A weekend away with friends is all about cooking without fuss, long evenings around the table and that one pan that handles everything. But the kitchen in a holiday cottage, chalet or Airbnb is a lottery: scratched pan bases, thin frying pans that scorch instantly, or (oops) no induction-friendly cookware at all while you can already picture your tagliatelle bubbling. So pack your own ideal weekend pan and you'll start the weekend relaxed.
Why bringing your own pan makes the difference
You really don't have to pack half your kitchen, but one good pan lifts the whole weekend up a notch. Friends deserve more than a burnt egg, and you deserve more than wrestling with a wobbly saucepan. With your own pan, you decide the quality of breakfast, the Saturday-evening pasta and the Sunday-morning fried egg sandwich, no matter where you stay.
The sauté pan: your weekend all-rounder
If you're only bringing one pan, make it a 28 cm sauté pan. The high sides give room for pasta for four, a quick curry, scrambled eggs for the whole group or a stew that simmers all afternoon. It's light, flat enough to slot neatly into a bag and does almost everything you'd otherwise need three pans for. Read also why a one-pan meal is your best friend when the kitchen is small and the company is large.
A cooking pot for pasta, rice and soup
A sauté pan covers a lot, but pasta for six asks for something roomier. A 20 cm or 22 cm cooking pot fits easily in your bag and is big enough for pasta, potatoes, vegetables or a large soup after the woodland walk. Browse our ceramic cooking pots and choose a size that matches your group.
Coffee and sauce: don't forget the small pan
For making coffee for one, warming milk or whisking up a quick sauce, you'll reach for something small. A 20 cm frying pan is light, quick to heat and perfect for that one last hungry friend who wants a toastie at half past midnight. Toss in a spatula and an oven mitt and you really are set.
Wokking for the stir-fry fans
Planning an evening full of Asian dishes? Then a wok with high sloped sides is worth its weight in gold. Stir-fried vegetables stay crisp, noodles don't slide over the edge and the sauce coats everything evenly. Have a look at the ceramic wok pans: light enough to take along, sturdy enough for serious heat.
Or rather a complete set?
Travelling with a bigger group and renting a house for a long weekend? Then a complete cooking pot set is handier than gathering loose pans. One set, one box, everything included. You're sure that all the pans work on the same heat source and stack neatly for the journey home.
What you're better off leaving at home
- Heavy cast iron pans: Unless you're driving and consciously choosing braised meat or a cast iron pancake, leave the cast iron behind. The weight eats up your luggage room.
- Glass lids: Too fragile for the road. Pack a silicone lid or simply a sheet of aluminium foil instead.
- A whole pan set without selection: Three oven dishes, four saucepans and a tagine is overkill for 48 hours. Consciously pick three to four pieces that complement each other.
- Plastic spatulas that melt: A heat-resistant silicone or wooden spatula is safer and lighter.
Induction, gas or ceramic: check the heat source first
Nothing more annoying than arriving with your favourite pan and discovering the base doesn't work on the cooker in your accommodation. Ask the host or check the listing: gas, electric, ceramic or induction? The ceramic pans from Cook & Pan work on every heat source, so you're sorted either way. Still in doubt about a pan at home? Do the magnet test: if a fridge magnet sticks to the base, it works on induction.
Tips to transport your pan safely
- Wrap the pan: Wrap it in a tea towel or pop it in a fabric bag, this prevents scratches on the coating and inside your luggage.
- Fill it up: Use the hollow space in the pan for your wooden spoon, oven mitt, cheese grater or that bottle of wine for the first evening.
- Pan protectors between pans: Stacking two pans on top of each other? Place a felt protector or a tea towel between them.
- Pack the lid separately: A separately packed lid prevents damage to both lid and pan. Have a look at our spare pan lids if you're only missing the lid.
Slow cooking in a holiday cottage
A weekend away is the perfect moment to make something that never works at home because of time pressure. A long stew, a slow-cooked curry or a baked dish: you finally have time to let the pan do its work. In our article on slow cooking without sticking, you'll read which pan to choose for gentle cooking on low heat.
Maintenance on the road: keep your pan in top form
Holiday kitchens rarely have the right sponges and rarely mild dishwasher tablets. Always wash your ceramic pan by hand, don't use a scouring pad and let it cool before putting it under the tap. A hot pan and cold water is asking for thermal shock and a warped base. Just let it cool quietly, then rinse gently, done.
Want an even bigger pan for stews?
Travelling with a group of six or more and want to really pull out all the stops with braised beef, ratatouille or a big curry? Then a casserole pan is a lovely addition. Read our five questions for the right casserole pan before deciding which size suits your weekend and your group.
The Cook & Pan weekend bundle
A light sauté pan, a cooking pot, a small frying pan, and you've got everything you need for 48 to 72 hours. Put the pans on the stove, pour the wine and enjoy a weekend where the food is just as good as the conversations. A good pan in your bag isn't a luxury, it's the difference between bickering over a burnt egg and laughing over a perfect breakfast.
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