Tom Kerridge's cookware collection with M&S has proved very popular with shoppers and the range just got even bigger, with the addition of products tailor-made for Christmas 2026.

I enjoyed a preview of the Michelin-starred chef's collaboration with M&S last year and I knew that the best cookware designed by the man himself would be a hit. Our impressed reviews of the 3-Piece Cast Iron Set and the multifunctional Stainless Steel Saucepan proved that this is certainly more than a celebrity name stamped on products.

Now, you can also pick up some essential roasting buys from M&S that have all been stress-tested by Tom Kerridge – just time in time for hosting season to begin. Here's a look at the shiny new picks.

Another hugely popular pick from the collection (which actually sold out multiple times last year) was the 2-in-1 Wooden Butcher's Block (£50 via M&S). It's crafted with two built-in sorting compartments for chopping up food and has fluting built into it for meat carving too, so that the juices flow out neatly. It's another buy that really comes into its own for Christmas.

I can't wait to see these new picks from the Tom Kerridge collection on show at the new M&S Pantheon on Oxford Street, which has a dedicated space to show off these cookware bestsellers. Can you see yourself investing in one of these picks for Christmastime?

I've wondered for a while when grey might be making a resurgence in interior design, and Le Creuset's launch of its new 'Chateau' collection is proof that it might be sooner than I thought.

Inspired by French architecture, this new colourway oozes quiet luxury and elegance, and I can see it quickly becoming one of their staple shades.

When you're investing in one of the best cookware brands, it's vital that you choose a style and colour that will stand the test of time. Le Creuset is made to last a lifetime - I would know, as I regularly use my grandparent's set of pans, so picking a neutral shade will extend the longevity, no matter your kitchen design.

Le Creuset's 'Chateau' collection launched on the 1st October exclusively in Harrods stores, Le Creuset boutiques and online.

The new shade drawers inspiration from the 'soft blue-grey tones of French stone and sky' - it's a cool-toned shade which is designed to be timeless in every space, season and light.

To me, this shade embodies the feeling of wandering through elegant Parisian streets, where grand stone buildings have ornate details everywhere you look. This feeling of glamour is something that should be felt in our homes too, which is exactly what the Chateau collection will add to your kitchen.

'As the proud owner of a Le Creuset casserole dish and Ideal Home's cookware editor, I can totally see the appeal of the brand's newest neutral,' says Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly Cleary.

'If you want an investment piece that's going to live on your hob full-time, this sophisticated shade is a timeless pick so even if you have a kitchen renovation in your future, it'll still fit with your vision,' she adds.

The collection spans 15 products, from the Signature casserole dishes all the way through to mugs and spatulas, so you can create a full cohesive look.

Shop the collection

While upgrading cookware will be transformative in your kitchen, if you're looking for a larger kitchen refresh then these 2026 trends that have staying power for 2027 will provide plenty of inspiration.

Having discovered HexClad's brilliant range of pans (and knives) last year, our kitchen appliances and cookware editor Molly is a total convert to the brand's hybrid cooking surface that is both non-stick and safe to use with metal utensils.

So when we heard that HexClad was launching a range of new bakeware with the same finish, I put my hand up (well... more like thrust it up repeatedly and excitedly) to test it out.

Available now, the new HexClad hybrid bakeware collection has been four years in the making, each piece boasting a PFAS-free TerraBond ceramic nonstick coating that withstands oven temperatures up to a whopping 480°C.

It comes in a six-piece set, featuring two round cake tins (Dia. 23cm), a rectangular tray bake pan measuring 23 x L33cm, a square cake pan (W20 x L20cm), a medium baking sheet (W25 x L38cm) and a stainless-steel cooling rack that nestles neatly in the baking sheet.

On first impression, the edges and corners of each piece are smooth and sleek. If you own cake tins with crusty baked-in batter that has crept into the thin edges (which is nigh on impossible to remove), you'll totally love this bakeware set.

The round tins don't have a springform design that would potentially harbour baked-in cake. The non-stick coating on all of them is designed to allow baked goods to pop out without any resistance.

I made a couple of cakes to put the pans through their paces. As our expert reviewer and home economist Helen found in her HexClad 7-piece cookware set review, I, too, loved using the HexClad range.

As Helen says, 'the design really is very clever, and all foods glide across the surface of these pans.' Helen was wowed by the cookware, giving it top marks, and I would be tempted to do the same with the new bakeware collection.

Like the cookware range, each piece of bakeware needs to be seasoned before using it. This is neither difficult nor time-consuming. A quick slick of oil and pop them in the oven for a few minutes, and you're done.

While the bakeware features a non-stick coating, HexClad does recommend that you either butter or oil the surface first before adding the cake mix, or line it with greaseproof paper. In the name of testing, I did both, but I only used strips of paper to see if the areas that weren't lined released the baked cakes as easily as those that were.

I baked a classic school cake in the rectangular pan and an apple cake in the round pan. On both tests, they passed with flying colours. When fully baked, both cakes lifted out without any resistance whatsoever. The entire range is dishwasher safe, too, and if you can't wait to take the cake out of the pan before cutting into it with a knife, you can do so without damaging the coating, as with all HexClad cookware.

Throughout its four-year development, the new bakeware collection was rigorously tested by the brand's product and engineering teams, as well as a host of well-known chefs and restaurateurs including Gordon Ramsay, Massimo Bottura and Clare Smyth. And each piece comes with a lifetime warranty.

The obvious caveat is that it's not cheap - the six-piece set will set you back £299. While that may not be what an occasional baker might be keen to shell out for, if you're a regular baker, you might be tempted to stump up the extra for a quality kit like this. Alternatively, they'd make a very generous Christmas gift or excellent wedding present to a close loved one.

On the whole, it's pretty exciting that HexClad has branched out into bakeware, despite the long time it's taken the company to develop it. But hopefully this means that HexClad will have more launches in the pipeline soon that we can share with you...

In honour of the beginning of ‘spooky season ’, Lidl has just dropped a gorgeous pumpkin casserole (£34.99), which, if you ask me, is an absolute deadringer for the Le Creuset Pumpkin Casserole (£315, John Lewis).

While Le Creuset is most famous for producing some of the best cast iron cookware on the market, it’s also become equally iconic for its statement designs and colourways. Most recently, of course, was the Le Creuset x Star Trek collaboration.

In autumn, however, it is their pumpkin casserole that reigns supreme. However, at £315, it's incredibly pricey for an item you may not use all year round. This is where Lidl’s pumpkin casserole comes in handy. At just £34.99, they’re a bargain price, and look just as good as the designer alternative.

Landing in stores today, Lidl’s latest cast iron drop as the brand frequently releases affordable cast iron cookware, designed to rival high end brands. It was only a few weeks ago when Lidl dropped a stunning range of cast iron pots, pans and cooking accessories. If you missed out on those middle aisle treats, dare I say this pumpkin casserole is even better?

Crafted in the shape of a pumpkin, complete with a twisting silver vine, there’s no denying that Lidl’s Pumpkin Casserole Dish looks way more expensive than its budget price tag. In fact, I’m surprised to see a decorative cast iron dish for under £35.

It’s not just the pot’s looks though that has caught my eye. It also has a 2.5L capacity, making it ideal for batch cooking for serving up family feasts. The dish can go straight from the hob to oven to table, making it incredibly versatile and reduces the amount of washing up (always a win).

It has a durable, double enamel coating, is oven safe up to 260°C and is suitable for all hot types - including induction. The pot even comes with a three-year warranty.

I will say that you shouldn’t expect the same level of quality from this Lidl cast iron as you would expect from Le Creuset or Staub. Those cast ions come with a lifetime guarantee, so don’t expect a budget cast iron to perform in the same way. That being said, I have no issue with using budget options.

I personally use George Home’s Burgundy Cast Iron Stockpot (£32), which not only looks great, but cooks like a dream. Genuinely, I use it every time I batch cook (which is at least once a week) and have done so for the past year - the pot still looks like new. Similarly, Digital Editor Rebecca Knight has used an Aldi cast iron pot for over five years and still loves it.

As is the case with all Lidl special buys, these pumpkin casseroles are only available while stocks last. If you miss out, or don’t have a local store, don’t worry as I’ve rounded up a few alternatives you can shop online.

If you've always dreamt of a Le Creuset pumpkin casserole, but have never had the cash to spare, this Lidl alternative looks just as good as a mere fraction of the cost.

I've heard rave reviews about Our Place's Titanium Always Pan - Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliance's Editor, Molly Cleary, waxes lyrical about the 'indestructible' nature of them, so much so that they are top of her list for the best non-stick frying pans.

So when I saw that Our Place was launching a new dual-handle braiser pan, I knew I was right to be excited. I've been on the hunt for an oven-safe pan, particularly as we enter autumn and one-dish meals become part of my weekly repertoire.

What I especially love about this dual-handle style is that it's perfect for popping right on the table to serve dinner family-style. Here's why it's worth the investment.

It's worth noting that the titanium dual-handle braiser comes with a higher price tag. At £230, it's certainly an investment, but the chef-approved status makes it worth it.

As Molly explains in her five-star review of the long-handle titanium collection, 'I've been using this pan for months now (often twice or three times a day) and it's held up like a dream. The most important thing for me with an everyday pan is the non-stick and that's where it excels.'

I've tried so many non-stick pans, and so many inevitably fail. A fried egg gets stuck, the base gets scratched with utensils and the coating comes off. The catch, and success, of the Our Place pan is that there isn't a non-stick coating - instead, there's a clever repeated pattern which is constructed to repel anything from catching.

Braising is a great wya to cook, particularly in the winter months where the cooking technique defines comfort meals.

'Braising transforms simple ingredients into meals that feel thoughtful and memorable,' explains Shiza Shahid, co founder of Our Place. 'We created this pan to give both home-cooks and professional chefs a specialised, wide-format tool that expands the capabilities of our Titanium Pro collection even further.'

The wide bottom is ideal for searing, while the high sides will make slow cooking simple.

It was the dual handles that especially sold me on this new release. I love hosting dinner parties and serving supper family-style, allowing guests to help themselves from the centre of the table and creating a more convivial atmosphere.

But on a small table, a pan with a long handle makes this tricky. Instead, these dual handles take up much less space, and it's easier to transport from stove to table.

This also makes it handy for fitting into an oven. The pan has been designed to fit inside Our Place's Wonder Oven Pro, but it's also more convenient to fit inside a standard oven, too.

It's impossible not to also mention just how chic this pan looks. Available in a dual-tone design with a gold knob and handles, as well as a solid titanium colour-way, it certainly adds to a sleek, professional-kitchen atmosphere.

Shop more

While upgrading cookware will be transformative in your kitchen, if you're looking for a larger kitchen refresh then these 2026 trends that have staying power for 2027 will provide plenty of inspiration.

Are your baking trays looking a little worse for wear? As much as we probably don’t want to admit it, most kitchens have a cupboard where stained baking trays are left concealed. Luckily for you, cleaning experts have revealed the simple method that leaves trays sparkling without requiring hours of aggressive scrubbing.

You may have noticed that washing-up liquid isn’t always the best way to clean baking trays, especially when old food bakes onto the sheet, leaving stubborn, grimy stains. But while some people think dark stains are now a permanent feature of their pans, cleaning experts say you can remove them with a natural solution.

Instead of reaching for heavy-duty chemicals, bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar are among the best natural methods to clean a burnt pan. Here’s everything you need to know.

How to clean baking trays with bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar

There are so many things you can clean with bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar, so regardless of cleaning baking trays, these are two of the best cleaning products you can have in your arsenal. But when it comes to your trays, it’s a powerful combination that can wipe clean years' worth of grease.

‘One of the most effective ways to restore old baking trays and make them sparkle again is with a simple baking soda and white vinegar trick. It's affordable and easy to do. It can also help tackle years of built-up grease and burnt-on food residue as well as discolouration without relying on harsh cleaning products,’ comments Jade Golding-Gault, AO’s appliance expert.

What you need

• Bicarbonate of soda (£2, Amazon)
• White vinegar - we recommend Miniml's white vinegar (£6.60, Amazon)
• Bamboo scraper (£13.99, Amazon)

1. Removed food residue

‘Start by scraping away any loose residue using a wooden or bamboo scraper or a non-scratch brush. Avoid anything overly abrasive, particularly if the tray has a coating that could be damaged,’ says Kelly Moore, founder of Cleaning With Meaning.

If your pans are in regular rotation, they probably have built up a little food residue; gently removing any baked-on crumbs will give the bicarb a helping hand.

2. Add bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar

‘Start by sprinkling baking soda generously across the tray, paying particular attention to any burnt-on stains or heavily discoloured areas. Then pour over white vinegar until it begins to fizz and leave it to sit for 20 to 30 minutes. The reaction helps loosen stubborn grease and baked-on food particles, making them easier to remove,’ says Jade.

‘Gently scrub the surface using a non-scratch sponge or soft-bristled brush to lift dirt and residue without damaging the tray.’

3. You may need to make a paste

If your tray has tougher marks, consider making a bicarbonate of soda paste to help lift the embedded dirt off the tray.

‘Mix bicarbonate of soda with a small amount of warm water to create a thick paste, then spread it over the areas affected by baked-on grease and residue. Leave it for at least 30 minutes, or a few hours if the tray is particularly stubborn,’ says Kelly.

‘Take a reusable non-scratch scourer or cleaning brush with warm water to work the paste into the tray. Bicarbonate of soda provides gentle abrasion while helping to loosen grease and grime, without the need for aggressive chemical cleaners.’

4. Rinse off your tray

Lastly, it’s time to rinse off your baking tray with warm soapy water.

‘Wash the tray in warm, soapy water to remove any remaining residue and ensure the surface is completely clean. You can finish the process by drying thoroughly before storing to help prevent water marks and keep the tray looking its best,’ says Jade.

Upgrade your baking trays

If your pans are beyond redemption, here are a few more sparkling options you can use to upgrade your kitchen.

‘To keep trays looking newer for longer, try to clean them as soon as they've cooled after use, rather than allowing grease and food residues to harden,’ concludes Jade.

‘Using baking parchment or reusable liners can also help minimise build-up and reduce the amount of scrubbing needed after cooking.’

Depending on the state of your pans, this method may not restore them to their original state entirely. But it is a tried and tested method that cleaning experts genuinely use for sparkling baking trays.

Le Creuset has unveiled its newest collaboration with a franchise you might not have expected. The new Star Trek range, available to buy now from Le Creuset UK, boldly goes where no other cookware brand has before, bringing the two names together into one limited edition collection.

It's not the first time that the best cookware brand around has dipped its toe into the waters of pop culture. In recent years, it's featured collections with designs inspired by Harry Potter, Pokemon and Star Wars – all of which have gone on to become highly collectable.

So, whether you're a Trekkie or a Le Creuset collector, it seems these pieces are likely to fetch a pretty penny in the future. Here's a closer look at the range 'inspired by a legacy of discovery', some of which Le Creuset sent into the stratosphere (yes, really!).

The collection in its entirety spans 9 pieces but once they're gone, you won't be able to buy them directly from Le Creuset again. A quick look at how much the Harry Potter collection (released in 2021) now sells for on eBay is an indication of how in-demand these collector's items can become. I've even spotted a piece from the Le Creuset Star Wars range going for over £800 on eBay.

To celebrate the launch Le Creuset sent the flagship Enterprise Round Casserole from the range to the edge of space – quite the publicity stunt. Working in collaboration with Sent Into Space, the stunt marks the first time a cast-iron dish has reached the stratosphere.

So whether you want to collect a piece of space-making history or stock up on a Christmas gift for the Star Trek lover in your life, you'll have to act fast to snap up one of these pieces!

HexClad pans have been everywhere in the foodie world in the last few years, including in the kitchen of Gordon Ramsay, who is the brand's global ambassador.

Though I've tried a few picks from HexClad before, including the ultra-thin griddle pan made for pancakes, it was my trusted reviewer Home Economist Helen McCue who put the brand's full 7-piece set to the test back in 2024 in her review. She awarded the set five stars, saying these pans 'definitely live up to the hype'.

To see what all the fuss is about, I got my hands on the brand's Hybrid Pan (£149 via HexClad) back in June and I've been using it as my everyday best frying pan ever since. Here's what I like (and don't like!) about this bestselling pan after four months of continuous use.

1. The non-stick has held up well

I've used this pan a lot over the last few months and one thing that you can't fault with it is the non-stick. Though this pan does feature a non-stick coating of sorts, it's free from the 'forever chemicals' that many people are seeking to avoid.

With a little bit of oil, cooking eggs in this pan is a dream. That's still true even all these months on. That's probably to do with the fact that this pan, similar to my favourite ever pan from Our Place's Titanium range, has a raised, grooved interior. I find those grooves really help to caramelise and crisp whatever you're frying and mean that you can safely use metal utensils this pan without a worry. That's a huge plus for me.

The same non-stick capability goes for cheesy or other sticky foods too. That is, bearing in mind, if you follow the golden rule of not turning your heat all the way up to high when you cook. I think this is a fairly little-known thing about HexClad pans, but once you follow it you'll find that you're scraping food off your pan a lot less.

Of course, thanks to the non-stick elements within this pan it's a lot easier to get to grips to compared to uncoated stainless steel. Our expert Home Economist Helen McCue's retrospective on testing Ninja's newest stainless steel pan range has a great insight into making the switch to this harder-to-master material.

When I first started using this pan, I was having to use a truly dreadful electric cooktop, and this was the only piece of cookware that I could get any kind of result with. They're induction compatible too.

2. It cleans excellently

Thanks to its non-stick build, this pan is really easy to clean. It's not recommended that you put this pan into the dishwasher all the time (but you can occasionally and trust me, I have taken them up on that).

Unlike uncoated stainless steel, this pan has stayed immaculate now that I'm four months into using it. That includes the bottom of the pan too, which is the part exposed to my gas hob. It's survived without any scorch marks.

This is also a very lightweight pan (it weighs less than 700 grams), so handwashing it doesn't feel like such a pain. That's one thing it has over my beloved Our Place Titanium pan, which is weighty indeed.

3. It's versatile

I've been using this as my everyday pan for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it's excelled at a huge range of cooking tasks. Of course, it's great to use for frying specific needs like pancakes and tofu thanks to its shape and the fact that it comes with a lid is also great for saucier dishes.

It's not necessarily the best shape for all-in-one style dishes like the chicken fajita bowl pictured, but when put up to tasks like that it's still a very versatile workhorse. My preference is still for a pan that's slightly deeper day to day though – the brand's Deep Saute is probably a better fit for those things.

4. It's not quite big enough for batch cooking

I love doing big cooking sessions where I get multiple meals out of the way and I need a pan that can live up to that job. In many sense this pan is perfect for that (the great non-stick and easy clean nature) but in this 25cm size, it's fundamentally not quite big enough for all my needs.

When making the stovetop lasagne for four pictured below I really pushed the limits of this pan capacity wise so if you were cooking for any more than that, you'd definitely struggle. If you're considering this pan for family cooking, I'd either size up or consider the sauté-style pan I mentioned above instead.

Now I'm well established with using this pan, I'd definitely recommend HexClad as a brand to invest in for the long-term. If it's good enough for Gordon Ramsay, after all...

Sorry Le Creuset, Lidl is dropping a huge collection of lookalikes this week for just a fraction of the price.

Long hailed as some of the best cookware available to buy, Le Creuset pots, pans and crockery are a regular guest on most kitchen wishlists. However, less inviting is the Le Creuset price tag, hence why affordable alternatives are always so popular.

Over the years, Lidl has dropped plenty of Le Creuset alternatives, and landing in stores on 13 September, this latest cookware is huge. Here are the highlights.

Le Creuset is synonymous with the best cast iron cookware, so I'll preface by saying that Lidl’s cast iron pots, pans and griddles will not be of the same quality. However, for those looking to sample the world of cast iron cooking, Lidl is a good starting point.

Available to shop is a range of different casserole sizes, frying pans, griddles and even a cast iron pizza pan. This cookware comes in a few colourways (though not as extensive as Le Creuset), including black, red, orange and blue.

I was also excited to spot the inclusion of the set of two mugs (£3.99), which is a dead ringer for the Le Creuset Stoneware Mug (£17, John Lewis). I find my Le Creuset mug holds the perfect amount of tea, so I’m definitely keen to pick up Lidl’s set for a fraction of the price.

The mugs are only available in black and orange as are the salt and pepper shakers, serving bowls and snack bowls. If you want designer-look tableware to impress guests at autumn dinner parties, this Lidl collection is a good one to shop.

As mentioned, Lidl’s new cookware won’t be as high quality as high-end brands, but this doesn’t mean you should turn your nose up at it. Ideal Home’s Digital Editor, Rebecca Knight, has owned her Aldi cast iron casserole for over five years and still loves it. I personally have George Home’s Burgundy Cast Iron Stockpot (£32), which not only looks great, but cooks like a dream.

As always, these Lidl special buys will only be available to shop in-store, so if you don’t have a store local to you, or your local store sells out fast, I’ve rounded up a few more alternatives you can shop online.

If you're looking to try cooking with cast iron, check out Lidl's latest kitchen range for an affordable taster.

Le Creuset's huge Factory to Table sale is back for 2026, with the event running from the 25th to the 27th of September in Harrogate.

Taking place at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, this is your chance to snap up some of the best cookware from this beloved French brand at up to 50% off. Tickets to enter the event, priced at £10 each, are available to buy now.

And it's not just bargains you'll find at the sale either. Le Creuset is also offering collectors the chance to snap up pieces not usually sold in the UK as well as rare colour ways. Here's a closer look at exactly whats on offer.

Le Creuset's warehouse sale 2026

Le Creuset's cookware has cult classic status in the world of homeware, meaning it's rare to see pieces from the brand available for hugely discounted prices. This warehouse sale, held once a year, is the exception to that rule. So if you're in the market for a pot or pan that'll gain heirloom status in your home, this event is well worth a look in.

There's no specific detail on the 'limited-edition colours not typically available in Le Creuset UK Signature Boutiques' that will be available, but there are plenty of colours that collectors covet. That includes one of the Le Creuset colours our readers loved most in 2025 that's now discontinued – Kiwi.

Given the time of year, fans of the brand will also be excited to hear one extremely sought-after shape will also be available to buy just in time for Halloween – the brand's signature pumpkin casserole. With a design that's been duped a million times since its release, it seems the original will be available for a steal of a price at just the right time of year!

If you're still clinging onto the end of summer, the brand's infamously beautiful petal casseroles will also be discounted at the event too. A fan favourite since its release in 2024, I'd have my fingers crossed for it available in some limited edition colours if I was attending!

If you can't make it to this in person event, I've rounded up the Le Creuset shapes and styles I've tested and love best that are currently on sale so that you can snag a discount from the comfort of your home.

If you're in the mood to pick up some treasures for your kitchen to prepare for autumn then Le Creuset's big warehouse sale might just be the place for you. Is there anything on your wish list to pick up before hosting season arrives?

Around four months ago I started using the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set. In my original full length review I noted that this pan set offers both functionality and quality. So it’s a good choice if you’re in the market for one of the best saucepan sets.

I’d already made the switch to stainless steel saucepans a while ago, but completely ditching the non-stick when it came to the best frying pan in my kitchen was daunting to me. I had to put my non-stick frying pans out of reach in the spare bedroom, to stop myself from defaulting to them.

Now, four months on, it’s safe to say those frying pans never made their way back into my kitchen and I’ve been happily cooking on stainless steel ever since. Here’s my update on what I’ve learnt using these pans (which are currently on sale at Amazon for £205, down from £231) over a longer period; the good, and the bad.

1. I’m definitely getting the hang of stainless steel frying pans

During my initial review, there were a few things that I didn’t exactly nail. One of them was frying fish to perfection. But as you can see in this photo of fried seabass fillets, I’ve perfected the art of creating a crisp skin and succulent flakey texture without any sticking.

For fish and meat, the trick is taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and thoroughly patting it dry with kitchen towel. And I’ve learnt to resist the temptation to turn the heat down too low as well.

What I would say is that for things I don’t cook frequently, like pancakes, I have to hop online for a reminder of the best stainless steel specific cooking method. Because I know that if I dive straight in without that reminder, I won’t get the best from the pans.

I also know that I’m easily distracted in the kitchen, so if I’m preheating a frying pan, I set a two minute timer. This reminds me to test for the leidenfrost effect and usually means I nail the initial pan preheat, which is key to avoiding sticking.

2. I feel reassured that non-stick coatings aren’t flaking off into my food

It is a bit more effort to cook in stainless steel frying pans, and as I said above, I have to go to extra steps like timing the preheat. But I feel like I’ve embraced the challenge and learnt a new cooking skill. And now I don’t have to scrutinise the type of non-stick coating on my pans for fear of toxic chemicals, because I no longer need non-stick pans at all.

3. My husband loves them too

Since I’m usually in the kitchen reviewing kitchen appliances, my husband doesn’t get much of a look in when it comes to cooking. So while he had used the saucepans for the odd tin of beans and soup, it’s not surprising that he shied away from the frying pans for several weeks.

However, he is the pancake cook in our house, so when we recently had a craving for crepes with banana and chocolate spread, I walked him through making them in the stainless steel frying pan.

And I was surprised when, at the end of the batch of pancakes, he declared that he actually preferred using this frying pan. He thought it cooked very evenly and using it was much easier than our old sort-of-non-stick ceramic frying pans.

3. They feel robust and hardwearing

We’ve all had the odd dodgy spatula that’s a bit melted at the end, and many of us are now realising that’s probably not ideal. I’m in the process of trying to replace most of my cooking utensils with wooden and metal ones. So naturally I love that I don’t have to stress about using metal utensils in these pans.

Incidentally, I also noted in the original review that the pans are pretty weighty. So it's worth saying that for me personally this hasn’t been an issue over the last four months. I think I’ve got used to the weight and simply don’t give it a second thought anymore. But that’s not to say it won’t still be an issue for some people.

4. There are some downsides

So far, I’ve managed to avoid the temptation to put them in the dishwasher and have learnt how to clean stainless steel pans properly instead. The saucepans are generally quick and easy to clean and have stayed looking pristine. But the frying pans are becoming a bit of a chore, and if you like to keep your cookware immaculate, this could be a sticking point for you.

After a few uses, I start to notice brown fatty deposits up the sides of the frying pans. These stains don’t come off with normal hot soapy water, so periodically I have to spend extra time giving them a deeper clean.

I usually use bicarbonate of soda for the deep clean, scrubbing the powder into the pan in a thick paste. It gets the job done but still requires a good amount of elbow grease. Last time, I spent 10 minutes on one pan, though arguably, I had left it a bit longer than I should.

Personally, I have a bit of a ‘cooks kitchen’ philosophy, whereby I expect the things in my kitchen to look like I use them, because I do. But if you’re fastidious about keeping your cookware like new, I think this will start to bother you quite quickly.

Four months in and I'm very pleased on the whole with how this pan set is getting on in my kitchen. Could you be persuaded to make the switch away from non-stick?

Making the switch to glass food containers from plastic ones has yielded so many benefits for my kitchen. Not only can I now avoid reheating my food in plastic containers, but my clean-up routine is miles easier. I never have to suffer those tomato stains that just won't shift anymore.

I've written in detail about why my preference for glass over plastic when it comes to food prep and while my go-to choice is from the pricier Black + Blum, there are plenty of places with more affordable options if you want to make the switch too.

Here's a round-up of all of the places I've shopped excellent glass food containers and why I'd recommend each for picking up non-toxic, easier to clean food prep options.

1. Black + Blum

This London-based brand, which has been making waves on the food-influencer side of Instagram, not only prioritises clever designs but delivers on quality big time. I've tried the stainless steel food prep set from Black + Blum as well as the brand's new glass Stack + Nest set (from £27.95). Together, they make the perfect food prep combination.

The glass set is perfect for meal prep that you'll keep at home, like lunches or freezer fodder while the super lightweight stainless steel version could not be better for throwing into my work bag for the office. It's been the envy of the Ideal Home lunchroom.

These containers are expensive, there's no getting around it. But the glass nesting containers fit together compactly for storage and the lids feature clever vacuum seals to keep your food fresher for far longer.

The range available from Black + Blum is also very impressive. You can pick up these containers in an array of sizes – but the best for everyday food prep is likely going to be the 1 litre for most people. Pricey, but worth every penny in my book.

2. IKEA

What area of the home doesn't IKEA have you covered for? It can certainly be relied on for affordable food containers if you need them, including a well-rated glass range. At £4 per glass container, the 365+ range is one of the brand's bestselling as far as the kitchen is concerned.

With over 4000 reviews to its name awarding it a 4.7 star rating overall, this excellent value container is popular for good reason. And as with Black + Blum's version, it's oven-safe and freezer-safe, which is great for those who like to prepare all of their meals at the beginning of a week.

It is heavier than the more premium Black + Blum option though – weighing in around 680 grams without food in. That can make quite a difference to your lunch bag day to day.

Another benefit of IKEA's 365+ system is that it's part of a wider interchangeable system, which means you can pick up lids that fit various containers for cheap. If you want to totally shun plastic, the bamboo lid versions will be your best bet.

3. ZWILLING

If food longevity is your main concern as you come to upgrade your food storage then Zwilling's Fresh & Save range is well worth a look in. While Black + Blum's range has an excellent and simple to use vacuum button, Zwilling's is a lot more involved – it removes air out of the containers using a pump.

This system has its pros and cons. It's very effective at making your fresh or dry food last far longer but it does require a lot more work to achieve that end goal than simply pressing down on a seal. You need to keep the vacuum pump close to hand and charged to use it effectively.

There's a lot to love about the sheer breadth of the range if you do decide to invest in the vacuum pump. The glass food containers are a standout, but you can also pair it with stainless steel food prep bowls, clever silicone food bags and lunchboxes too.

I rated this system when I tried it but it was just a little too fiddly for me to hang onto in my small kitchen. If you have more space for the accessories needed and want to make a long-term investment, it's a great pick.

4. Amazon

If you have an Amazon Prime membership already, you're probably looking to save on the postage costs that buying glass food containers online might create. Turns out, it's a great place to shop for this kitchen essential too.

As well as a host of lesser-known names, there are plenty of brands you will recognise on Amazon in this particular area. One of those is Pyrex, with this set (for £23.02) which I've tried in my own kitchen. It's a bargain price for a set that contains 4 separate glass dishes, the biggest of which can hold 4 litres of food.

Another style that works very well for breakfast oats and fruit is this round shape (£15.89 for 4 via Amazon). And for added style points on your lunchbreak, I love these fluted ones with different coloured lids (£15.99 via Amazon).

For the sheer amount of choice on offer, Amazon's selection is well worth checking out. Just make sure to check the reviews thoroughly before you make a commitment.

Whichever brand you end up deciding on, I can assure you that making the switch to glass is well worth the effort. At the very least, there'll be no more tomato stained plastic containers cluttering up your cupboards.

Lakeland's new in section currently has a whole host of products waiting to help you get organised for September – but my favourites have to be the brand's new selection of microwaveable stainless steel lunchboxes, available from £12.99.

I recently made the switch from my naff old plastic food containers to lightweight stainless steel ones from Black + Blum. They've made meal prepping so much easier and made my workbag much lighter to lug around.

These Lakeland boxes are very much in the same vein and the perfect accompaniment to one of the best saucepan sets. Even the smaller size has an impressive 1 litre capacity, and each one is kitted out with a leakproof, airtight silicone seal. That means your leftovers should stay fresher for longer, too.

I know what you're thinking, putting metal in a microwave is kitchen no no number one. But microwaveable stainless steel containers are engineered to be safe for popping straight into the most timesaving appliance in your arsenal with certain features that prevent sparking.

Yep, the smooth, rounded corners of these containers aren't just for aesthetic reasons, they also mean an electric charge can't build up. And if you're thinking that over £10 for one food container is very steep that's because you're not just paying for any old standard of metal but for thick, high grade stainless steel instead.

If you've ever seen what happens to foil mistakenly put into a microwave then you'll know that thin metals are not compatible with reheating leftovers but this thicker type of stainless steel definitely is.

The leakproof nature of these containers is another huge draw if you want to use them as lunchboxes. The silicone seal around the exterior will also be a huge help for keeping your food airtight inside, so your leftovers should last for longer.

The ability to pop these containers into the freezer is another bonus as well as the fact they are totally dishwasher safe. The clear lids will help if you're a keen meal prepper too, so you can easily see what you're grabbing to take for your lunch for that day.

I switched to using stainless steel food containers in April and I've noticed so many benefits so far. Not only are my new lunchboxes always getting compliments in the office but the lightweight feel of them mean I don't have to dread packing my lunchbox into my bag everyday.

The 1 litre Lakeland container weighs just 360 grams (without food) which is a huge difference to compared to glass alternatives which can usually weigh around 600 grams in the same scenario.

There's no faff with these containers with having to switch out the contents to reheat, freeze or even pop in the air fryer either – a huge timesaver if you like to prep your meals ahead.

I think these containers are about to be a huge hit with Lakeland's savvy customers, especially those who like to be ahead of the curve with their cookware choices. Could you be swayed to give stainless steel a try?

Lakeland is expanding its bestselling Only Pan into an entire range, with the brand's trendy, colourful cookware offering now covering all-in-one pots and frying pans.

Available now from Lakeland, you can snap up the most affordable pick, the Only Pan Fry Pan, in a spread of gorgeous pastel colours for just £34.99. It's joined by the Only Pot (which looks perfect for batchcooking) for £59.99 in an array of colours too.

If you're looking for one of the best frying pans on a budget, then our expert reviewer has only had good things to say about this cookware collection so far – her almost perfect marks for the Only Pan in her review is testament to that. Here's a closer look at this extended cookware line and why its been such a hit with shoppers so far.

This colourful collection from Lakeland started with the sellout Only Pan, which our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue called 'a good non-stick pan without the harmful non-stick coatings' after her thorough review.

You wouldn't be the first to think it bears a striking similarity to the Instagram-ubiquitous Always Pan by Our Place, but it's not the only recent buy from Lakeland that has that lookalike factor.

Then brand's next take on an Our Place bestseller – which just happens to be my favourite pan ever after testing dozens, the Titanium Pan Pro – the Lakeland 10-in-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro came next.

Helen was thoroughly impressed by this £85 offering in her recent four and a half star review. The fact you can use metal utensils with it will be a gamechanger for a lot of people and Helen found it was very resilient during testing.

Now, Lakeland is adding a few different size variations to this collection. While this may slightly take away from the claim that the original is the only pan you'll ever need, it does add a new dimension for those who want to batch cook.

The heavy duty option, the Only Pot, has an excellent 4.5 litre capacity which is more than enough for family-sized meals. It can be used on your hob as well as in your oven for browning dishes and slow cooking, too.

The Only Fry Pan, on the other hand, has a low profile that's tailor-made for everyday frying jobs. If you don't want to wrestle a heavier pan out of your cupboard for your morning omelette, it'll make a good companion piece to your main everyday pan.

The colour range is a huge draw with these pans and I'm hoping there's more to come from Lakeland if these colourful picks are anything to go by. After all, a pastel pan is such an easy way to brighten up your existing kitchen colour scheme!

I've found that a Sunday well spent really does bring a week of content – especially if I spend it meal prepping with the best cookware.

Having just moved back to London, I'm slowly getting back into my groove with office life. To feel more organised, I find having lunches that are lunch-bag ready and dinners that are prepped for me when I walk back through the door are key.

I'm in a privileged position as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances and Cookware Editor that I get to try out all of the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets to see how they fare in a real cooking environment. These are the ones I'm reliant on, all of which live in my newly organised pantry, for my batch cooking sessions every weekend.

1. Clever food containers

We all know the stress of rooting through a mismatched collection of old take-away containers, loose lids and plasticware in a kitchen cupboard. It can feel like an avalanche is raining down on you. That's why I recently undertook a serious food container audit.

I had already rid myself of flimsy plastic containers as I wanted to be more cautious of potential safety risks with microwaving plastic (as investigated by the BBC). So when I was offered a set of Black + Blum's food containers to test, I was intrigued. The selling point of this brand is its lightweight meal-prep style lunchboxes that are made of microwavable stainless steel.

These containers are made for commuters and convinced me to switch from glass containers to stainless steel. I have the Meal Prep Bowl Set in small (£44.95 for 3), and each one weighs just 245 grams before food. There's plenty of space for a lunch or dinner portion with this 650ml size, but a larger 950ml upgrade is also available.

The containers can be microwaved for two minutes at a time and are safe to go into my air fryer too. Last week I made a 'dropped the pot' lasagne in the containers and popped them into my Ninja to brown ready for lunches to great effect.

This isn't the only Black + Blum set I swear by. I've recently been testing the brand's new glass container system too and have settled on an ideal hybrid material set up.

I have five of the Stack + Nest Glass Food containers, which have the same clever airtight seal for freshness, in medium. With 900ml of space, I find they are great for full meals and prepped veg or fruit. Handily, they use the same lids as the stainless steel pots if you invest in the same shapes.

I use the lightweight stainless steel pots for work and the glass versions for dinners that stack in my fridge. When they're not in use, all of the containers nest without extending their footprint in my pantry.

2. A julienne peeler

Thanks to this never ending summer we're having I've been prepping salads more than ever. And I can't believe it took me so long to turn to this one inexpensive gadget to save me from wasted time chopping veggies into the perfect shape.

Making carrot and cucumber ribbons is probably a job I should turn to my food processor for, but most often I've been using my Zyliss Julienne Peeler (£7 from Amazon) instead.

Though you have to press fairly hard to get neat ribbons, I really like the thinness you get from using this specific peeler. Once I've got those ribbons, I like to pickle them for toppings or combine them in a peanut sauce for a cold noodle salad.

Another very well-regarded pick is this one from OXO, for £10.30 (via Amazon). Once you've got a peeler this capable, you'll rue all that time you spent slicing!

3. Freeze pods

On the weeks where I have extra time or leftovers after my immediate meal prep is done, I like to stock my freezer with meals that I can use in case of emergencies (or laziness). The best buy I've found to do this with is Lakeland's genius freeze pods (£8.99) which you can pick up with 3 portion spaces or 2.

The non-stick silicone means that leftovers are easy to pop out onto a bowl or plate to microwave and the design means that they stack neatly on top of each other too, so you're not left with an overflowing shelf.

It's not just lunches or dinners that are handy for freezing in them. You can also pop in leftover stock, sauces, soups or even cakes and puddings. They're a slick and inexpensive way to get healthy, homemade freezer meals sorted.

4. Microwave rice cooker

A dedicated rice cooker might horrify those who value clear countertops over anything else but once you've tried one, you can't go back to sticking a pan over a hob. The ability to set off your rice at the beginning of cooking and not worry about it until you hear a beep of completion is unparalleled.

I recently discovered that there's a rice cooker that works for minimalists too – Joseph Joseph's microwave version. There's no plugging in to the mains required – just pop your washed rice in with the right amount of water, wait 10 minutes and your perfectly cooked rice will emerge. It's been a godsend for prepping rice salads, burritos and other meal prep staples.

With these buys on hand I've got myself into a food prep routine that works and makes the rest of the week easier. Do you have any kitchen essentials you swear by for getting organised?

We're no strangers to an Always Pan lookalike at Ideal Home. In fact, it seems like most major retailers have now designed their spin on this once-viral frying pan. And new to the scene is Lakeland's Only Pan. Aptly named and fairly priced at £59.99, it's a close call with the OG, but at a fraction of the price tag. When first released, however, it didn't come in all the colours we'd hoped. Until now — a recent upgrade sees three extra colours added to its collection.

Previously only available in Sage Green, Slate Grey and Mushroom Grey, this range now comes in a Dusky Clay (a muted pink), a neutral Vanilla Cream and Steel Blue. Thoughtfully designed when it comes to both cooking and aesthetics, this pan has so many good points, as we rated it 4.5 stars out of 5 in our Lakeland Only Pan review.

How does this pan differ from the Always Pan, other than in price? Well, there is a rather large difference in price, £125 vs £59.99, but a little research tells you why this is.

The Lakeland pan isn't dishwasher safe — the Always Pan is. They are both the same size in diameter which is 26cm, and both come with a steamer basket and a built-in spoon rest (as well as a compatible spoon!).

Another competitor on the market, which I've personally tested, is the M&S All-in-One-Pan. This retails at a seriously affordable price tag of £30.

Alternatives

The M&S affordable alternative is actually slightly larger than the other two, at 28cm in diameter. It does only come in 2 colourways, however, and these are charcoal and natural. Impressively enough, it's dishwasher-safe like the OG version, unlike the Lakeland dupe.

It's also induction compatible, and it comes with a steamer basket. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a spoon rest or a utensil, which for £30, you can't really expect. It boasts a very similar design to the other two pans, with one longer handle, another shorter one and one on the lid.

This pan is sought-after for a good reason, and the M&S alternative at £30 might just be a better option for those on a tighter budget. If you do want something colourful, then the £59.99 Lakelakd lookalike is your best bet.

It turns out that Nigella Lawson's enthusiasm for cooking never takes a backseat – even during her summer holidays. Set to star as a new judge in the upcoming series of The Great British Bake Off this autumn, the chef and cookbook author has been detailing the cooking essentials she can't bear to part from, especially when making do in an unfamiliar holiday kitchen.

From her eventual conversion to using one of the best air fryers to the rice cooker she recommends as the ultimate foodie gift, Nigella has long been a source of inspiration for our kitchen buying decisions here at Ideal Home.

Now, writing in the Financial Times this weekend, comes Nigella's admission that she takes not one, but two Microplane graterson her travels with her, alongside a host of other cooking gadgets. Here's why she's so attached to this specialist cooking must-have (and why the Ideal Home team love it too!).

Nigella's holiday essential

It seems that Nigella's trusty pair of Microplanes (which, for the uninitiated, is a brand seen as the gold standard for grating in kitchens) are never far from her side, even when she's meant to be taking a relaxing break.

She admits that while she 'really should only take one Microplane grater' on her travels, she's fallen into the habit of taking multiple. Nigella says she uses 'two, both fine, one of which I use for garlic and ginger; the other one for zesting lemons'.

Though I can't claim to have quite Nigella's level of all-round food wisdom, I'm a total Microplane obessesive too – I recently cited as within my top 3 kitchen essentials that I'd never part with, even after a ruthless declutter.

My preferred design right now is this Grate and Store design (£39.95 via Selfridges) as I like using the container element to store leftover shavings. I use it for garlic, ginger, cheese and for zesting lemons when I need to. It's never out of use in my house.

But Nigella's insistence on a finer lemon zest, which means she probably uses the brand's dedicated professional tool (£32 at Amazon), has me thinking that I might need to upgrade to a finer companion version too.

The difference between my grater and the brand's tailor-made zester is that is has more packed in 'teeth' on its textured side for taking the outermost layer off a lemon, essential for not hitting the bitter white pith underneath. This more delicate tool is better for achieving a restaurant result when zesting – which explains why Nigella simply can't choose between the two tools when she's packing her bags to go away.

I'm not the only member of the Ideal Home team to have joined the cult-following that Microplane tends to amass. Both our Digital Editor Rebecca Knight and Print Editor Ginevra Benedetti swear that a Microplane is worth it. Ginevra picked hers up over 9 years ago while on Holiday in Washington at Dean & DeLuca, and Rebecca has the handheld version and the Microplane mixing bowl grater (£26 at Amazon).

The other essentials that Nigella insists on accompanying her on her travels? She lists a 'small Oxo handheld mandoline' (like this one from Amazon for £16.50) as her next must-have, sensibly paired with a pair of cut-resistant gloves.

The final must-have? A garlic peeling tube (which you can pick up on Amazon for just £6, by Joseph Joseph) which allows you to peel a bulb without getting any garlicky residue on your fingers.

While plenty of people prefer the laid-back style of an all-inclusive, Nigella's taking quite the treasure trove of cooking gadgets with her instead, which is just what you'd imagine for such a obsessed writer. I for one can't wait for the return of Bake Off to our screens for even more inspiration from the nation's favourite TV chef!

Around 10 months ago I reviewed the Lakeland Only Pan and was impressed by its performance and price tag. It even made its way onto our list of best non-stick frying pans, so when Lakeland launched the Pro version, I was all ears.

At £85, it’s only £25 more than the original Only Pan, but its stainless steel finish and hybrid PFAS free non-stick interior (think Hexclad) combine to make this a far more enticing product for serious foodies.

It doesn’t have the pastel coloured appeal of its cheaper sibling, but offers a more professional appearance. What’s more, it can also go in the oven and grill. So I got my hands on a sample and put it through its paces to see how it compares and whether it's worth the extra cash.

In a nutshell

The Lakeland 10-in-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro is a sturdy stainless steel pan with an aluminium core for fast, even heating. It comes with a stainless steel lid, steamer basket, and a silicone spatula. Its ceramic hybrid interior offers non-stick cooking without PFAS chemicals, and the scratch resistant design allows you to use metal utensils.

Suitable for all hob types as well as the oven and grill, the deep sides make it a multi-purpose pan that can be used for anything from steaming vegetables, to slow cooking a chilli and plenty in between. The price is very reasonable, but die-hard dishwasher fans take note, for longevity it really should be hand washed.

I found the non-stick coating to be very effective and there wasn’t anything I used it for, that didn’t cook perfectly. If safety is a big concern in your household, if children cook with you for example, be aware that the helper handle and the lid handle get hot. On the whole though, I think it’s a great all-rounder that’ll work hard in your kitchen.

Who reviewed this pan?

Unboxing and first impressions

There weren’t any surprises when I removed this pan from its packaging, which is mostly cardboard, with the addition of a few plastic bags. My first impression was that the quality appears to be great. It combines all the hardwearing, long lasting qualities of stainless steel, with what looks to be a hardwearing non-stick interior.

At about 1.35kg, the pan itself is weighty, so having the second helper handle opposite the main handle, will certainly come in handy when it’s full. The stainless steel lid appears to fit well, and the steamer basket simply widens the scope of what can be cooked in the pan.

Personally, I’d have loved the spatula to be metal, as I’m trying to move away from plastic and silicone utensils, but that’s a minor issue. It’ll definitely come in handy.

You don’t get an instruction manual with it. Instead, most of the info about use and care is printed on the back of the box. I knew the pan was recommended to be washed by hand, but had hoped the spatula, lid, and steamer basket would be listed as dishwasher safe, no such luck though.

Cooking in the Lakeland 10-in-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro

Pan fry

Call me crazy, but the first thing I made in this pan was a three egg cheese omelette for my lunch. It’s a bit risky in a pan you haven’t used before, but thankfully worked out well. The omelette cooked evenly and the only issue I had was that the deep sides of the pan made it difficult to fold and roll the cooked omelette. Nevertheless, I managed it and ended up with a very tasty lunch.

Continuing on the egg theme, the following day I used it for a couple of fried eggs. I heated a splash of oil over a medium heat and then cracked in two eggs. It was immediately obvious that the non-stick was doing its job, and the spatula slid under them easily.

The two eggs cooked evenly and quite quickly, it was an effortless experience with no sticking to worry about. The only slight frustration, again, was that due to it having higher sides than a normal frying pan, I found it a bit awkward to get the spatula in at the right angle to pick up the eggs. Though not a big enough issue to deter me from frying eggs in it again.

When frying sliced halloumi, I kept the pan on a medium/ high heat to ensure it browned and crisped nicely. The result was great, but I did notice that the parts of the halloumi closest to the centre of the pan didn’t brown quite so well as at the edges.

I think the uneven browning happened because the pan is ever so slightly convex, meaning there's a bit of a dome in the centre so the oil pools around the outside. You don’t notice it much, but on this occasion it made a difference to the browning.

Other things I successfully fried included a butterflied chicken breast, a salmon fillet, and I even used it to dry fry a home made flatbread. No matter what task I threw at it, it was up to the job.

Simmer and saute

For a tasty weeknight Indonesian prawn curry, I sauteed onions before adding spices and a curry paste. The addition of coconut milk created a sauce, and then I added my vegetables. After simmering for a while, I popped in my raw prawns.

During all the sauteing and simmering, I noticed the pan was responsive to changes in the hob temperature, so it was easy to control the heat in the pan without anything burning or becoming overcooked.

Similarly, when I cooked a big batch of bean chilli, I sauteed the vegetables and spices without any sticking or burning. Then I used the steamer basket as a colander to drain and rinse my tinned beans.

I simmered the chilli on the hob for 30 minutes with the lid off, to reduce it down slightly. Then I put it in the oven for an hour at 150C with the lid on. This thickened it further and helped develop a richer flavour.

The pan fits easily in my oven, but it has to sit diagonally on the shelf. The finished chilli was super tasty and the pan came out of the oven with no warping. I love that I can pop it in the oven, this is the kind of versatility I want from my cookware.

Stir fry

It was just big enough to make a prawn and vegetable stir fry for two hungry adults. It got nice and hot and cooked the stir fry vegetables perfectly. Everything cooked evenly, with just the right hint of char. I was using raw prawns, which I added near the end, and they too cooked to perfection.

Boil

A pan this shape and size wouldn’t be my usual choice to boil up a big batch of rice, but I gave it a go nevertheless. First I emptied a kettle full of boiling water into the pan. I was doing some batch cooking for the freezer, so I added 450g brown basmati and simmered with the lid on for 24 minutes.

It didn’t ever boil over, but water did slowly continuously dribble down the outside of the pan during cooking, leaving it with a bit of a scummy coating to be washed off. The rice itself cooked beautifully though.

There wasn’t much water left to drain away at the end, but even so, I emptied the rice out into the steamer basket, which worked as a great colander to allow excess water to escape.

Steam

Broccoli is my favourite steamed vegetable, so I chopped a large head of broccoli into similar sized florets. For the amount of water, I winged it and threw in a mug full of boiling water from the kettle.

I then popped in the stainless steel steamer basket filled with the broccoli and simmered it with the lid on, on a medium heat. It took eight minutes for the broccoli to soften to my preferred, slightly al dente texture.

It’s worth noting that the lid handle gets hot, so you need an oven glove to lift it off. I then had to use a fork to lift the handles of the steamer basket so that I could grab them with an oven mit. But all in all I was pleased with the result.

What's it like to clean?

It is recommended that you wash this pan by hand, and to be honest I was completely unbothered by this. During testing, I had no issues with sticking, so cleaning it in the sink was quick and easy.

The stainless steel exterior does need a bit of a buff to keep it looking shiny, and like all stainless steel, it’ll probably need a deeper clean from time to time, but the non-stick on the inside stayed pristine.

The only issue was the band of stainless steel just above the non-stick. This part did very quickly become stained with brown fatty deposits, so it’ll need a regular scrub with something like bicarbonate of soda to keep this area clean.

How does it compare to similar pans?

In comparison to the Lakeland 8-in-1 Only Pan, it’s without a doubt a big step up in quality. For an extra £25, if you can stretch the budget, the Only Pan Pro is worth the investment. Okay, so it doesn’t look quite as pretty as the pastel coloured Only Pan, but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in quality. Plus it can go in the oven and grill, so it’s even more versatile.

And in comparison to the very premium Our Place Always Pan Pro I think you’ll be pushed to justify paying almost double for a similar style pan. I would argue that for most home cooks, the Lakeland Only Pan Pro will offer exactly the right amount of functionality and durability at the most cost effective price.

Should you buy the Lakeland 10-in-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro?

As I said above, if you can afford it, my advice is absolutely go for this over the original Lakeland Only Pan. It’s more durable, has a longer guarantee, and gives you the option to use it in the oven and grill too. And in my book, a non-stick pan that allows you to use metal utensils is an absolute winner.

There aren’t many downsides, yes you have to hand wash it, but most decent quality pans recommend hand washing these days. The main handle stays cool most of the time, but the lid handle and helper handle can get hot, which is something to consider. The main takeaway though, is that in terms of performance it’s absolutely up to the job.

With August here, thousands of students (and parents) will be planning for a fresh year of university or embarking on life in shared halls for the first time. Dunelm has made that process a little easier with the introduction of its new £29 Kitchen Starter Pack, designed to take the stress of out of the big move.

Kitted out with everything a student needs to make a start with cooking and meal prepping solo, this handy kit has all the basics covered including a saucepan and frying pan, as well as essentials tailor made for oven-pizzas, stir-fries and soups. All good student staples!

Here's a closer look at everything you can pick up for your shared kitchen in one neat box with this starter pack.

Dunelm has a surprising wealth of cookware treasures, including their cast iron casseroles which earned a glowing review from our in-house Home Economist. But rather than a heavy roaster, this set prioritises lightweight cookware essentials that pack neatly into one box. Seeing as most student halls can be very tight on space, this all-in-one approach is not only great for money saving but for keeping things tidy too.

Starting with pots and pans, this set consists of an 18cm saucepan alongside a 25cm frying pan. This should cover most needs capacity-wise when cooking for one. Alongside that there's a 32cm baking sheet and a separate 33cm pizza tray – ideal for a fast dinner with that emergency pizza that students love to keep in the freezer.

There's a wide range of handy accessories too. My favourite might be the spaghetti spoon, which has a built-in measuring element so that you don't end up with triple the amount of pasta you need. I could've definitely done with one during my first foray into cooking in my first year.

You'll also find a slotted turner, solid spoon utensil, kitchen scissors, a hand grater, bottle opener and tongs within the box. The chopping board is another absolute essential that's thrown in.

Prep boxes for university have become ever more popular in recent years and can help cut costs if you need to buy everything from scratch. IKEA's Student Box is a hit every year, though I can't see signs of it being available to buy just yet. The Swedish brand is a failsafe for good student cookware all year-round – our five-star review of the IKEA HEMKMOST 7-piece cookware set proves that. It's a great pick for a student who is very culinary-minded.

If you like the idea of ticking uni essentials off your list in one fell swoop, there are plenty of other areas that Dunelm has covered with various all-in-one sets.

If you want to get ahead of your to-do list ahead of September, these clever kits seem the perfect place to start. I wish I'd been as organised for my first term fending for myself!

IKEA has a shiny new cookware set that takes inspiration from high-end lookalikes with much heftier price tags and taps into one of 2026's biggest colour trends.

The GULDÖRING 7-piece cookware set, available now for £59 via IKEA, is available in a burgundy shade that our Decor Editor predicted would be this year's most stylish colour. If you're on the hunt for one of the best saucepan sets on a budget, or looking for the perfect non-stick frying pan, this set is well worth a look.

And as well as being available for a bargain price, it's lightweight and oven-safe. Here's a closer look at the set I'm sure is about to become an IKEA staple.

IKEA cookware has long been a mainstay of uni kitchens and first-time homes, but our five-star review of the brand's bestselling set (HEMKOMST) proved its more than a starter brand for pans. Its alternative to the bestselling Always Pan by Our Place, which I've also tried, is another hugely popular pick.

Now this new iteration, GULDÖRING, is bringing colour into the mix too. IKEA has experimented with colour and cookware before, but usually with products available for a limited run.

Burgundy was hailed by our Kitchen Editor, Holly Cockburn, as 'the colour replacing pink' in kitchens in 2026. It's a warm, cosy colour that clicks if you want to create a warm, inviting space.

'Burgundy has been a huge kitchen colour trend in 2026, and although it doesn't appear to be going anywhere, opting for burgundy cabinetry can feel risky,' says Holly.

'This cookware set from IKEA is a great way to try the trend without breaking the bank - I would keep them on show on either a stove top or via hanging pot storage to let the colour do the talking.'

For under £60 this aluminium set should cater to most of your everyday cooking needs. It features a frying pan (with a 28cm diameter), 2 saucepans (with a capacity of 2 litres and 1 litre) and a large 5 litre pot for your batch cooking sessions.

This set is compatible with induction hobs as well as all other hob types and is oven-safe thanks to its metal material. Each pan also has a hole in the handle if you favour a vertical pot storing system.

And weighing in at 4.2kg for all of the pans, this is certainly a lightweight option if you often struggle to manoeuvre pans on and off the hob.

If you're feeling less adventurous in your colour choice you can also pick up the GULDÖRING set in the standard black shade for the same price via IKEA and enjoy all of the same features.

Compared to the price of our best-rated pan set (Le Creuset's stainless steel set) this IKEA set is a steal, but it does feature a non-stick coating which some shoppers are looking to avoid with their next cookware purchase. The debate around non-stick coatings on pans is still very much alive and well but the bottom line is most budget pans will feature some kind of coating. It's definitely something worth thinking about as you invest in your next set.

This GULDÖRING set is just one of many standout buys that have been flooding IKEA's new-in kitchenware section recently. I've added this incredibly good value KLIPPKAKTUS set to my basket already to organise my fridge but I've got my eye on this £4 dish drainer too.

I'm known as a ruthless declutterer in my family. As someone lucky enough to test kitchen appliances and cookware for a living, I also know the importance of a streamlined cooking space. If you have cupboards full of gadgets simply taking up space, even making a quick weeknight dinner becomes a chore.

That's why I've just undertaken a huge clean out of my kitchen space before I move house. As while there are some things that have earned a space on my worktop for the long term, including my air fryer and bean to cup coffee machine, there are plenty of smaller buys fighting for place.

I can't stand waste, so I keep my local charity shops well stocked with the kitchen gadgets that I've tested that I no longer have space for. Here's the ones that didn't make the cut this time and the things I'm using instead that have moved into the 'permanent fixtures' category.

Things I've decluttered

1. Fancy ice moulds

I love making a fancy cocktail at home on a special occasion so when I was initially gifted a pair of spherical ice cube moulds (similar to these from Amazon for £5.99) at a press event, I was chuffed. They work a treat, creating a huge block of ice that looks great when serving a negroni or similar – giving a cocktail bar experience at home.

But given that you have to store these in your freezer or remember before you want to use them that they need to go back in there, they became more of a nuisance than anything else.

I keep my freezer stocked with meal prep and essentials, so everything in there needs to be of high value (until I can get afford the American-style appliance of my dreams!). As fun as these moulds were, I just didn't use them enough to warrant a space for them, especially once my Ninja Slushi took over for frozen cocktails. That's something I'll definitely be holding onto during my move!

2. An avocado keeper

Avocados are always on rotation in my household but if you're having lunch for one, you need a good method for storing the other half without it going brown. My love for avos is so prolific that I was bought this dedicated keeper (£8.95 from Amazon) for Christmas.

The USP is the stretchy silicone element that covers over the avocado while you stash it in the fridge. But from day one, I was less than impressed with it. The two sides are fiddly to press together when the avocado is inside and because it creates a domed shape, it's not easy to stack in the fridge.

The biggest problem I found with it was that it didn't extend the life of the avocado either. After a short while the fruit would go brown, even if I'd only put it into the fridge at lunch and wanted to bring it back out for dinner.

I find using my stainless steel food containers (more on those later) with a vacuum seal much more useful than this keeper. Using that method I find an avocado can last for days.

3. A garlic grating plate

My love for kitchen gadgets never ceases, even when I'm on holiday. On a trip abroad a few years ago I picked up a garlic grating plate almost identical to this one from Amazon (for £10) from a little market stall. I was sold by the fact that this is a piece of pottery in style of one that people on the Mediterranean would actually use in their home to make garlic paste. That can then be used to make dips like aoli with the right texture.

I thought I would use it day to day when cooking and adding garlic to dishes. But in reality, it's more often minced garlic over paste that I'm after. And while the dish is effective for that consistency, it's hard to use to make the most out of every bulb. Your fingers get very close to the sharp grooves, so you end up with quite a bit of garlic going unused.

For my everyday cooking I ended up reaching for my trusty Microplane much more than this dish, despite how gorgeous it is. In my kitchen, it's just not a practical pick!

Things I've kept

1. Oil spray bottle

One of my biggest cooking hacks is decanting my cooking oil into a spray bottle. It makes prepping food for the air fryer or pan much easier and means you don't end up over-pouring from heavy bottles.

I was previously using a standard glass bottle with a sprayer nozzle until I discovered Dunelm's clever 2-in-1 version instead. It's been a staple in my kitchen ever since.

It allows you to spray and pour by switching the dial on the front and produces a very fine mist that's perfect for prepping a pan. It's my £5 cooking saviour!

2. Stainless steel food containers

Undertaking a food container audit has to the most satisfying thing I've done while decluttering. I've banished those flimsy takeaway containers stained with tomato residue and swapped them in for Black + Blum's incredible stainless steel containers, which I tested a few months ago.

Lighter and easier to clean than glass as well as being microwave-safe, these clever containers are never out of use in my house. They double as excellent food prep bowls too. I'm saving up to grab myself some more for my new place.

3. Microplane's box grater

I've always been a sucker for a grater/container combo (like this one from John Lewis, £5) but Microplane's version (£23.99 at Wayfair) takes the concept to a whole new level of usefulness.

I reach for it every single day to grate garlic but it's also perfect for parmesan, chocolate shavings for baking and ginger. The ability to store your leftover gratings in the pot saves on washing up and thanks to the tight seal, your Parmesan shavings will stay fresher for longer.

My kitchen always feel more functional after a good declutter. Have you got a cupboard or drawer that's on your clear out to-do list?

Lakeland has released a brand new all-in-one pan, the Tri-Pan Only Pan Pro (£84.99), which is a dead ringer for my favourite ever pan – the Titanium Always Pan Pro (£170) by Our Place.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor I've had the happy task of trialling dozens of pans over the years but none has topped Our Place's Titanium offering after a five-star review. Lakeland's version, which is a 'hybrid stainless steel pan with ceramic non-stick coating', claims to have the same versatility but with a price-tag that's exactly half of the chef-approved Always Pan.

Here's a closer look at the two to see how they measure up.

Last year Lakeland's take on the Our Place Always Pan, the 8-in-1 Only Pan, prompted a sell out on the brand's website. Naturally, we had to get our hands on it to see how it measured up to its more expensive lookalike.

Our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue awarded it 4.5 stars out of 5 after testing it, saying that it was a 'great choice for fuss-free cooking'. Now Lakeland has taken that bestselling formula and worked its magic on a stainless steel version, a material that's favoured by professional chefs.

It's clear that Lakeland has taken inspiration from the marketing of the Our Place Always Pan Pro, which is touted as 'virtually indestructible'. After having this pricey pan in my kitchen now for over a year, I agree with those bold claims. it still looks as good as the day it arrived after more than a few cooking mishaps and a turn through the dishwasher every day.

That's the kind of durability that Lakeland is seeking to emulate with their new do-it-all pan which is 'built with three layers of stainless steel and aluminium to offer superior strength', according to the brand. 'Outstanding scratch resistance' is another feature worth shouting about – I've learned the ability to use metal utensils with peace of mind with the Always Pan Pro is a real game changer.

The deep shape of the Lakeland pan is a versatile design feature which is supposed to unlock those aforementioned 'ten ways to cook'. With it, Lakeland says you can bake, grill, roast, pan-fry, boil, sauté, steam, stir-fry, simmer and braise. As its oven-safe up to 200°C, it should be great for finishing dishes off in high heat.

Lakeland's pan also comes with two accessories to make it more multi-faceted: a stainless steel steamer basket and a silicone turner. The included lid is also very similar to Our Place's, with a domed lid that helps to trap in moisture for steaming.

Our review of this multi-functional pan from Lakeland is currently underway so that we can let you know how it performs but the Our Place Pro has certainly set a very high benchmark. Can you see a place for this type of multi-functional pan in your home?

The perfect tableware set is as functional as it is pretty. And it's these two categories in which Our Place's simply delectable range of plates, bowls and dinnerware essentials excel. And right now, they're the subject of a mega-sale from the retailer with picks available from £26.99 (via Our Place).

These sets not only nest together in the most pleasing and stackable way, but they're simply the best looking on the market, in my opinion. As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor I often have a host of weird and wonderful items on test in my home but the most complimented of all is my dinnerware set from Our Place.

Here's why it's such a crowdpleaser at a dinner party and why I'm praying this isn't the end of the brand's excellent tableware offering.

Both generations of Our Place's tableware are currently on sale and as I've tried both, I can confidently say the quality is equal across the ranges.

The first pieces I owned have now mostly been discontinued, apart from the range's Side Bowls in Spice (which are now £30, down from £40). I've had them in my kitchen since 2022, which shows you just how long they last. All 12 of them have survived without a single chip.

The next tableware set I tried from Our Place was the brand's release of the colourway Sage in 2024.

This is where the brand starting to take stacking to the next level, which you can see in all of the sets that are currently on sale. All of the dinner plates in this collection can neatly stack on top of the dinner bowls, as well as on top of the brand's serveware salad bowls.

This was also where Our Place expanded into tableware of all sizes. Its mini range provides the perfect receptacles for sauce dipping, little dessert servings or for olives or various tapas at home.

If you're in the market to completely switch out your tableware, you can't do better than Our Place's offering. It's safe to say I'm absolutely obsessed with it (and have spent my own money investing in it). Can you see the appeal of these stackable sets?

Developing new habits, even when it comes to something like saving money by eating more leftovers, is all about incremental changes. That's a lesson I've learned in the last few weeks with my adoption of Lakeland's inexpensive Freeze Pods (which will set you back £8 via Lakeland).

My problem with freezing leftovers has historically been with portion sizes. If I have a batchload of chilli, for example, I rarely have enough food containers to break it down into lunch and dinner sized portions and sometimes have to put the whole amount into one container. That makes it a real struggle to properly siphon off a share for a single person.

Enter: these nifty Freeze Pods, which not only provide the perfect lunch or dinner sized portion (depending if you use the 2 or 3 sectioned version) but are also ready to be used in your oven or even the best air fryer for reheating. Here are three reasons I'm telling everyone I know to buy a set.

1. They're easy to use

The thing that makes the use of these Freeze Pods so seamless is the silicone material. As with using a silicone ice cube tray over a plastic one, it so much easier to pop the contents of a singular pod out without disturbing the other two than it would be with a harder material.

The 3-segmented version contains space for 250 gram portions, which I've found ideal for lunches. I've been pairing leftover pasta with a side salad for a summertime lunch.

I've found the Freeze Pod with two sections is better suited to dinners, with the square size owing itself to full meals like a lasagne. Though the base is made of silicone, the pod has a hard plastic top, which means you can stack the two together neatly within your freezer.

2. They're cooking safe

These pods are microwave, oven and air fryer safe – music to my ears! While I love my microwaveable stainless steel food containers for food prep and storing leftovers in the fridge they can only be used in the microwave for 2 minutes at a time. So if you want to defrost something heavier, the Freeze Pod is a much better choice.

If you're serving lunch for two or three people, you could put the entire Freeze Pod into the microwave too. That means you only need to portion food out once in the entire cooking process and any time you can save on the washing up is a big win for me.

I'm not the only one who loves the versatility of these handy pods. On Lakeland's website you can find that both of these products currently have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating with customers praising the quality and value of each.

One reviewer nicely summed up why they work for them, saying 'Great sizing and even better for popping out blocks to wrap and stack in the freezer. The larger ones are perfect for individual lasagnes, cottage pies etc. The smaller ones are perfect for portions of rice, mash, beans and any other side you want to freeze. I absolutely love them.'

3. They're affordable

I've written before about my enthusiasm for Lego lunches, which rely on these modular-style freeze pods in order to create leftovers that are varied rather than boring.

Up until Lakeland released these Freeze Pods, the other alternatives on the market for this kind of food container were very pricey indeed. In the US the brand Souper Cubes (which you can buy in the UK via Amazon) is very popular, with its huge range of materials, sizes and colours and John Lewis has a range made in collaboration with chef Deliciously Ella too.

In my mind Lakeland's pods are your best bet if you prioritise affordability and quality, but I've listed some alternative shapes below in case they suit you better.

It might seem counterintuitive at first to splash out money on containers to help you meal prep, especially if your aim is to limit your spending on lunches and dinners, but I've found it's the right products that can make all the difference. Could you see the benefit of Freeze Pods for your kitchen?

Leaving a pan to soak is not something I enjoy. Not only does it extend washing up time but it makes my whole sink area unsightly and kind of gross, which is something I'm always trying to avoid.

So when I saw the chatter online about Fairy's Skip the Soak spray (£3.86 at Amazon) I was intrigued but also healthily skeptical. I've tried a whole host of cookware cleaning products that never quite cut the mustard, with my bank account suffering the consequence.

After giving this spray a whirl I have to say I'm a convert. Not only is it fabulous for saving you the mess of leaving baking trays and pans to soak, it also works on those awfully-hard-to-clean air fryer trays and on surfaces too, for a little added bonus. You can even use it before you pop things into the diswasher if you feel like they need a helping hand. Here's how I've used it to keep my sink area ship-shape all the time.

The way this spray works is simple: if you think that a pan or tray is about to cause you trouble when washing up or in the dishwasher, then scrape any excess food into the bin and spray this directly onto the surface.

It's important you don't rinse whatever you need to clean first as this spray won't work so well with water added into the mix. This is a mistake I made at first, but you really want this spray as concentrated as possible.

A few days after I picked this spray up I made the mistake of getting distracted while putting my treasured Le Creuset Round Cast Iron Casserole on the hob to pre-heat. A few minutes later and my pan was looking seriously worse for wear.

Luckily these burn marks are just cosmetic and the enamel surface wasn't affected, but I was still anxious to get them off once I'd finished cooking. I made my pasta as carefully as I could around the marks and left the pan to totally cool. This step, which requires a little patience, is essential with any pan to protect the surface and keep it working in your kitchen as effectively as possible.

Once cool, I liberally applied the spray to the areas I knew would cause me the most aggravation when scrubbing. Remember, you don't want to rinse before you apply – just get rid of any food you can scrape away.

I got on with my other cleaning tasks and returned to the burnt-on pan a few minutes later. In my impatience (before I had time to snap a picture!) I tried to scrape away the worst affected part with my sponge and was amazed to find it came right away with no effort at all.

So far, so impressed. I then proceeded to wash the pan as normal, armed with my trusty Scrub Mommy (£7.49 at Amazon)and found that those dark burnt on sections came off with very minimal effort.

There was a very small speck that still wouldn't budge even with a scrub, so I had to call in reinforcements which in my house is always (always!) my Magic Sponge (£3.99 for 10 via Amazon).

Once I knew that this spray actually worked, I set about tackling a task that I always seem to be just getting around to: deep cleaning my air fryer. I'm a strong believer in scrubbing my air fryer trays every time I use it, but the grime builds up so easily even if you miss one cleaning session.

It's for the purposes of research that I expose myself with evidence of the gross air fryer basket below.

While I was waiting for the spray to work its magic, I did notice the quite strong smell coming from the sink with the trays in it. So if you're sensitive to strong cleaning smells, it might be best to vacate the kitchen for a few minutes before rinsing the spray off.

After rinsing the first round of spray off, my air fryer tray was looking in much better shape. The worst areas, including the middle section and the parts around the rubber inserts, did still need some TLC with the Scrub Mommy but the bulk of the dried-on grime was banished. Next time around I'm going to leave the spray on for even longer to see if it can affect those worst-affected parts too.

If it's not already obvious, this reasonably priced spray is my new kitchen saviour and I'm plotting exactly what I can use it on next. After reading Amazon's reviews of it (where it has a 4.6/5 star rating from over 300 reviews to date), I've been inspired to try it out on my oven too. Can you see yourself getting use out of this spray for your cookware or air fryer?

It's said that a workman is only as good as his tools but sometimes there's no getting away from the sub-par equipment you have at hand. That's certainly the case in my new flat, where I've been cursed with an electric hob that seems to only have two modes: far too hot or not providing heat at all.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor tasked with the lucky job of testing cookware at home, this has proved a real challenge. The only pan that's saved the day? My HexClad frying pan, which is on sale right now at Amazon down from £129 to £109.65.

This pan has long been in our guide to the best frying pans, ever since our expert Home Economist and reviewer Helen McCue called cooking in it 'a joy' in her 5-star review. And now I've tried it for myself, I can see exactly why. Here's why this is a deal worth snapping up.

With a hob that's playing up, I've been in desperate need of a pan that distributes heat evenly and doesn't allow foods to stick – even when subjected to high heat.

As my cooktop essentially has to be on the highest setting to provide any heat, I am actually going against the recommended usage from HexClad. Their official advice is to only ever use medium-low to medium heat and to let the aluminium core of the pan do the heavy lifting.

Even in these trying circumstances I've found this pan to be so efficient at heating and resistant to allowing foods to stick. And even in situations where the heat is a little too high, there's no lasting damage to the honeycomb-embossed surface – everything comes right off during handwashing.

My understanding is that HexClad's tri-ply layers are the thing saving my bacon when it comes to my rubbish electric hob. Due to the construction of this pan, which consists of careful layering of stainless steel, aluminium and a non-stick (but PFA-free) coating, even though it's being blasted with too much heat it's capable of distributing it across the surface rather than creating hot spots.

Of course, having a pan with such a premium construction comes at a hefty price. Even with the Amazon discount applied, paying over £100 for a pan is a huge investment. But as the old adage goes: buy nice or buy twice. Between this pan and my ultimate favourite ever piece of cookware, Our Place's Titanium Pan, I've found that sometimes you have to pay a little more for a product that you'll use for years and years.

If you're a super savvy shopper, it might be worth holding out for Amazon's big shopping event of the year, Amazon Prime Day, to make a saving on cookware. I've listed my favourite cookware picks below which I'm hoping will be subject to some big discounts on the 23rd to the 26th of June.

If you're in the market to upgrade your cookware then HexClad is a brilliant brand to look into. And you can take it from me that it even works on a less than impressive hob, too!

It's always a good time to invest in cookware that works hard for your kitchen, but if you're on a budget then it's an even better time right now with the re-launch of Aldi's £14.99 Honeycomb Hex pans.

Available in stores now while stocks last, this range is back to make a bid for the best non-stick frying pan on a budget. I covered the debut of the Aldi tri-ply pans last year, which featured a frying pan and a saucepan, and looked remarkably similar to Gordon Ramsay's favourite HexClad's pans, most notably the exceptionally popular Hybrid Pan (£169 at HexClad).

I've been testing the HexClad bestseller recently, and I've been so impressed by it, so much so that it won the Ideal Home Kitchen Award for the Best Frying Pan. So, with the return of Aldi's affordable version, I thought I'd take a closer look at how the premium and budget pans stack up.

There are some similarities in the specifications between these two pans. Both are oven-safe, with HexClad's pan able to withstand heat up to 480ºC compared to Aldi's version, which can withstand heat up to 220ºC.

Both are also suitable for all hob types, including induction, and dishwasher-safe, which will be welcome news to anyone who loves a quick clean-up process after dinner.

While the detail on Aldi's 'honeycomb' patterned pans is a little sparse, there's plenty to learn about HexClad's TerraBond ceramic non-stick coating. It's a ceramic-based material which keeps food from sticking whilst also avoiding the use of PFOAs and uses those trademark hexagonal shapes in order to create a valley of ridges that food doesn't stick to when cooking.

The HexClad also features stay-cool handles and has great heat distribution across the bottom of the pan – something that I've definitely found in my recent day-to-day tests.

The other big bonus of both of these pans is the fact that they're safe to use with metal utensils without fear of the coating peeling off. If you can be a little haphazard with remembering to use wooden or silicone utensils, then this will save you worrying when cooking.

While the pan in Aldi's Honeycomb range unfortunately doesn't come with a lid, the saucepan does, and the two together would make a great pair for anyone getting into cooking. Like the pan, the saucepan is oven safe up to 220°C.

While I haven't been able to get my hands on Aldi's Honeycomb collection just yet, at £14.99, I'm sure it's going to be a hit with anyone who likes to peruse the middle aisle for cookware finds.

However, I can vouch for the exceptional quality of HexClad's products and their durability, despite the much higher pricetag. If you are a keen cook who wants a pan that is going to last, I've saved up for the Hexclad version. However, if you're just dipping your toe in, then you can't go wrong with taking a look at Aldi's alternative.

Alternatives

There's a new material on the block that the most organised food preppers are raving about: stainless steel. And IKEA's new 365+ food container collection, with prices from just £5, is absolutely worth your attention if you want to make the switch and get your fridge (and freezer!) looking a little more shipshape.

Last month I wrote about how changing from glass food storage to stainless steel had totally transformed my weekly food prep routine. The main benefits? The lightweight feel (perfect for work lunchboxes), the easy-to-clean surface and the fact that the material is very resistant to smells and oils – because after all, what's worse than a musty food container?

Now IKEA is taking the stainless steel trend by storm with its ultra affordable collection. Here's a closer look at the 365+ range and how it compares to the fabulous (though more expensive) Black + Blum versions I recently tried, which also have the added benefit of being microwave safe.

IKEA's 365+ collection already has thousands of five-star reviews from those who have made the switch to stainless steel, with customers noting that they love using them in their air fryer and being able to stack them for storage.

Plus, there's the added benefit of mix and matching across lid materials. For meals or foods that you plan on stacking in your fridge, the corresponding bamboo lid for the size container is a good choice, as it not only looks great but means you can cut down on plastic.

If you want to pop both your containers and lids through the dishwasher, as well as take your lunches to work, IKEA's selection of plastic lids will come in handy. Plus, if your main use for these containers is for freezing, plastic is much better suited to that process than bamboo.

As well as multi-functionality in terms of cooking and storing, I've discovered that stainless steel is such an easy material to clean. While I previously found that glass containers could hold onto bits of food and require soaking, stainless steel is much easier to get back squeaky clean with no scrubbing required.

And while we've all experienced the dreaded tomato-stained effect on plastic containers, stainless steel doesn't hold onto smells or oils in the same way. It's a less porous material and therefore much better for holding your foods.

For me, there is a big kicker with the IKEA range: the containers don't appear to be microwave safe. That means that if you do want to reheat your leftovers, you'll likely need to use your air fryer or oven, or transfer your food into another bowl.

I think that sounds like a lot of faff and for many, it might negate some of the benefits of switching to stainless steel from plastic. Alternatively, the ability to microwave leftovers in stainless steel was one of my favourite things about Black + Blum's range when I tried it. Though much more expensive, the brand's meal prep containers have plenty of features to make the extra spend worth it including microwave compatibility and vacuum-seal lids.

Whether you need a microwave-safe version or not, I can promise you that making the switch to stainless steel is very much worth it if you're a keen meal prepper. Would you consider making the change to make day to day cooking and storing easier?

Lego lunches are the new food prep trend taking over the most organised corners of the internet and the buyers over at Aldi must have heard all about it given their launch of a £3.99 Portion Perfect Meal Kit, in stores from this Sunday (the 24th of May).

If you're about to start climbing into the loft to retrieve your old Lego then hold fire, as while this trend takes inspiration from the iconic mini bricks, it's actually a sturdy perfectly-portioned food container you'll need to take part, as well as one of the best microwaves.

By using modular food prep buys, like Aldi's brand new ones, Lego lunches allow you to combine different frozen leftovers into one meal – giving increased variation and the opportunity to mix and match foods. Here's a closer look at how Lego lunches and modular food containers work.

The beauty of a Lego lunch is variation. With special compartmented freeze pods you can portion up individual batches of different foods – a portion of chilli, say – and then only defrost and heat up a single portion for your lunchbox.

Picking up a few of these modular containers is an even better bet, as it means you can combine a single portion of your main protein with a side of frozen vegetables and then combine them together as you cook them in a microwave.

If you can't make it to your closest Aldi to pick up the £3.99 versions then there are plenty of alternatives that already have a legion of fans that you can turn to.

The brand that you'll find is most ubiqitous when it comes to Lego lunches is Souper Cube, who offer a huge and quite amazing range of freeze containers and accessories.

You can buy the brand's silicone moulds in a huge variation of sizes on Amazon, with shapes fit for everything from stews to cookies. There are even stoneware cubes (from £39.99 on Amazon) you can pick up for heating and serving your leftovers in.

Souper Cubes are very popular in the US, but it didn't take long for our favourite UK stores to come up with their own versions of these very clever food prep buys. Lakeland's Freeze Pods start from just £7.99 and also come in the two-zone and three-zone configuration. They're BPA-free and made of that same handy silicone material to make popping out the portions of food super easy.

If you really want to max out on food prep organisation, then a heated lunchbox means you can warm up those cubed leftovers without the need for a microwave – perfect for anyone who works on the go. Here's a closer look at the full selection of alternative modular buys you can pick up to optimise your lunchtimes.

I'm desperate to try out the Lego lunch trend for myself, so I'll be heading straight to Lakeland to check out their versions. Can you see the appeal in a modular freezing system?

A good set of pans is rarely an investment that you’ll regret. And more and more, we’re scrutinising the materials that pans are made from. For a myriad of reasons there’s a lot of noise around at the moment about switching from non-stick to stainless steel versions of the best saucepan sets.

And while there are plenty of non-stick pans that claim to be non-toxic, mastering the art of cooking in stainless steel seems to be one of the trends of the moment. And trust me, if you’re used to non-stick, this can be a steep learning curve.

I’ve reviewed a lot of great Ninja appliances, including a whole host of the best Ninja air fryers, but this is the first time I’m trying out the brand’s cookware. So I’m intrigued to see if this simple set of pans can live up to the excellent design and functionality that I’ve experienced when I’ve reviewed Ninja kitchen appliances.

In a nutshell

The Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set includes three saucepans with lids, and two frying pans. So as a set, it covers most people's needs. At around £400 it’s an investment. Alternatively, depending on your needs, you can buy the three saucepans as a bundle for £289.99, or the two frying pans bundled together for £179.99.

For me, what makes the price tag justifiable, is that provided you look after it, this stainless steel cookware should last a lifetime. The tri-ply construction consists of an aluminium core, with stainless steel on the interior as well as the exterior.

It’s suitable for all hob types and can withstand oven temperatures of up to 300C. The rub is that ideally it all needs to be handwashed. And while you’re learning how to cook without non-stick coatings, this could mean extra time at the kitchen sink.

The pans all feel well constructed, but with a weighty quality that will be on the heavy side for some people. That said, I found them responsive to heat, fast to cook with, and there were no obvious hot spots. I enjoyed using them, and if you’re looking to take the leap into stainless steel cookware, this is an excellent all-round set.

Who tested this cookware set?

Product specs

• Materials: Stainless steel with aluminium core
• Metal utensil safe? yes
• Dishwasher safe? No, hand washing is recommended
• Saucepan capacity: 1.4 litre, 2.4 litre and 3.3
• Pan diameter: 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepan/ 24cm and 28cm frying pan
• Suitable for all hob types: yes

Unboxing and first impressions

Thankfully there was nothing to worry about in terms of packaging, it was all paper and cardboard, so easily recyclable. Once out of the box, my first impression of the pans is that they appear to be lovely quality.

At first look, they seem super sturdy and well made. Compared to my current set of cheaper stainless steel pans, they're much thicker, but with that comes more weight and they're definitely a tad heavier than my current pans.

The handles are very straight, which gives the pans a very modern appearance, but isn’t necessarily the most ergonomic handle design.

There’s a quick start guide in the box that gives advice on use and care. It includes some helpful hints on how to preheat the frying pans to avoid food sticking. It also gives some recommended heat settings, as well as some tips on how to extend the life of the cookware.

I’m disappointed that the cleaning guide makes no mention of using a dishwasher to clean the pans. It doesn’t explicitly say they can’t be cleaned in a dishwasher, but it also doesn’t say they’re dishwasher friendly. And only hand washing advice is given, so it's implied.

Cooking in the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set

Saucepans

The three saucepans offer a good range of capacity options. The smallest was the one I reached for when I needed to heat a tin of baked beans. Likewise, it’s big enough for whisking up a couple of warming mugs of hot chocolate. And I also used it to make some Mexican refried beans.

Even this smaller saucepan feels heavy though. After emptying a tin of beans into it, I was so surprised by the weight when I lifted it onto the hob, that I popped it onto the scales out of interest. Given that it’s the smallest saucepan and only had a tin of beans in it, I was surprised that it weighed a hefty 1.3kg.

When making hot chocolate, I was impressed with how fast it heated. What’s more, when the milk started to bubble up the pan, threatening to boil over, it responded immediately when I turned the hob off.

The medium sized saucepan was a great choice for making two hearty portions of porridge. The inner rounded corners meant my wooden spoon could easily stir the porridge and there was no clumping or sticking.

When I wanted to boil some broccoli and asparagus, the medium size pan was roomy enough to cook a whole head of broccoli and a bunch of asparagus simultaneously. The lid kept the heat in, but steam could easily escape through the steam hole. The glass of the lid steamed up though, so I couldn’t clearly see what was going on inside.

In my two person household, I must admit, I got more use from the two smaller saucepans, than the biggest one. That said, the larger pan was a great size for making up a batch of broccoli and stilton soup.

I first softened two finely diced onions, then added diced broccoli stalks, before the stock and the rest of the broccoli. For context, I used 1.5 litres of stock, two onions, and two whole heads of broccoli. In total it made enough for 5-6 portions of soup, so it’s a decent size pan.

The soup was cooking for about 30 minutes in total. During this time the handle on the lid became quite hot. So you’ll need to be mindful of that when cooking for longer periods. The handle on the pan itself stayed cool enough to touch. The bit closest to the Ninja logo was warm, which you may need to keep in mind if using both hands to lift something heavy.

I blended the soup directly in the pan with my stick blender, which is something I wouldn’t be able to do if it had a non-stick coating. The pan also worked well for a big batch of mashed potato and I was able to use my stainless steel masher without worrying about scratching any coatings.

Frying pans

Before using a stainless steel frying pan, I’d urge you to learn about the ‘leidenfrost effect’. It’s crucial to know about this before using the pans. It’s a way of testing if a stainless steel pan is hot enough to cook with.

You judge it by adding a small amount of water to the hot pan, and if it clumps up and dances round the pan in a ball, it’s spot on. I’d suggest watching some videos online to see what it should look like.

Halloumi proved to cook really well in this pan. I heated the empty pan on a medium heat for a few minutes until it was hot enough to make water bead, then I added a glug of oil, which I swirled around the pan to ensure the surface was fully covered.

The halloumi browned really nicely and I managed to get the heat level just right so that it didn’t overcook. It did show signs of sticking when I initially tried to turn it, so I just left it a bit longer and then went in quite firmly with a metal spatula, which did the trick. All in all, a great result.

Due to its delicate nature, fish was slightly trickier. I tried sea bass and salmon on separate occasions. I cooked them in the same way as the halloumi, but left skin side down for most of the cooking time.

The sea bass and the salmon fillets cooked evenly and had a great texture overall. But there was some sticking, and I didn’t get the skin as crisp as I would like, so there’s some room for improvement.

I’ve since researched this a bit more and discovered that you have to be diligent about patting the fish dry before frying, as well as removing from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. So fingers crossed it’ll be perfect next time when I add in these steps.

I have a favourite chilli paneer dish that I usually make in my non-stick wok, but decided to try in the large frying pan. When the pan was hot enough to make water bead, I added oil then diced onion and pepper.

Once the onion and pepper had started to soften I added paneer cubes and some sliced chilli and garlic. By this point I’d turned the heat down too low and the paneer wasn’t browning, so I turned up the gas in the hope of browning it before adding the sticky sauce.

This ended up being a bit of a reminder that frying in stainless steel requires more care and attention than my usual casual approach to cooking! I got slightly distracted cleaning up the kitchen and some of the paneer and onion burnt onto the pan. It was rescuable and perfectly edible but the washing up was not fun!

I made pancakes in some stainless steel pans I recently reviewed and had surprising success. So I wasn’t too intimidated by doing it in these pans. I decided to follow the method that worked for me before (which I found after going down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole).

This method involves gently heating the pan for just 30 seconds on a medium heat before adding a teaspoon of oil. You then have to allow the oil to heat for a further 60 seconds. I used a pastry brush to ensure it coated the full base of the pan.

I added my batter and turned the heat to low. However, after a few minutes, it was evident that the thin pancake was sticking. I did manage to coax it off the base of the pan with some firm persuasion from a spatula. And it actually came away in one piece, so I was able to turn it and salvage it.

In hindsight, I realised that when initially heating the pan, my hob was on a medium low rather than a medium heat, which probably led to the sticking. So once I’d removed the stuck residues from the pan, I added more oil and popped it back on a medium heat.

The next pancake worked a treat, cooked evenly with no sticking whatsoever. And the third and fourth were perfect too. This larger frying pan is the perfect size for a thin crepe style pancake. And despite my hiccup with pancake number one, I was very pleased with the results and would happily call it a success.

Having always avoided omelettes, I’ve recently developed a newfound love of a cheese omelette. Admittedly though, having never made one in a stainless steel pan, the prospect of doing so was daunting.

So before diving in, I watched a few Youtube videos on how best to make it in a stainless steel pan. The general consensus seems to be that the pan should be heated over a medium heat until water beads on the surface of the pan.

Then the pan should be removed from the heat and a generous knob of butter as well as a splash of oil added. Once the butter has melted, the eggs get added to the pan and it goes back onto a low heat. You then make the omelette as you normally would.

I followed this method to the letter and the result was perfect. The omelette cooked gently and evenly, and slid around the pan without a hint of sticking. I was super pleased with the result.

Despite being able to nail pancakes and omelette, I seem to struggle with fried eggs in a stainless steel pan. On my first attempt I tried heating the pan on medium until I achieved the leidenfrost effect of water dancing around.

I added a good glug of oil and then my eggs. I did manage to get both eggs out in one piece, but it took some firm persuasion to remove them from the base of the pan. And then there was a layer of stuck crispy egg white left behind.

I changed things up on my second attempt, this time going for a gentler approach mirroring what I did for the pancakes. The result was better, but they still wanted to stick, and I had to be a bit forceful with the spatula.

On both occasions, the eggs came away in one piece. I just feel like I need a bit more practice to get the best result.

Even though the idea of it made me a bit nervous, I successfully managed to dry fry a home made flatbread in the larger pan. It cooked brilliantly and my sticky yogurt based dough didn’t stick to the pan at all.

What are these pans like to clean?

As I’ve already mentioned, I was disappointed that Ninja makes no reference to cleaning in the dishwasher. By only listing hand washing instructions, it's implied that they must be hand washed. But I’d rather know for definite if they can go in the dishwasher or not.

Washing the saucepans by hand wasn’t a bother. For things like porridge and hot chocolate I let them soak for 10 minutes or so, which made the job quick and easy. The frying pans were trickier though.

I had a few instances of foods sticking, which required a fair bit of elbow grease to remove. And after several uses, there were some stubborn fatty deposits around the sides of the larger pan. I followed the advice in the manual and tackled it with bicarb and vinegar, but it still demanded some effort to get it shifted.

The stainless steel can easily pick up water marks on the outside, and the inside can become somewhat marked/ discoloured from use. But in my experience that’s typical of a lot of stainless steel pans.

What are they like to store?

The pans nestle comfortably inside each other, so they can be stored quite neatly, with just the three lids to the side. Plus, the lack of any delicate non-stick coatings, means you don’t need to worry that storing them like this will cause damage or scratches.

How do they compare to similar sets from competitors?

In comparison to this Le Creuset 3 Piece Set I recently reviewed, the Ninja set starts to look like a good value option. Though Le Creuset’s stainless steel pans can go in the dishwasher, which is a big bonus.

Alternatively, if price is your major sticking point, you can still dip your toe into the world of stainless steel with the Ikea HEMKMOST Set which we've reviewed. The three saucepans are stainless steel, but you get the safety net of having a non-stick coating on the frying pan. Plus at under £100 it’s a steal.

Should you buy the Ninja EverClad Stainless Steel 5-Piece Set?

For me, the saucepans are great, but they are a tad weighty which will make them unsuitable for some people. The frying pans will take time to adjust to if you’re used to non-stick pans. That said, if you’re reading this, it’s probably a learning curve you’re willing to embrace. And if I can make pancakes and omelette successfully, then you can too.

Yes, the set is pricey in comparison to some other stainless steel sets on the market. But these pans are well made and it’s reasonable to assume that they should last way beyond the guaranteed life of 10 years, especially if you follow the guidance on cleaning and care. So over time, it’s an investment that could work out to be pretty cost effective.

As someone cooking in a very tiny flat kitchen where every inch of counter and cupboard space matters, I genuinely think Our Place may have just launched my dream cookware collection.

The brand has unveiled its new Tiny Cookware Collection, a downsized take on its bestselling Always Pan and Perfect Pot that feels perfectly timed for smaller homes, solo dinners and the reality of how most of us actually cook day to day. Because, realistically, not every meal is a big hosting moment.

Launching today (12 May), the collection includes the Tiny Cookware Duo (£110) and Petite Perfect Pot (£90) – compact versions of the brand’s cult cookware, which features in our best non-stick pans guide.

Sometimes it’s one egg before work, pasta for one after a long day or a quick bowl of soup eaten standing in the kitchen because your flat barely fits a dining table (speaking from experience here). And while cookware has traditionally been designed with families and large gatherings in mind, this launch feels much more aligned with modern small-space living.

As someone currently balancing pans precariously in a cupboard the size of a shoebox, the appeal is immediate.

This collection feels refreshingly realistic for how many people live now. The pieces are lightweight, stackable and intentionally compact, with details like dual pour spouts and a shared interchangeable lid to save on space.

The Tiny Cookware Duo comes as a stackable pan set, while the Petite Perfect Pot has a 1.75L capacity that’s designed for smaller portions like oatmeal, grains, sauces and broths.

Both are made with an aluminium core for fast, even heating and finished with Our Place’s signature non-toxic nonstick coating, free from PFAS, PTFE, lead and cadmium. Plus, they fit perfectly in the brand's cult Wonder Oven.

Importantly for anyone else navigating limited kitchen storage, the collection has also been designed to look good left out on display.

Available in five of the brand’s signature shades (Steam, Sage, Char, Blue Salt and Spice), these are the kinds of pans you wouldn’t mind permanently living on your hob because there’s nowhere else to put them.

It also taps into a much bigger kitchen trend we’ve been seeing lately: compact, multifunctional cookware and appliances built for modern living. As homes, and especially kitchens, get smaller, products that can earn their keep without dominating your space are becoming increasingly desirable.

Shiza Shahid, co-founder of Our Place, said: ‘We often talk about big tables and large gatherings, but so much of our life happens through smaller moments in the kitchen.’

She added: ‘We designed our Tiny Cookware Collection to make those moments as beautiful and joyful as cooking for others can be.’

There is one thing to note before adding to basket: unlike the wider ceramic cookware collection, the Tiny range is not induction compatible due to its smaller sizing.

The Tiny Cookware Collection is available right now, but with limited stock available, I wouldn’t be surprised if these sell out quickly, especially among fellow tiny-kitchen owners like myself.

HexClad is a brand best-known for its hybrid stainless steel cookware, but its always-expanding product range actually covers a much wider area of the kitchen than just the best non-stick pans.

One buy that came highly recommended to me, from other Kitchen Editors no less, was HexClad's Stainless Steel Bowl Set (£99 at HexClad), though I have to say that at first I was skeptical about splashing that much cash on a trio of mixing bowls.

It's a lot to spend on anything, let alone kitchenware, and seeing as I just made the switch to stainless steel food containers from Black + Blum, I thought I was pretty much covered in this area already.

Well, after a few weeks with these vacuum sealed bowls I can only say I was totally wrong. This set has quickly become a kitchen essential of mine, used day in day out for cooking and storing food, which has helped me make the switch over to a non-toxic kitchen for good. Here's what I use them for and why I'm so reliant on them.

1. They keep food fresher for longer

Unless you are the Type A person I dream of becoming, there's a chance that you, like me, don't always eat or use up all of the food in your fridge before it goes bad. I am forever hearing the disappointed voice of my very economical Nanna in my head whenever I have to throw away gone off food.

I've tried a few things in the past to try and combat this, including Zwilling's StayFresh range (from £89 on Amazon) which comes with a rechargeable pump for vacuum sealing compatible food containers. This is a very good system in theory but the need to charge the tool to remove the air from the containers is a bit of a blocker to a totally seamless kitchen for me.

That's why I was drawn to the vacuum-seal element of these HexClad bowls. You don't need a pump to activate the seal – you just need to press down on the lid until it forms a lock with the lip of the bowl. You then press down the button that lies on the lid and the lock will remain tight, with air pushed out.

It's a similar design to the meal prep set I just tried from Black + Blum, which have kept my leftovers fresher for noticeably longer. In practice, I've used the HexClad bowls for bigger portions of food including salads and proteins alongside my meal prep containers.

2. Quality build & design

There's been a move away from using plastic utensils and kitchenware due to understandable anxiety about PFAs, which is where this set really comes into its own. Each bowl, all of which neatly nest together so pleasingly, is crafted from stainless steel and feature a non-slip rubber base on the exterior. There are three sizes in the set: 1.4L, 2.8L, and 4.7L.

The smallest bowl has proved invaluable for storing leftover salad or protein (right now it's in my fridge filled with crunchy slaw). And while the middle-sized bowl is great for mixing up said salads the larger is ideal for dough mixes.

On each of the bowls there are measurement marks on the interior, which is so helpful for gauging the capacity of whatever you're mixing together with markings up to 2.5 litres.

The ability to use metal utensils on the bowl means you don't have to be overly careful when you're mixing and the valve also has a date-setting dial on it, so that you can remember exactly when you put the contents in there. You can very rigorously mix and combine with these bowls without worrying its going to disappear off your worktop thanks to the rubber base which keeps it anchored in place too.

All of these features might sound small but together they make these bowls a total breeze to use. I've been reaching for them every meal time both for the process of cooking and for storage.

3. They're easy to keep clean

There are a few buys in my kitchen that I am so reliant on that are also a nightmare to clean (I'm looking at you, julienne peeler) so I'm relieved to report that is not the case with this bowl set.

The bowls and lids are dishwasher safe (with the latter needing to sit in the top rack only) and as with my favourite pan which is also crafted with a stainless steel exterior, the Our Place Titanium Pan, comes out gleaming after being cleaned.

The metal is very easy to wipe clean too. And if you're sick of kitchenware that retains smells and marks (like when you store leftover tomato-based sauces) then you'll undoubtedly be impressed by the lack of absorbability that comes with this professional-grade stainless steel material.

So if you're looking for a real workhorse buy for your kitchen, I couldn't recommend this HexClad set more highly. Pricey? Absolutely. But I bet it's something that will really go the distance too.

I made the switch from plastic to glass food containers a long time ago and when it came to organised meal prep buys, considered myself to be way ahead of the game. In fact, I felt smug about the fact that tomato sauce-stained takeaway boxes or mismatched lids were no longer cluttering up my kitchen.

I much preferred glass over plastic for leftovers thanks to its easy to clean nature, even if I did find they were heavy to lug around in my work bag, with the benefits of making the switch (including the cost factor) far outweighing the cons. I also loved being able to use my glass containers in my air fryer.

Then I discovered that everyone in the know, including food influencers galore, had in fact moved onto something even better: microwavable stainless steel containers.

I just tried a version from the very trendy brand Black & Blum (£19 per container via Amazon – mine are round) to gauge the difference – here's why I'm a total convert.

If you like the sound of stainless steel containers, it's important for you to know that not all products of this material are microwave safe – far from it. You should only ever put metals in the microwave that are explicitly labelled by the manufacturer as microwave-safe.

Black & Blum's range uses 'food-grade' stainless steel which means its durable, capable of going in the dishwasher and, crucially, won't make your food taste like metal. All of the pieces from this retailer are also fitted with vacuum valves, something that I discovered goes a long way to help with food freshness.

You don't need an additional tool to make the vacuum-seal on these containers work. All you need to do to activate the seal is press firmly down on the lid and make sure the valve is shut. And it's not just that the system here is forming a seal over your food – as that's what all good food containers do – it also pushes existing air out in order to improve food freshness.

Straight out of the box I was very impressed with the feel and look of these containers. They're expensive, yes, but they feel high-quality in your hand and are the perfect portion size for on the go. Empty they only weigh about 250 grams which was a huge improvement on my old glass versions.

I tried the three-pack round bowls, which fit together very satisfyingly in my cupboards, as I work from home full-time now, so I don't need to be thinking about cramming one into my work bag. But if you're going to take yours on your commute, the square alternative might serve you a bit better.

I have had experience of venturing out with these containers though as I luckily live a stone's throw away from the beach, which means I needed a lightweight way to get my dinner down there. These bowls have been so great for transporting salads and cold lunches down there, as well as for warming up leftovers from the fridge.

I was cautious the first time I popped one of the bowls into the microwave with the muscle memory of the no metals rule still running through my head. But there's no hiccup with warming food in them in this way, as long as you don't keep them in there too long – 2 minutes for each turn in the microwave is plenty.

The food warms really well in these containers and the easy clean-up might be the best bit about them. If you think glass is better for getting off stains and food you'll be even more pleased with how seamlessly easy it is to scrub at the stainless steel. They're also fine to go into the top rack of your dishwasher.

Now I've made the swap for my food containers, I'm seeing what else in my kitchen I can give the stainless steel treatment. In that spirit, I've got my hands on HexClad's stainless steel mixing and prep bowls (£99 at Amazon) too and so far, I'm similarly impressed by their merits.

Could you see yourself making the swap to stainless steel? This professional-grade material really does make all the difference for me in terms of food prep and storage.

Ninja just dropped a brand new stainless steel cookware range: the EverClad collection, available now with prices starting from £89.99.

In a bid to rival the most popular cookware brands around right now, including HexClad and Made In, Ninja has launched this 'commercial-grade' line which includes saucepan sets and frying pans.

There's no doubt that stainless steel is the material of the moment. In recent years it has transitioned as the pick of professional chefs into a mainstay of everyday kitchens, especially for those looking to get away from non-stick coatings and to invest in non-toxic alternatives.

Here's a closer look at everything Ninja is offering with the EverClad range, which the brand say is 'designed to keep up with your lifestyle'.

This is a real premium offering from Ninja, with no non-stick coatings in sight. Instead, the use of stainless steel means that all of the pans in the range are oven safe up to 300°C, which is, of course, fantastic for hob to oven cooking.

Each pan has a tri-ply construction, which means that you're paying for two layers of stainless steel and a core made of aluminium in the middle. This allows for even heating and explains the higher price tag.

Suitable for all hob types, you can pick up everything from a wok to a small frying pan in this material. The more expensive picks, such as the 22cm Stock Pot, feature two side handles, which is a hallmark of higher quality cookware. All of the pieces also have a 10-year warranty, which is great for peace of mind.

If you really want to deck out your whole kitchen with this range, you can pick up Ninja's wide-ranging 12 Piece Set, which features a saucepan with lid, two frying pans (one with a lid), a larger saucepan and lid, a sauté pan and lid, a large stockpot and another smaller frying pan. For all of those pieces, you'll pay less than £300, which is actually a great price if you want to start a non-toxic cookware collection from scratch.

There are so many benefits to cooking with stainless steel and we've recently been on a journey here at Ideal Home to establish what those merits are.

Our expert Home Economist and reviewer Helen McCue has tried Le Creuset's stainless steel offering in her review as well as Made In's alternative. After those experiences, she's a convert to the material for cooking, saying that it made mealtimes 'a breeze' once she got over the learning curve of getting rid of her reliance on non-stick coatings.

Of course, one of the great things with stainless steel pans is that they should have real longevity in your kitchen so we can't wait to test Ninja's version out too to see exactly how it holds up to the challenges of everyday life. From a first look it certainly looks like a very promising range.

Stainless steel pans are hot property right now, but cooking with them usually involves a period of adjustment to say the least.

That's because this material isn't inherently non-stick – instead, you need to cook with these pans in a specific way to mimic that kind of surface.

I've tried plenty of stainless steel products in my quest to find the best saucepans and frying pans out there, but it was at a recent cooking class with Le Creuset's chief home economist Alison Haigh that I understood more about how to prep them properly. Here's the quick trick she taught me, while using Le Creuset's version (£145), to get a stainless steel pan ready for use.

The mercury ball test

The first thing to know is: there's no actual mercury involved here (which is lucky, because it is, of course, highly toxic). You wouldn't want it anywhere near your cookware.

The mercury test is simply a quick exercise you can do with droplets of water in order to see if your pan is ready to act like a non-stick surface. It gets its name from the visual effect you're looking for – if your pan is ready at the ideal temperature, the water won't evaporate, it'll bead up like a ball of mercury would.

The exact temperature you want the pan to reach before you start cooking is approximately 193°C. At this point, the 'pores' in a stainless steel pan (which has a naturally rough surface when cold, unlike a pan with a non-stick ceramic coating for example) close up. Now smooth, the surface is then covered with a micro-thin layer of steam.

That film of steam is what allows you to mimic a non-stick surface, preventing your food from sticking. So how do you achieve it?

In my cooking class, Le Creuset's home economist explained that you need to put your stainless steel pan on to the heat for two to three minutes to begin. It's essential that the pan is dry, free from all oil or fat at this point, in order for what you're about to do to have an effect.

After a few minutes, sprinkle a few droplets of water onto the pan's surface. If the water instantly evaporates, the pan is not hot enough yet.

If the water forms into visible beads that look as if they're dancing across the surface of the pan, it's perfect – you've completed The Mercury Test.

But Le Creuset's home economist Alison had more advice from here. Rather than adding oil at this point, which was essential for the schnitzel and fried egg I was cooking, turn the heat down slightly.

That might sound counter intuitive, given the time you just spent getting it to the perfect temperature, but it'll prevent your oil from burning in an instant. And then you're ready to begin cooking.

We've been on a real stainless steel journey recently here at Ideal Home, with our expert reviewer Helen McCue trying lots of popular sets. Here's a round-up of her, and my favourites from the last few months.

So if you've tried and failed to switch over to cooking with stainless steel, then incorporating this quick test into your next try might just be the thing that helps. Seeing as it only involves water, I reckon it's definitely worth a try.

Stainless steel has long been the pan material of choice for professional chefs and now it can be yours too from as little as £11.99 with Lidl's shiny new cookware range.

Available in stores from Sunday the 12th of April, the range consists of frying pans and larger stockpots, all of which are non-toxic in their construction, which means they're free from traditional non-stick coatings.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I've had the lucky job of testing the best cookware over the last few years and I think stainless steel is a great pick for those who are serious about levelling up their cooking, but I haven't seen this type of cookware available quite so cheaply.

For our guide to the best frying pans and saucepan sets, we've tried picks from Made In, Le Creuset and many other high-end picks – here's how Lidl's alternatives shape up alongside them.

This range from Lidl consists of four pans, a stainless steel sieve set and a range of food containers in the same material.

If you're in the market for a frying pan, the smallest and most affordable offering is the Premium Stainless Steel Frying Pan 24cm, which will set you back £12.99. If you're cooking in bigger batches, then there's a 28cm version too for just £2 more.

Onto the stockpots, which are available in a 2.5 litre or 5 litre size and come with glass lids. They also have litre markings on the inside as well as pouring rims to make draining the contents much easier. The larger pot is available for £16.99 while the smaller is £11.99.

The base thickness of the stockpots is 6mm, and as with the frying pans, they are compatible with any type of hob and the pieces are also dishwasher safe.

In general, one of the biggest benefits of stainless steel cookware is its resilience, with the material offering a sturdiness that can survive even the hottest of temperatures. But its not without its learning curve, especially if you're used to using pans with non-stick coatings.

The advice from our expert reviewer Helen McCue is to use all of the resources you can to get clued up before you use your stainless steel pans for the first time – whether that's via YouTube or your favourite cookbook.

If you're wondering about the difference between Lidl's stainless steel pans and Le Creuset's and Made In's (as well as the relative RRPs), the distinction is in the amount of stainless steel you're getting for your spend.

Take Le Creuset's 3-ply frying pan, for example. Not only does it have a stainless steel core throughout its base but within its entire construction, including in the sides. Lidl's by comparison only has an encapsulated base of stainless steel, where the heat will mostly gather.

Given the price difference between the two, that difference in quality is to be expected – and that's not to say that Lidl's version can't do a solid job in your kitchen when used correctly. Unless you're frying ultra delicate foods, the difference might not be too obvious to your eye.

Also in the range over at Lidl is stainless steel food containers, the perfect pairing if you're going pick up those bargain pans. You can pick up a set of them for just £6.99 – a total bargain – with the huge added bonus of the lunchboxes being microwave safe (without their lids on).

I'm about to try one of Black&Blum's meal prep sets (available from £29.95) to see if it's worth making the swap to the stainless steel material over glass containers (which I love, but which can be seriously annoying to lug around).

Once I left behind plastic containers for non-toxic options, there was no going back for me, so if you're looking for a budget way to make a change, then Lidl's set might be worth a look in.

If it's non-toxic kitchenware you're after, these affordable picks could be the place to make a start!

An all-in-one pan deserves a place in any hardworking kitchen, but is it worth splashing out on one or can more affordable lookalikes get the job done for a fraction of the price?

That's the premise that led me to put Our Place's bestselling Always Pan (currently down to £95 from £125), which I think is one of the best non-stick cookware on the market head-to-head with IKEA's strikingly similar KLIPPFISK sauté pan.

Both of these pans have a deep, wide shape that lends them to versatility for home cooks – you can shallow fry, steam, sauté, boil and so much more in a pan of this design. But one was a clear winner in terms of performance in our tests – which adds up given the £86 price difference between the two.

The basics

Side-by-side, it's easy see the gulf in quality between the KIPPFLISK and the Always Pan.

The KLIPPFISK is thinner and lighter, lacking the sturdiness that the Always Pan has in your hand and on the hob. IKEA's version is also a lot deeper, which will suit some for batch cooking, and features a see-through lid, which is always good for keeping an eye on things.

But if you like the idea of popping one of these pans in the oven to finish something off under the grill, then only one of them fits that bill: the Always Pan 2.0. IKEA'S alternative is not suitable for oven use at all. Here's a full breakdown of the specs.

If you're buying an all-in-one pan to keep out on your worktop, design is also going to matter here. I think Our Place's version is much easier on the eye, as well as having the bonus of seven possible colour options. The KLIPPFISK is grey-turquoise as standard and the wood accents might not be for everyone.

Winner: Our Place's Always Pan 2.0

Cooking tests

The first test on my agenda was a fried egg, which is a good way to see how evenly and quickly heat is distributed across the bottom of a pan.

It felt, with a palm across the base of each, that the IKEA pan was slower to warm than the Our Place one. I went ahead and cracked eggs into each and found that the Always Pan made the kind of 'sizzle' sound that you might expect, while the KLIPPFISK took a minute to catch up to the same heat.

The running of the white in the KLIPPFISK across the base of the pan also wasn't a great sign for me, confirming my suspicions about the temperature of it compared to the Always Pan. The uniformity of the Always Pan eggs says to me that the heat transfer is a lot better.

Next up, I tried bacon. One benefit of the shape of the KLIPPFISK for bacon is that any grease splatters are more contained within the deep shape. It's also a little roomier.

By the end of the cooking time, I found that the rashers in the IKEA pan had shrivelled a little (as you can see in the photos), which might be an indication that the distribution across the pan isn't the best.

But other than that, the resutls were fairly similar – I think due to the fact that pans were warmed a little more by this point.

The final run out for these pans was warming up leftovers for lunch. I hoped this would give me even more insight into the evenness of heat. Once again, Our Place's pan took less time to get to the level of heat I needed compared to IKEA's, but the KLIPPFISK did catch up after not too long.

Looking at each performance as a whole, the KLIPPFISK did take longer to get there, but once it was up to heat it was fine for non-stick cooking tasks though not as impressive as the Always Pan. Our Place's version was better in terms of quick start-up times and overall yielded better results. For me, there's an obvious winner.

Winner: Our Place's Always Pan 2.0

The winner

There's been a huge shift away from non-stick pans recently with people opting for non-toxic stainless steel cookware on the main. Our expert reviewer recently tried two fantastic examples, Le Creuset's stainless steel set and Made In's version.

But a good non-stick pan is still a great tool to have in your arsenal for quick cooking jobs or if you don't want to go through the learning curve of getting used to stainless steel. If that sounds like you, I think a versatile all-in-one pan with this kind of deep shape is your best bet.

Our Place's Always Pan 2.0 is ceramic and non-toxic and though it's pricey, I think it earns its RRP with the results of this test. If you want better quality, you need to pay a bit more. This pan is a solid all-rounder but its Titanium counterpart remains my favourite of all time if you really want the best of the best.

IKEA'S KLIPPFISK is a fine budget version of the same type of pan, but it doesn't have the same quality feel or yield the same results. But the £39 price tag is hard to argue with if you're in desperate need of a stopgap piece of cookware.

The conclusion of my tests then, is what you might expect: when it comes to these two pans, you definitely get what you pay for.

There are many occasions where investing in one of the best saucepan sets is the most convenient option. Plus, buying a common-sense configuration of pans often works out as straightforwardly economical.

But what about the pans that never get used? In my kitchen, I find milk pans or in-between sized saucepans don't get a look in compared to my trusty frying pan and stockpot.

So is a saucepan set or building a collection with individual non-stick pans a better idea? When I asked four different trained chefs for their expert advice one product recommendation in particular, an all-in-one pan, cropped up again and again. Here's why.

Saucepan sets vs individual pans

When I lived in my first-year accommodation at uni, all of us had been packed off with the same pan set by our parents, which led to 8 not-so-world-wise 20-year-olds trying to cram half a dozen frying pans into one cupboard. Not ideal. But what's the alternative to a one-size-fits-all set?

Jesse Jempner, head chef at meal kit delivery service Mindful Chef has an alternative: one 'really good "forever" frying pan'.

In my time as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I've found all-in-one pans, which are similar to frying pans but often with a deeper, more versatile shape, as the best option for a pan that ticks every box.

Jesse agrees, saying that a well-designed all-in-one pan should be able to 'streamline your kitchen without compromising on what you can cook'.

'They’re also great for creating a calmer cooking experience: fewer pans on the go, less washing up, and a more fluid rhythm while you’re in the kitchen.'

So what should you look out for on the hunt for such a pan? Jesse advises first looking for one that can handle 'steaming, frying, boiling, and even finishing dishes in the oven.'

My favourite example of this is Our Place's Always Pan Titanium Pro (£175 at Our Place). I awarded five stars to it in my review thanks to its incredibly useful size and shape as well as its tri-ply construction which allowed me to use metal utensils on its interior and finish meals in it in the oven. The only downside is it's seriously pricey. So is it worth investing in a more expensive pan like this one?

Splashing out can actually be a good value move over time, according to Aurélia Noël-Delclos, co-owner of Chez Antoinette, a French restaurant based in London.

'For me, investing in a good-quality “forever” pan is essential,' says Aurélia. 'The quality of your cooking equipment has a real impact on the results you achieve, so it’s always worth prioritising one or two excellent pieces over a full set of lower quality.'

That's a view shared by Saifur Rahman, Head Chef at Tower Tandoori. 'If cooking happens most days, better value usually comes from buying one genuinely durable workhorse pan first, then adding only what gets used.'

In terms of specific recommendations, Saifur says 'In practice, that often means either a 24–28 cm tri-ply stainless sauté pan with a lid, or a 26–28 cm enamelled cast-iron casserole. Either option covers a huge amount of everyday cooking, from browning and pan-roasting to simmering sauces, cooking pulses, and one-pot meals, and both cope well with high heat and oven use.'

Recently our expert reviewer Helen McCue tried one such all-in-one stainless steel pan from Tom Kerridge's collection with M&S (£60 at M&S), which she awarded five stars to in her review, calling it a 'versatile multipurpose cookware piece'.

Downsides of all-in-one pans

Though I think all-in-one pans are the best place to start, the chefs I spoke to had reserverations about investing in one as your only pan.

'All-in-one pans are great for saving space, but they can’t fully replace a saucepan set,' says Giuseppe Miggiano Italian chef and owner of Casa Tua in London. 'They limit flexibility and don’t perform equally well across all cooking tasks.'

Saifur Rahman adds that 'They can also be less effective for proper searing because crowded food steams rather than browns, and sauce work can suffer because wide, shallow shapes reduce control when simmering small volumes.'

For me, the best solution of all is investing in a good all-in-one pan for starters and then slowly adding the pieces you need based on your everyday cooking agenda. If you like the sound of that, you can find my favourite tried and tested picks of that type below to cover every budget.

Finding cookware that lasts can be a hard task, but it doesn't necessarily need to be if you invest well. After testing dozens of non-stick cookware sets in my role at Ideal Home, the pan I recommend above all other for longevity is Our Place's Titanium Always Pan Pro (as per my five star review). And it just received a discount in the brand's sale, dropping from £170 to £155.

Crafted from stainless steel aluminium and titanium, there's no non-stick coating with this pan. Instead, there's a titanium interior, which is 'naturally hydrophobic' thanks to microscopic grooves.

That makes this pan seriously hardy. In my kitchen its survived metal utensils, charring, high heats (of up to 535°C) and daily runs through the dishwasher. And it still looks absolutely good as new almost a year later. Here's a closer look at my tried and tested recommendations from the Our Place spring sale, running until the 28th of March.

Don't get me wrong, every single one of these titanium pans is mightily expensive. And I know the idea of spending over £100 on one single piece of cookware can feel excessive to say the least.

But there is a logic to splashing out on a pricier pan that will go the distance in your kitchen if you can afford to. I started testing the Titanium Always Pan in the large size and the Pot in the small size back last spring and after continual use (sometimes twice in a day), they've held up to every marketing claim from the brand, including that they can stand frequent dishwasher cycles. And that doesn't happen often.

The bigger pan in the range is great if you're cooking for 2-4 people or if you like to get ahead with your meal prep. But I'm keen to try out the brand's smaller Titanium pan, at 21.6cm in diameter, now I'm moving into a cosier kitchen space and only cooking for 2 people regularly. It's benefitting from the biggest discount in the sale too.

Another thing that makes this pan so versatile is its ability to go into the oven at high temperatures. My favourite ever lazy treat dinner is a one-pot lasagne and this pan is tough enough to withstand a long stint in the oven while the cheese melts and then looks good enough to serve straight to the dinner table.

If you're in the market for a non-toxic forever pan then, I can't recommend this game-changing version from Our Place highly enough. It's the first one I recommend to family and friends.

I've been lucky enough to try a few different kitchen essentials from this California-based brand and plenty of them have received discounts in this time-limited sale. Here are my favourites.