I'm thoroughly disgusted with Calphalon. I loved my pots and pans, but after a short 4 years they are starting to peel. I have been very careful with them, but alas, it's time to move on. So, we're going stainless steel. I don't want to spend the money on a high end brand, but we're willing to spend a what we need to get a good set. Any suggestions? I've seen Bialetti, Ever Wear, and T-Fal sets that look good, but I can't decide. Does anyone have input on stainless steel brands?
12 comments:
I just consulted my mom. She says Calphalon makes many grades, so if you just buy by brand you'll make mistakes. But if you get the Tri-Ply clad Calphalon, "there is none better."
I got myself a set when there was a fantastic sale at Sam's Club several years ago, and I've had no regrets. I love my Tri-Ply pots and pans.
Also good is Tramontina, another Tri-ply.
Basically what you want is stainless steel on the outside and inside (tri-ply), with an aluminum sandwich/core.
And it's important that the aluminum core goes all the way up, not just a disk at the bottom of the pots.
They're typically expensive, but sometimes fantastic sales pop up and that's when you pounce.
I still like to have one teflon-coated pan on hand for things that require no-stick, like omlettes or breaded veggies etc...
But you can get those for fairly cheap at Ross or TJ Maxx... The heavier the peice, the better the quality.
Three comments in a row! ;)
haha, you've given my mom a quest. Here's a good deal for the amount of pieces
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11467777&search=tri-ply&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=tri-ply&Ntt=tri-ply&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
But it would be nice if it had a 4-quart piece included.
How fun! I love pots and pans and I too made the transition to stainless steel, although I must admit that over Christmas we went crazy and bought one nonstick for scrambled eggs! Hope you are doing well! Love to keep in touch!
We have kitchen aid stainless steel, and we've liked them fine. We still have a teflon for eggs and stuff that really sticks. But, I'd go with the previous comment, those wolfgang puck pots and pans at costco look great!
Hi, I'm Lili's sister, and I followed a link here from her blog to weigh in on pots and pans. :-) Tri-ply stainless steel pots & pans are wonderful, and are not the same thing as regular stainless. I've had mine for 3 years now and still adore them. They were "Sam's Choice" brand at Sam's club, but atually made by Tramontina. Basically, they are like a much-less-expensive All-Clad. They cook evenly, hold their heat, brown food beautifully, and almost nothing sticks to them when you use them according to the directions. Except eggs. Eggs definitely stick.
My husband's coworker followed the advice from this article and bought an enameled cast iron frying pan with a matte interior. He said they love it and it's the only frying pan they ever use and nothing sticks, not even eggs. I think they got a Le Creuset, but Target carries one that's red with a black interior that I've heard good things about.
Your calphalon is peeling?! I guess what Lili said is right about the different grades of Calphalon. When I got married, I bought a cheap, no-name brand set of pans from bed, bath & beyond, and they are still going strong. But once I am rich, I am going to buy copper-core pots and pans. But that won't be for a long time. :)
I don't even need pots and pans but this post has got me interested and now that I'm looking I'm wishing that I did need a new set.
One more from my mom, copied from my blog :)
(Seems you picked a topic that my mom and sisters have spent time thinking about!)
Hey Lili (&/or Jenny–but I can’t contact her directly), I found another good option for cookware. These pans are supposed to be in stock at the Orem Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5716478
No saute pan, unfortunately, but then, no steamer either–and no shipping charges. Lili’s and mine are identical to these (altho’ back then we were able to find sets w/more pieces), and they’re just great.
I have a Calphalon tri-ply saute pan very like the one in the Costco set, and I do love it; it works great as a chicken fryer too. Here’s the best deal I found on eBay today for one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260389665114
They retail at WAY more than that. Oh hey look, I just found a used one w/a substitute lid: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300305266124
Who knows where those bids could wind up, but it might be worth a try.
(Sorry to shanghai your blog, Lil.)
Do you have a costco card? because the sale really great stainless steel pans there. We got some for a wedding gift and we LOVE them! My mom even fell in love with them when she stayed at our house and helped with the cooking so she bought herself some!They are just the Kirkland signature ones. They are a pretty reasonable price for as many pots and pans that you get. They clean up really well too!
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