Welcome to Ana's Kitchen Essentials, your guide to the best tools for home cooking in the UK. Discover carefully selected items that bring quality, practicality, and joy to your kitchen. Explore my recommendations and start cooking with confidence!

If you’re thinking about getting something to make cooking a bit easier, I’ll tell you what I’ve been using: the AOBOSI 4-in-1 Electric Meat Grinder. It’s nothing fancy or showy, but it does a lot of jobs without taking up half the kitchen. It grinds meat, helps with prepping veggies, and generally saves you from hauling out three different gadgets every time you cook.

 

I’ve found it especially handy for traditional dishes — the kind you’ll see on my “Coming Home for Christmas” page — because using freshly ground ingredients really does make a difference. It just makes the whole process feel a little more homemade and a little more comforting.

In our family, we’ve always made Sarmale in a good old cast-iron pot. It holds the heat nicely and goes from the hob straight into the oven without any fuss — just what you need for something that cooks low and slow. I still use mine to this day. If you enjoy making those long-simmered dishes, a solid cast-iron pot really does make things easier and a bit more comforting in the kitchen.

This pan has become one of those everyday bits of cookware I reach for without even thinking. The non-stick surface means you hardly need any oil, which is handy when you’re trying to keep things a little lighter. It heats evenly, works on whatever hob you’ve got, and the little pour spout makes it easy to handle soups or sauces without making a mess. The handle stays cool, the lid lets you keep an eye on things, and cleaning it is no bother at all. It’s just one of those pans that quietly earns its place in the kitchen.

Smooth, rounded edges make handling safe and comfortable, and the tin is fully dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Ventilation holes in the base promote steady airflow, allowing doughs to bake through evenly and develop a rich aroma and soft, fluffy crumb.

Supplied with its traditional fitted lid, this loaf tin is ideal for baking authentic Pullman bread as well as homemade cozonac, helping you achieve the tall, beautifully risen shape and golden crust associated with this festive loaf. It is equally versatile for sandwiches, desserts, lasagne, casseroles and meatloaf – a practical addition to any home bakery.

Upgrade your cookware with this versatile universal lid, designed to fit most pots, pans, and frying pans from 20 cm to 30 cm. 

Crafted from premium tempered glass with 100% food-grade, BPA-free silicone, it offers excellent heat resistance and long-lasting durability. The silicone knob provides a secure, cool grip, while the reinforced edge prevents rusting and makes the lid safe for both microwave use and the dishwasher.

A built-in steam vent releases excess pressure and helps to prevent spillovers, while the clear glass allows you to keep an eye on your cooking without lifting the lid.

Please note: this lid is not suitable for cookware with two raised side handles.

Thanks to its flat profile, this multitasking lid stores easily in drawers and cupboards, replacing several individual lids and helping to keep your kitchen organised. An ideal space-saving addition to any modern home kitchen.