Saucepan

• The saucepan is probably the most important pot in your kitchen. It is also probably the most common pot or pan used by people in cooking. Because of their usefulness, it is recommended that you buy two or three of them in different sizes, if at all possible, to accommodate different types of food. The capacity of your saucepan is usually measured in a whole number of quarts.
  
  You will have to decide whether or not you want a saucepan with a spout. Spouts are good for pouring liquid foods but, unfortunately, they also mean that the lid on the pan may not close tightly.
  
  

Frying Pans

• Frying pans are used for sautéing and frying pretty much every type of food imaginable. You will need to choose whether or not you want one with sloped or straight sides. Sloped sides make it easier to get food off the pan and onto a plate, but it also makes it easier for foods to slip out of the pan.
  
  You should aim to get a nonstick pan whenever possible because it not only facilitates easier cleaning but it also enables you to use less oil when you cook, making your cooking healthier. Although having a variety of sizes of frying pan is handy, you can fry most things in a large frying pan.
  
  

Roasting Pan

• As its name implies, the roasting pan is used for roasting different meats in an oven. You should always measure your oven before buying a roasting pan as you should have about two inches on each side of your pan when it is in the oven with the oven door closed.
  
  The roasting pan that you choose must be strong and sturdy enough to carry the largest food item that you intend to roast in it--such as a turkey. However, you should also be sure that you'll be capable of carrying it when loaded up with meat or you risk dropping both pan and contents when you take them from the oven.