Pots and Pans Question

[Tinkh]

Hard adonized Rachel Ray pots are what we use along with a big stainless steel cook pot and a nice roaster. That is a pretty good place to start.

 

[golfgal]

I have/had Farberware Stainless, Calphlon, Pampered Chef and Analon and by far my favorite is the Analon. They have a non-stick interior that is super easy to clean. At worst I have had to soak a pan for 15 minutes or so to clean it out, they heat evenly and you can put them in the oven up to 500 degrees. The handles don't get hot on the stovetop like my Calphalon pan, nor do the handles on the lids.

I put the lids in the dishwasher, hand wash the pans. My frying pan is showing wear on the no stick surface but they have a lifetime warranty and I just need to mail it to Analon for a replacement (I just need to do it and haven't).

My son has our Farberware for his "dorm" cooking set now.

 

[powellrj]

I bought my Calphalon many years ago. At least 25 because my oldest DS was a toddler and he is now 27! Most of the pieces still look almost new and I cook a lot. I don't have a dishwasher so that part isn't an issue for me. I have replaced all of the skillets over the years because they don't last as long, but that isn't a big deal.

I do know you do need to watch your temperature. I have always cooked at a lower temperature. The younger kids cook now and they tend to cook at a higher temperature and my pans have had some sticking problems after they use them. I keep trying to get them to turn the heat down since not only do I have the Calphalon, I also have a glass top stove and between the 2, using high heat pretty much every thing will stick.

 

[sbell111]

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)

I can think of one really good reason to put a pan in the dishwasher. Its the same reason everything else goes in there: to get clean.

Note to self: never own pots and pans that require you to follow so many rules.

 

[pumba]

I have been married for 43 years and on our second anniversary my mil got us stainless steel pans......they are still being used.......When my MIL passed away I inherited her set of 66 year old pots and pans....they are still being used here too.....I think I will have to leave them to someone in our will's by the looks of it.
These last forever and they were a good investment..

 

[luvmy3]

I just got Calphalon Unison cookware and I love it. It is non-stick and can go in the diswasher, although I do not put any of my pot and pans in there. Truth is there is no need to, I seared a roast on the stovetop and then put the whole pan in the oven to cook, all I had to do for clean-up was wipe it down (although I did wash it).

 

[Dax]

I my Paula Deen set...and nope, no dishwasher...but they hand wash SOOO easy

 

[kirbydog48]

Love my All Clad. I have several pieces, but I am a cook, so the OP might not need as many. I think starting out a good stainless sautee pan, a large pot for things like pasta and steaming vegetables, a smaller pot 2-3 quart for cooking rice, heating up things, a good nonstick. I used to be meh about nonstick, but I just got a very high quality one and it is fantastic. It's a brand made in Denmark, Scanpan. I use it daily. Things cook really beautifully, it's a snap to clean and you can use metal cooking tools on it. The trick I heard with nonstick is not to use Pam or other cooking sprays. They contain alcohol, which burns onto the pan and makes it sticky. I never use spray because I'd rather just use a little butter or olive oil anyway. I also hand wash my All-Clad-I think it said in the booklet not to put it in the dishwasher, and I'd scub it anyway, so no big deal. Love it, my tried and true cookware.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I have Calphalon, the restaurant quality that you don't see much any more I think the Bed, Bath and Beyond carried Calphalon Unisom. They were expensive pans but so worth it. I got my first set for a wedding gift, pans lasted longer than the marriage

I love them, they transfer the heat evenly, they are 20 years old and still as sturdy as when i opened the box.

Be careful of non stick, I HATE the one pan I have. It's a PITA to clean!

With a hot pan and the right amount of oil you don't ever need non stick.

Good luck and congratulations on your wedding!

Lisa

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I can think of one really good reason to put a pan in the dishwasher. Its the same reason everything else goes in there: to get clean.

Note to self: never own pots and pans that require you to follow so many rules.

Although I called these out specifically to a stainless steel pan, the rules are not any different for other pans. If you buy quality stuff, treat it properly, you shouldn't be off running to buy new pans anytime in the near future.

 

[MrsPete]

Waterless stainless steel is the best, but at 2K for a small set, you're not likely to receive it as a wedding gift. It's a good investment though. My mom's set is over 40 years old and is in perfect condition.

I love my cast iron frying pans, and they are generations old. negative: The weight.

One medium sized frying pan with a metal handle is good for things you want to start on the stovetop and then bake --of course, cast iron is good for this too.

We have a couple pieces of Revere Ware that my husband had when we got married 20 years ago. One saucepan warped on the bottom, and the large frying pan is heading that way. It's a good value for the money, but not the best. Still, I can't complain, given that that saucepan served us well for about 18 years.

I bought a cheap Paula Dean saucepan at Walmart, and I am disappointed. The red color has faded badly. As I said, it was awfully cheap, so I shouldn't be surprised.

I put everything in the dishwasher. It has a pots and pans cycle for a reason, and anything that is too fragile to hold up to normal washing just isn't something I want to use on a regular basis anyway.




Finally, except for the cast iron, which

 

[njmom47]

I just got a TFal set for Christmas. They have clear lids with a steam hole (I like that) and no metal handles (did NOT like that on my old frying pans). I've used the square griddle and the dutch oven since I got them, and so far, so good. I would never put my good cookware in the dishwasher....I have always washed them by hand.
I did inherit a non-stick electric skillet that I use more than I thought I would...just love it!

 

[cluvsdisney]

I am partial to my farberware stainless steel set. The one I purchased came with 1, 2 & 3qt sauce pans, a 6 or 8 qt stock pot and 12 inch fry pan (the lid from the stock pot fits the pan). I use all the sizes regularly. They clean easily and after 12 years of use still look good.

 

[manning]

http://www.only-cookware.com/cookware_reviews.html

 

[Kurby]

we got a set of Jamie Oliver regular pots and pans not the non stick one.

my parents have non stick and i hate them - unless you NEVER EVER use metal on them you will scrape off the non-stick coat which ends up in your food and you eat it.

so we asked for regular ones. dh is a chef and they dno't use non-stick at work so he's used to it. i don't cook so it doesn't mean anything to me LOL

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I have had 3 sets of pots/pans in the last 15 years.

The stainless Revereware I asked for as a wedding present was nicer than anything DH or I owned prior to getting married. The pots worked well, the skillets didn't.

A few years later I sold Pampered Chef. They have changed cookware a few times over the years, most of what I have/had is 1st Generation with a few 2nd Generation. These are no longer available - what is in the catalogs now is 2-3 times the price of the older sets. I loved the non-stick pans but they eventually wore out - and putting them in the dishwasher ruined the outside finish. We are still using a few pieces.

Time to look again. Prices are scary high for decent cookware. I know it's an investment but still had sticker shock. I ended up getting a non-stick set at Costco for $159. I only needed about 1/2 the pieces but couldn't match the price buying what I needed as open stock even at a steep discount.

So far so good, they've been in use a year and I'm very happy with them. We did decide to not put them in the dishwasher and even the pieces we use several times a week still look new. My only complaint is with the lids. They are not glass, so you can't see thru them, and they don't nest upside down nicely inside the pot for storage and stacking.