naughtybear
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Post by naughtybear on Nov 2, 2016 4:01:40 GMT -5
Finally able to think about getting decent kitchen items. What are good pots and pans, bakeware etc. I don't want to pay 500 for a set but do want quality.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Nov 2, 2016 5:02:13 GMT -5
You could try stores like TJMaxx and Tuesday Morning. Good pots and pans cost good money but you rarely need everything in the set. Buy what you will actually use.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 5:34:19 GMT -5
Finally able to think about getting decent kitchen items. What are good pots and pans, bakeware etc. I don't want to pay 500 for a set but do want quality. There is decent and then there is chef quality. Do you do chef quality cooking? I don't. I've been perfectly happy with Belgique from Macy's. It now costs about $150 for the basic set. It's heavy enough and cooks well. I wouldn't do Open Stock to start with unless that's the only way to get the cookware you really want. The basic set is just that--basic. It doesn't have stuff you won't use.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Nov 2, 2016 5:37:59 GMT -5
I really like Lagostina cookware. It's not cheap, but you can find it on sale.
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naughtybear
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Post by naughtybear on Nov 2, 2016 5:47:07 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 7:32:24 GMT -5
I use cast iron for just about everything. I stir-fry a lot. Three years ago I got a set of used pans off e-Bay. DH had to get an attachment for his drill to grind the rust off and then re-seasoned them but they're beautiful now. Bonus: made in USA, and my mother told me my great-grandmother and her sister worked as house servants for the family who owned the company (Griswold).
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skubikky
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Post by skubikky on Nov 2, 2016 7:39:37 GMT -5
Go to Marshall's, TJMaxx or Home Goods and look for individual pieces of All-Clad. I wouldn't buy a boxed set, buy it by the piece.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Nov 2, 2016 8:08:47 GMT -5
I use Le Creuset almost exclusively and love it. It is pricy, but you can sometimes find them at TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Home Goods. I bought most of mine by the piece although I did buy some with wedding gift money when I married XH.
I do have a couple of non-stick frying pans, but use my cast iron frying pans that I got at a thrift store more than almost anything else.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Nov 2, 2016 8:08:57 GMT -5
I use cast iron for just about everything. I stir-fry a lot. Three years ago I got a set of used pans off e-Bay. DH had to get an attachment for his drill to grind the rust off and then re-seasoned them but they're beautiful now. Bonus: made in USA, and my mother told me my great-grandmother and her sister worked as house servants for the family who owned the company (Griswold). I have 5 Griswold pieces I use. They are awesome! I bought them piece by piece at auctions. Like you, I had to do a lot of work on them but they are well worth it. I love my Griswold Dutch Oven.
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justme
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Post by justme on Nov 2, 2016 8:29:57 GMT -5
I bought a Cuisinart set from amazon. It was a pretty good price for a decent set. Nothing amazing, but my old stuff was a mishmosh from college and needed updating. And I don't have the free money right now to upgrade to the set I really want ($$$$$$$).
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Nov 2, 2016 8:44:25 GMT -5
I have Farberware stainless steel pots in three sizes (saucepan, 2 quart and 3 quart.)
These pots were purchased almost 20 years ago and they still look brand new, despite being used daily.
I don't think I spent more $100 on all three.
Eventually I acquired a stock pot. We don't use that all that often..even for a family of 5. I prefer to make my soups in my crock pot.
We buy non-stick pans from Target or whatever and use them until we shouldn't. I think we replace them once every 3 years or so.
For bakeware: I got brand new cake pans at either a garage sale or thrift shop. My bread pans are DH's grandma's pans. We need to replace my muffin tins. I received those as a wedding gift 15 years ago. I have a problem finding cookie sheets that last. I don't worry about buying "quality" cookie sheets..since DH is so hard on my cookie sheets.
For the rest (spring loaded pan, bundt cake pan), I'd just go cheap, unless you make bundt cake and cheese cake type things regularly.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 2, 2016 8:49:37 GMT -5
I have Bobby Flay's cookware set. DH got it for me from Kohl's for around $200.
I also have a Paula Deen skillet my mom got me for Christmas. The set goes on sale all the time for less than $100 at places like Wal-mart and Shopko.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Nov 2, 2016 8:51:11 GMT -5
I've never heard of Griswold. I'll have to google it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 8:58:28 GMT -5
I've never heard of Griswold. I'll have to google it. They may not be in business anymore. I got a set from the 1950s. The ones made during WW 2 aren't that great because most high-quality iron went for making weapons. Prewar is more prized by collectors but the ones I have are fine for everyday cooking.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Nov 2, 2016 9:44:58 GMT -5
I've never heard of Griswold. I'll have to google it. The ones I find are usually at estate auctions and pretty old - from the 30s and 40s I think. I think the dutch oven is even earlier than that. I actually found the oven and the lid separately but they match perfectly. The ones marked with ERIE are the most collectible, but I use mine so I guess I don't care all that much about that. I do have a small skillet marked with ERIE but I don't use it much.
IIRC, they stopped making them in the late 50s maybe. You can get them all the time on E-Bay but they aren't cheap.
ETA: There are lots of repos out there. I don't have a good enough eye to determine what is what so some of mine may not even be real - but they still cook great!
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Nov 2, 2016 10:08:25 GMT -5
I have a Calphalon nonstick set (I think Simply Calphalon? Classic?), plus other random Calphalon pieces. I've had the set for three years now and they look as good as new. Cook great and clean up is a breeze. The Calphalon everyday pan (purchased separate from the basic set) is my most used piece. I would buy that one again if I ever need to replace it.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 2, 2016 10:38:31 GMT -5
Your best bet is to avoid a set and buy pieces you need and use. Cooks Illustrated did a review on cookware several years ago and while they liked the All Clad, they preferred due to price Walmart's Tramontina. We bought a few pieces, and use them almost exclusively as pots. They aren't cheap, but they are nice. www.walmart.com/ip/Tramontina-2-Qt-Tri-Ply-Clad-Sauce-Pan-with-Lid-Stainless-Steel/23000705For the rest, I use a Le Crueset Dutch oven, Lodge cast iron skillets, and Cephalon lined skillets for things like eggs.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 2, 2016 10:41:26 GMT -5
I wouldn't buy a set either. I would buy separate pieces - maybe even from different brands. I prefer stainless steel for things like sauce pans (a 2 quart with a cover is a good "starter" piece - and then maybe a 1 quart with a cover) and stainless steel for a soup pot - a 6 quart with a cover to start (good for boiling pasta and soup) and then maybe an 8 qt or bigger if you cook a jumbo amount of soups/stews (or want to use it for hot water bath canning). I go with "non stick" "sauté" pans (at least one with deep sides and a cover) I use an 8 inch one and a 14 inch deep/covered one the most. I plan to replace these as they "wear".
I've got a mix of Revere ware, Calphalon, All-Clad, and a couple others.
I'd recommend thinking about the types of food you normally cook and buy pots/pans to start based on that. Kohl's (on sale, with coupons, and % off can be reasonable), Bed Bath and Beyond (with coupons and a sale), TJmaxx, Macy's, sometimes even WalMart for the "occasional use - don't want to spend a ton of money pans/pots". I've even picked up a very useful covered steel 2 quart sauce pan at Aldi of all places.
I'd pay attention to the lids/covers - some have a vent --which I kind of like. I found the lids that have a lip that fits into the pot to be better than the one's that just sit on top of the pot.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 2, 2016 10:51:44 GMT -5
For the ceramic and iron dutch ovens - I've got a couple of small ones by Le Creuset which I bought about 30 years ago and don't use often (heavy and too small). I opted for a Kenmore 5.5quart covered dutch oven that I got for $30 on sale as I wasn't sure I'd really use/like it. I use it a lot. I've chipped a bit of ceramic off one handle (but it doesn't bother me - it's "customized" ) I use it for making jam and soup, sometimes stews. The ceramic inside the pot is fine and it gets heavy use every fall thru early spring - infact it lives on my stove top for those months - it's spring when it comes off the stove top and gets stored in a cabinet. If I had to do it again, I'd probably go with the Martha Stewart dutch oven or maybe the Tramontina brand and get the next size up (7 quart??) I'd expect to spend closer to $100 for it. I'm sure Le Creuset is wonderful but at $400 for the one I want - I'll pass.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 2, 2016 11:47:30 GMT -5
For the ceramic and iron dutch ovens - I've got a couple of small ones by Le Creuset which I bought about 30 years ago and don't use often (heavy and too small). I opted for a Kenmore 5.5quart covered dutch oven that I got for $30 on sale as I wasn't sure I'd really use/like it. I use it a lot. I've chipped a bit of ceramic off one handle (but it doesn't bother me - it's "customized" ) I use it for making jam and soup, sometimes stews. The ceramic inside the pot is fine and it gets heavy use every fall thru early spring - infact it lives on my stove top for those months - it's spring when it comes off the stove top and gets stored in a cabinet. If I had to do it again, I'd probably go with the Martha Stewart dutch oven or maybe the Tramontina brand and get the next size up (7 quart??) I'd expect to spend closer to $100 for it. I'm sure Le Creuset is wonderful but at $400 for the one I want - I'll pass. You can get it cheaper than this. We have an outlet down the road, and a few years ago, I bought my sister a 9 quart Dutch oven for $200. It was a discontinued color. The size I use the most is 6 quart when I am making soups and stews or spaghetti sauce. I recently bought a risotto pan, only because I wanted a heavier pan with a larger surface area on the bottom and higher sides. I think this was about $200 at the outlet too. A very good alternative if you don't want to buy Le Creuset is Lodge. They also make an enameled cast iron Dutch oven for under $100.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Nov 2, 2016 12:14:03 GMT -5
I'm the strange one in the group.
Twenty years ago DH#1 and I bought a set of Revere Pro-Wear at an outlet store. Its the small basic set and I use it almost every day. Stainless steel and still looks great.
At one time I had coated cookwear and after about 8-10 years the coating started coming off and I didn't like that .......... so now I have un-coated stainless.
G-dtr wanted some pots and pans for Christmas several years ago so we went to Costco and I got the Kirkland stainless set for her. Her comment was ....... I didn't know I could love pots and pans.
I like the convenience of a basic set and I've used all the pieces at one time or another.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 2, 2016 12:29:17 GMT -5
BTW, the other interesting thing that CI said is that no coated cookware will last. They said for things like cooking eggs, don't bother buying an expensive skillet....buy a good one and just consider it disposable.
We have 3, a large one, medium one and small one. I got at least 2 of them as a set at BB&B on a Cephalon special + 20% off coupon. The medium one gets replaced 3x for every one time I replace the others.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 2, 2016 16:28:26 GMT -5
BTW, the other interesting thing that CI said is that no coated cookware will last. They said for things like cooking eggs, don't bother buying an expensive skillet....buy a good one and just consider it disposable. We have 3, a large one, medium one and small one. I got at least 2 of them as a set at BB&B on a Cephalon special + 20% off coupon. The medium one gets replaced 3x for every one time I replace the others. Yeah, I've read that too. and have had plenty of skillets/sauté pans loose their non-stick finish. I wouldn't spend the money on a full set of non-stick cookware (sauce pans and stock pots).
I have a love/hate relationship with non-stick finishes....
Here's an article that shows how hot pans get (non-stick finishes are at their worst at temps over 500 degrees)
www.goodhousekeeping.com/cooking-tools/cookware-reviews/a17426/nonstick-cookware-safety-facts/
Still have and use non-stick pans for some cooking chores. Like I said - a love/hate relationship.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Nov 2, 2016 16:39:46 GMT -5
I really like my stainless steel Cuisinart pots and pans. I have added other pans over the years and have a nice collection. I have purchased a lot of it on Amazon. I highly recommend that you get a KitchenAid stand mixer. Get the Artisan. Anything about that is too big and bulky in my opinion. I love mine. I use it all the time.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Nov 2, 2016 17:45:28 GMT -5
I have a mish mosh of pots and pans. I have some stainless from years ago that with the use of steel wool still look and cook fine. I also have a love hate relationship with non stick pans. I love that they are really easy to clean but man do they wear out quickly! I also try very hard to get them super cheap. Under $20 each is what I strive for. I know that is real cheap but the reality for us has been that it doesn't matter if the non stick pan cost $20 or $200 it will be garbage in a couple of years. My fav sizes are an 8 and 10 inch non stick fry pans, 2 and 3 quart sauce and a 6 quart stock pot in stainless steel. For baking I use pyrex mostly and cookie sheets with short sides. I know the stainless can go in the oven but I don't like to put a chicken in a frying pan to roast it. They can also do double duty. I use them to put a roast in the oven, bake things like brownies or cookies and can even put a casserole in them. My kitchen it way to small to have anything extra so everything has to be versatile or incredibly useful for day to day. I have belique from Macy's, Farberware and Cuisenart and pyrex for the ovenware. Thruthfully it all works well but then again I mostly boil water and fry eggs.
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dee27
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Post by dee27 on Nov 2, 2016 18:18:03 GMT -5
I have a set of SS Cuisinart pots and pans and Calphalon pans. I have a knock-off LeCreuset Dutch oven I bought in HomeGoods after my original LeCreuset cracked. I threw it out before I read that it could be exchanged.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Nov 2, 2016 18:47:33 GMT -5
I'm not crazy about Farberware.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 2, 2016 19:02:30 GMT -5
We have some really old cast iron, some stainless which I don't really like except for pots, some non stick in a name I can't remember and our oven safe stuff is from Nordic Ware. It costs a hell of a lot less than other stuff and has been just fine. We have maybe an 8 inch all clad. My brother stalked eBay for that one.
My kitchen aid is the pro line. My roommates have one that is from a lower line and I can tell it doesn't have the horsepower mine does.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Nov 2, 2016 19:16:34 GMT -5
I haven't read the whole thread, but I have to say that my favorite little fry pan is a cheap ass thing I picked up at Walmart I don't even remember when. might have been $5. it's probably an 8", and it has the coils on the bottom to aid with even cooking temps. I use it for omelets and breakfast sandwiches mostly, but it does a great job searing a pork chop or chicken breast before finishing in the oven. the rest of my stuff is a mishmash. I'll start with "I love to cook, and I cook a ton." that said, I have what's left of a full set that my parents gifted me when I bought my first condo (the Teflon stuff hasn't survived), a Dutch oven, a couple cast iron pieces picked up as I went, and the rest is Calphalon from the outlet. some non-stick, some tri-ply. do you have any outlets near you? my huge saute pan retailed for at least $80, and I think I paid $30 on sale at the outlet. it was worth it to me, bc it is pretty much my go to huge pan now as my roommate took up most of the cabinet space with his shit.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 2, 2016 19:49:14 GMT -5
My husband got me All Clad made in USA for one of our anniversaries and I love it. But I don't use their non stick bc I ruin non stick in a NY minute, so I buy cheap non stick skillets. I would love to use cast iron stuff but am too lazy to do the maintenance on it. And yes, we have gotten some All Clad pieces from Home Goods. But they don't sell them at that great of prices anymore.
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