EVERYDAY ASSISTANCE

Investing in the right pieces makes prepping meals a breeze

Cast iron cookware

Whether it’s a skillet, tagine or a casserole dish, if you’re a crafty home cook, the chances are you will already own (and worship) a cast-iron creation of some sort. If not, it’s time to invest. Generally suitable for both the stove top and the oven, a cast-iron casserole dish will see you through countless pot roasts, soups, stews, cakes and breads. Easy to clean, hardy and naturally non-stick, it’s a fail-safe addition that you’ll never regret – and likely never have to replace. When shopping, choose one with an oven-proof handle for maximum versatility.

Kettles & Toasters

No kitchen bench is complete without a kettle and toaster. While neither are surprising inclusions, latest functionalities and designs are taking breakfast to a whole new precision level, and they’ve lifted their game in the style stakes, too. Choose from a range of temperatures tailored to make the perfect coffee, or black, white and green tea, pick exactly how dark or light you want your toast to be, and enjoy the convenience of self-centring bread racks and keep-warm options. “I love the functionality of my Breville toaster,” says creative director Imogene Abady of Home Beautiful. “It features ‘a little bit more’ function, which allows for 10 seconds more toasting time. With so many artisan breads with varying sugar content, it gives me added control over cooking time, and the perfect slice of toast.”