The Essential Guide to Buying Cookware
Crafted for professional kitchens. Supplied by Renarte.
At Renarte, we understand that selecting the right cookware isn’t just about filling shelves—it’s about matching performance with purpose. Whether you’re equipping a new kitchen or refining your current operation, this guide covers the essential cookware every professional kitchen should have, how to evaluate it, and how to maintain it for long-term use.
Key Cookware Categories
1. Frying Pans
Essential for fast, high-heat cooking like sautéing, searing, and shallow frying.
Choose pans with excellent heat conductivity and balance. Mauviel offers copper-core precision, while Paderno’s stainless steel pans are built for daily service.
2. Saucepans & Sauciers
Ideal for sauces, gravies, grains, and reductions. Sauciers feature rounded sides for smoother stirring.
Look for thick bases and ergonomic handles that can withstand repeated heat cycles.
3. Stock & Soup Pots
Used for boiling, blanching, or preparing large batches of soups and broths.
Paderno’s stainless steel options offer volume without unnecessary weight—perfect for high-capacity service.
4. Dutch Ovens & Roasters
Designed for low-and-slow cooking. Heavy-bottomed and heat-retaining.
Mauviel’s copper and cast iron Dutch ovens add both functionality and elegance to oven-to-table service.
5. Sauté Pans
Higher, straight sides make them ideal for liquid-based cooking or quick finishing of sauces and reductions.
Ensure oven-safety and tight-fitting lids for versatile use.
6. Griddles & Grill Pans
Griddles are perfect for breakfast rushes and batch cooking; grill pans offer chargrilled textures without an outdoor setup.
Heavy-duty materials prevent warping and promote even searing.
7. Pasta Cookers & Multi Pots
Multi pots with insertable strainers are efficient and reduce the need for extra equipment.
Perfect for fast-paced kitchens focused on volume and speed.
8. Lasagna & Bakeware
Deep rectangular pans ideal for baked dishes and catering.
Ensure oven compatibility and structural integrity under heat.
Parts of a Cookware Piece
Understanding cookware anatomy helps in selecting the right product:
Body: Determines heat conductivity and cooking performance (e.g., copper, stainless steel)
Base/Bottom: Should be flat, thick, and ideally multi-layered for even heating
Handles: Riveted, stay-cool, and ergonomically designed for safety during service
Lid: Should fit tightly to trap moisture and flavor; oven-safe lids add flexibility
Materials Explained
Each material has distinct benefits—choose based on your kitchen’s needs:
Copper: Fastest and most responsive to temperature changes; best for precise cooking (Mauviel’s signature).
Stainless Steel: Durable, non-reactive, and low-maintenance—ideal for daily commercial use (Paderno standard).
Aluminum (Clad or Core): Excellent heat distribution, usually layered between steel for durability.
Cast Iron: Superior heat retention; great for stews, searing, and oven use.
Non-Stick: Useful for low-fat cooking and delicate foods, but requires gentle handling.
What to Consider Before You Buy
Cooking Style & Menu Type: Choose pieces based on how you prep—e.g., sauté pans for sauces, stock pots for broths.
Heat Conductivity: Copper and aluminum conduct heat better; stainless steel is more stable and easier to clean.
Durability: Look for multi-ply bases, riveted handles, and high-heat resistance.
Storage & Stackability: Essential in compact or high-volume kitchens.
Brand Reliability: Mauviel offers elite craftsmanship for fine dining; Paderno delivers dependable performance for daily service.
Care & Maintenance Tips
Proper maintenance ensures performance:
Follow Usage Guidelines: Avoid using metal utensils on non-stick surfaces; never overheat empty cookware.
Proper Cleaning: Copper may require polishing; stainless steel can be dishwasher-safe; cast iron needs seasoning.
Storage: Use pan protectors or cloth between stacked pieces; organize by size or use wall racks for efficiency.
Routine Inspection: Check for loosened handles, warped bases, or coating damage to ensure safety and performance.
Partnering with Renarte
Renarte works with leading chefs, hotel chains, and procurement teams to supply cookware that matches their kitchen’s scale and standards. We proudly offer cookware from:
Mauviel – French-made, performance-driven copper and stainless cookware for chefs who demand precision.
Paderno – Practical, robust cookware designed for high-efficiency commercial kitchens.
Ready to build a cookware lineup that works as hard as your team does?
Let Renarte help you source smarter—with trusted brands, tailored solutions, and industry expertise.
Table Runners
We love the way a long table runner unifying centerpieces
with the rest of the table. Our collection includes embroidered,
fiber andpatterned runners that mix and match. One of our
designers’ favorite ideas is to place multiple runners
across the width of the table, creating a “placemat
for two” for opposite guests to share. Picture this: If
you have 3 guests per table side, position 3 runners
across the table, creating 6 places. Which brings us
to this bit of advice—experiment and play with table
linens, and you never have to set the same table
twice.
