Do you like your stainless cookware?

[disny_luvr]

I really, really need new cookware. Currently I am using a variety of different pieces that have been handed down to me. I recently had a Pampered Chef show to earn the cookware at a discounted price. I really like the look of the stainless cookware, but I have personally never cooked using stainless. For those of you that have stainless, do you like it?

 

[JandJ]

I'm curious about this, too. Currently we have odds and ends and most of it is non-stick and the non-stick is coming off. I've thrown away 2 pots recently. We are getting desperate, especially with holiday cooking right around the corner. I have one piece of Le Creuset that was a hand-me-down, and I LOVE it, but I can't afford a whole set. Still, I've been day dreaming about the Le Creuset stainless pieces.

 

[taylor3297]

I switched from non-stick to stainless about 5 years ago. Since my dh didn't always use the correct utensils with cooking with the nonstick, we were constantly having to buy new pans. So I bought a set of Al-Clad. I have to admit it did take awhile to get used to cooking with stainless. Things stick more easily, so PAM is now my best friend. Though the Al-Clad can be put in the diswasher, I hand wash all of my pots to keep them looking nice. At times, when something has really stuck to the pan, I use Bar Keepers friend to get the stuck stuff off.

I have noticed that things cook more evenly in the stainless and I know I will never have to buy another set of pots of pans again. Overall, I am glad I made the purchase.

 

[mbedwell]

I don't know about Pampered Chef pots and pans, but I have stainless cookware, and I LOVE it. I have Calphalon. Bed Bath and Beyond have sales on occasion and 20% off coupons. It is worth it. They clean easily and can go into the dishwasher. The coated pans are not meant to go into the dishwasher.

 

[Stumpy]

We bought a Kenmore set of stainless steel pots from Sears because we needed a replacement for our old non-stick items and the fumes from non-stick pots can be toxic to our birds. We love them, but there is a bit more care involved in them. They work quite well and we don't have many issues with food sticking to them if we use small amounts of oil or cooking sprays. However, after a short while spots may develop on the inside of our pans and we have to clean them a bit more thoroughly. We use Barkeepers Friend and the pots usually look almost new again.

 

[disny_luvr]

JandJ ~ You and I are in the same situation. Everything that has been handed down to me is non-stick and a lot of it is flaking and chipping off. In addition, I think it is a pain to clean. Seriously, it makes me not even want to cook. My experience with non-stick hasn't been good which is why I'm leaning towards stainless.

 

[sherreis]

I switched to Stainless about 2 yrs ago and I love my set. I purchased mine through HSN - Wolfgang Puck.
Just remember to cook at lower temperatures so you don't burn your pots.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I switched to Stainless about 2 yrs ago and I love my set. I purchased mine through HSN - Wolfgang Puck.
Just remember to cook at lower temperatures so you don't burn your pots.

I too just recently switched to SS thru HSN. I purchased the Emeril set and so far so great! I shared the set with my MIL as I have many pieces of Calphalon Commercial that Im not ready to part with. DH destroyed my nonstick fry pans thru scraping and burning so I took the fry pans and gave MIL the rest.
Emeril SS is made by All-Clad and my 10 piece set with lids was $150

Thanks for the tip on Barkeepers Friend!!

 

[Kayka]

I have a set of Farberware al clad that I got in the mid 80's, they still look brand new. I do keep a few non-stick skillets on hand, but they are in addition to, could never replace my stainless.

 

[mrodgers]

My wife loves stainless. My mother bought her non-stick stuff once for Christmas (birthday maybe?) and she hated it. Wifey is not someone who will bother with using plastic utensils because of the non-stick.

Me, cast iron on the bbq. I don't cook... inside. Wife and kids bought me a new grill for Father's Day last year and now I do the majority of the cooking - rain, shine, or 20 inches of snow . Burgers, steaks, chicken, pork, whatever on one side, my trusty cast iron skillet cooking some cubed potatoes on the other side with one of Wifey's small SS pots cooking some veggies tossed on for good measures (gotta have those veggis ) I'm out on the bbq a bit early whipping up some sauce for the meat in another one of Wifey's SS pots.

 

[mckinley]

I have had stainless steel for many years, until recently i got some non-stick. I personally hate the stainless everything sticks to them and burns so much easier.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I LOVE my stainless steel cookware. I have a full Emeril set. It's made by All Clad and has a lifetime warranty.

I think it cooks so much more evenly and much more quickly. If you do purchase the stainless steel don't ever set your pots and pans on high as it will burn/scorch in a blink of an eye. I'm talking from experience.

I spray a little oil in the pan and don't have an issue with sticking. I let it soak in the sink to clean and it's good for the dishwasher. I'll never go back from stainless set and ready to get even more.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I got a set of stainless Gordon Ramsey (made by Royal Doulton) cookware as a wedding gift. I LOVE them! They cook so evenly and they never burn when cooking something delicate. I do follow the instructions and never turn the heat up past about 3/4 of the max, though. They also look fabulous, and I know I will have them forever. I do, however, put them in the dishwasher.... I'm rethinking that, after seeing marks on the inside that I'm sure are from the washer.

One downside? They're heavy! I have trouble pouring the large pots when they are filled with water (like for boiling pasta). But I love that they can go directly from the stove to the oven, and they're so easy to clean.

 

[wdwfan16]

I love our stainless cookware. I always thought the non-stick surfaces was the way to go, but they always came off. I was worried about injesting that stuff so we got SS. It is far easier to clean and you do not need to worry about scratchs. I wish we got ours earlier.

 

[TupperMom7]

I have a set of Farberware Stainless steel that got back when we first got married. I have a question for other SS owners - do the outside bottom of your pots get black? We have a gas stove - not sure if that's why or not. I'm planning on buying a new set of pots, hopefully on black Friday, and I'm thinking about the Emeril ware. I also like Rachel Ray's, but they might be non-stick.

 

[redrosesix]

I use only stainless except for 1 small non-stick skillet (mostly used for omelets, and only I get to use it, never DH) plus 2 sizes of cast iron skillets. I went for the high end pots (ours are Paderno, which I think are only available in Canada, but they're about the same quality as Lagostina) I just bought one piece at a time, got a couple for Christmas presents from my mom -- finally ditched all the cheap odds and ends about a year ago.

I wouldn't want to cook with anything else now --great to go from burner to oven (just like on the cooking shows) and there aren't any hot spots. I can also get accessories like steamers to fit them, plus I don't have to buy a lid for every pot -- there are only a few standard sizes so just a few lids will do.

 

[dyna]

I have a set of very heavy 4ply SS that I been using for more than 30 yrs that still looks new my mom has a set of the same stuff that is 50 yrs old an still going strong. We love the SS would not trade it for anything in the world. I bought my SS when I was in my early teens knew that was what I wanted to cook with when I got out on my own. Trying to remember the brand name I know what I have is not offered in stores. My set was half off when I bought it in the early 70's an I still paid more than $350.00 for it back then.

weight of SS makes a huge difference the lightweight stuff not as good or as durable as the heavy.

 

[edk35]

I too just recently switched to SS thru HSN. I purchased the Emeril set and so far so great! I shared the set with my MIL as I have many pieces of Calphalon Commercial that Im not ready to part with. DH destroyed my nonstick fry pans thru scraping and burning so I took the fry pans and gave MIL the rest.
Emeril SS is made by All-Clad and my 10 piece set with lids was $150

Thanks for the tip on Barkeepers Friend!!

I have had a set by Emeril for a several years now. I love it. However.....it is heavy to clean. Some of the larger pieces really work out your arms.

 

[Disney Ron]

I got a set of Cuisinart SS pans in 1993. They are still like new and I enjoy using them.

This set is very similar to mine. http://www.cuisinartwebstore.com/detail/CUI+77-17