Recommend your stainless steel cookware pls

[allisonrose]

I've been talking about chucking my nonstick pans forever! I'm hesitant to take the leap because I had a cheap set of stainless steel pans before and they were a bear to clean.
Unfortunately I don't have the financial ability to go all out and buy the best of the best. My budget is in the $100-200 range for a set. I'd love to hear what cookware sets you have and enjoy using.

[Chamomile Girl]

I have the Cuisanart 12pce stainless with aluminum core. It is awesome. The core goes all the way up the sides of the pan...like All Clad, but much cheaper. I've only had it for less than a week, but so far I am very impressed. Way better set than the Revereware I've been using for close to 15 years. I did a ton of research before I bought it, and it seemed the best for the price.

[madskye]

I have Farberware Millenium pans. I bought them to replace a set of Calphalon. The Farberware was a 10? piece set for $99 and it rocks. I've had it for about a year, no problems. The only thing is to not cook using a really high heat--medium will heat the pan perfectly without scorching. Eggs are the only thing that I think are tough to clean and I just let it soak for a bit and then give it a cleaning. I bought them because my 94 year old grandma gave me a 30 or 40 year old farberware paella pan that was still spotless, so I thought it was worth a try. I'm very pleased.

[Drummer's Wife]

I have a Cuisanart set, too, and am happy with it. I don't find them hard to clean at all - though we use steel wool pads from time to time (like if I burn something badly).

[momto4plus4]

I have Belgique copper-bottom. I got them from Macy's but I don't know if they carry the copper-bottom ones anymore. Dh & I would shop the after Thanksgiving and after Christmas sales and clearance til I racked up a good set. They're awesome and my friends rave about them too (in lovely jealousy). I also use steel wool when needed and agree it takes a little getting used to the heat. Rice is my biggest struggle. Eggs comes in a close second. Wouldn't go back to anything else and you should be able to get a decent set or at least the basics for under $200.

[koru]

I have an Emeril set which looks very similar to the Cuisnart set except I just took a peek at Amazon & it looks like there's a new design which gets a few bad reviews.

All that being said, may I suggest a mixture of SS & cast iron? I use my cast iron pans every.single.day & love them! I still use my SS pots but cast iron is definitely less sticky that stainless when it comes to cooking eggs & meat, etc.

If I had the money, though, I'd get an enameled cast iron set....in turquoise!

[ollyoxenfree]

I don't have a set anymore. Another vote for a mix of ss, cast iron and enameled cast iron.

I have an All-Clad 4 qt. saucepan, 12 in. skillet, and 8 in. skillet and I like them. The 8 in. skillet was a freebie when I bought the saucepan. I don't use it that much.

I have a Lodge Logic 12 in. cast iron skillet, and I love it. I'd like to get a 10 in. one as well, because it seems like many recipes (skillet cornbread, tarte tatin, etc.) use the 10 in. pan. For my family of 4 (2 teens) I need the extra room in the 12 in. for meals though.

I have Le Creuset casserole dishes, and a Le Creuset Dutch oven, and they are wonderful.

[littlehoneybee]

I have the Cuisinart. The reviews I read said it was just as good as the All Clad, but much cheaper. I just soak it for awhile and it cleans very easily.

[mnnice]

I like Farberwear for smaller saucepans. My mom has a set Farberwear from the 1970's that still looks and works great. I have also found some pieces at the thrift store

I have one All Clad skillet (I'd like to get the next size bigger)and just about bought a Cuisinart skillet the other day they look and feel very similar. They have great heavy bottoms and work good with high heat (not the Farberwear strong suit). They seem like overkill for a small sauce pan or pan that is mostly going to have noodles boiled in it

As a tool to get off non-stick I think the flat (covers two burners) cast iron griddle I have has been the best (along with a metal super thin OXO spatula). It works better for a fried egg than anything else I've had. We also make pancakes on one side and eggs/sausage/bacon on the other. These two items cost about $30 total.

[BunnyMcFluff]

I LOVE my Paderno pieces (http://www.bridgekitchenware.com). They aren't cheap, but you truly don't need a set, IMO. Pick out the pieces you use most often and replace only those.

I could easily get by on 1 casserole, 1 large stock pot, 1 large cast iron skillet, a wok, and a medium saute pan (optional for my purposes).

ETA: I have the full Cuisinart multiclad set linked above, and it's perfectly fine. I just reach for the Paderno more often, and I find having a full set is a waste of (my very limited) cabinet space.

[allisonrose]

I took the plunge and used a 20% off coupon for Bed, Bath and Beyond to purchase a Cuisinart Contour SS set. I liked that they came with glass lids so you can peek at food as it cooks and also that the set came with a dutch oven.

Maybe in the future I'll consider cast iron. The only experience I've had with it is a skillet my mom had when I was growing up and I remember having to set it to dry seperately from the other pans so I have the impression that cast iron is a bit fussy.

[ashleyhaugh]

i have emerilware. i love it. its made by all clad, and has the all clad lifetime warrenty, but it doesnt have the all clad price. i think my exh paid $300 or less for a huge set.

[Dar]

I have a set of vintage Revere ware copper bottom pans that I *love*. Some were my mother's (and are older than I am), and some I found in a thrift store and jumped on. They are awesome.

I think the newer stuff isn't as good, but you can still find the older stuff around, on ebay for sure.

[ashleyhaugh]

oooh yeah, the old revere ware is nice... we had a saucepan, but i let exh keep it since it was his moms.... only seems fair, lol.. i really liked it though... and we always took it camping with us too.

[MissE]

I have a set of the T-fal with the copper bottom and I have to hijack the thread here a little bit. While I love the pans and the cleanup is ok with one of those metal scrubber thingies, I'm wondering how in the world you mamas can make an egg over easy in there or potato pancakes or meat patties for that matter. No matter what I do that stuff STICKS and it's soooo annoying. I've put oil in it like crazy but it still sticks.

Also I have a feeling sometimes as if the pans aren't getting really hot. Maybe I"m just used to grease splattering everywhere when a pan is really hot but that doesn't happen with my pans.

Did anyone make a similar experience or have some advice on the sticking issue?

[mamadelbosque]

I've heard good things about Tramontina tri-ply from walmart - as in, they're almost as good as All-Clad!! personally, I'm still using my parents' old pans taht they got when they got married 30 yrs ago... I dream of having my own nice new set someday.

ETA: Oh and I don't fry anything in stainless steel... all my fry pans are cast iron.

[Caneel]

I have All-Clad. Mine are seconds, which I purchased from a local (to the factory) retailer. I think the site is cookwarenmore.com

As far as cleaning goes, I learned how to deglaze the pans as I am cooking. For example, last night I browned ground beef for meat sauce. When I was ready to put the sauce it, I dumped a small bit of water (club soda actually since it was what I was drinking) into the pan and scraped up the browned bits. I never have a problem getting food to release. DH, on the other hand.....

Oh, I didn't buy a set. After I decluttered the kitchen, I forced myself to really evaluate my pot and pan needs. I have - a 12 or 14 inch saute pan with the higher, straight sides. This is use every day. A large stock pot. A 2 qt sauce pan and a 3 quart sauce pan. (I could live without the 3qt and would have liked a second 2 qt) A small fry pan that I rarely use.

[Masel]

I recently got a Calaphon Kitchen Essentials frying pan from Target. (They are on sale this week) It works great and I've had no trouble cleaning it. I agree about not buying a set. I recently got rid of the cheapo set I received when I got married. There were a couple pieces I've never used.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

I recently bought this set http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=106828 with a gift card I've had for awhile now. I am so far VERY pleased with the quality

[traceface]

I really love Revereware, stainless steel with copper bottoms. Works great!