Cookware Reviews

The bamboo contributes a subtle flavor to steamed food. You can make shu-mai dumplings and steam them in this steamer--use commercial wonton wrappers from the grocery store. The filling is often minced shrimp, cornstarch, ginger, sherry wine, scallions (which now are suspect for bacteria, so use chives) and a touch of sugar. You can also use minced pork. Shu-mai are great appetizers for a party and easy to make. Push a tsp of filling into the center of a wonton wrapper and make a little bag. The top can be left open and a green pea placed there for garnish. Steam until meat or fish is solid and cooked through.

A wok ring and round bottom wok is practically useless on an electric stove. If your stove is electric, this is a great choice. The steel is good quality and this is an excellent wok for the price.

Love it! The color, the versatility, everything about it. Love it!

Never thought I could own a top of the line cooking set due to the exuberant prices..., but Kitchenaid made it possible. I found the quality, style, and detail better than All-Clad's stainless, but at a lower cost. Hope they expand their line offering to compete better with All-Clad. Overall, very amazed and pleased with the cooking results. Note, pots are very heavy. Found difficulty in washing/rinsing due to weight. Wouldn't want to drop this on your foot.

This deep, evenly-heating, built-like-a-tank pot is wide enough to roast a large chicken, deep enough to simmer soup in overnight, and sturdy enough to mash potatoes in.

The steel-over-aluminum construction provides a slow, even heat that's comparable to enamel-over-cast-iron pots like le Creuset, without the heavy weight or temperature limitations of that line (this pot can handle up to 500 degrees, hot enough to make a roux in the pot itself for gumbo, or to toast spices in when starting a curry). The aluminum is fully covered, so there are no concerns about it contacting the food.

The "look" of this pot is similar to All-Clad, but I think the handles are more comfortable and easier to clean. All-Clad is also only three-ply, while this is five.

Heats evenly and quickly. It is very easy to clean. Great for healthy cooking.

I just recently purchased this fry pan, and I just love it. It heats evenly, and cooks quickly. I had cooked with stainless before, and this one is virtually non stick, as well as the clean up is almost effortles. I had recently purchased several pieces of Calphalon, as well as a non stick set of the hard anodized from Quisenart, and this is a fantastic addition to my cookware. It matches the other sets, almost perfectly. It works great for those larger jobs like fish filets, and so on. The second handle is a great help, especially since this pan is a little on the heavy side.
Only one small drawback is the lack of a lid. Could definately use one to prevent splatters.

I love this pot! I have been looking for new high-quality stainless cookware for a couple of years, but most of the high-end cookware does not have plastic insulation on the handles, which I want for my saucepans. Gourmet Essentials is definitely a step above the average cookware. The heavy base and thick sides give the pot a nice feel, and the lid fits tight like other top-quality cookware. I really like the look of the enamel finish on the outside, and the stainless steel lid and inside of the pot have a mirror-like polished finish. The handles are very comfortable, and the rivets give a secure feel. I purchased the 3.5 quart pan to test out this line, and I will definitely be getting a full set in the future. The 3.5 quart size is great for soups, sauces, and boiling pasta for two. Pasta does not stick while cooking, and starch washes off the pan easily. Overall, excellent cookware!

We have nine children who are mostly adults now, but over the years we have gone through several pan sets and have considerable experience with all kinds of cooking utensils. This Kitchenaid cookware set is our favorite so far. It looks to be sturdy, shiny and efficient. We love that the handles stay cool, that heat is evenly distributed and that they are thick and heavy on the bottom. I have a tendency to burn things in my hurry to get dinner on the table, and so far these pans have managed to cook food quickly without burning. Also, cleanup is a breeze. The steamer is especially useful, just the right size for most steaming needs. The stock pot is perfect for one chicken. I read once that every room should have something red to add vibrancy. Our new pans will serve us well for a long time to come as they not only serve our cooking needs, but liven up our kitchen!

I received this set today and put it to work right away! Straight out of the box, I was impressed with the professional quality of this cookware. These are sturdy pots and pans with wonderful heavy glass lids that I should never have to replace. I chose this set for five reasons: 1)It had three saucepans, a 10" skillet and a 12" skillet. If you have a large family, this is a must. 2)The hard anodized non-stick coating has a lifetime warranty. 3)Glass lids allow me to monitor what I'm cooking without lifting the lid. 4)KitchenAid brand--the quality speaks for itself. If you don't have a KitchenAid stand mixer, I can't recommend it highly enough. 5) Amazon offers this set at a great price and FREE shipping. Can't beat it.
That said--a couple of items worth noting that aren't mentioned in the description:
This set is not dishwasher safe, but that really isn't a problem since nothing sticks to it. It cleans up very easily. When storing these pots and pans, place a towel between items to prevent scratching.
This is a great set and I look forward to using it for many, many years to come.