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Good Cookware Set

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MichelleCarmen

MichelleCarmen

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Feb 8, 2003
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Okay, I''m having a terrible time with every pot and pan I buy. They never last long, get permanently burnt on junk that I cannot get off, and look like crap quickly after I purchase them. I think part of the problem is that we have a gas stove and it heats high around the edges and the pans cannot handle the heat.

Anyone have any recommendations for a good cookware set that work on a gas stove? I definetly do not want teflon (so any recs for other than that type would be great!)
 
I think all clad is great, but there issome rumored issues with aluminum and alzheimers...not sure. Scan Pans are also wonderful, not sure of the surface material .
 
i like calphalon and all clad...i get nonstick fry pans as i just cannot use the ones that aren't no matter how good, stuff always sticks..and i hate using a lot of oil. for pots though, all clad stainless is my fave for sure. we have a mish mash of both for the most part. and bbb always has sales on calphalon too.
 
non stick is an issue because it is not good with pam spray...the spray eats through the non stick surface. certain pans can be seasoned with oil and then they are more non stick...but you have to re season them occasionally.
 
All Clad is stainless steel with an aluminum core. Wouldn''t that be safe? I was looking at that brand at Linens ''n Things yesterday but the price is a bit high, however, I was looking on the Macy''s website and it''s on sale. Guess now would be the time to purchase.

Do both of you ladies have gas stoves?
 
I have All Clad, although on some cooking sites, they mention there are less known brands that are just as good. I have an electric stove...ick.

To keep them looking new, get a can of Barkeeper''s Friend. Works wonders.

I use stainless. I don''t have much of a problem with burning and prefer it over non stick because I like to deglaze for sauces and such.
 
bar keepers friends, liquid or paste is great. calphalon also used to make a good cleaner.

I have a gas stove. I think the scan pans have an aluminum core but the pan surface is not. Aluminum conducts heat better, but the surface is nice if it is something else.
 
oh i only ever use spray EVOO to cook, not pam or anything like that. i get the WS $20 spray canister and just fill it with EVOO and just use one spritz. so i don''t have any issues with nonstick...i''ve had my calphalon nonstick fry pans for 3-5 years now and they are still in amazing shape, i love them.

i have a gas stove, love gas over electric!!
 
I love our Anolon pots (we have gas too).
 
I'm slowly switching all my cookware to Le Creuset. AWESOME. And you get quite a workout while you cook (they weigh a ton). I avoid teflon due to the chemicals (did you know that fumes from a teflon pan will kill a pet bird instantly? Can't be too good for us, either).

I also like the regular seasoned cast iron pans (Lodge brand, for example), and they're really inexpensive. I picked up 2 nice sized Lodge skillets at Costco for around $20. Great for steaks, scrambled eggs, etc. As long as I clean them according to the directions and properly season after each use, I never have any problems with sticking - even eggs come up easily.
 
Date: 9/13/2007 2:52:25 PM
Author: ericad
I''m slowly switching all my cookware to Le Creuset. AWESOME. And you get quite a workout while you cook (they weigh a ton). I avoid teflon due to the chemicals (did you know that fumes from a teflon pan will kill a pet bird instantly? Can''t be too good for us, either).

I also like the regular seasoned cast iron pans (Lodge brand, for example), and they''re really inexpensive. I picked up 2 nice sized Lodge skillets at Costco for around $20. Great for steaks, scrambled eggs, etc. As long as I clean them according to the directions and properly season after each use, I never have any problems with sticking - even eggs come up easily.
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Oh, I love the le crusties (as my hubby calls them). They are truly fab. I have one that I got for my engagement from my mum-in-law which I simply adore. When we move to a house and have more space, I will be getting more. They are worth it!

Out in Cabazon (outlet near Palm Springs) they have a creuset outlet and they had some great sales around christmas time...especially if you don''t mind imperfect ones!
 
Date: 9/13/2007 3:22:10 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Oh, I love the le crusties (as my hubby calls them). They are truly fab. I have one that I got for my engagement from my mum-in-law which I simply adore. When we move to a house and have more space, I will be getting more. They are worth it!

Out in Cabazon (outlet near Palm Springs) they have a creuset outlet and they had some great sales around christmas time...especially if you don''t mind imperfect ones!
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I just checked and there is a Le Creuset outlet about 45 min north of me! I''ll for sure head up there, but in the meantime get some of the pan-pampering products you gals mentioned. (My pans mostly don''t hold up b/c I''m not a fan of cooking. I USE to love it, but my kids are so picky about food that they''ve pretty much burned me out on trying to be creative!)
 
I bought Le Creuset at the outlets and the Teflon started coming off in the food
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after 6 months. So then I bought the non outlet pans on amazon and it is fine so I rather not save $10 or $20 on a pan; just an fyi from my experience. I have all clad too and like it. The funny thing is my friend bought us Tfal and it lasted 6 years and then is when I started buying All Clad, Le Creuset and Calphalon. I think costco sells sets of calphalon from time to time so you might check them out too.
 
I bought a set of Wolfgang Puck''s stainless steel cookware 4 years ago an I looooooove it. Heats evenly. For those of you who have trouble with food sticking on cookware, it usually means you are either not cooking at the right heat level or turning the food over before it''s ready.
 
Date: 9/13/2007 8:24:45 PM
Author: Skippy123
I bought Le Creuset at the outlets and the Teflon started coming off in the food
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after 6 months. So then I bought the non outlet pans on amazon and it is fine so I rather not save $10 or $20 on a pan; just an fyi from my experience. I have all clad too and like it. The funny thing is my friend bought us Tfal and it lasted 6 years and then is when I started buying All Clad, Le Creuset and Calphalon. I think costco sells sets of calphalon from time to time so you might check them out too.
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Hmm...good to know. I''d only probably buy the traditional iron stuff there anyway.
 
Mara, that is a great idea. What kind of sprayer is it and where do you get one? Seems like a great way to keep the food from sticking without ruining your pan!

La Creuset is lovely, I have some pieces, but you have to be strong to hold it and with my fibro and carpal tunnel pain it is hard!
 
I got a big set of Circulon pans from Amazon a few years ago and I think they work great. They sear, steam and everything in between. DH uses cooking spray on ''his'' pan, but, I don''t on ''mine''. Mine look much nicer. His is discolored and ugly. I remind of him of the carcinogens he''s ingesting, but, he is unconcerned.
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DH got a set of cast iron pots and pans (I think around 20 pieces total, we have everything we need to cook for 2-6 people including lids) for $150 from Sam's Club about 4 years ago for us. I hated them for a couple years because I was used to Revereware which I could throw in the dishwasher, and these have a little stamp on the bottom saying not to put in the dishwasher so I have to wash them by hand (which I abhor). However, we also have a gas stove and they've held up SO well and after a few years of use I like them more and more each time I use them. They're super heavy, though, that's one other thing that kind of bugs me. When I'm washing them my arms get tired from holding them to wash and then rinse, minor complaint I know. They're supposed to be "seasoned" but I wash them every time they're used anyway, imo seasoning them is a little gross.
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Great value for the money spent, though, all in all we're pretty happy with them. Oh, and they cook things well and evenly too. (Duh, that might be a helpful statement to you!)
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I bought a set of waterless cookware about 5 years ago. They are fabulous. They''re heavier. Nothing really sticks. You can cook things with almost no water so you keep in the nutrients. You can even stack cook. They go in the dishwasher and even into the oven. I bought the set off ebay for about $150. I loved them so much I bought a set for my mom too.

Here''s the link about them:

http://www.waterlesscookware.com/store/default.asp
 
I also wash my cast iron after each use and season it by simply spritzing the pan with a bit of oil and wiping with a paper towel before putting it away. They can not go into the dishwasher (will rust) or be left soaking in water, so washing them by hand is a must - but that''s what a good husband is for!

Le Creuset is a good alternative because they are enameled and can be left soaking in the sink and don''t require any seasoning. But the price is way higher. I just buy myself one per year (3 so far) and will eventually have a great set...eventually...in the meantime the Lodge cast iron pans work great and they''re cheap.
 
Everyone has their favorite brand, but what will be best for you will really depend on your personal needs. You describe pots getting beat up and food getting burned/crusted onto the pans, so there are a couple of routes to go. Most importantly, gas stoves DO work a bit different! Heat the burners conservatively, you can always turn up the heat as you go.

For high heat and durability issues, there are a couple of routes. If you DO want the ease of non-stick cookware, Anolon's Titanium Cookware set received stellar reviews from Consumer Reports. Very durable, and a special non-stick coating that lasts through anything, and is dishwasher safe.

http://www.amazon.com/Anolon-Titanium-Dishwasher-12-Piece-Cookware/dp/B00008CM50/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11/102-0936443-5658552?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1189817680&sr=8-11

Le Creuset cookware is extremely, extremely durable. The cast iron cores and coated enamel hold up very well to all sorts of extreme temperatures. However if you are worried about aesthetics, the enamel coating can chip.

I really wouldn't recommend pure stainless cookware for gas stoves unless someone is an experienced cook. It's very easy to burn food that way!
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Date: 9/14/2007 9:01:57 PM
Author: *Lindsey*

Le Creuset cookware is extremely, extremely durable. The cast iron cores and coated enamel hold up very well to all sorts of extreme temperatures. However if you are worried about aesthetics, the enamel coating can chip.

I really wouldn't recommend pure stainless cookware for gas stoves unless someone is an experienced cook. It's very easy to burn food that way!
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That is true. I accidently left the gas stove on low and left the Le Creuset pan there overnight. The pan was fine the next morning.
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btw, this was not the outlet pan.
 
When I was just a pup and starting my kitchen, I was so determined to get everything in a set. Oh what a thrill it would be to open the cabinet and see everything matched. In unison, like a choir, all singing out to me in perfect harmony.

Oh, hogwash! There is NO set that can do everything. You need a plethora of different cookware to successfully achieve great results. My first set, was before Calphalon it is called Magna...Magna CumLatte...no mag...magnalite!! Looks the same, just heavier.

To explain the variety you need, For example, I just created (ok it sounds a tad pretentious...but I will tell you no matter what you cook present it as if it were your best masterpiece eva...it improves the taste...) ok so truly I just slopped together a black bottom pumpkin fluffy cheesecake. I needed to melt the black bottom on the stove top. My choice in melting chocolate is an old stainless copper clad bottom tiny skillet my mother used to make grilled cheese sandwiches for me in. I wouldn''t trade all the tea in china (and frankly the way the China stuff is all killing us, you shouldn''t either). It makes gravy''s and sauces and chocolate sing soprano to me! I wouldn''t dream of using anything from my out of tune set!

When I cook pasta it is a different pot-than my set...when I make baked dishes I need a pot that can go on into the oven from the stove top-which is a large dutch oven. My fry skillets are professional teflons-again not from my set. What good is my set????

If I were a young whipper snapper again, and had it to do all over...I would buy open stock and not sets. There is some video I just watched by a famous chef/tv personality about 2 months ago that EXPLAINED the same thing. You need three pots...a dutch oven...two fry skillets...and I don''t recall the rest...If I have time later, I will search for it.

If though, you are determined to hear a chorus when you open you cabinets...delete this post!! Buy a matched set and join in the choir!

DKS
 
Frankly I hate sets:
2-3 heavy veggie/sauce 1-1qt 1-2qt kettles with lids.
1 cast iron fry pan
1 cast iron griddle
1 SS stock pot with lid
1 dutch oven or heavy pot (I have both, 1 - cast iron dutch oven and a 60 year old guardian aluminum pot) with lids
1 small roaster pan with lid (perfect for cooking getti noddles on the stove)
 
Thanks! I'm definetly not a matched-set must-have person. I kind of decided that I'm going to try out an All Clad skillet and also a cast iron one and see how those work out. Maybe my problem is that I had relied on the matched sets I had in the past, and only some of the pans worked out. The cuisinart set I have is crap. They must have gone down hill since times past as the set my parents had was fabulous!

Anyhow, I'm also tempted and plan to get a Le Creuset item, but my husband is buying an elliptical machine this week (lol), so I don't want to go overboard with too many other items this week! Hopefully I can pick up a Le Creuset around Christmas. A red pan to liven up the kitchen around the holidays
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I just got the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless set and I love love love it! it''s stainless, it''s PRETTY, and the sizes are good. Plus the handles are comfy. I thought I wanted All Clad until I tried to lift the pans in the store. The handles were so not comfy! And they were overly heavy for home use. So the Calphalon gives me the modern look but is well-balanced and the handles fit my hands. The basic set I got is actually quite functional but there are a few more pieces I hope to add to it.
 
Date: 9/16/2007 9:28:17 PM
Author: sumbride
I just got the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless set and I love love love it! it''s stainless, it''s PRETTY, and the sizes are good. Plus the handles are comfy. I thought I wanted All Clad until I tried to lift the pans in the store. The handles were so not comfy! And they were overly heavy for home use. So the Calphalon gives me the modern look but is well-balanced and the handles fit my hands. The basic set I got is actually quite functional but there are a few more pieces I hope to add to it.
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I also have this set (I think, its Calphalon stainless anyway), and I love it as well! I got the slightly bigger set with the pasta insert, and I have to say I really use all the pieces and don''t need much else. Everything cooks so quickly and evenly, I thought it was a great investment.
 
I have had my Anolon set for over a year now and i LOVE it... super easy to clean even if you let the pan/pot sit there over night and dont rinse... not that i do that or anything
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