My daughter is getting married and I want to buy her some pots and pans that will last for as long as humanly possible but also resist food sticking. Any recommendations? I have some old cast iron pans and some newer teflon pans (cheap). What's worked well for you guys? I don't mind spending money as long as I know they are good.
I have to say "ditto" to the Farberware. When I got married many moons ago, my mother in law got me a basic Farberware Set (5 pots from large to small + 2 pans) and some accessories, like a Farberware Tea Kettle.
They are, to this day, like new. I have never needed a replacement part or anything, and I am a bit hard on things :-).
I highly recommend this and it is a great gift idea.
Anjeena
I love to cook so when I got married I wanted good pots and pans.....I received Cuisinart pots and pans and they work wonderful....15 years later. Also I've added All Clad pans to my set and love them. Both are expensive and are carried by Williams and Sonoma....check their outlet stores and sales on the internet and catalog. I think the price was well worth the many years of good quality I received and my pots look great.
Congratulations on your Daughters Wedding!
Someone else suggested QVC and it's a great idea. I own the complete Cook's Essentials line and I cook every day with them - they are wonderful. I treated my T-Fal poorly by putting it in the dishwasher, so now I hand wash these and they are like new. I'm sure you can look at them on the QVC website. Bye for now, Kat, also in MN
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I purchased this pan set to make my Christmas baking easier and more enjoyable. I baked my usual tailgate blondies. They are a family favorite. Well, the pan worked great.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am looking for some new cookware. Everything I have is mis-matched or scratched or just plain ugly. It doesn't have to be really inexpensive. I want something that will last. I am so tired of having to get new cookware every year or so. I would like something easy to clean, but I don't want anything with Teflon or T-Fal or anything that will scratch and come off. It is so unhealthy!
I have a set of stainless steel Viking Cookware. It's a little pricey but you get what you pay for. Viking now makes teflon, but make sure that you purchase the cookware that is stainless steel.
Check out the eBay website:
Well, I have t fal, and it doesnt "come off"...I also never use anything but wooden utensils. Another item to never use in good pans is the spray stuff, it actually is no good for them, its right in the directions when I got my new set.
Definitely go for the Wolfgang Puck cookware. I use it on a daily basis and have had this set for approx. 3 years. It's won awards, is reasonable, dishwasher safe, available frequently on sale at www.hsn.com, and also on ebay and misc. pieces available at discount stores like such as Ross and The Home Store.
Have you thought of cast iron? These days. they come preseasoned, and they are a dream to use. Start with a large one to see how you like it. Small ones aren't very useful for every day.
I second the recommendation for the Wolfgang Puck stainless steel. I love it and wonder why anyone went to Teflon after using my stainless set for almost 2 years.
I enjoy my corning cookware & slow cookers,I do have some stainless fry pans,I can't use my cast iron on the corning ware cook top,when & if the cook top needs fixing I will not own another one,I like to cook with cast iron.
Kathleen,Dothan Al
I purchased Betty Crocker cookware about 3 years ago. It was a super buy - less than $50 for the set of 4 cooking pots and a fry pan. They have been superior in quality and they are an exceptional weight of stainless steel.
I have several pieces of Pampered Chef cookware. They are all outstanding! The non-stick line is what I use most often, but have one large stainless skillet. I think it is very reasonably priced for the quality, and it has a lifetime guarantee.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Yes, i am a Pampered Chef Consultant, but since you live in Texas and I live in Ohio, I won't benefit from any sale you make! But, if you go to www.pamperedchef.com you can find a consultant in your area. If you have a show, you can even get it for free!! If you would like any more info, feel free to email me directly at muzzlet@yahoo.com. Thanks and good luck!! - Jan
I have a set of revereware, copper bottom. I got my first set a year before my son was born. My son will be 30. The only reason I had to buy another set was, they seem to disappear. They are not $$ either.Almost 30 yrs. later,I still have and use them. I only have 3 out of my first set, but they are great. If they get lost on their own some how, I will buy the same.
Le Creuset: Expensive, cast iron covered in enamel and heavy. Can be purchased at outlets. I have the blue and buy one piece at a time. I don't believe in buying a "full set", I buy what I need and use. Try one out and then decide. Good Luck!
I recommend Swiss Diamond: non-stick surface that really non-sticks, excellent heat conductivity, stay cool handles that fit hands and are good to 500 degree oven temperatures. Can even use metal utensils with them, though I don't!
Hi, When I had a chance to buy new pans 20+ years ago to replace aluminum thin stuff. I looked all over. I watched every cooking show and glued my eyes to what the people on the show used. Allclad was the cooking show favorite then and now (I guess they pay to have them shown, or offer for free). I checked out the consumer magazines and the top 2 were allclad and the colored enamel cast iron ones. That was then. No internet then.
My Allclad are still fine. My set then cost $300+. Emerelware I think is made by Allclad. Of course the shopping channels on TV show nice shiny stainless steel? Can't offer an opinion on them. Check out opinion websites. Good luck making a good choice.
Wolfgang Puck, 100% NO DOUBT about it.
I had to replace my cookware after I had a fire in the kitchen. I purchased Calphal cookware. I love this stuff. Paid more money for it, but it was worth it. I even have a ceramic cook top stove and it just cooks foods very well. I love it. And I would recommend it. You have to pay more but in the long run it will last a long time.
After reading everyone's comments, I'd like to add a few more of my own.
Yes, All Clad and Le Creuset are wonderful. But if you don't have muscles of steel, you won't be able to lift a full pot. Or even a large empty one.
You really need to figure out how strong you are, and how much weight you can easily lift before investing.
You want cookware that has an aluminum disk in the bottom, encased in a steel sandwich - those that have a copper disk have a nasty habit of separating when the hot pot is placed in cool water, thereby rendering you expensive pot trash.
Suggest you go to www.epinions.com, become a member (free) and read the cookware reviews.
Cookware that can stack is more space efficient than those which require separate shelving (Le Creuset, and anodized for instance). Unless, of course, you can purchase a small shelving unit just for your pots and pans.
Anything coated with non-stick won't last more than a year or two with continuous use. Period. Many cookware sets come in steel with one omelette pan just for eggs and is coated in non-stick. This is traditional. Count on replacing that non-stick sooner or later.
Best bet is to go to the nicer dept. stores just to window shop. Pick up those pots and pans, feel the heft, feel the balance, imagine the larger ones full of food and BOILING water- do you need 2 hands? Does it come with a helper handle? How safe do you feel?
Frankly, I like the pots that have 2 small handles - they fit better in the cabinet and usually stack well IF all are from the same brand and model.
Here is a web site site for you for Paderno www.paderno.com also a information& dealer listings:
1-800-A-NEW-POT
Here is a suggestion, from what I do. I buy a medium price non-stick skillet 12 inches. Smaller skillets just aren't used by us. Unless you cook for 1 the 12 inch is the best way to go.
As for other non-stick pieces, I'm not interested in any of them. I still wouldn't trade my allclad.
I bought some new cookware from QVC October 2000. It is the Anodized Cook's Essentials. Very reasonable in price. They have a lifetime guarantee. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
I have stainless steel pots with copper bottoms that are over 40 years old and they are still going strong. I never have to worry about acid food destroying them, chemicals/whatever peeling off and they are the easiest to clean. My old stainless steel, Presto pressure cooker is at least 50 years old. I guess you can tell that I'm voting for the steel. Smile.
I just saw @Home cast iron pots looking exactly like Le Creuset cast iron cookware for far less cost than Le Creuset pots. Is there any difference between the two?
By Themba from Cape Town
I have had Le Crueset pans for over 10years and while i cant fault them, quite honestly i think they are way overpriced for what you get. Since I don't live in the U.S. I'm not familiar with the other brand but my opinion is that if they are similar, but cheaper, I would go with the cheaper brand. As long as they have a lifetime guarantee too!
Go to America's Test Kitchens online for a review of the best ones to buy. Anne
Who sells this brand you are referring to? I Googled and came up with nothing!
I bought a Kirkland brand enameled cast iron roasting pan at Costco and I think it is just about as nice as my Le Creuset 5 qt. oven, which I ruined trying to get clean. :( The enamel isn't as thick and the pan isn't quite as heavy but it seems to work as well and has been holding up. If the price difference is substantial, I would go with the cheaper one. Let us know how it turns out.
One point: The Le Creuset lifetime warranty doesn't cover "operator error" so if you damage it, it isn't covered. And, even if it is covered, you have to mail it back to the company. A 5 qt. pan is HEAVY, so is going to be $20+ in shipping. If they determine that you were at fault, they will replace it for 25% of the retail price. In my case, it was about $50. That was what I paid for my Costco replacement so I haven't sent it in to be replaced yet.
A friend passed away and the executor has given me some pots and pans which I needed. They are by Health Craft. I had never heard of them until I searched online. Does anyone use them? Do you like them? Thank you in advance.
By sandy from Baltimore, MD
You really inherited a gold mine. I won a Health Craft electric frying pan on eBay several years ago and really like it.
Stainless steel cookware is the best and healthiest to use because you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals leaching into your foods.
You will never find Health Craft in any local stores, but can only be purchased at home shows because they are very expensive.
Sorry I can't give you too much a review because I don't own an entire set of Health Craft.
It's waterless cookware and lucky you! www.healthcraft.com
Contact them and ask for info. I will tell you that this cookware should be used on med or low heat, never on high. When you put food in it, use the smallest pot possible to use the waterless feature.
Another comment. 5 ply is better than 3 ply and as the plies increase, the cookware becomews heavier.
You can check out ebay for resale prices and be amazed. The prices for these pots regularly go for hundreds of dollars when new.
Yes, it's overpriced. There are other waterless cookware brands out there just as good as this one, all of them just about equally overpriced when brand new.
I love Healthcraft, I bought a set in 1995. The pans look like the day I bought them, except for 1 that my husband burned hard boiled eggs in I scrubbed it with a SOS pad and you can still see the black a little bit. One thing to remember always cook on low heat.
This post is in regards to West Bend (Kitchencraft) waterless cookware. I saw the demo at the Boise state fair and was very impressed since I'm a P/T chef. The price was way out of my league so I bought a set of Chef Secret on eBay. I guess the saying "you get what you pay for" was truly evident here. I do not care for the Chef Secret cookware at all.
The line of cookware demonstrated at many of the home shows is called Health Craft and is very expensive.
I have a set of stainless steel waterless cookware that we bought almost 30 years ago. I have used it almost every day for all that time. It was very expensive at the time-almost $500.00 and came with 12 pieces not including the lids. I thought it was outrageous to pay that kind of price at that time but I have to say, I have NEVER had to buy another set of cookware all this time. I love the stainless steel, it cleans up easy and looks nice and it is not the cheap stainless steel that they are trying to pass off today in some of the stores. It is quality. You will not be wasting your money especially if they last for over 25 years and still look brand new.
I absolutely love my waterless cookware! What a healthy way to cook food with their own moisture. Initially, it is very expensive. But with all the sets of cookware my hubby has bought me over the years (we cook a lot) it was well worth the money. It has a lifetime guarantee. You can replace anything anytime. At one demo we attended a lady had a pan with a mark on the bottom from warming up a glass baby bottle in it from the 50's and the demonstrator gave her a form to fill out to get it replaced for free!! I will never have to buy another set of pots and pans.
I bought a set of West Bend stainless steel waterless cookware in 1968. I'm STILL happily using it (except for 1 pot that the handle fell off)! It was quite expensive at the time ($500), but I was allowed to buy it with in payments. I have been using this set since we married in 1969. That's 40 years, folks!
NO WAY would I compromise and purchase any other type of pot - I have received other types (especially chicken fryer pans with teflon, etc.) as gifts from my mom and gram and also when they passed away! I cook quite a lot, and often use almost all my pots, so my husband gave me a set of Wolfgang Puck's #18 Professional Cookware (very heavy) for Christmas last year. I am tickled with them, too!
There are only 2 things you really have to remember with
strictly plain stainless steel. 1) NEVER use high heat, and 2) always keep them well-scrubbed and food will not stick! I use "mesh-type" metal scrubbers on them and also stainless steel powder cleaner - that keeps them well maintained. If anything does stick to them, just a quick soaking in hot water will lift it right up! (By the way, I always use a non-stick cooking spray also.)
I hope this helps you out!
I bought it yesterday and have 2 days to get out of this purchase. Is this good or not so good? I keep reading how things stick to the pans. Help me please.
