We are looking to buy a set of pots and pans that will last many years. We are willing to pay for a good product. My wife wants non-stick material but doesn't want that coating that eventually comes off.

Suggestions.

We got the Calphalon Anodized Bronze set last year. It has to be the best set of pots that I have every owned. We got them from the Outlet store in Cypress. They had a big sale on them, so we did not buy as a set, but chose the pieces that we wanted instead. Calphalon Bronze Pots

Check these out. Don't let the walmart link fool you. Check out reviews at link and elsewhere online. Had calphalon nonstick for 10+ years. These cook better and are nearly as easy to clean. We've been very impressed by them and they are a great value. You can't go wrong by giving them a shot.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tramontina-8-Piece-18-10-Stainless-Steel-Tri-Ply-Clad-Cookware-Set/19581112

Only purchased 1 piece as a trial about a year ago but really like the Cuisinart GreenGourmet. The stainless line is induction friendly but not broiler friendly. The hard anodized is broiler friendly but not induction friendly.

If you want to go old school non-stick on some pieces then go with the Lodge cast iron.



[This message has been edited by Texker (edited 7/21/2013 12:54a).]

I'll second the Tramontina from Walmart. I've had mine for about 3 years. I absolutely hate Walmart and 99% of their products, but I just cannot argue againt these pots and pans. I honestly can't tell a difference performance-wise between these and my all-clad ones. The only gripe I have is that the pots and lids have rubber handles, so they can't go in the oven.

I would definitely not do a whole set of non-stick if I were you. Nonstick wears off eventually, no matter how expensive a pan you buy. I typically don't like full sets either, as i like to have individual pieces that are best for me. What I have at home consists of a small nonstick Skillet, stainless Skillet, cast iron Skillet, small stainless saucier, medium stainless saucepan, large stainless pot, and a carbon steel wok.

We've been pretty happy with the cuisinart classic stainless saucepans we recently bought. The 1.5 and 2 quart were less expensive than we expected from the brand name.

Of course, the saucepans we were replacing were nasty nonstick aluminum ones we've had since grad school. Suddenly we're actually cooking in that size instead of just boiling water.


[This message has been edited by biobioprof (edited 7/21/2013 4:38p).]

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I'll second the Tramontina from Walmart. I've had mine for about 3 years. I absolutely hate Walmart and 99% of their products, but I just cannot argue againt these pots and pans.

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+1

Not nonstick but I bought a set of calphalon tri-ply stainless steel a few weeks ago, they had a 50% of sale for 4th of July, I had always used nonstick in the past but I LOVE these stainless steel ones! I am considering getting a secondary set of the walmart one's linked above as I have heard great things about them. For the walmart one's the one's linked are "18/10" and they have other sets but not all of them are labeled as such, so what do the numbers refer to? I'm guessing thickness but that is just a guess. By the way at least for me, a scotbrite dobie pad and some barkeepers friend cleaner (found in the cleaning isle)make cleaning my new calphalon set a breeze, I think if you use them right you won't have issues. I'm not going back to nonstick, I use two things cast iron and stainless steel!

I failed to mention in my earlier post that the pots and pans I linked to at Walmart are not available in the stores. They have other Tramontina sets, but not the particular stainless tri-ply sets that have garnered so many positive reviews...even from professional reviewers.
Also, I second the recommendation for Bar Keeepers Friend for cleaning stainless pots. Awesome stuff. I use the powder version. Lowe's carries it.

We've had AllClad for 10 years. Not sure if they're worth the price but they are awesome.

i'm a huge fan of the tri-ply stainless steel. we have calphalon because that's what we registered for. We looked at several including the anodized. couldn't be happier with the stainless. sister in law has the calphalon non stick anodized, and the coating has worn off after a few years. I feel like my stainless is going to last a long time, and it looks as good now as the when we got it.

If i had to buy them myself, i'd have no problem buying the tramontias. based on the reviews, i'm sure they perform as well as my calphalon. although i have glass lids, which i've grown pretty attached to. I like being able to check in on things, especially rice.

all that said, I still use cast iron more than anything. browning meat, bacon and eggs, indoor searing, baked dishes, almost always cast iron.

You don't need most of what comes in a set.
buy the pieces you need for what you cook (although if that walmart set lives up to hype, it might not be a bad a deal)

Also, when it comes to non-stick (and you do need a non-stick skillet or two for eggs and fish) just buy the ace mart specials. They will all go to crap so why pay the money. Plus if your non-stick doen't match, you are more likely to replace it when you need it.

Bed Bath & Beyond carries a 21oz container of Bar Keepers Friend for $1.99. We have one piece of the Wal-mart Tramontina and it's held up really well.

Go all out and buy copper. Don't get the mirrored finish... too hard to keep clean!

I like my cuisinart chefs classic stainless steel. They are cheap and pretty bulletproof. They have a line slightly more expensive that is induction compatible if that matters.

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I like my cuisinart chefs classic stainless steel. They are cheap and pretty bulletproof.

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I have these and completely agree.

I bought a few All Clad Copper Core pieces recently. They are unbelievable. I have Calphalon and Revere Ware and they have been great (although my Calphalon skillet warped a bit sooner than I thought it should).

I was happy with what I had but the All Clad is much, much better. I think the heat transfer is so much better throughout the entire piece. I've found my heat settings need to be lower on the All Clad than my others.

Will definitely buy AC from now on.

MAGNALITE.

End of thread.

I have seen this thread explode before I think...

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

All Clad Stainless: lifetime warranty, made in America, dishwasher & oven safe

I got the Calphalon small set + the three quart sauce pan. Would have gone with the Walmart brand but just really wanted glass lids. So far, I love them!

Thanks guys

We went the piece meal route cuz we couldn't find a set that met all our needs.

Take a look at the J.A. Henckels Thermolon cookware. We have just one piece right now, but it has been excellent so far. Tri-ply construction, ceramic non-stick. And none of that high end price silliness.

I've been using Calphalon tri-ply for years and can't really find much fault with them. Maybe the handles could be a little wider, but that's about it. If you have the money for All-Clad by all means go for it.


In addition to a set of stainless, I would recommend:

A small and large non-stick skillet (BB&B has a nice 2-piece All-Clad set for like $50 right now). Does Calphalon even still make the tri-ply nonstick skillets?

Carbon steel fry pan (Paderno, Lodge, etc.)

Cast Iron pan (Lodge)

Cast Iron dutch oven without legs (makes a great stove-top deep fryer among other things)

Oh yeah - all non-stick will eventually wear. It'll take a few years though on good quality brands...

My ten year old set of All-Clad is all we've ever needed. Stuff is bullet-proof. We have gone through a couple of non-stick pans, though.

I bought a Swiss diamond non-stick and am not really impressed with it. The Emeril all-clad non-stick was our first one, followed by another all-clad that Williams Sonoma was clearing out so we got a good price on it. I need to find my next one soon.

I just wanted to give this thread a healthy bump and also re-post a link I found in another old thread on TA. Since I got married, I have started to enjoy cooking more and more, so I ordered the Tramontina set tonight since my wife was kind of wanting a new set of pots and pans. I'm not quite at the foodie level to provide some sort of blog post, but I'll try to update if I am pleased or disappointed with the Tramontina stuff.

Anyway, here is the link I found on TA that ironically links to a food blog I have started following lately (Serious Eats). They compare the Tramontina stuff ($150 for a set) to the All-Clad stuff ($700 for a set) and the Tramontina does fairly well, especially when you're talking about a set of cookware that is essentially a car payment more expensive than its competitor.

Link

Paging panman

De buyer sautés, some copper pots, an acemart special or 2 for non stick, enameled Dutch oven. Best of all worlds.

Ftw!

_______________________________________________________
Bacon: The duct tape of the kitchen.

We have been using Le Creuset pots/pans for about 10 years, and have recently started investing in Falk stainless clad copper pots. That will take some time as they are certainly costly.

We got a nonstick set of Cuisinart off Amazon a few years back, and it's still going strong. Awesome cookware.

I picked up a set of Calphalon Contemporary sstainless for about 40% MSRP. Love them so far but I don't have much to compare them to.

I would second the no set suggestion. I would also recommend not buying all non-stick. I've had Calphalon try-ply, and they are great.

If you are thinking about All-Clad, go try them out first. I really, really don't like their handles. They are great quality for sure (one of the best), but make sure you like the one piece of the pan that you actually touch.

Woah...didn't realize the OP was from July.


[This message has been edited by Nate ag03 (edited 1/19/2014 8:52a).]

Saladmaster pans. Breakout your checkbook.

For the record, All-Clad's lifetime warranty service is awesome. They just replaced a five year old, non-stick, 10 inch pan because the non-stick coating was separating from where my domed lid would sit on the lip. They even paid for shipping both ways. It took about two weeks, but it arrived today via UPS.
http://www.all-clad.com/Pages/Customer%20Service/Guarantee.aspx

I've been really impressed with the Tramontina stuff so far, although I do wish it included a 12" pan. Also, BKF stuff is AWESOME.