<p>I have just split up my pots and pans between my 2 kids who are returning to college. So, I need to treat myself to a new set of cookware. I enjoy cooking, but am by no means ultra-gourmet or exceptionally talented. I probably don’t need anything in the price range of All-Clad. Anybody have a set you really like, or that you regret buying, for that matter? Seems like this might have been done before, I searched but didn’t see a thread. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Honestly, the kitchen piece I consider most indispensable is a cast iron frying pan. It’s virtually nonstick, cooks great and is inexpensive.</p>
<p>I absolutely love cooking with circulon. When my large circulon saucepan got old and worn out (my fault for using metal utensils when only plastic or wood should be used) I sent the pan to the company with a letter stating what had happened, how much I love their products and a request for a new pan. The risk was only $16 in shipping should they deny my request. Would you believe they sent me a brand new pan ($100 value) and a bunch of coupons?! I am a fan for life!</p>
<p>Ask yourself - do I need to buy a set? I’ve assembled my cookware collection from pieces I got from Costco Business (large pots) and TJ Maxx. A friend of mine has this set and loves it:</p>
<p>[Costco</a> - Kirkland Signature? 13-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set](<a href=“http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11503441&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|89|56625|55004&N=4043980&Mo=16&pos=0&No=3&ViewAll=17&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=55004&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10598-Cat56625&topnav=]Costco”>http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11503441&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|89|56625|55004&N=4043980&Mo=16&pos=0&No=3&ViewAll=17&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=55004&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10598-Cat56625&topnav=)</p>
<p>My mom loves her Cuisinart classic cookware and it’s very reasonably priced. I bought a set of Cook’s Essentials cookware from QVC years ago that I have been extremely happy with and you can’t beat the price. 10 pieces, well designed, for $107.</p>
<p>Whatever you get, make sure you don’t buy something that is just stainless steel without a full core of aluminum. I work in this business and trust me, cheap stainless cookware will scorch anytime you try to simmer anything, particularly on an electric cooktop.
Although I sell cookware sets, I don’t think you necessarily need to buy a full set since many if not most sets include pieces that are not very useful. Believe me you don’t need to be a gourmet cook to appreciate how much better AllClad performs almost any basic task (like sauteeing onions, which taste awful if scorched).
If you don’t want to spend the money for AllClad, I’d recommend Tramontina fully clad cookware which is almost as good as AC. I think you can find it at Costco and Walmart.</p>
<p>Since our Marshalls and TJ Maxx sell the over runs from Williams Sonoma, I have assembled odds and ends of some remarkable cookware at a bargain price.</p>
<p>I bought Cuisinart Commercial when I was single and we’re still using it today. It’s stainless with a copper sandwich. The stuff feels like it will last 200 years. You can stick the pieces in the oven for cooking if you want to. The only downside is that it is rather heavy. My wife has a few Woks too which are pretty handy for a variety of tasks.</p>
<p>I love my AllClad! A year ago a local kitchen store called it quits, and I scooped up several pans for bargain prices. I actually cook A LOT more since buying this stuff. (I had worn out my Calphalon.) Perhaps I could even say the amount I’m saving by cooking at home this year has justified the purchase. The large saute pan is a dream :)</p>
<p>I love my circulon. I do have a piece that is beginning to look a little worn after many years (husband and metal utensils grr)- maybe I should try what FLAmama did.</p>
<p>Hated the glass vision cookware that My Mum in law loved and gave me several pieces of. I honestly could not boil potatoes in that stuff without burning them. I was so happy when the last piece got broken even though one of the hundreds of pieces it shattered into cut my foot quite badly (and I had just washed the floor as my daughter pointed out when she saw the large globs of blood and knowing how much I hate washing the floor).</p>
<p>It is hard to recommend anything but Allclad, their newer copper line just changes the way dishes turn out, but that said, Calphalon is great for the price.</p>
<p>I bought a mid grade Calphalon (Contemporary) when we moved several years ago. It is more than the Kirkland brand, and I do like their products. I like Calphalon because they have glass lids. I can see what’s going on without lifting the lid and releasing heat, or worse, miss a sauce that’s about to boil over!</p>
<p>I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond. You can use one of thie 20% coupons.
This 10 piece set has about everything I need @ $399. less 20% that’s $320. They are currently offering a $50 BB&B gift card with this purchase. If you have other things you need, or could use for gifts. Your price goes down more. Bottom line is, I enjoy it. </p>
<p>[Calphalon</a> Contemporary Non-Stick 10-Piece Cookware Set and Open Stock - Bed Bath & Beyond](<a href=“Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree”>Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree)</p>
<p>I use one pan almost exclusively: the Calphalon Slide. Not very expensive and nothing sticks to it.</p>
<p>I also have a non-stick two quart saucepan and a will-stick heavy large saucepan that I use a lot. And a stockpot (huge). Each one came from a different product line. I’ve never found a set that had the pans I actually wanted.</p>
<p>^ Now that I think about it, there was a similar offer when I bought mine. I used the gift card towards an open stock saut</p>
<p>When we got our flat top stove, we needed to get flat bottom pans. I’m not a gourmet cook either so I chose Analon Pro. It’s sort of like Calphalon but much less expensive. I actually bought the pieces I wanted at Marshalls and TJ Maxx when I saw them.</p>
<p>I’ve had AllClad stainless for years; before that I had Cuisinart. I was amazed at the difference changing cookware made in my cooking. I love the AllClad, but it does have two drawbacks - it’s very heavy, and most of the pans do not have smooth lips, so pouring from them is a messy business.</p>
<p>I have an induction cooktop now, so I am limited in what I can use. I’m in the market for a large nonstick skillet.</p>
<p>Cook’s Illustrated had a good article about sets. You have to pay for the full article, but unfortuately I can’t find my issue: [Cookware</a> Sets - Cooks Illustrated](<a href=“Error”>Error) Maybe someone else can summarize the results?</p>
<p>If you buy All-Clad—it will be the last pans you ever buy. Seriously- you will have to will them to someone. It is that good.
I also have one large oval Le Creuset cast iron stock pot. I would use it for everything if I could—I think of recipes just to use the pot. LOVE IT!</p>
<p>Post #17: I have the Cooks Illustrated issue with the cookware set reviews. All-Clad was the top rated cookware set. Surprisingly, however, Tramontina (sold at WalMart) scored equally well to All-Clad in cooking and design, with the only con being the pan sizes in the cookware set.</p>
<p>Cooks Illustrated recommended cookware sets:</p>
<p>All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10-piece
Tramontina 18/10 Stainless Steel TriPly-Clad Cookware Set, 8-piece
Calphalon TriPly Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 8-Piece (cons: design and pan sizes)</p>
<p>From the review:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I purchased a set of Tramontina cookware after this review came out, although I chose a set with larger pan sizes. I agree that it’s a wonderful bargain. It heats evenly and I think the handles are more comfortable than All-Clad handles. I’m very happy with it.</p>
<p>(If anyone has any other questions about the CI review, I’m happy to look it up for you.)</p>
<p>I love my set from QVC, Cooks Essentials Techniques hard anodized set. I just bought a new set for D for her dorm apartment, very inexpensive but it is the cooks essential enamel set with non stick surface. Comes in some gorgeous colors.
[Cook’s</a> Essentials Hardcoat Enamel II 10-piece Cookware Set - QVC.com](<a href=“http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.CM_SCID.coll.item.K12616.desc.Cooks-Essentials-Hardcoat-Enamel-II-10piece-Cookware-Set]Cook’s”>http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.CM_SCID.coll.item.K12616.desc.Cooks-Essentials-Hardcoat-Enamel-II-10piece-Cookware-Set)</p>