cookware for the home

“I have some cookware (pots)that is probably 20 yrs old and a very cheap skillet. They still do the job but I am thinking about upgrading my cookware.

Do you use the expensive brands or buy the cheap cooksets and replace as needed.

There are lots of brands out there and in every price range. How much did you spend if you bought the good stuff?”

“oohhhh, i'm lusting after some Le Crueset!! that stuff is ridiculously expensive, like around $200 apiece. but everyone who has it says it rocks...it's cast-iron, but coated so food doesn't stick. maybe i'll get some Christmas money that i can use to get a piece, and not die of guilt! LOL.

i'm done with buying the cheap stuff, and nonstick stuff. it's not good for you, and it gets ruined super-quick.”

“My wife convinced me to go ahead and buy a nice set of nonstick cookware from Parisian a couple years ago. It was on sale, and we got a discount because my sis-in-law works there. It was about a 20-piece set and I think it was under $200, given all the discounts and sale price and such. I think it's the Living Quarters brand they sell there.

Personally, if it was just me, I'd be happy with some Revere Ware and a cast-iron skillet.”

“is this pan hot, or what.

http://ww2.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cle%20crueset&gids=c125&cmsrc=sch”

“Lyra, the big pieces are $200. You can find the 1-2 person sized stuff cheaper. I recommend getting the Lodge version instead, though. American-made, zero emissions facility. Very cool. Also, stuff will stick to it, just less.

I have some Calphalon stainless. It's good stuff, but after 8 years the frying pans are scratched up pretty bad so stuff sticks. So I got an All-Clad nonstick pan (I had gift certificates for Williams Sonoma) which I like very much. Revereware used to be really good stuff, but since they moved their manufacturing facilities to Asia, the quality has gone down.”

“Oh yah, the new Revereware can't hold a candle to the old stuff, that's for sure. Their skillets are junk. I have a set I bought at Service Merchandise about 20 years ago, I'm pretty sure after they had gone downhill, and they're okay. Not as good as my Mom's but I can still cook rice and heat up soup and such with them.”

“My mom still had 25 year old Revereware; that stuff is bombproof and very heavy, but still looks new. THe best thing she has that's no longer made by Revere is this triple layer steel and copperclad griddle. That thing is great for grilled cheese, french toast, eggs, whatever.”

“Lyra I can get that about $30 or more cheaper by going to an outlet mall that has a Le Creuset store. That might be the best way to find one.”

“actually i do have a Lodge cast-iron skillet! i didn't even know they had enamel-coated cookwear until i just now looked it up! hmm, thanks treebait.

i've seen the smaller Le Crueset ones, but i want that big one! hee hee.”

“wooo, an outlet mall! i didn't think of that, wonder if they have any around here...”

“We're registering for calphalon non-stick for the wedding. I have a nice calphalon skillet already, and am totally in love with it. can't wait to get rid of my old things!”

“Donate all your old cookware, SG. Someone else could need it.

Also, Calphalon doesn't recommend putting their nonstick in the dishwasher. Same for Le Creuset. It's hand wash all the way.”

“WTF is a Crueset??

Were is Le Gremlin??”

“We have a set og calphalon and love them!!! Word of advice, buy a regular smooth skillet for eggs etc...the grooves in the calphalon get sticky. Also DONT use non-stick cookspray or heat above medium, they will be damaged.

...those and a set of J.A Henckels cutlery and you are good to go!”

“Oooh, Henkels knives! I love mine!”

“got set for each of my folks for kwanza this year. They will love em, their knives are crap.”

“I've found that you can scramble eggs okay in that non-stick stuff, but if you want one over easy, best to do it in a cast-iron skillet. Mostly it's because the egg slides around so much in non-stick that I can't get the friggin' spatula all the way under the yolk, no matter how hard I try. So when you flip it, the yolk breaks.”

“Cast iron rawks!!”

“I wore the "Henkels" off mine.”

“bit, ours is the circulon style, it has small grooves that are supposed to transfer heat. They get sticky with eggs, unless you use loads of oil which defeats the healthy aspects. We bought a slick nonstick for eggs, it was worth it since we eat loads of em.”

“I have a set of three Farberwear skillets I got on super sale for $14. It's tough to find cheap skillets that have metal handles you can put in the oven. They are a bit thin though and the non stick stuff wears off.

One of these days I'm going to drop the $100 and get a proffesional skillet.”

“Un creuset est un pot en matériau réfractaire ou en métal servant à la fusion ou la calcination. La qualité d'un creuset est d'être capable de résister aux températures des matériaux que le métallurgiste va y verser.”

“damn, I like eggs but no can eat..to much cholestrol :(

I have been looking at the Emerilware made by All-Clad.

I figure I will buy something while on sale for Christmas or an after Christmas sale

I have about 6 various size cast iron skillets that need to be cleaned and reseasoned. They have to be about 40 yrs old maybe older”

“All-Clad is decent if you get their higher end stuff. Their Emerilware line is nice. Bed Bath and Beyond had it on sale a few weeks ago, just before Thanksgiving.”

“Eggs are good for you Ewker. They have a balance of good to bad cholesterol. Ask UPLover. He eats like 9 eggs every day. It also helps to eat some good fiber with them.”

“Nigal, at least you are getting the recommended daily allowance of teflon.”

“Gremlin!!!!”

“No wonder I can't get band aids to stick to me!”

““No wonder I can't get band aids to stick to me!”

I thought it was the hair.”

“I wax now. It's not too bad until I get to my butt crack.”

“I think I can answer this with some knowledge. You often get what you pay for with pots and pans. In pots, weight is a good thing. Your less expensive pots only have the conducting metal on the bottom. Your higher quality pots, like the very pricey All-Clad, have the conducting metal, in their case, aluminum, sandwiched between 18/10 stainless steel. You can get away paying less. The Farberware Millennium 18/10 non-stick Cookware rates very high with America's Test Kitchen and Consumer Report plus it's not expensive:
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Farberware-Farberware_Nonstick_Stainless/display_~reviews
They did not reccomment Simply Calphalon or Revere Polished non-stick.

You want to make sure frying pan handles are oven proof.

No non-stick pan is good for making fond...I use Calphalon hard anodized when I want that as the base for a gravy or sauce.

For 2 to 2 1/2 qt pans you want to find a pan with some heft..2-3 pounds is ideal as loaded they can get too heavy to lift easily. You want the handles that won't bacome hot when the pot is. Solid metal handles become hotter quicker than hollowed-out stainless steel handles. Since pots rarely go in the oven it's not important for everyone that their handles are oven safe. I have non-stick pots and pans. I prefer them on the whole.

If you want to buy an entire set and not spend a king's ransom on All-Clad, I'd go Farberware for sure...I no longer have a set of one thing...I buy what I need on sale so I have a bit of everything: Calphalon Professional non-stick, Calphalon Hard anodized, All-Clad and others...have fun..I love shopping for cooking gear...I am known as the Kitchen gadget queen by friends and family...LOL”

“I realize that when I get teh calphalon pans, my fiance will have to do more dishes by hand. :)

Birch, why aren't you at work???”

“smiley, I took a family sick day. the little one is going in to see the specialist shortly, we hope to find out what the next step in the ordeal is.”

“I realize that when I get teh calphalon pans, my fiance will have to do more dishes by hand. :)

smiley girl
9:45:28 AM
12/05/05

unless he cooks then you wash??”

“ewker...i got a fairly good set of cookware a while back...I think I paid like $300 for it. Problem with me is...I don't always use plastic or wooden spoons, damn..I sometimes even cut in a pan, yupp, I am really bad at stuff like that...so the non-stick came off.

I've heard the non-stick is now much better, but I don't know. My next set...ha! I'll get it from TJ Maxx.”

“Yeah, Ewker, that's more like it. He likes to cook, and I like to clean. Guess it works out OK!”

“If you have a Cost co nearby, they have a 15 piece set for something like 150 bucks. My wife was a professional chef awhile back and raves about these all the time. She had a mix of odds and ends that she wanted to replaice and found these.

The best part is that if anything ever happens (even if it is your fault) they get replaiced.”

“Gem, that's why I don't spend too much money on non-stick frying pans..I got 2 Calphalon ones, 8 and 10 inch (in diameter for those of you with adolescent imaginations...LOL) for $35..why spend more? When you use something everyday there's going to be a time when you grab the wrong utensil...you are not alone!”

“Approximate english translation for 'creuset' would be 'crucible' ... 'Le Creuset' refers to the bottom of the blast furnace where the molten iron collects during the smelting operation.”

“Ewk - I didn't read the whole thread cause I gotta get to work... but, my suggestion is to check out the home sections of TJ Max and Marshalls, if you have those stores. Also, Home Goods, too. They often have singles or multiple pots/pans. Really nice ones. I have a few diff pans/skillets from there. And, Henkel knives, too. My dad approves of them all which tells me it's good stuff.”

“A few years ago, we had been pricing the Calphalon Commercial Non-stick sets. Hardly anyone had it on sale, but one day, we found the 10 piece set at Bed Bath & Beyond for $199. We bought it and have since added to it from stuff bought on the internet. There is a nice heat distribution because the metal is thick...almost as heavy as cast-iron.

It cleans easily, but you have to use plastic spatulas, spoons and stuff. You are not supposed to put it in the dishwasher, either. If you can hang them from a pot rack, you're golden. We nest ours in the cupboard with those rubber shelf lining thingies so the bottom of one pot/pan won't scratch the non-stick surface on the inside of another.

Great pots & pans, but you have to be careful not to scratch the non-stick surface. We've had them a couple of years without any problems.”

“You said the pans still do the job! Why look to replace them??? If it is to impress someone, then don't buy cheap stuff.”

“We use Calphalon hard anodized. I only have one other pan-a small non stick frypan for eggs and hetaing tortillas. I personally don't like non-stick. Just me! My wok is a massive carbon steel number from my work-every time I use it, it becomes more naturally nonstick :-)
I also have two or three cast iron skillets for cooking (searing) meat.”

“I've got lots of so-called "non stick" pots and pans. Paid lots of money for them. Every time I cook, I go for the Lodge cast-iron cooking pot if inside, or the dutch ovens if over a fire. I love my cast iron, and it doesn't stick as it has been seasoned properly and cared for the right way since. As for cutlery, Cutco is hands down the best knife set I've ever owned.”

“That's what we have Sarbar.

Ewker, my Aunt's been looking for new pots and pans and after research chose the Emeril ware stuff you're thinking about. She's pretty careful about stuff like that, cooks alot. Bed, Bath and Beyond put out twenty percent off coupons every month. I get mine through the mail (call your store and see if you can get on their mailing list for next month's mailer). Or holler and I'll throw one in the mail to you w/ your Christmas card. =)”

““If you have a Cost co nearby, they have a 15 piece set for something like 150 bucks. My wife was a professional chef awhile back and raves about these all the time. She had a mix of odds and ends that she wanted to replaice and found these.

The best part is that if anything ever happens (even if it is your fault) they get replaiced.”
Wounded Knee
10:13:48 AM

I was in the local library yesterday and saw that this month's Consumer Reports had that $150 Costco set a Best Buy.”

“so what's with the hard anodized stuff? what's it made out of? i don't really want to ever buy anything else that has a coating that might come off in your food, like teflon.”

“never mind, i found the answer!

anodize, UK USUALLY anodise
verb {T} SPECIALIZED
to cover a metal with a layer of oxide
(= a chemical combination of oxygen and one other element) by using an electric current

...and non-flaking too, apparently. i'll give it a "safe" rating! haha.”

“It's aluminum generally and it's anodized sso as to not react with acidic foods, like aluminum sometimes does.”

“Yeppers, and it cooks very evenly! It is soemwhat naturally nonstick (all I have to do is soak it for 5 minutes in hot water and give it a quick wash-even after cooking rice). It is cookware that isn't light though-it has "hand heft".
And yes, no flaking, no peeling like Teflon....and you can cook on high!”