No kitchen is complete without kitchenware. You can have all the plates, utensils, and appliances you want, but without the basic cookware, like pots and pans, you’ll struggle to do more than heat a frozen dinner. Still, after budgeting for that convection oven or kitchen mixer, spending mass amounts of money on an assortment of frying pans can feel like a bit much. Don’t worry! We are here to help.

There are a few things you need to consider so that you don’t end up with more or less than you need and waste precious funds. Let’s answer a few quick questions.

• How many people are you feeding on a daily basis?
• Do you prefer cooking on the stove or in the oven?
• Are one pan dinners more your style, or do you find yourself making entrees, sides, and delectable sauces?

The reason it’s important to consider your answers is that quality kitchenware is crucial for longevity, and buying it on a budget often demands acquiring one or two pieces at a time. You don’t want to spend the $99 for a full kitchenware set, only to have the coating flake off within a month or two, rendering it useless. Worse, many of these sets (especially the pots) tend to warp over time, creating a defective seal once you place the lid on top. Instead of risking these disasters, you want to purchase the quality items that you’ll use most often first, before branching out into more specialized pieces, resulting in kitchenware that can last decades with proper care.

As someone who constantly feeds a family of six, I’ve found that the two most vital items in my kitchenware cupboard are my vintage 15” cast iron skillet and my 5.5-quart Dutch oven. The versatility of both allows me to use either my stove top or oven for dinner without needing additional cookware, and I can do everything from sauces to one pan wonders with just these two items.

Notice that I specified “vintage.” A true cast iron skillet is all one piece (no assembly marks or screws) with zero coating. Many new (and cheap) versions on the market aren’t true cast iron, regardless of how they look straight off the store rack. Taking the time to research authenticity and locate a vintage piece will ensure that your cast iron skillet will last long enough to become a family heirloom (so long as it’s properly seasoned and always cleaned by hand).

If you’re feeding a family of four or less, you can use a 10” skillet for most meals. You can purchase one for under $60 in most cases, but be sure it’s hefty, free of rust, and 100% cast iron. The wider varieties will run a bit more, but they are worth it for larger families.

Dutch ovens, on the other hand, are an entirely different beast. Again, most Dutch ovens in big box stores are enameled. If you’re going to be cooking everything at a medium temperature, that’s fine. However, any experienced cook knows that certain meals and techniques require different temperatures, so investing in a Dutch oven that lacks enamel is a good idea. If you do choose enamel, you’re going to want to spend the extra money to ensure it is quality and not a material that will chip off the first time you knock the lid on the side (I learned that lesson the hard way). A decent Dutch oven will run between $80-$200, depending on size and brand, but just like a good cast iron skillet, with proper care, it’ll last the rest of your life.

Once you have these two items, feel free to start adding others that match your cooking needs as you grow your kitchenware cache! Always check reviews, double-check materials, and look for seasonal sales on designer kitchenware with lifetime warranties. Happy cooking!