Here’s what we thought when we tried it
Baker, TV chef and author of no less than 11 cookbooks, Nadiya Hussain captured our hearts after winning the 2015 series of The Great British Bake Off. Today, in collaboration with Prestige, it launches its first range of cooking and baking utensils for your own kitchen.
Costing from £6 to £189.99 for a set of four saucepans, the range includes a selection of 18 kitchen essentials. Included is a decent selection of oven trays, cake and loaf pans (naturally), plus a few cast iron pieces, a set of stackable pans and a game-changing versatile wok/steamer.
At first glance, we were delighted with the versatility of each item. Everything has multiple uses, which means those purchases won’t end up taking up valuable real estate in your closets and then sitting unused for months.
Intrigued to see if using the range could turn myself into a master baker (perhaps a tall order, admittedly), I tried a few pieces from the range over the course of a month to see how they got away with it. See what I thought below.
4 in 1 wok
In a busy home where storage space is limited, anything designed to reduce clutter will always be well received, so I knew this wok-cum-steamer would be a hit in my home.
The steam function works better than my Always pan – there’s a good deep space to fill with water, avoiding the risk of the pan boiling dry if you don’t add enough, or poaching the vegetables by inadvertently adding too much.
I was impressed with the nonstick, and although it’s more of a medium-sized pan than a large one, its depth means it can hold a surprising amount (another hit for those who dread walking to their cluttered closets).
Sure, I did a stir fry at first but, really, you’re not limited to those with this wok. The fact that it comes with the glass lid makes it a perfectly suitable pan for curries, risottos and the like, again upping the versatility factor. It is also oven safe for dishes that require a second cooking. All in all, great value for money at just £69.99 – very impressive.
Cast iron skillet
For me, this is the hero item of the ones I’ve tried. I’ve always had apprehensions about cast iron, thinking it heavy, hard to store and maneuver, and difficult to clean. This pan, however, changed my mind. It came pre-seasoned to prevent it from rusting and although you can continue to oil it if you wish, it is not necessary. I rub mine gently with a soft sponge and a dab of soap and it’s perfect every time.
I’ve used it on the stovetop and in the oven, for desserts (my favorite cinnamon rolls made a treat here) and entrees (two different chicken dishes, a one-pot meal with rice and vegetables , plus jerk -rubbed thighs) which all came out beautifully.
It fits four good servings inside without feeling bulky, holds heat well – and looks lovely, making it a great oven-to-table dish (naturally, as everything is oven safe, it is hot so be aware of that!). It also saves on washing up.
It is heavier than a normal frying pan, of course, but the quality is excellent. Importantly, the thickness and weight of the iron means it’s unlikely to warp in the heat, as some of my lighter pans did after about a year of use.
Hob
While it’s hard to get too expansive on a baking sheet, if you’re looking to replace your worn-out old collection at home, this is a worthy candidate. It’s a good size for family roasts and the rib on the bottom means you’re less likely to destroy your tender roasts if they end up getting stuck when it’s time to plate; I have yet to experience a disaster.
It washes well too. I’ve used mine almost daily for the past month and it still looks like new.
All in all, if you’re looking to piece up your kitchen kit or experiment with something new, like my first foray into cast iron cooking, I would recommend this range. It’s reasonably priced, washes well, and covers everything you’ll need for everyday cooking and baking. It earns extra points for space saving, like the stackable pans and multi-use wok.
If you have to choose one item, I recommend the cast iron skillet – it’s extremely versatile and, with proper care, should last for years.
Tent ? Shop the full Nadiya Hussain range on the Prestige website here or on John Lewis here.
Nadiya Hussain kitchen utensils
Nadiya Hussain Cookware
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