4. The Saucy Skillet
When you close your eyes and picture a chef making the perfect marinara, the chances are that they’re using a large crockpot or similar saucepan to prepare the sauce. A pot simmering away under low heat with a chef slowly stirring the simmering gravy is a typical scene you’d expect to see in any movie when an Italian chef is preparing some spaghetti and meatballs.
However, it may be surprising to learn that this isn’t the best option for this task. Professional chefs recommend using a cast-iron skillet instead of a saucepan or crockpot. Placing a skillet over medium heat allows the sauce to cook evenly and helps it thicken faster.
Using a skillet instead of a saucepan lets you toss the pasta with the sauce before serving. If that doesn’t convince you to choose a skillet over a crockpot, then the fact that it’s way easier to clean up might persuade you.