Best cookware set you ever owned?

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Thanks a bunch for all the great information.....you guys are great, now I have so many to think about when I go shopping. I have a few Le Creuset large and small dutch ovens and I love them (love the idea for DH to purchase some more pieces as gifts). I'm looking to purchase a stainless steel set and want a pasta pot as well. Thanks again for all the great information

 

[sherry7]

I have a variety of Calphalon Professional and Commercial hard anodized. I've bought most of it piece by piece on Amazon, and was lucky to get mostly made in the USA products. (USA made Calphalon is heavier than the Chinese version.)

If you're buying Calphalon, try to stay away from the "Everyday" version (sold at Target, etc). It's the least expensive line of Calphalon, and it's just not made nearly as well. I bought my mom a set for Christmas a couple of years ago, and while she is happy with it, I didn't like it nearly as well as the pieces I have. If you watch the sales at Amazon, you can buy the better variety for nearly the same price.

If you want to "try out" Calphalon, here's an excellent and inexpensive piece of start with: http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Commercial-Hard-Anodized-12-Inch-Everyday/dp/B00006FX83/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1233282483&sr=8-1 It's $39.99 right now, but often drops to $29.99 on the Friday sale. It is one of the Chinese made pieces, but the quality is still very good. I've had this particular pan for over 5 years, and I'm still loving it.

With any hard anodized cookware (Calphalon, All Clad, etc), it's important to remember to keep the heat lower than normal, and NEVER use over medium-high. Hard anodized holds the heat better, and using higher temperatures will cause burning and sticking. Also, with hard anodized, it's important to pre-heat the pan/pot for at least a couple of minutes before adding food, or you'll get sticking.

 

[tar heel]

I've been using a set of Revere Ware with the copper bottoms for more than 20 years, and I cook a LOT. I've also got a couple pieces of Revere Ware that my mother-in-law gave me that are almost-for-certain older that that. I'm not sure I'll ever replace this cookware, and I don't think I paid much over $100 for it.

 

[poohbear15]

I bought Tupperware pots and pans about 4 months ago because I sell Tupperware and customers were asking me what I thought of them. I could not give them an honest answer until I tried them. WOW they are amazing. I had all caphlon before and I can't believe how well these are. Everyone that told me to buy them was right.

 

[jodeeluvsdisney]

I have the Pampered Chef Professional set I got about 10 years ago. Held a party so it was only half price and it has a lifetime guarantee. So, I never have to buy cookware again. But...that does make me kinda sad when I see all the newfangled pretty sets out. LOL

I think I have the same PC set, also purchased at half price and about 10 years ago!!

I love it, and it is comparable to a few other Calphalon pieces I received as wedding gifts...great pots and pans and have held up well, even through the dishwasher!

 

[candykisses]

I love my All Clad MC2 set. I like heavier cookware and this set is just right for me. It cooks great and clean up is a breeze.

I have (had)two other sets that I received as wedding presents. The copper bottom Revere ware I gave away and T Fal that I like and still use for some things.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I think I have the same PC set, also purchased at half price and about 10 years ago!!

I love it, and it is comparable to a few other Calphalon pieces I received as wedding gifts...great pots and pans and have held up well, even through the dishwasher!

Yeah, I missed that whole part of the instructions about not putting them in the dishwasher. I remember the look of horror another PC consultant had on her face years later when she saw my set. Ah well! LOL I figure as I return them if/when they wear out, once they come back I won't put the new ones in the dishwasher.

 

[Folklore]

I have the Calphalon One infused anodized set. DH and I shopped around a lot before we decided upon these. My MIL originally bought the cheaper Calphalon set for us last year thinking it was the one we wanted but we ended up returning it and used the money to buy the Calphalon One set instead. I have to say that we absolutely love it! The pans cook so well and clean up is a breeze. They cannot go in the dishwasher but are easily cleaned using warm soap and water. Even really cooked on stains easily come off after letting the pan soak in warm water for 30 minutes and using a greenie. I have to say that we have really used and abused these pans but after a year they still look brand new.

 

[LisaInNc]

I have been using Calphalon for 17 years. My Mom has been using it for around 25 years. They last forever! They are pricy but I got some amazing deals through Amazon and I would never used another cookwear.

 

[dyna]

I have a set of 4 ply stainless steel that I been using for over 30 yrs that I dearly LOVE I bought the set as a kid know it might be something I wouldn't be able to aford once married. I do like nonstick skillets for eggs tho... other than that I use my stainless for everything.

My mom has a set of the 4 ply stainless that she has been using for over 50 yrs still looks good too!

1 time right after supper was started power line broke out in front of house from ice on line. NOBODY thought to turn off burner on stove the big dutch oven soup pot was full of water for spaghetti. Power came on just moments after everyone left for school an work next morning that pan set on the burner on HIGH from about 8am till 4 pm when we got in from school. Pot was glowing red when we came in an turned off burner then turned coal black. Daddy scrubbed the pan mom still uses it to this day.

Most pans would have already melted an set house on fire!

 

[Lucky4me]

My Calphalon set is 29 years old and still going strong.
I think my Mom paid $700 for it way back then. Worth every penny.

 

[sluggozmom]

I've had the Macy's Belgique set for almost 20 years.
I have been very happy with it, and it's held up quite nicely.
I do have a couple of no-name non stick pans too!

 

[decaff38]

I have a few peices of the Tools of the Trade Belgique Stainless Steel from Macy's. They had copper bottoms but now have a silver type bottom because copper is so expensive now. Absolutely love them. They cook perfectly and they are so nice looking. I have a stock pot /steamer combo, 2 fry pans ( one with no stick and one without, and a small sauce pan. I just watch for their big sales and buy another piece. THey usually run about 20.00 after all the discounts.

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

Amazon.com has the Calphalon 9 Piece Hard Anodized set on sale today (1/30/09) for $149.99.

 

[Carol23]

Pampered Chef sets without a doubt!!! I've had mine for ever and They are the bomb!!! One of the pieces I even baked a cake in the oven in it. came out PERFECT!!!

 

[kpadalik]

We have Farberware. It does last forever! My MIL still has some of her pieces from when she was married 35+ years ago and they still look really good! My mom has some Cook's Essentials from QVC and really likes it.

 

[Melynny]

I have had my Magnalite anodized set for about 20 years, and I love it. The only piece that has not held up well has been the non stick skillet that I bought separately. I love it, it's similar to calphalon but it was much less expensive. Do they even make it any more? I got mine at a " Lodge Outlet".

 

[floridafam]

I purchased some Nordicware peices recently and I am pretty happy with them. They are made in the USA. That was one of my requirements when looking for new cookware. I am no longer going to cook on anything made in China as I just don't know it it's safe.

I only bought a few Nordicware pans to test them out and will either buy more or will buy Calphalon One because I have heard good things and they are also made in the USA.

 

[cndij]

I have to say my plain old fashioned Farberware.....had it for 15 years. Stopped using non stick when they came out and said the high heat releases toxins right into your food. I don't quite trust all the new ones as they are too new. Farberware is stainless and has to be aroung 60-80 years.... I also LOVE my plain oldfashioned cast iron.

I second the vote for Farberware, been married almost 30 years and except for one pot that I let boil dry and melted the aluminum bottom off of (literally aluminum dripped on my lineloleum when I grabbed it glowing red off the stove ) the first year I had them. I have bought some supersized stockpots in the last couple of years (12 quart and 16 quart) off of Amazon and am just as pleased as with my original ones. I do not hower use the stainless frying pans, my trusty well seasoned iron skillets are still the absolute best. My mom still has some Copper Clad Revereware that is almost 50 years old now, and the copper is wearing a little thin, and some 40+ year old Farberware still going strong.
I have thrown out any non stick pans I had, too much chance of aluminum or other toxins escaping from my research, not worth the health risk to me.