Pots and Pans Question

[KandD]

My fiance and I just started our registry and while at Bed Bath and Beyond I realized that I had no clue what I wanted for pots and pans!

Sooo, what should I look for in a cooking set? Are stainless better or nonstick?

What do my fellow DISers have that they love (or don't love?)

Any advice is appreciated!! Thank you!!

 

[kacaju]

many of the pots and pan sets say not to put in the dishwasher. When I looked for new pots a few years ago I saw that. To me, that was a huge turn off.

 

[KandD]

many of the pots and pan sets say not to put in the dishwasher. When I looked for new pots a few years ago I saw that. To me, that was a huge turn off.

Interesting....we currently do not have a dishwasher but within the next few years we plan on getting the kitchen redone and hopefully install a dishwasher then. I didn't realize that a lot of them were not dishwasher safe.

 

[cassiez76]

i registered for a 3 pack (s,m,l) non-stick frying pans from bbb and they've been awesome. i think it was a $20. i use the big one the most, and i does need to be replaced after 3 years. the small and medium one are still fine though.

i'm looking for new ones now and i'm kinda in love with the new purple 10 piece from paula deen. love the purple!

 

[goodeats]

I love our All Clad Stainless Steel. I think they clean pretty easily, but if you do burn something I just use some steel wool and it takes it right off. Even if they were able to go in the dishwasher I wouldn't put them in because they would take so much room. They just take a few seconds to wash anyway.

We have one nonstick pan for eggs that has to be replaced every so often. Eventually the nonstick disappears. That's what I like about the SS, it will last a very long time. Well worth the price to me.

 

[graciejane]

I received Emril pots and pans sevral years ago for Christmas. They aren't non stick, but clean up very easy. And as a pp stated, any tough stuff comes off with a little steal wool. I love my pans!!

 

[mikehn]

for all purpose cooking, stay with a good quality non-stick. just about all the high end brands offer a non-stick line.

 

[arminnie]

I despised my Calphalon pans and just recently gave them away. Everything, stuck and they couldn't go in the dishwasher.

Seriously I don't want anything that can't go in the dishwasher. I've washed good china and sterling silver in the dw for years and years with no problems.

 

[java]

Starting out I would go for a few basics- I am not a fan of "sets" as you normally get pieces you won't need in them.

A non-stick skillet. For eggs ect.

I do have a non-stick skillet also- but that's it for non-stick for me. (I bought off QVC-technique line and they've lasted way longer than any other non-sticks I have had)

Stainless steel skillet- so you can finish things off in the oven.

Stock pot

Pasta pot.

My dream pots would be All Clad copper core stainless. But I'm not in that price range right now.

I got Calphalon pots for my wedding 20 years ago and they are still going strong. But I need to add in some new pieces now.

Congratulations.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Stainless Steel only. Also ask for a can of Bar Keepers Friend, it helps polish the interior of the pans (do not use it on the outside of the pans).

There is zero reason to need a non-stick pan if you cook your foods in a stainless steel pan correctly. Things to remember about cooking with stainless steel:

1. Avoid cooking stuff under high heat (there is limited reason to ever have a burner all the way up to high)
2. Do not place a hot pan under water
3. Clean the pans it after each use promptly (after cooled)
4. Do not place salt on a pan directly, always boil the water first, then stir in the salt
5. Do not place pans in a dishwasher (again, no reason to)

 

[katesorad]

My favorite pan that I have right now is Emeril. It is non-stick and absolutely incredible. I'm a cooking snob and when I cook, I like to have a quick, easy clean-up because I often spend hours in the kitchen. Also, something that I think is a necessity, is Le Creuset cookware. I have no idea where I'd be without mine!

Other things that you may want to consider getting (that I didn't even think of myself until the moment came where I needed it!): a meat thermometer, a candy thermometer, a nice food processor, a Dutch oven, a crock pot (they aren't just for old school beef stews anymore!!), a cheese board and knife set, and some nice salt and pepper mills. Those get pricey, and it's nice if you request them to match your kitchen!

 

[Kirby]

I have a set of Emeril stainless and don't like it, mostly because it's heavy. I have a bad shoulder that makes them difficult to use.

I've had both but prefer non stick. As a PP, I don't care for sets. I have plenty of large pots for stews/soup/etc.

One thing that I have that we use quite a bit is an electric skillet.

 

[akcire]

I love our All Clad Stainless Steel. I think they clean pretty easily, but if you do burn something I just use some steel wool and it takes it right off. Even if they were able to go in the dishwasher I wouldn't put them in because they would take so much room. They just take a few seconds to wash anyway.

All-Clad Stainless can go in the dishwasher as long as they do not have a non-stick interior.

OP--Before you make any decisions, you should research the non-stick coatings used in pans. Many people feel that the chemicals that provide the non-stick properties can be harmful when heated, as in while you are cooking in them.

Personally, I love my All-Clad Stainless. It is nice to be able to use them on the stovetop or place them inside the oven. They are very versatile. I clean them up every once in a while with Bar Keeper's Friend, and 8 years after purchasing them they still look nearly brand new.

If you don't want to spend the money for All-Clad, I would still recommend getting stainless steel.

 

[Pakey]

I have All Clad stainless and Le Crueset. I don't put any in the dishwasher but that's just me.

 

[elizke]

I like good quality non stick, dishwasher safe, with no heat handles! I hate pans with metal handles!

Small, medium, and large saucepans, pasta pot, dutch oven, 10" fryer pan with high sides, and frying pan would be a good start.

 

[bballmom56]

I love my Farberware stainless steel set of 4 different size pots and one pan all with lids that I got for my bridal shower over 30 years ago. They cook very well and clean up is very easy (although I don't put them in the dishwasher, I do them by hand and use Cameo SS cleaner). They still look like new!

I do have several sizes of non-stick frying pans - Calphalon. They have been replaced a few times over the years.

 

[indimom]

I had pampered chef for about 7 or 8 years and liked them for the most part. The skillets wore out pretty quickly and had to be replaced (and I did NOT use any metal in them), but the pans held up for quite a while. I felt like I got the value out of them.

We knew we needed to get all new pots and pans and started researching on the internet to figure out what we really wanted. We bought our first piece of calphalon last summer (a skillet since we are hardest on those and it was on sale). We wanted to try one out before we invested a lot of money. We loved it and planned to buy the set when we saved up enough cash or if we found each piece on sale like the skillet. We found an awesome deal (over 65% off for a set of 8), and bought the set at the end of Nov/beginning of Dec (?). I really like them. I did do a LOT of research on how to treat the pans and the proper way to cook with them and that makes a difference.

Whether you go stainless, non-stick or whatever, there are "rules" on how to treat the pans and you should use so make sure you check that out when making your decision.

I do not have a dishwasher (hated it) so that made no difference to me, I just cool the pan on the oven, then let it soak for a few minutes in the sink and they clean up nicely.

 

[Owlpost23]

To be honest,I wouldn't shell out a lot of money for nonstick.They're bound to get scratched,and you'll be ticked you spent so much.Stainless steel everything else,and maybe a cheap nonstick for eggs.

 

[KandD]

Thank you everyone! All of this information has been so useful! I am starting to think that stainless is the way to go for us. I am so glad that I posted this because I had no idea how many cleaning "rules" there are for pans! When we moved into our house we got the pots and pans included from the previous owner but they are very old and we definitely need a new set. Thanks again!

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I just bought All -Clad and LOVE them. They can be put in dishwasher, but so far I'm cleaning them by hand. The handles on the pots do not get hot and the pans are made in the USA! Now the lids are made in Asia, but them will soon be making the lids back int he US. I also bought the pans online a lot cheaper than out in town.