cookware

[candyshopgirl]

I have a question.My mom asked what I wanted for xmas.So I told her a new nonstick cookware set. she bought up the rachel ray nonstick cookware. I can't believe shes willing to spend that much.Anyone ever use this cookware and have any advice/suggestions.:)

[LostMyMind]

I find for me, it really depends on the stove you have. I like thick bottom pans. Personally, just get the cheaper stuff when dealing with non-sticks. Unless you're a careful cook and never ever scratch the pan, you're going to replace non-sticks often. Once telfon is scratch, it goes down hill pretty fast after that.

If she willing to spend that kind of money, get stainless steel ones. I like the T-Pal ones myself. But I'm just a causal cook. Someone makes Rachel Ray's stuff, just find out who makes them. You're only buying the "name", she not going to come in the kitchen and cook for you.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I have a non-stick pot, but that's about it. Everything else is either glassware or stainless steel.

Ask EQ, she might know.

[draftermatt]

I have stainless steel cookware from Royal Prestige.

http://www.royalprestige.com/

[Evil Queen]

I have a Tramontina set. You can get the cheap cookware sets, but the better items fall in the individually purchased items. It's well worth the money to go the individual route; the pieces hold up better then the cheaper ones.

You can turn stainless steel into non-stick, too. When you first get stainless steel (say, for example, the really thick bottomed pans that LostMyMind mentioned); when you first get the item, wash it as you normally would and set on the stove top. Pour in enough distilled White Vinegar to cover and set to simmer. After 5-10 minutes, kill the heat, pour out the used vinegar (as it's now useless) and wipe the pan dry. Do this every time you clean it and it'll stay non-stick.

For Stainless steel; my mother had a really really nice Queen Anne cooking set that I dearly miss. I think they stopped making it but you can still get it on ebay.

@ Draftermatt: THAT is a really nice cookware set. Did you special order this or buy it at a store?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of non-stick, mainly because I dont' like having to be so careful with it. That, and eventually you end up with teflon bits floating around in your food.

Now, granted, I have never used a higher-end teflon pan, so maybe my problem is more like I need to quit using cheap cookware and not so much with the teflon.

I would suggest you go on a site like www.epinions.com and see if there are any reviews on that product line. There probably is. If not, try Amazon.com.

I bought a Wolfgang Puck set from Sam's Club. Again, not very high end at all, but it's a very nice set and I'm happy with it. Stainless steel, glass lids, and the thick, aluminum discs in the bottom to distribute heat. No hot spots. That's all I really need. Personally, I prefer Lodge cast iron, but I have a new glass top stove, so I just retired the ironware for when I'm camping. The bottoms on those are not suited for glass range use. Besides, I drop that dutch oven on there and goodbye stove.

I dont' know what kind of stove you have, but take that into account when choosing. Do some searching online to find out what your best options are.

[LostMyMind]

Dropping an cast iron dutch oven on anything but thick steel will do something to whatever it's drop on.....

I use mine with my glass cooktop, but then again I got the enamel-like coating on the cast iron to prevent scratches on my cooktop.

Also if you plan to do any cooking on stovetop and then finish in oven. You might want to get pan/pots that the handles are oven-safe. Took me a while to find ones without plastic/rubber on the handles.

[Sarlon]

Calaphont (or something like that) makes a VERY nice set of pans. My mom's piaia (still can't spell), pan has seen a GOOD 25 or 30 years without so much as a scratch. Stands up to oven (metal handles though), and the dishwasher. They are pricey but never EVER take them above medium heat and watch them last as long as my mom's has.

...............on a side note I'm STILL trying to hoist it out of my mom's kitchen...not that its heavy...its just my dad refuses to part with it.

[AdminAssistant]

I use mostly non-stick, as I am extremely lazy and don't like to wash dishes - and nonstick is just easier to deal with.

But, I have some Club aluminum cookware from the 1970's that is just fantastic. I love it!

Now, you're Mom's looking at new stuff (awesome!). My ex-roomie had... Cephalon?? Or something like that. Not high end, but it was nice stuff. Now Rachael Ray stuff is nice, too. And it's that awesome orange color! I'd love to have one of those big, deep oval shaped pots she does a lot of her pasta recipes in.

Now, for other people stumbling on the board who have less money to spend or who just need one piece - thrift shops/junk stores are a great place. And not to toot the horn of my ex-employer, but TJ Maxx does have really nice cookware (Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, and occasionally Rachael Ray) usually for much less than, say, Kohl's.

[StanFlouride]

It looks like good quality, gets good reviews on Amazon. Ray is a real cook and I'm sure she would not want her name associated with anything cheap.
When using any cookware, especially non-stick, is important to use medium heat and wooden or silicone utensils. Do this and it will last forever.
I collect and use a variety of vintage enamelware (the first form of non-stick) called Vollrath. Some of the pieces I use are 60-80 years old and they still hold up very well.
Here's my collection:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96942894@N00/sets/72157604494788745/

[Jester]

I like the T-Pal ones myself.

My sister The Witch, whatever her negative attributes (and there are many), is a fantastic cook. She swears by T-Fal, and if she says it's good, it's good. If memory serves me correctly, she also is a fan of Calphalon.

I don't have any comments on other brands, though I am just fine with the hodgepodge of various brands I own. I myself am not quite in the tax bracket for a whole set of T-Fal or Calphalon. Like anything else, cookware is good if it works for you, brand or no brand, price tag or no price tag.

My mom's piaia (still can't spell), pan has seen a GOOD 25 or 30 years without so much as a scratch.

They are pricey....

...............on a side note I'm STILL trying to hoist it out of my mom's kitchen...not that its heavy...its just my dad refuses to part with it.

It's paella, pronounced pie-AY-uh, and it's a lovely Spanish dish that I adore.

Paella pans ARE pricey (I've looked), have only one use (paella), and by all accounts, are one of the few kitchen items that are used for only one dish and still are worth their high price--because a good paella pan ROCKS. And by all accounts, a good paella pan is the only way to make a truly good paella. Did I mention that paella is one of my favorite dishes? :D

Which is why you are unlikely to get that pan out from under your father's watchful eyes.

[edible_hat]

Paella pans ARE pricey (I've looked), have only one use (paella), and by all accounts, are one of the few kitchen items that are used for only one dish and still are worth their high price--because a good paella pan ROCKS. And by all accounts, a good paella pan is the only way to make a truly good paella. Did I mention that paella is one of my favorite dishes? :D

Which is why you are unlikely to get that pan out from under your father's watchful eyes.

Heading off topic here...

According to a travel show I saw a whil;e ago, and confirmed by a Spanish guy my uncle knows, paella is the Spanish equivalent of the Aussie barbecue.

i.e. a simple, quick way to cook that was invented by lazy men.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I think Cephalon is pretty high end, isn't it?

[LostMyMind]

I myself am not quite in the tax bracket for a whole set of T-Fal or Calphalon.
I can understand Calphalon, but I picked up a set of T-Fal at :o walmart (sorry, it was the only one I could find with metal handles), It was only $80 for stainless steel. I couldn't believe it...... I love my set.