Pot/Pan recommendations

[housewolf]

I just sent my good tri-ply, copper-coil beautiful stainless steel 14-pc cookware set home with my brother to his house in California (it's too heavy for me to use comfortably anymore and figured it was good cookware and deserved to be used by someone who coveted it).

Now, I don't do a lot of cooking anymore, but I do cook things on occasion and I want some decent pans. I need the basics - 3 sizes of sauce pans with lids, a covered dutch oven/stock pot, one or two sizes of fry pans. I'm thinking of hard-anodized fry pans and stainless everything else.

Looking for some recommendations for good quality/reasonably priced pans. I'm not buying All-Clad or anything expensive like that, nor am I buying T-Fal, Revere Ware, or Farberware. I've had Wolfgang Puck's copper core pans in the past and hated them, makes me now wary of "celebrity" cookware. I know there's lots of stuff out there - Calphalon, Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Circulon and many more.

What have you used that you've liked? What can you recommend?

[The empressof all]

1. I have a set of Wolfgang pucks stainless

I love it! It's not too heavy but still has a good heft and weight for me. It cleans like a breeze. I got mine from one of the home shopping networks years ago. Check out qvc or HSN. It was an impulse buy that I never regretted they have stood up well to heavy use and tolerate a great deal of abuse and neglect. I love them

[housewolf]

6. I'm glad you like yours

I was pretty unhappy with the set I had. It seemed that the copper layer on the bottom was just a tad too small in diameter, The heat wasn't being dispersed evenly across the bottom and things would over-cook on the edges of the bottom. I was disappointed since I'd had high hopes and expectations for the pans when I bought them.

Or maybe it was a problem with the stove I had at the time, that's possible too.

[The empressof all]

11. We didn't have the same set

There is no copper in mine. It is 100% Stainless. I got a larger set than this several years ago for a similar price.

http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/wolfgang-puck-bistro-elite-16-piece-french-cooking-set_p-6232218_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=6232218&sf=qc&attr=181&ocm=qc|181&prev=hp!181!sf&ccm=qc|181

[yellerpup]

2. Weight is an issue for me, too. I need lighter pans

of all types and a few years ago I bought a stainless Cuisinart set of stock pot, 2 saute pans, 1 small pot w/lid, 2 more pots, one deep, and one wider and shallower like a Dutch oven. Two of the three other lids fit stockpot, wide pot, and large sautee pan; the third lid fits both sautee pan and pot. I find it easier to reach up than bend down so I use a pot rack. I can lift any of the items in this set with one hand, and it set looks like new when I take it out of the dish washer. Good luck! :hi:

[housewolf]

7. Cuisinart - I'll keep that in mind

They're on my list of pans to take a look at. I like stainless steel, too. I'm glad you found some that work so well for you. Sounds like a perfect set of cookware for the wonderful meals you create.

:hi: back at 'cha! Hope you're enjoying your late-spring/moving-into-summer season and taking advantage of the bounty of the season.

[yellerpup]

13. Because of lobbying by local supermarkets

the greenmarkets won't be coming back to our town this summer. They start in the town two miles away next weekend (they used to start in early April). I've not been cooking much because I've been immersed in a couple of writing projects. I did finish a pilot for a half-hour animated sitcom for my husband and his partner, and now I'm going back to my favorite untitled stage play set in Indian Territory, 1903. When I'm absorbed in writing it's like being in love...one of those rare times I don't even think of food! :rofl: Let me know what you choose and how you like it.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I really like either Farberware or Revereware.

They have even heating, food comes out well, and clean up well. Now, that said, I also have a bunch of cast iron for serious searing of meats and you can put them under the broiler without worrying about the plastic handles melting.

[housewolf]

8. I grew up with Revere Ware

And had Farberware several times in my young-adulthood. I saw a bunch of old copper-bottomed Revere Ware on Ebay the other night, and got nostalgic for my Mom's kitchen and the wonderful meals she would create using those pans. I guess they'll always hold a special place in my heart and in my memories. I'm glad you like yours!

[grasswire]

17. I still cook on my mother's Revere Ware

It's fifty years old or so, and it performs as well as a set of pots could ever do. I supplement that with a saute pan from Emeril and a big stock pot.

[csziggy]

4. I like the Emeril chef's pan and the IKEA FAVORIT saute pan

Although it is too large for most of my needs - it is the 12" - it is a great pan. I got it at Bed Bath & Beyond. They sell sets of Emeril cookware at a reasonable cost. I did not go for a set because I only needed the chef's pan. I think I read that All-clad or one of the high priced companies makes the line for Emeril. Anodized - http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16660035 or stainless - http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16663719

Since they don't sell the Emeril 10" separately, I found a FAVORIT 10" saute for a great price at IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20083457). Heavy enough to distribute and retain heat, but light enough for me to handle, easy to clean, nice height on the sides without being too deep, and with a nice lid. IKEA has some nice sets at good prices, if you are close to one of their stores. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20149533

[housewolf]

9. Yes, All-Clad had a hand in Emeril's cookware

I don't know whether they are the manufacturer or whether they just helped in the design, but they were definitely involved. Maybe I'll take a trip over to BB&B and check them out. Either HSN or QVC carries them also, good prices and no-interest payments. It's tempting.

IKEA's about a half an hour away. In my 4 years here, I've never been (just don't make it out that way very often). Maybe I'll have to make a trip to check out the pans.

Thank you for your comments, I love reading what you and others think about your pans.

[csziggy]

12. IKEA has several different lines of pans at different price levels

Like I said, I like the FAVORIT line, which is mid-price range. I also have a FAVORIT stainless steel sauce pan (the result of sending hubby to buy a pan). It is really nice, though I prefer my older pans since they seal better.

If I did not have the older set, I would have gotten a set of the Emeril ones. I like the weight of them and the design. The long all metal handles are nice, too. The only thing I don't like about my thirty year old set of pans is that the handles all show their age. The pots themselves look great after thirty years, but the plastic (or whatever the material is) handles are quite worn, though not one has broken and they still are functional.

[Tesha]

5. The best items for the best price,

for me at least, have come from cooking.com.

They have terriffic sales, and if you drill down a little - you can find some real gems.

[housewolf]

10. Cooking.com - Thanks, Tesha!

I hadn't thought about checking there. I've been looking at Amazon and Ebay but now I'll check Cooking.com too.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Tesha]

14. Here's a good spot to start

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodli.asp?deptno=9900&CurDept=9900&CurClass=&CurSubClass=9950

The Clearance pages sometimes have unbelievable sales, you can find 50% savings meaning $100 off once in a while.

[Tesha]

15. not cheap tho'...

you do get reviews

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=213457

[Warpy]

16. There's a hard anodized set at Costco that doesn't look bad

It is coated with teflon, at least the frypans are, but that seems to be what they do to cut down the weight.

I love my Calphalon pans and my two off brand triple clad pans and my Le Creuset Dutch ovens. I now have to lift them with towels draped over my wrists instead of with my hands, but I manage. I did give my perfectly seasoned cast iron frypans to the enthusiastic cook next door, they'll have a good home and I can't really cope any more.

All my cookware was on sale open stock at Amazon and I bought it a piece at a time.