I use a mix of cast iron, solid stainlessband aluminum pots and larger simmer pans (restaurant quality) and porcelain fry pans. 5 cast iron, 2 porcelain, 2 bigger boiling pots, 2 larger simmer pans, 2 small pots and two medium pots. I collect at garage sales and thrift stores along with some family items. And I use all of them.

Essentials: big boiling pot, two medium, one small pot. One 12 inch cast iron. One porcelain larger fry pan and one smaller.  Don't worry about type matching, it's about the cooking!

You need a large pasta type pot. I like SS. I like a large high side fry pan it’s called something else.  If you put your pots in the oven or under a broiler then have to have metal handles like restaurants. A no stick for eggs and fish. Cast iron for steak type food. Good pot for turkey and chicken with rack and one you can used ontop of stove.  Non sticks go bad after a time so don’t go crazy on them 

I favour stainless steel saucepans because they are long lasting.  I love a brand called Circulon for non stick coated cookware.  They are not the cheapest but they are very good quality.  I find cast iron much too heavy to lift easily.  

I dream of Le Crueset.......but buy at Target lol

restaurants (at least where I have worked) buy cookware like that seen in Sams Club in the restaurant supply area.   It’s significantly less expensive, will last forever, cooks well.  I do not invest in high-end nonstick cookware as most of those types of surfaces do not last.  A $25 restaurant fry pan is good for a couple of years with proper care and then you can get rid of it when the coating starts to flake or gets scratched without breaking the bank.   

I do have cast iron at home and love it.  It is not expensive.  A chicken fryer is a good thing to have.  

I have loads of beautiful casserole and baking dishes, but I normally use disposable foil pans.  Seriously.  I cook a lot.  I don’t want to do all the dishes.  

I have one cast iron and then an insanely expensive set of stainless steel.  I used to have porcelain, but found that if some people in my house weren't careful (and, of course, they weren't) that the porcelain chipped off,

I have one non stick that I use sparingly because I don't like the chemicals and all that stuff that leech out.

I also have a Rachael Ray dutch oven that is just as fabulous as my old Creuset and far less expensive.

If you have any health concerns, do your research before buying teflon coated or other non-stick pots and pans.

I know this isn't actually cookware but I like to have a BIG bowl for things like salad and pasta. How the heck do people toss salad in a bowl that's filled to the top??

skillets, ceramic lined cast iron dutch oven, many stainless steel pots and pans I bought...at the thrift stores.  I have one non stick skillet left...got rid of it all due to fears of chemical leeching.   You wouldn't believe the high quality legacy Revereware I've purchased at thrift stores.

Pyrex bakeware from same thrift stores.

Brillo and bon ami or barkeepers friend.

For anyone else here that needs cookware, I got my electric kettle from here: https://bestelectricwaterboilers.com