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Warm-weather cooking is not without its charms. Grilling massive cuts of beef with some vegetables alongside it, whipping up a quick, refreshing salad, flipping burgers, letting corn hang out till it’s nicely charred and begging for copious amounts of salt, pepper and butter. Great, all of it.
But cool-weather cooking? We’d venture to say it’s even better. First of all, you can cook in your actual kitchen without drowning in a puddle of your own sweat, which is nice. And what’s better than doing a bunch of prep work and then letting something — a sauce, a soup, some braised meat — simmer away on the stovetop all day long while you sip Oktoberfests and watch football or listen to records? Nothing is better, that’s what.
So, below, we’ve identified 10 items that will allow you to enjoy your autumnal and wintry culinary excursions to the fullest.
Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven 7.25-qt
Here it is. The centerpiece of all your cold-weather cooking. We use ours for chili, sauces, carnitas, pot roast … and on and on. And since it’s nice-looking enough to have a permanent place on our stovetop, we sometimes even use it for boiling pasta — much easier than lugging out another huge pot. We keep saying we’re going to make bread in it, too, but we haven’t yet. Some day.
All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel Covered Sauté Pan
So yes, the dutch oven is a must-have for all the reasons we just described above, but we’re also big fans of the high-sided sauté pan as well, for those weeknights when you’re not looking to get into an all-day affair. We use it for this absurdly good, quick bolognese recipe from the queen herself, Ina Garten.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGT Coffee Maker
Iced coffee season is ending, and you’ve really gotta stop spending so much money at coffee shops anyway, so fall is the perfect time to invest in the coffee maker you’ve been considering investing in for years now. We’re here to tell you that it is every bit as good and reliable as everyone says it is. And it looks sexy as hell on your counter. Spring for the thermal carafe over the glass one so your coffee stays warmer longer.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
An invaluable addition to any home cook’s countertop, the food processor is a sneakily versatile tool to have around. Use it to shred veggies, grate cheese mixtures, blend chilies, make pesto. And if you get a good one like this Cuisinart, you’ll be blown away by its performance and its extreme durability.
Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo
If you have the means and the counter space — and the desire to have high-quality homemade pizza done up in any number of styles with the press of a button — the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is a worthy investment. We’ve been using it for a year now, and we’re happy enough with the results that we rarely order takeout. And we live in New York, too, so we’ve got access to the good shit.
Revol Equinox Pasta Bowls
Penne a la vodka, rigatoni bolognese, classic spaghetti and meatballs … fall is the time to start thinking about such hearty pasta dishes. We think you should consider picking up this handsome set of bowls to serve ’em in.
All-Clad Pro-Release Cookie Sheet Pans With Rack
Let’s be honest. Yours have probably seen better days. Fall is all about fresh starts.
Shun Premier 6-Piece Slimline Block Set
We don’t usually recommend buying knives by the set, since everyone’s needs are different, thus requiring different amounts of investment for different knives, but we’re going to make an exception for this one from Shun. The Premier series punches well above its weight: it maintains an edge remarkably well, it’s extremely comfortable in the hand, and it is drop-dead sexy.
John Boos & Co. Walnut End-Grain Chopping Block
If you’ve spent any amount of time watching cooking shows, you’ve likely noticed that every chef worth his or her salt is equipped with a John Boos & Co. cutting board. This end-grain one is the height of luxury. It’s as easy on your precious knives as it is on your (and your guests’) eyes.
Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Scale
We use our digital kitchen scale mostly for measuring out coffee, but we also use it to show off to our wife and children how good we are at rolling out perfect 2oz balls of ground beef for smashed-burger patties. (No, they are not impressed.)
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