Whether you're boiling pasta for a crowd or preparing dinner for two, Alex's rundown of pot-and-pan essentials covers all your basic cooking needs. Follow her tips by selecting the best cookware to suit your lifestyle, and you'll be prepared to take on almost any task in the kitchen. 

Sauteing is a common cooking method implemented in many recipes, so chances are you're going to need a good set of saute pans to get you through the week. Alex recommends investing in three or four high-quality pots and pans rather than a dozen cheap ones.

According to Alex, a good set of pots and pans makes cooking at home easy, which will build better eating habits. "I don’t have a lot of room in my Manhattan kitchen. That makes my choices all the more important –– I don’t want to deal with kitchen clutter," she says. If you're looking to optimize cabinet space, a set of small, medium and large saute pans can be stacked and easily stored.

Having a large, stainless-steel saute pan at your fingertips will come in handy when cooking for a crowd. If you're hosting brunch, you'll most likely reach for this item when making pancakes or scrambled eggs for your guests.