Can you recommend a great cookware set?

[jedijill]

I love my non-stick Emerilware (I think Calphalon puts it out). Its lightweight, cooks evenly and is easy to clean. I don't know if they are dishwasher safe - I hand wash it. I've had it for over 2 years, cook alot with them and they are still like new.

You can usually get it at BB & Beyond with a 20% off coupon (set or pieces). Sometimes Marshalls & TJ Maxx have the pieces too.

Emerilware is actually made by All-Clad. I love love love love this set. My parents bought me a set for college graduation and I added the annodized to the original stainless steel pieces. They are fantastic and look like new almost 8 years later!

Jill in CO

 

[EllNat11]

I have the big set from the Calphalon Contemporary hard anodized non-stick line.


I...Love....It

It's a little pricey, but worth it for us. Can't go in the dishwasher, but literally even burned on mess rinses right off - so never been an issue for me.

Good luck!

 

[Tina]

I'm on my second set of these. The non stick coating is peeling off and that can't be good. They are very light weight though.

I used to love these Cook's Essential's pans too. I especially loved that I could get stainless steel with non-stick interior. However, the love was short-lived. These didn't last. They really can't take the high-heat they advertise to take. Mine are worn and pretty much useless, except for the saucepans (I do love the steamer/saucepan sets I got years ago). I prefer Calphalon and All Clad. More money, but they can take the heat.

 

[arminnie]

I love my circulon infinite, it's great cookware and is totally dishwasher safe

A senior editor at the Sunset cooking books highly recommended this.

I'd already bought Calphalon - which I have despised for 20 years and finally got rid of it in an estate sale. Cleaning the pans required LOTS of scrubbing and soaking and then scrubbing some more. Anything citrus ruined the finish.

I am now using my mother's 65 year old Guardian Wear. It hasn't been made since the 50s when the factory burned down. But honestly that stuff is bullet proof. Some of it was discolored so I just popped it in the oven on the self clean cycle - good as new.

It's great stuff. I think it cost a fortune back in the 40s. I have everything - fish platter, double boiler, huge kettle, tons of sauce pans. Plus it looks great too. It's got sort of a pebbled finish.

 

[topdog]

Scanpan. It's non-stick. It can go into the oven. It can go into dishwasher. It can cook with metal utensil. Can not cook with non-stick spray like PAM.

Down side, very expensive.

I've been using it for 13 years and no plan to replace them.

 

[scbelleatheart]

I love my circulon infinite, it's great cookware and is totally dishwasher safe

I agree with the Circulon. A litte expensive but dishwasher safe, non-stick, lasts forever. I got mine when Lazarus (now Macy's) was closing their original store out. Marked down 50% and then an additional 75% the day the doors closed. My husband made 3 or 4 trips with all the stuff I bought! I love this stuff.

 

[tinkermom23]

I got the Pampered Chef set a couple years ago and I love it! I think it's called Professional series. I had a party and got most of it for free, the only way I could afford it.

 

[DiznyDi]

I did not like my Calphalon professional non-stick, but I love my Calphalon stainless.

 

[luvmy3]

Trimontina from Walmart.

In my search to find affordable All-Clad I found some reviews on the Tramontina Try-Ply clad and they were very good, even comparable to All-Clad, not identical but definitely an affordable option. I was considering building an All-Clad collection piece by piece when I can find it on sale, but I think I'm going to order the Tramontina set and add the All-Clad as needed.

 

[bettymae1121]

I love my Caphlon stainless set. It's heavy, but good stainless cookware is supposed to be heavy! It can go in the dishwaher but I wash it by hand a lot to get the stuck-on stuff off. Just some Barkeepers Friend and Dobe pad and it cleans right up.

To me, non-stick is only needed if cooking eggs, just about everything else, if you use a small amout of butter/oil then it won't stick. Honestly it doesn't add that much fat and if you use healthy fats like olive or canola oils then it's really a non issue. When I switched from non-stick to stainless I thought I'd be using a ton more oil/butter but as it turns out I'm using the same amount, usually just what the receipe calls for.

Anyway, I got my Caphlon stainless set at Kohl's after waiting for one of their 30% off sales w/free shiping. I got the big set plus added on the mulitpot/steamer and paid $241 for all of it. But it's such good quality it should last me for decades so I feel it's worth the investment!

 

[brunette8706]

Emerilware is actually made by All-Clad. I love love love love this set. My parents bought me a set for college graduation and I added the annodized to the original stainless steel pieces. They are fantastic and look like new almost 8 years later!

Jill in CO

*
Hi Jedijill!

Stupid question, I know, but doesn't stainless steel stick? They're beautiful but I'm so afraid food will burn or stick. LOL!

thanks!
Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

I love my Caphlon stainless set. It's heavy, but good stainless cookware is supposed to be heavy! It can go in the dishwaher but I wash it by hand a lot to get the stuck-on stuff off. Just some Barkeepers Friend and Dobe pad and it cleans right up.

To me, non-stick is only needed if cooking eggs, just about everything else, if you use a small amout of butter/oil then it won't stick. Honestly it doesn't add that much fat and if you use healthy fats like olive or canola oils then it's really a non issue. When I switched from non-stick to stainless I thought I'd be using a ton more oil/butter but as it turns out I'm using the same amount, usually just what the receipe calls for.

Anyway, I got my Caphlon stainless set at Kohl's after waiting for one of their 30% off sales w/free shiping. I got the big set plus added on the mulitpot/steamer and paid $241 for all of it. But it's such good quality it should last me for decades so I feel it's worth the investment!

*
Hi Sounds like a great deal! So if I get the Calaphon Stainless steel it should stick then? LOL! Do you always keep the heat on low? Also, does it always stay shiny? Thanks so much for your input.

Brunette

 

[disneydreamersx4]

What's the deal now with Non-Stick stuff? I'm in the market for new pots & pans, but I'm confused about it... I know our current stuff (over 8 years old, a wedding gift when we got married at 21 and all our friends were broke, too ) has Teflon and it turns out that's not very healthy when it's heated at high temps. Is non-stick cookware still made with it or do they use something else? I clearly haven't done any research on it yet, but our handles fall off sometimes (we can put them back on, lol!) and we just need a more "grown up" set. But, I also want something that's safer for my family.

I also read about the non-stick pans so I stopped using mine! I have one new pan so far, it's stainless steel T-Fal and the only problem I can see with it is cooking eggs, but it's not a real big problem if you put a little oil in the pan first then put water in it and scrape the eggs right after you're done cooking, makes clean up easier (wow that was a long sentence LOL)

The thing about stainless also is to get 18/10 quality. Also, heat up your stainless before you put food or oil in.

 

[maleficentmom]

Trimontina from Walmart.

used to love mine,even thought about buying more pieces,until one bad burn ruined it...tried to salvage but it ended up in trash,maybe if you are careful with the heat they would last, it was great until then...have had Cooks Essentials Hard Anondized from QVC for 13 years, my large skillet is pretty rough but the rest looks and works well!

 

[MissBritt]

My MIL bought us KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Hard-Base Porcelain Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set in a blue color a few years ago and they have been great. KA items usually come in several colors, too. They are abou $150 for the 10 piece set.

 

[jedijill]

*
Hi Jedijill!

Stupid question, I know, but doesn't stainless steel stick? They're beautiful but I'm so afraid food will burn or stick. LOL!

thanks!
Brunette

Yes, Stainless steel will stick which is why I supplemented my set with the annodized pieces which don't stick.

Jill in CO

 

[amwhitaker]

Has anyone ever returned cookware to QVC? My pans are shot and I need to return them. They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty.

 

[maleficentmom]

Has anyone ever returned cookware to QVC? My pans are shot and I need to return them. They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty.

i know someone who did return one without a prob, think she had reg. nonstick kind....i was wondering too,my skillet has had it and I wanted to return it,but i don't have any paperwork

 

[debbiecarr98]

I'm on my second set of these. The non stick coating is peeling off and that can't be good. They are very light weight though.

I thought there was a lifetime guarantee on these, you should call customer service.

 

[brunette8706]

Has anyone ever returned cookware to QVC? My pans are shot and I need to return them. They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty.

*
If it's a lifetime warranty you shouldn't have a problem. What cookware set did you purchase if you don't mind me asking? QVC also has a record(s) of all the purchases you have made. I never have a problem with their customer service. Please let us know the outcome with this. Good luck!

Brunette