9 inches/11 inches, Depth: 1.5 inches
- Use: Compatible with all cooktops, including induction
- Care: Hand-wash only
- Place of Origin: France
de Buyer Choc Intense Round Frypans
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Dimensions: 8, 9.5, 11, or 12.5-inch diameters available
- Materials: Nonstick: Ultra-resistant and reinforced inner and outer black coating, guaranteed PFOA- and particles-free | Walls: 4-millimeter forged aluminum | Bottom: Induction-friendly AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel | Handle: Stainless steel
- Use: Suitable for all heat sources including induction. Oven-safe for 10 minutes at 445°F maximum. Do not use metal objects on cookware. Do not heat when empty or overheat. Avoid temperature shocks.
- Care: Hand-wash only, with a non-abrasive sponge.
- Place of Origin: France
