by Susan on August 5, 2010
T-Fal Ultimate Stainless-Steel Copper-Bottom 12-Piece Cookware Set
T-Fal Ultimate Stainless-Steel Copper-Bottom 12-Piece Cookware Set
- 8- and 10-1/2-inch sauté pan; 1.1-, 2.2-, and 3.2-quart covered saucepan, 5-1/2-quart covered Dutch oven, spoon, and slotted turner
- Stainless-steel construction with multi-layer steel/aluminum/copper bases for even heating
- Riveted stainless-steel handles ergonomically designed for comfort
- Glass lids with stainless-steel loop handles help trap in heat, moisture, and nutrients
- Oven-safe to 500 degrees F; limited lifetime warranty; dishwasher-safe
Many of the users were happy to find that the T-Fal Ultimate Stainless-Steel Copper-Bottom 12-Piece Cookware Set replaces their non stick cookware well. What with the concern about teflon coating getting off into the food and posing a threat to health, family cooks are now looking for stainless steel or cast iron cookware.
Nothing sticks to this set of cookware except eggs. Scrambled eggs are the worst, but soaking the pan and scrubbing it afterwards will get it clean and shiny again. If you do get any marks left in the pan, baking soda and vinegar works well on stainless steel.
The multi-layer copper bottom of the cookware makes them heat evenly. The food gets cooked whether it is in the middle or at the side of the pan, so no half-burnt and half-cooked food.
A reviewer found that the copper bottom is difficult to become shiny again, but I. Marshall advised to use red wine vinegar and salt to scrub the bottom.
One thing that is great about stainless steel cookware is that they are dishwasher safe. If you don’t really care whether they look really shiny or beautiful in your kitchen, by all means use the dishwasher to clean them every time. What a time saver.
At the current discounted price, T-Fal Ultimate Stainless-Steel Copper-Bottom 12-Piece Cookware Set is largely recommendable. Click over for best price.
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by Susan on August 4, 2010
The Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set includes two skillets (8” and 10”), 1.5-quart and 3-quart saucepan with lids, 3.5-quart saute pan with lid, and a 8-quart covered stockpot.
Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
This Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is made of stainless steel with an aluminum base, with a good feel and sufficient weight in them. Together with the elegant appearance, these are a beautiful addition to your kitchen.
Riveted Handles Stay Cool
Those long riveted handles were praised by many users. Except for the stockpot, all the pan handles are long enough for a good grip while cooking, and you don’t have to use a mitten because surprisingly, the metal handles stay cool.
The lids are lightweight but they fit snugly on each pan or pot to hold in all the heat. Not one bit of steam will escape as these lids seal like a vacuum.
Even Cooking, No Hot Spots
Although the aluminum base meant slower heat up, it has no hot spots and the cooking is even. You don’t have to fiddle around with the food to stop it getting burnt! Besides, low heat will be enough to cook so you save on gas bills as well.
Discoloration
Having said that, too high heat will cause some discoloration at the bottom of the cookware. If you use the dishwasher to clean these, they might also lose some shine because dishwasher uses water at a very high temperature..
If you could wash by hand, wash these before the food dry out and stick to the pans. If they stick anyway, use some baking soda to get the residue off. Soaking them in vinegar will get rid of the water marks and bring back their shine too.
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is a high grade set of stainless steel cookware at medium grade price. It’s only $115 at the moment! Click the link to find out how many five star reviews it received.
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by Susan on August 3, 2010
KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set
KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set
- Set contains 1-, 2-, and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8- and 10-inch open French skillets; 8-quart covered stockpot
- 18/10 stainless-steel with encapsulated aluminum disc base; polished interior and brushed exterior finishes
- 18/10 stainless-steel handles encased in stay-cool silicone grips
- Tight-fitting 18/10 stainless-steel lids keep in heat and moisture
- Oven-safe to 400 degrees F; dishwasher-safe; limited lifetime warranty
The KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set comes with an 8-quart stockpot instead of a 6-quart one, despite that it has only 8 and 10-inch skillets. It is best for the medium families whose diet contains more stews and soups than fried food. That means a healthier diet.
Oven Safe
The stockpot is large enough to cook chili for a big gathering, and the best thing about this set of cookware? You can pop them into the oven for a yummy casserole!
It’s so convenient to stir-fry some ground beef and onions in the saute pan, then add tomatoes and cooked pasta, cover the whole pan with foil, and bake the whole thing! There’s no need to transfer to a baking dish, adding one more item to wash later on.
And yes, the handles are oven safe, made of stainless steel and silicone rubber grips for a comfortable hold.
Although the skillets are not non stick, it isn’t too difficult to keep eggs from sticking with a little skill. Heat up the pans dry first, then give it a good coat of cooking spray, add a little butter or oil, then you’re ready to scramble an egg or cook an omelet.
KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set is dishwasher safe anyway, so cleaning is a breeze. I’d say this will look good in any kitchen, as stainless steel cookware always do.
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by Susan on August 2, 2010
Non stick cookware is still popular with some people, and I like to use a non stick skillet together with my other uncoated cookware. But non stick cookware needs special care to ensure that the coating stays on good and nice for ultimate performance and health reasons. Here are some tips to care for your non stick cookware:
- Never use cooking spray or non stick spray on non stick cookware. The spray will degrade the non stick coating and eventually it will no longer be non stick.
- Never ever use metal utensils on non stick cookware. And that means no flipping sides with a metal turner, no stirring with metal spoon, no picking up food with a metal fork, and definitely tell yourself “no” when you find that little voice saying “just once”.
- Although you might want to wash the non stick cookware immediately to avoid food caking on, don’t run the cookware under water when it is still hot. This will cause the pan to warp and damage it.
- Try to resist washing your non stick cookware in a dishwasher. Most manufacturers advise against this as well because the high temperature in a dishwasher will damage the non stick coating. Washing non stick cookware in a dishwasher might also void the warranty.
- To get dried food off, mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste, and rub it onto the pan with a dish cloth or sponge. Really stubborn residue can be removed with elbow grease. Just remember not to use steel wool, scouring pads or stiff brushes to wash non stick cookware.
- Washing the cookware twice in a gentle manner will work as well as washing it vigorously once. Use only dish detergent that is gentle enough for your hands, no harsh solutions or cleaning agents.
- Always protect the non stick surface from being scratched. Store the cookware by hanging it on a pot rack, or if you don’t have one, try to keep it on top of the stack. If you can’t do that too, place a clean dish towel on the surface before stacking something else on it.
Taking careful steps to care for your non stick cookware will prolong their lifespan and keep up their performance, giving you the best value for your money spent.
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by Susan on August 1, 2010
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
- Includes 1-, 2-, and 3-quart covered saucepans; 4- and 8-quart covered saucepots, 8- and 10-inch nonstick aluminum skillets, 3 nesting bowls, 9-by-13-inch nonstick cooking sheet, and 9-by-13-inch nonstick cake pan
- 18/10 stainless steel with phenolic handles oven-proof to 350 degrees F
- Pots and pans feature fully-capped aluminum core for superior cooking
- Close-fitting stainless steel lids; plastic lids on nesting mixing bowls
- Dishwasher-safe; limited lifetime warranty
The most fabulous thing about this Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set is probably what you get for the price! Twelve items at $110 might seem rather impressive already, but wait till you see the 100% five star reviews at Amazon.
The body of the cookware is made of stainless steel with an aluminum core for even heat distribution. The lids are stainless steel, interchangeable, bell-shaped for no dripping, and fit nicely. If you like glass lids for seeing through, these are not for you.
I like it that the skillets are non-stick while all others are uncoated. Exactly what a good set of cookware should be! With due care to the non-stick coating, frying food and cleaning up will be much faster and easier.
There are even a cookie sheet and cake pan included! That practically completes the kitchenware for someone moving out to a new place.
This cookware set is easy to clean by hand or dishwasher. The ring in the handles makes it easy for you to hang them up on the pot rack afterwards. The handles do feel a bit cheap, and they’re not riveted, but a loosened handle after some time of use is a good compromise for such a great bargain, no?
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set is an excellent set of cookware for the money. Perfect for those who’re looking out for a whole set of cookware whether for themselves or as a loving gift.
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by Susan on July 30, 2010
Cast iron cookware are great for cooking because they are inexpensive, durable, and high heat resistant. If you are willing to spend time to care for your cast iron cookware, it will give you delight in cooking for generations!
Season it
When you get the new cast iron cookware, you’ll need to season it before the first use, unless it came pre-seasoned, like those by Lodge Logic.
Scrub the cookware thoroughly with soap water and an abrasive sponge. Dry it with a paper towel and then let it sit on a burning stove until it is bone dry. A simple way would be to pour a bit of cooking oil to coat the surface and leave it for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess oil with a paper towel.
If you want to be more thorough, coat the whole cookware with oil (take care not to burn your fingers if it’s hot), then place it in the oven bottom up, and switch on the oven to 350 degrees F. Let it bake for an hour and then leave it to cool in the oven before removing it.
Season your cast iron cookware regularly to keep it a better ‘non stick’ than coated cookware.
Avoid Rust
Iron will rust when it is exposed to water. But this doesn’t mean you cannot wash your cast iron cookware. You can wash with soap water and don’t use abrasive scrubbers unless you are planning to season it right after. Remember never to soak it in water, soapy or otherwise.
After washing, immediately dry it with a paper towel and let it sit on burning stove until it is dry all over. Store cast iron cookware without the lid on to avoid condensation which will cause rust. If you store them in a cabinet, I suggest storing them together with a roll of paper towel. The paper towel will keep the humidity low.
If you find rust on the cookware, scrub it off with shortening, and remember to season it afterward.
Don’t Do These
Don’t run a hot cast iron cookware under the tap. It’ll break! Always leave the cookware to cool before washing them.
Don’t store food in cast iron cookware. It’ll destroy the seasoning and the iron will leak into the food causing it to taste metallic. It’ll also cause rust.
Don’t use cast iron cookware to cook acidic foods like tomatoes and food with citrus fruit juice (lemon juice, etc.). The food acids will destroy the seasoning.
Don’t wash your cast iron cookware in a dishwasher. They cannot be soaked in water, remember?
Keep these in mind and your cast iron pans and pots will last you forever.
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by Susan on July 29, 2010
Copper cookware is expensive, but known for its amazing heat conductivity that will let you control the temperature precisely. Many professionals use copper cookware for its quick and uniform heat to cook with perfection. But copper cookware is also known for its beauty.
When you take the whole set of copper cookware out of the box, you might even feel reluctant to use them because they shine so nicely in your kitchen! Don’t worry, here are some tips for you to keep that pretty shine even after a lot of use.
Copper is a curious material that will discolor if it is highly exposed to heat and water. So since cookware is exposed to both all the time, you will need to take some action to bring back the shine.
To Remove Marks
If you like the natural patina on the cookware that develops over time, just remove the stains with hot soapy water. For stubborn marks, apply ketchup or tomato paste on the surface and rinse off after a few minutes.
To Bring Back Shine
Use 1/4 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of coarse salt to make a paste. Rub this paste onto the copper surface of the cookware with a soft sponge or dish cloth. Then rinse it off with hot water.
To Make it Very Shiny
Polish your copper cookware with a proprietary cleaner like Radiance or Never Dull.
Copper cookware are usually lined with other metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. If they are, only apply the above methods on the copper surface. Clean the lining the normal way.
Don’t use abrasive scourers on copper cookware, like stiff brushes and steel wool. The surface will be scratched. Don’t wash copper cookware in a dishwasher if you can help it.
Even if you don’t care about copper cookware looking good, it’s important to keep it from discoloring too, because if the copper develop dark blotches it will become hot spots that will burn the food that is cooked.
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by Susan on July 28, 2010
Normally there are skillets, saucepans and stockpots in a cookware set, but there are many types of cookware used for different purposes. You can buy any of these to add to your cookware set.
Griddle – A flat pan with tiny sides used for grilling omelets, pancakes, hamburger patties, etc. Griddles come in round or square shapes.
Griddle
Skillet/Frying pan – A pan with flat bottom and short sides used for frying and sauteing. The short but not minimal sides make it easy to turn food to the other side with a turner or spatula. Non stick skillets are a favorite with people who want a diet with less fat.
Skillet
Grill pan – A type of skillet with ridges on the surface for the fat to drain away from the food and collect around the rims.
Grill pan
Saute pan – A pan like a skillet with straight instead of flared sides, used for sauteing foods. It has a long handle and a short handle, and often includes a glass cover.
Saute pan
Braising pan – A round pan with two short handles, a heavy glass lid and flat bottom, used for braising and can be placed in the oven for casseroles.
Braising pan
Saucepan – A round pot with high sides and a long handle, used for making sauces, heating soup, cooking noodles, and many other purposes. Some of them have rounded sides while others have straight sides. Some of them have a pouring spout. Some of them include a lid as well.
Saucepan
Stockpot – A tall, round pot with straight sides and two short handles. This is used for cooking a large amount of chili, stew, soup or stock, or boiling pasta. Comes with a cover.
Stockpot
Dutch oven – Something like a stockpot, only wider instead of taller. Can be used for cooking stews and chilis, and is very popular for camping use.
Dutch oven
Wok – A pan that is bowl shaped with either a rounded bottom or a flat bottom. There are two short handles and some include a cover. It is a pan of Asian origin and can be used for stir-frying, sauteing, deep frying and steaming with a metal rack placed across it.
Wok
Stir-fry pan/Chef’s pan – A deep round pan which is not unlike the wok, but slightly smaller with one short and one long handle instead of two short ones. It is good for stir-frying and sauteing.
Chef’s pan
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by Susan on July 27, 2010
KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set
KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set
- 10-piece cookware set includes 1-, 2-, and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8- and 10-inch skillets; 6-quart covered stockpot
- Heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum construction heats quickly and evenly
- Premium, scratch-resistant nonstick surface provides superior food release
- Dual-riveted stainless handles with silicone grips; break-resistant glass lids
- Pots and lids oven-safe to 400 degrees F; wash by hand; 1-year hassle-free replacement warranty
Truly Non-stick
If you’re looking for a set of nonstick cookware, the KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set is awesome. Only add oil or butter if it is needed for flavoring. You will not need cooking spray when cooking with this set, and nothing sticks!
In fact, you should NOT use cooking spray on this set. The non stick coating will degrade and spoil if you do. The food never sticks to the pan, not even sticky rice or fried fish.
“NOTHING sticks to this cookware. everything seems to just slide right off. I mean even water on these pans beads right up!” – M. Bomhoff
Easy to Clean, but No Dishwasher
That means that it is very easy to clean the pots and pans as well. Remember to clean without using harsh scrubby to protect the non stick coating, and only to clean by hand. No dishwasher cleaning for this set. This could be a negative for some people who hate doing dishes.
But the only grudge I would have found with this cookware set is that the smallest skillet tips when it’s on the stove empty. That’s because the handle is slightly heavier than the pan itself.
Other than that, this KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set is just the right set of cookware for medium size families, the handles are riveted and wrapped for a comfortable cool grip, and KitchenAid is a great company to buy from.
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by Susan on January 29, 2010
As its name says, Tri-ply Cooper 10 Piece Cookware Set that designed and manufactured by Calphalon has three-layer bonded construction structure with the heavy-gauge core aluminum sandwiched between stainless steels that enables perfect conductivity, in turn leading to optimum temperature and consistently even heat distribution during each and every cooking process. This cookware set consists of two omelet pans with the sizes of 8 and 10 inches, a 3-quart covered sauté pan, as well as three covered saucepots with different measurements of 1 ½, 2 ½, and 6 quarts. These various cooking utensils will serve your assortment of cooking needs, from the simple egg-frying to a complete whole course meal.
What’s more, this Tri-ply Cooper 10 Piece Cookware Set has exterior that crafted with copper. The combination of copper that well-known as best metal in conduction with the pure aluminum has further enhanced the overall heat flow of this cookware set, leading to superior control of the cooking process and amazing end results. Interiorly, it is made of 18/10 polished stainless steel, which ensures healthy cooking as it does not have chemical reaction with any kind of food, even the acidic one.
For the purpose of ensuring safety and avoiding unwanted burnt, this Tri-ply Cooper 10 Piece Cookware Set is equipped with the patented stainless steel Cool-V handles, which will stay cool to touch at all times, even while cooking on the stovetop. Besides, all the lids of this cookware set are designed to be tight-fitting. Better still, this kitchenware is oven-safe up to 450oF and covered with a life time warranty.
Most of the users give high commendation and thumbs up for the performance of this cookware set. However, some of them have complained about the exterior color changes of this cookware set. I think this is just a minor drawback and this Tri-ply Cooper 10 Piece Cookware Set is worthwhile for its price range.
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