Which term can be defined as equipment used to prepare and cook food, such as pots and pans?

The term that refers to equipment used to prepare and cook food, such as pots and pans, is smallwares. Smallwares encompass a variety of items used in food preparation, including cooking utensils, kitchen gadgets, and any other tools that facilitate the cooking process. This category embraces both the non-electrical and electrical equipment commonly found in professional kitchens and home cooking environments.

Pots and pans specifically fall under this classification, as they are essential for cooking methods like boiling, frying, and baking. Understanding this term is crucial for culinary students, as it helps them to identify and utilize the necessary tools for various cooking tasks in their culinary practices.

Other terms like hand tools, chef's tools, and measuring tools refer to specific subsets or types of smallwares. Hand tools typically include items such as knives and peelers, chef's tools might refer more specifically to the tools used by chefs but may not specifically encompass pots and pans, and measuring tools are distinctly those meant for quantifying ingredients rather than for cooking.