Choosing "Safe" Cookware

[Shellie]

I'm ditching my nonstick-coated stuff. I'm reading this book that, wow, is really opening my eyes to the associated dangers!!

I already have some cast iron (one medium skillet, a small griddle and a grill pan) and a couple enamel over cast iron (a 7 qt dutch oven and 3 qt french oven). I also have a hand-me-down Calphalon pro anodized aluminum which is supposed to be safe but everything I make in it sticks like there's no tomorrow!

I'm giving away an 8 qt that I use a lot (for pasta), a 4 qt that I use for candy-making, a 6 qt saute pan that I use a LOT and a 1 qt I never use (but would have if it were 2 qt!) and several sizes of frying pans (8", 12", 15").

So, stainless? Or enamel but not cast iron (like Chantal?). I've seen a few brands of PFTE, etc. -free nonstick but the reviews report them losing their non-stick quality after a few months of use. I wonder if that is user-error (too high of heat) or if it's just that these are new and maybe not perfected yet? Either way, I might grab one for omelettes although the stainless reviews report little sticking with good stainless.

I've been leaning toward stainless...T-Fal has a set that would meet my needs for $100 but the quality may not be the best although my frugal side really is leaning toward this one! For $200-$300 I could get a Calphalon or Cuisinart set...or open stock pieces to meet my needs. The Cuisinart set has the bonus of the lids also fitting the saute pans.

I just can't decide! What do you use, and like?

[kyndmamaof4]

I got a set of heavy bottomed Stainless steel for around $140 from Sam's club. It's Member's mark. I love them.

[mamadelbosque]

I have lots of cast iron for frying & baking (6,8,10,12" pans, 10 & 12" dutch ovens, 15" pizza pan, 12x20" griddle 2 11-hole muffin pans, 2 6-hole muffin pans, a melting pot thing and 10" round griddle...), and stainless steel pots (though the pots I have were my parents' wedding gift, I think, and are thus nearly 30 yrs old and in need of replacing...). So thats my vote - cast iron & stainless steel

Oh. and I'd just buy individual pieces that you need, wouldn't buy a set. I know what *I* want/need for cooking purposes and have zero intentions of ever again buying a 'set' of pots & pans...

[ekortering]

I just bought this set of tri-ply stainless steel pots and pans on clearance for $109. I LOVE THEM LIKE CRAZY!!!!

America's Test Kitchen highly rates them and they are a fraction of the price of All-Clad. =) I will collect a few more pieces over the next year.

FYI, 6.5 quart enameled dutch ovens are $39, so you might want to order one of those, too. I have one and I LOVE IT LIKE CRAZY, TOO!!!!

Ship to your local store for free. =)

Erin

[Princess ConsuelaB]

I love my stainless steel pans, if I could marry them I would I prefer to buy open stock but that is mainly because I'm slowly replacing all my old pans (mostly calpholon anodized or nonstick)and know what I need. I don't necessarily stick to just one brand either, I pick up pans as I come across them, according to how they suit my purposes. My very favorite pan happens to be Cuisinart with a glass lid however.

[marimara]

I have cast iron and stainless steel (and I picked up one Cuisinart Chef's Classic non stick 8" pan because I noticed I can't make pancakes in my iron skillet w/out them burning and sticking).

I have a Lodge dutch over, a 12" skillet and a 6" skillet.
I have a 3.5 st saucepan w/glass lid from Cuisinart Chef's Classic SS line and a 1 QT saucepan from same line w/glass lid.
I have a huge stockpot w/steamer and a pasta strainer all Stainless Steel w/glass lid that has a venting hole. I've this for a while and can't remember who made it.
Then I have the one nonstick Cuisinart pan.

That and some stoneware casserole dishes, pans and pizza stone, one glass casserole dish and I'm set.

[Shellie]

Oh, I really like the Tramontina stainless steel stuff....wishing I'd come back to read replies before I ordered something!

I ordered a Le Creuset enamel over steel stockpot (only....$40...what's the catch? LOL) and a Calphalon tri-ply 8" skillet. If I'm underwhelmed with either, I think I'd get the large Tramontina set at Walmart.com. I think every piece is something I'd use. They have an 8 qt, stockpot with a pasta insert that caught my eye as well. It's not cheap at $79 but it's something I've been considering. I have carpal tunnel and a long walk to my sink to drain pasta...I used to have a pot with an insert and I could drain the pasta without having to dump boiling water in the sink!

I saw the Tramontina 6qt enamel over cast iron piece on Amazon for $29 with Prime! I think they only have the red while Walmart has the green as well for $39. Either way it's a great deal! My 7 qt. is Le Creuset (it was a gift) so it probably would be redundant for me to get this one and my 3 qt (that I bought) is Lodge. I'm curious about how the Tramontina rates compared to the Le Creuset and Lodge though. I want a 5 qt. Le Creuset but it's not in the budget any time soon!

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by ekortering

I just bought this set of tri-ply stainless steel pots and pans on clearance for $109. I LOVE THEM LIKE CRAZY!!!!

I have these and LOVE them!

[DirtRoadMama]

For me, the trick to food not sticking to my stainless is the first heat the pan thoroughly, then add the oil, heat the oil, then add the food.

I only use my stainless for liquids (soups and pasta), or if I'm going to need to whisk it (gravy and sauces). Otherwise, it's all cast iron.

[Shellie]

I really don't care for the taste of eggs made in cast iron. I am okay with other things but eggs, blech. Although I cannot imagine successfully making eggs in a stainless steel pan either--I had a disaster the other day making them in my Lodge enameled cast iron!

If I can't figure out how to make eggs in the stainless then I guess I will have to invest in a couple of the new, "safe" non-stick coating. They are moderately priced open stock but the reviews generally say they lose their release qualities quickly.

Oh, and gosh...what about my beloved, huge square non-stick griddle? I can make 9 pieces of french toast or nine pancakes at a time! I have two small round cast iron griddles for the stove but they're really small.

Last week I parted with my beloved non-stick slow-cooker. I miss it so much. I have a crock-style one, which I'll have to start using of course, but this rectangular non-stick one had been with me for almost 10 years!

ETA: My 6 qt Le Creuset enamel on steel (thus making it only $40 and lightweight) arrived yesterday and is really nice. My mom has a 9 qt Chantal enamel over steel pot (from my childhood!) that she said I can have. So that will save some $$. (I can see my dh getting twitchy over all the things I'm replacing! LOL)

[redvlagrl]

I would definitely check out Winners/Marshall's etc kind of places. We have most of our cookeware from there and it's a great way to get super high quality for half the price (literally).

We use cast iron, enameled cast iron (fake Le Creuset and real Le creuset) and stainless steel. I was nervous about using stainless steel frying pans but they are fine, esp with some coconut oil. Our fave stainless one is a Langoustina one.

[Shellie]

That's a good idea.

I don't know why but I'm destined to not be able to cook with stainless steel! Argh! The last time I had it, it was a really inexpensive set. I blamed my issues on my small budget (it was a huge set for $99). I can spend a bit more now, so I figured that'd solve the problem. My Calphalon ss omelet pan arrived and I generously buttered it and tried to make an omelet. It was sticking badly so I decided to make it more of a scramble.

Well. it literally took me THREE days to get all the egg out of it--and it wasn't even burned!! I had to have dh stop and buy Dawn Power Disolver (cringe) and even that didn't do the trick.

I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond today (we don't have much locally besides Kohl's, Target, Walmart and that) and bought several Cuisanart PTFE/PFOA-free non-stick pans. And got into an argument with the clerk, who tried to sell my different pans, insisting those were Teflon-free. LOL Then I saw another brand at Target and those were only marginally less-expensive and were thinner.

I've just got to be careful not to use high-heat so these coatings won't wear out in a few months. They're anodized on the outside which is a drawback for me too cause I hate cleaning hard anodized, but they have a lovely ceramic-based coating on the inside.