Need new cookware

[LPS]

Right before I retired I attended a seminar and the speaker was interesting as heck.  One of the things he talked about was dangerous things in our everyday lives.  One of them being Teflon.  Older Teflon previous to 2013 gave off more gasses and if you had a bird in a cage in your kitchen when using Teflon it would kill the bird.  ???   Well anyhow I have 2 cast iron pans that I love a 10" and a 12".  Those are safe as heck.  We have lots of old Teflon and I am going to throw them away.  Thinking about ceramic coated cast iron or aluminum.  Anyone have some good ideas for me.  Need some big pots, frying pans, other pans, etc.  I want the whole set.  Have also thought about stainless steel but am so worried about everything sticking and burning to them.

[Rebel SS]

Have to match it to yer type of cooktop, too, Barry. Gas? Smoothtop? Regular burner? Makes a difference...I have regular cook top burners. (Electric coil) I have a Calphalon hard-anodized non-stick cookware. Different grade sets, I got my "chef-series" 10 piece set on sale for around $160 or so. I love it. Had it for about 7 years or so. You can spend $300-400 or more  for a real good set. It does make a huge difference in cooking and even heat distribution, ya notice that right away.

https://www.target.com/p/select-by-calphalon-153-10-piece-hard-anodized-non-stick-cookware-set/-/A-50299640

[LPS]

I have a smooth-top.   I am kind of looking forward to getting something nice and a fun new way to cook.  Our old Teflon is all worn out and scratched to heck..  Maybe no dangerous stuff left on it.  lol

[LPS]

Nice looking stuff Rebs.  SO no dangerous stuff leaching off that cookware?

[delcecchi]

First, let me say that, in my opinion, the dangers of non-stick (teflon) coated pans are overstated, often by someone with something to sell.  Perhaps if you have pet birds and habitually get your non-stick pans ripping hot it could be a problem. 

But anyway, I have a non-stick frypan and everything else is cast iron (which makes me nervous on the smooth top stove) or the laminated stainless steel, such as All Clad.   It works great, and sticking and burning isn't a significant problem.   

All Clad is sort of spendy even on sale but it is top quality in a lot of ways.   But there are other brands of clad stainless steel (there are a layer of aluminum or for the big bucks, copper, in between two layers of stainless) in general work just as well and are significantly less expensive.    There are differences in handles, lids, china vrs usa, shapes of pans etc. 

Calphalon clad and Tramontina seem to be good and the stuff I have works fine.  Looking on Amazon, Cuisinart has a nice looking set real reasonable.  And it has the metal lids which I like better than glass.   I would add a 12 inch skillet to it.   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1

I avoid the stuff with the disk of aluminum on the bottom.  Stuff sticks and burns around the edge of that disk, especially if the pan is smaller than the burner.   

[mike89]

I have the set Rebs is talking about and they are great...  got them about 5 years ago..  I use propane for the oven..

[LPS]

Good info Del.  So Rebs and Mike, do you hand wash as they say you should and do you stack them in the cupboard as they say you shouldn't?  I do like throwing them in the dishwasher and I have to stack them or I won't have room. 

[mike89]

mostly hand wash cause being alone I just do them as that get used...  and I do stack them when I have too..  just do it carefully...   and yes I do have a dish washer  and do use it..  so they can end up in it..

[LPS]

That helps a lot Mike.  I have a buddy who loves to cook and he likes his stainless steel with the thick bottom like Del mentioned.  I worry about things sticking.  I have one stainless pan that I like but I do need to read up on the correct use of them. 

[Rebel SS]

I don't have a dishwasher. Opted for more cupboard space instead. All items are hand washed by the Reb-0-matic hands of suds. I do stack them down in my cupboard, one inside the other. Because of the handle, and the tall sides, pots wont "rub bottom" on each other. Not an issue. The big pots and fry pans, however, I have a foam paper plate that stays between them when stacked. Easy peasy. The pots have metal "Inner lip" fitted lids with an adjustable slide vent in the handle, slides left or right, from closed to open, to adjust/release steam/temp. LOVE IT! Haven't seen this on any cookware since. Maybe it was an oddball set, but I'll never get rid of these! All the pans have the glass lids, which I really have never cared for. Plus, ya can break one, I did, and you can no longer buy replacement separate lids....I tried everywhere. I see no advantage to them, and they always look streaky and spotted, which drives a clean glass anal-retentive guy like me crazy. I like old-school fitted metal tops. 


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[delcecchi]

My son had the hard anodized stuff, not nonstick, and it was bad.  Stuck much worse than stainless and the outside got all streaky looking.  Not sure if he put them in the dishwasher or not.   I put my stainless in the dishwasher and it looks good.   If it gets stained too much I get out the barkeepers friend, original type not that wussie soft stuff, and it looks like new.   

Trouble is that the anodization is sort of porous.   

[LPS]

I do like a glass lid on the pan I am frying eggs in. 

[Rebel SS]

Ya, yer right. I'll second that one.  Gotta watch those yolks start to turn...

[delcecchi]

Ya, yer right. I'll second that one.  Gotta watch those yolks start to turn...

Hope that glass lid has wiper blades... otherwise be all steamed up and you won't see anything anyway.   

[Rebel SS]

Use that wiper to clear yer mind. That's one of the reasons why the glass lids have the steam hole in them Delmar................ see mine?   

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[delcecchi]

Use that wiper to clear yer mind. That's one of the reasons why the glass lids have the steam hole in them Delmar................ see mine?   

I've used glass lids.   A picture of one sitting on the counter means nothing.   by the time the steam clears off the egg is over done.  Water will condense until the glass gets hotter than 212 F (100C for those readers in metric countries or of scientific orientation)

[LPS]

I always use a glass lid for eggs.  Have for many years.  By the time the egg is getting close and the steam from the little bit of water you put in the pan has gotten hot the lid clears up and you see the egg perfectly Del.  A breakfast miracle and I mean that.  Perfect eggs every time as you wait for the toast to pop. 

[LPS]

I have always wanted to switch to good stainless steel but I don't think I am attentive enough to my cooking to do a good job with it.  Beautiful tools though.  I ordered the Calaphon ones.  Looking forward to having new pots and pans especially now that I am doing most of the cooking.  My buddy who is a great cook say pots and pans are just tools you need to cook with. 

[Rebel SS]

Use that wiper to clear yer mind. That's one of the reasons why the glass lids have the steam hole in them Delmar................ see mine?   

I've used glass lids.   A picture of one sitting on the counter means nothing.   by the time the steam clears off the egg is over done.  Water will condense until the glass gets hotter than 212 F (100C for those readers in metric countries or of scientific orientation)

A picture is worth a 1000 words. A  stupid quote means nothing. Go steam yer fathead at 110C until it's overdone. Most people have enough  F**** sense to lift the lid and look without consulting a scientific manual.  Christ. I've had enough idiocy today to last me a lifetime, and don't need more of it to tell ME how to cook a %$#@ egg.

[Rebel SS]

I have always wanted to switch to good stainless steel but I don't think I am attentive enough to my cooking to do a good job with it.  Beautiful tools though.  I ordered the Calaphon ones.  Looking forward to having new pots and pans especially now that I am doing most of the cooking.  My buddy who is a great cook say pots and pans are just tools you need to cook with.

Good for you. I don't know if it helps, but I always wash 'em out first, than spray 'em with PAM, let 'em sit on a medium burner for a few minutes, them wipe the Pam out with a paper towel. That's it. Yer set to go. Kinda like seasoning a cast iron pan, except low temp.

[Rebel SS]

I always use a glass lid for eggs.  Have for many years.  By the time the egg is getting close and the steam from the little bit of water you put in the pan has gotten hot the lid clears up and you see the egg perfectly Del.  A breakfast miracle and I mean that.  Perfect eggs every time as you wait for the toast to pop.

Danged right.

[delcecchi]

I'm an over easy guy, mr grumpy.   I don't like glass lids either.     

To each their own.   

[LPS]

 

[glenn57]

  man, i didnt realize cookware was such an intense subject. 

[LPS]

Oh ya....

[Cooperman]

Good subject, I have also been looking into a new set of cookware. I really want to get rid of all my Teflon coated pan, but the wife is very frugal and can’t throw anything out, even after I told her it may be the cause of my erectile dysfunction. I do cook my eggs every morning in cast iron, and prefer them over easy, not steamed.

I have always wanted to switch to good stainless steel but I don't think I am attentive enough to my cooking to do a good job with it.  Beautiful tools though.  I ordered the Calaphon ones.  Looking forward
to having new pots and pans especially now that I am doing most of the cooking.  My buddy who is a great cook say pots and pans are just
tools you need to cook with. 

LPS, please let us know how you like that set after you’ve had a chance to use them.

[glenn57]

if our household is in the market for new cookware, we look in the sunday paper with all the sales ads. find what we both like and go get it. we tend to keep our choices to Kohls, i like there products, or target or shopko!!!!

NO WALLYWORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Ya ever try the salvation army thrift store...? 

[LPS]

I did some looking around and the price at Target was the best I found.  Rebs posted the link so that is where I started.  I got the 14 piece set.  I see Select and Simply and Classic Calaphon  Those seem to be the different styles as in different handles etc.  I got the Select.  Free shipping.  Don't know if I ever got a new set of cookware.  It has always been different pans from who knows where.  Almost all are Teflon and I am not liking that anymore.

[mike89]

that looks like a real good set Barry, I see they have a nice 12 inch pan that I might have to look at!!!