Cookware advice needed

[piratesmate]

About 4 yrs ago DH bought me a new set of cookware. He wanted to get me the Calphalon but I thought it was too heavy. I figured it would be the last set we'd buy so I was hesitant & went with the Circulon. I was really pleased with it - except for the need to use nothing higher than Medium heat - takes forever to boil water.

I followed the directions for use very carefully - only olive oil, no butter, correct heat, use their little brush thing for cleaining, etc. It was great for 2+ years. Suddenly, the frying pans started to peel(?) I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it looks like there is stuff stuck in the "circles" & they've now lost their "no stick" quality. It happened to all the pans, one by one. I'm VERY disappointed in them - they were not cheap.

Oh - I wanted to say that I bought the Calphalon utensils to use with my Circulon. I think the Circulon ones had metal handles. Anyway, the Calphalon ones tend to be top heavy - the handles are too long & fall out of the shorter pots. I have no trouble with them - they're just annoying.

 

[jel0511]

Go with All Clad, and get the stainless steel ones. I also have a few non-stick pans from All Clad and they're great also. The stainless steel pans from All-Clad are dishwasher safe, so they clean up with a breeze. I used to have the Calaphon anondized set, and I lasted 4 weeks with it before I threw it out!!! I haved the way the anondized felt to me, and it was such a pain to clean, and I did have some non-stick ones!! The outside is VERY hard to clean if you have any type of splatter, or over run. They also aren't dishwasher safe, so it's all handwashing there. The All-Clad are the best ones, and if you notice, most of the Chefs cook with them, even Emeril!!! He doesn't even use his own pans!!!! They dispense heat the best, also heat up very quickly.

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for all the replies so far. A little more information from me...

I'm a casual cook. I'd rather clean the bathrooms, I simply don't enjoy cooking and use the BBQ as much as possible. I would prefer something I can put in the dishwasher, I usually handwash my pots and pans then put them in the dishwasher to "sterilize" them.

My DH and DS will also be using these pots and pans sometimes, and they aren't always as careful as they should be with non-stick surfaces and such.

I'm not opposed to the idea of aluminum/steel for pots, but definitely want non-stick for pans. I've found that I use the microwave for many things that burn in pots, such as rice, and it comes out wonderfully in the "nuke".

Does that offer a little more insight into what would work for me?

Thanks!

Anne

 

[RUDisney]

I have to step in with a few comments. Piratesmate, you CAN boil water on high heat. The reason that you are told to cook on low to medium is to prevent sticking in the pot/pan. It is not because you aren't supposed to heat up the aluminum to a high setting.

For food that does stick to ANY surface, invest the couple of dollars in Dawn's new Power Dissolver. I bought it on a lark to see if it would work and was very pleasantly surprised that it DOES take alot of the elbow work out of cleaning stuck-on foods.

I have all calphalon. IMO, nothing cooks like calphalon. I love that I can take a frying pan from the stovetop to the oven without having to transfer the food to another pan. I am a major league cook, so I could justify the expense and the quality of these pots. I never bought a set, though. I bought all open stock and try me's. I got the sizes and shapes that I wanted... not the kind that calphalon thought I should have. It was also cheaper in the long run.

If you go with calphalon brand, you'll need a non-stick for making eggs. Even on ultra low heat, they stick to the anodized aluminum. Go with a cheapie brand non-stick. Calphalon's non-stick is good for a little while, but not for the long haul, especially for the price.

If I was you... a committed "non-cooker" or "casual cook"... I'd buy cheaper pots/pans and just replace them as needed. Unless you think you'll suddenly gain a great love of cooking, you'll only be throwing your money away on something from which you won't see any benefit.

My parents have had cheaper cookware for almost 40 years of marriage and none of us were the worse for wear from it. It wasn't until a few years ago that we started buying my Mom calphalon cookware. Dad would never have parted with the money for those. This year, we're buying her 18/8 flatware to go with her china. (Also a non-necessity, as far as Dad is concerned.... We're just amazed that they ever got any china in the first place. )

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Now that you added a little more information, I would say go with the Cook's Essentials from QVC. I have heard only great things about this line.
http://www.qvc.com/scripts/detail.dll?item=K0721&cp=class4305&tmp=m1&cont=4i

I have Calphalon myself, but I love cooking whenever I have the chance to do it.

 

[piratesmate]

RUDisney - Thanks for the info! I was just going by what the literature said, as well as what the salesclerks at Macy's told me. I was really afraid that someone else (DH, DD or DS) had been using it & turning the heat up because they were impatient. I guess that means the cookware was just faulty somehow. Unfortunately, DH told me he never sent the warranty cards - he tossed them instead.

 

[Kimberle]

I received a T-phal set 7 years ago as a wedding gift. I love it. Works great, any temp, any "fat", goes into the dishwasher. Cleans up well.

It's also coded w/ "non-stick" stuff.

 

[FOJMO]

It's the BEST cookware I've ever had in 30+ years of cooking. It's non-stick, the EASIEST to clean, and all of the pieces can go in the oven. I can make a pineapple upside cake on the top of the stove, putting the butter, pineapple, etc. and then add the cake batter and then put the WHOLE PAN in the oven! Beautiful!

I hosted a party and got enough sales to be able to purchase the entire $500 set for 1/2 price. $250 is terrific for such wonderful cookware.

My DH says, every time he uses the frying pan and then cleans it, "I LOVE THIS PAN!"

You can't get a better testament than that!

 

[zulaya]

Pampered Chef Professional Cookware. Has Dupont Autograph - the best non stick coating on the market. The clincher...LIFETIME WARRANTY! If something ever goes wrong, send it to Pampered Chef and they send you a new piece. here's a link to see what pieces are carried:

http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/category.jsp?subcategoryId=17&categoryCode=CW

 

[ahutton]

As for where to buy pans from, I've had the absolute best luck shopping at a small store called Tuesday Morning. They have many locations in NJ, which is where you show you are from. They are a high end clearance store, so you have to go in ready to look, but I've found great prices on my Calphalon pans there, along with many other treasures. They have a web site with a store locator, but no online shopping. I was able to get a set for regular use, and a couple specialty pans, for what many people would pay twice as much for and get half as many pans. I have a combination of regular and non-stick pans, and use different pans for different reasons.

For cleaning I love the little nylon scrapers from Pampered Chef, they are a great deal, and work wonderfully without hurting any of my cookware or bakeware.

 

[loisg1]

I'd also vote for Cook's Essentials from QVC. You can try it for 30 days and return it if you're not totally satisfied. It comes in hard anodized, enamel, and stainless which can go into the oven up to 500 degrees. No special handling regarding utensils is required either.

Good luck as you make your choice!
Lois

 

[DrCool]

Any kitchen should contain at least 1 cast iron frying pan. There is nothing better for things like fried chicken, country fried steak, and other things of that nature. They take a bit of work to season but after that they are fairly non-stick and will last forever. Your great grand kids will be able to use these pans if you care for them correctly.

 

[whirlsy]

another vote for the cooks essentials, I love the fact that they have a lifetime warranty and that they come on easy pay, which means you can get them with three payments to your credit card. I love these pans, I have gone through two sets of T-Fal (hated both sets) and now I wont go back. good luck with your decision.

 

[ducklite]

Wow! You guys have been great! Thanks SO much for all the comments.

I loved the suggestion of buying one piece of open stock or "try me" first. Better to make a $30 mistake than a $400 mistake!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

An update...

We decided to go with the Calphalon One series. I bought a single piece open stock and tried it for a bit, and was thrilled with it. It's a little heavier than some of the other brands, but not by much. It has a lifetime warranty, which DH liked. It's scratchproof under normal use, which was good. It did cost more than some of the other brands but cleanup was a breeze, and I do'nt have to worry about it getting scratched up by my guys using a metal spoon to stir something with in the pot. We felt the extra cost was fine, as with many of the other non-stick brands it would scratch and need to be replaced in five years, making it more expensive in the long run.

Thanks again for all of your opinions, especially the idea of trying a single piece before purchase. That was a lifesaver, as I actually had bought a single piece of another brand as well to try, and ended up hating it (cleanup was NOT a breeze!)

Anne

 

[MerryPoppins]

Glad you found a set that makes you happy.

 

[Poohnatic]

Anne,

Glad you tried one piece of cookware. That's the advice a lot of pros give...I did that with the cookware and knives.

I've got a set of Calphalon Professional Non Stick that hubby wanted. It's pretty good. I wanted the All Clad, so he got me 2 pieces of theirs. They take all the cooking abuse we throw at them.

A few years back, we got a really great deal on Emerilware...have a great large frypan and 5 qt stockpot and they are also great, really easy to clean. From time to time, we check out Linens and Things, because we got those for 75% off there! They've had that sale, but now we're only looking for two pans, and those sizes sell out quick.

If you want heavy duty stuff, we also have two LeCreuset pots...wow, nothing sticks so bad that a five minute soak doesn't take off. One came off of Amazon as a gold box deal...20 bucks for a 2 quart tomato saucepan!

So glad my hubby has become a 'foodie' and is right there with me when I want to buy the good stuff! And understands that we don't need to wash out the cast iron frypan...it's starting to get that wonderful blackness like my grandma's.

The funniest part is that we still have the Farberware I bought when I first moved out on my own!

Happy cooking with your new pots and pans!

Suzanne

 

[Dana49]

After you've made your choice, search Amazon.com for feedback on the item. I was going to purchase calphalon, recently, and the feedback varied dramatically.

 

[Judy from Boise]

OK experts please tell me the best pans for
1. Frying petite sirloins
2. Electric skillet for roasts
3. Soups and stews that I start by browning/carmelizing the meat

I am cooking on gas, and a regular cooker but also a FT worker so always looking for quick.

 

[chell]

Originally posted by Judy from Boise
OK experts please tell me the best pans for
1. Frying petite sirloins
2. Electric skillet for roasts
3. Soups and stews that I start by browning/carmelizing the meat

I am cooking on gas, and a regular cooker but also a FT worker so always looking for quick.

Judy here are my picks

1. Good ole old fashioned iron skillet with or without grill lines
2. No idea
3. LeCreuset or a smilar heavy stockpot