A skillet isn’t a term ordinarily used in English cuisine, but along with cups and sticks of butter, often appears in recipes from across the pond. Encouraged by a good friend to teach him some new cooking techniques, I ventured out and acquired this new piece of kit.
I have heard how real cast iron lasts a lifetime but since the cooking disasters of my youth, I’ve kept well away from lifting these weights. I was surprised how difficult proper cast iron was to find in the UAE, cast aluminium seemed widely available which looks like cast iron but is covered in a non-stick finish. I finally found the Lodge brand at Ace Hardware, Dubai Festival City and was surprised how reasonably price the range was.
Shockingly, one of the main benefits of using cast iron was actually about the detrimental affect that non-stick coated aluminium has on our health…
The 365+ range of IKEA pots is a kitchen staple for amatuers and experts alike. This range is IKEA at its best, offering excellent value for money with advanced design and construction. Setting you back just 225 AED (or sold in the UK for 55 GBP) for a complete 7-piece cookware set, it’s a small amount to pay for a long term investment. I have two full sets which I find more than adequate for everyday as well as dinner party needs… 
