Cookware Reviews

OVER MANY YEARS OF COOKING I HAVE USED MANY TYPES OF PRESSURE COOKERS, ELECTRIC AND STOVE TOP. FIRST OF ALL THE ELECTRIC ONES ARE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE STOVE TOP ONES. I USED A PRESTO ELECTRIC ONE FOR MANY YEARS, NOW YOU CAN'T GET SEALS OR ANY PARTS FOR IT AS IT WAS DISCONTINUED. SO I WAS DELIGHTED TO FIND THE FARBERWARE FPC 400 PROGRAMMABLE PRESSURE COOKER IN MY AMAZON "GOLD BOX" SO I ORDERED IT AND I LOVE IT, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. IT IS EASY TO USE AND COOKS GREAT! MOST VEGETABLES ARE DONE IN 2 MINUTES OR LESS. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PRODUCT I ORDERED A SECOND ONE WHICH I RECEIVED LAST WEEK. IT SURE MAKES COOKING A BREEZE I LOVE THIS PRODUCT AND I HOPE THEY DON'T JUST DISCONTINUE IT.

I am in love with an appliance! My Farberware pressure cooker is the best appliance in my kitchen (short of my dishwasher, of course). This one does it all, making pressure cooking virtually effortless. It has a browning feature, so you can brown your meats right in the pot, and the programmable controls allow you to tell it exactly what you want (high or low pressure, cooking time, even delay time), and it does the rest - no need to adjust the heat under the pot to maintain correct pressure. It does everything for you. It is quite simple to adapt any recipe for use in the cooker once you have a little experience with it. I had never owned a pressure cooker before, and found this one very easy to learn to use. I cook in it 4-5 times a week with great results (and I am very fussy). Imagine beef bourguignon, corned beef or pot roast in just an hour! This is a fabulous product.

I had the old type of pressure cooker and was forever worrying that it was going to blow up.....so...I got this one and boy! I love it! Simple to use....easy cleanup....I am thrilled with it and recommend it to anyone who wants a cooker that doesn't take alot of messing around.

Recently purchased the Circulon Classic 12 qt. covered stockpot.
After having purchased a wide variety of stockpots, I find this particular one a great buy. I mainly purchased this pot to cook my meatball/crab sauce. I usually cook a lot at one time, so I needed a large pot with a lid so that the ingredients would not boil over the top. I find the shape of the pot along with the high dome lid exceptional. I also have to mention that I cook on a glass top electric range. This pot stays put.

It does not slide all over the place like my other pots do. I like it so much I am ordering the 12qt pot for my son who also loves to cook. The price of the stock pot was well within my budget. Fantastic buy. I would recommend this pot to everyone.

I cook every day,and my stove is a 1930's "White Star", a stylish product of the "Detroit Vapor Stove Co."It is commonly believed that these old work horses produce the the performance of a commercial range .Mine does not.It has very small gas burners,and is not a "top end"stove.
I compensate by using very heat-conductive and heat retentive cookware.and this commodious stockpot augments the Fire of this Star!
After all...would you sacrifice an Art Deco appliance in multicolor porcelain enamel just so you can get performance out of junky cookware?I'll bet not!!!
Put some of Circulon's HOT performing cookware on YOUR stovetop while you can get torrid bargains at Amazon.
When these pans cool,just clean 'em with a plastic scrubber,and they'll continue to look brand-new.
I've been using Circulon,along with Le Creuset,for some years now,and each stars in its own way.
Buy this pot!

If you love to cook, this item is perfect for your famimily. It looks great, easy to clean, perfect for cooking or a great gift. I brought this item 5 months ago, and now I'm buying 4 more as gifts for my friends and sisters.

I just recently purchased this fondue set and am very pleased with the results. Its clearance price definitely makes the purchase worthwhile. The pot heated up with surprising speed. The leftover cheese just slid off from the teflon coating with very little effort. My only dislikes were that first, the electrical cord is very short and required an extension cable to reach the outlet under the kitchen table and secondly, the overall product feels a little flimsy, but makes it very light and easy to transport. Finding this fondue set with 8 forks and a selectable electric heat guage AND at an affordable price makes this set a good deal.

What more could the average family want? You get an electric, thermostatically controlled pot with 8 forks, and a splatter ring with fork notches for fried fondue.

PROS:
-electric with thermostat
-8 forks
-teflon coating makes it easy to clean

CONS:
-be careful with the cord on your table - this is not a limitation of this particular pot, but of any electric pot
-with four people cooking meat in an oil fondue, you have to be careful about the oil temperature. The pot isn't powerful enough to cook 8 pieces of meat at a time for an entire meal - space them out a little.

There really isn't anything to complain about. This pot is perfect and a good value for the money.

I just recieved the fondue pot and was so excited that I immediately put it to use. It was very easy to use as described. Plugged the temperature control into the pot and the other end into an outlet and it was cooking right away. Adjusting the temperature was quite easy: boil down to warm just required a turn of the control.

I liked that the fork ring was removeable so that I could put a lid (though not included, i just used one in the house) on the pot to speed up cooking. The instruction manual warned not to use a one, but I just found cooking with a lid faster. The heat resistant handles also served as a way to safely move the pot but also as a guard to accidentally touching it with your hands while cooking.

After a good meal, the non-stick interior makes cleanup a breeze.

One drawback, was that my set did not include an instruction manual (even though there was supposed to be one). But I just surfed onto westbend.com and the manual was there under specialty cookware.

The only other drawback I could tell was that there was no lid made specifically for the pot. Though cooking fondue does not require one, having one speeds up the cooking.

I would definitely recommend this item. It is easy to use and cleanup is a breeze.

All Clad is rightly praised for its great look, feel, and durability, and this stainless steel set is a beauty. But if you've never cooked with stainless before, here are few points to ponder:

First: don't throw away that old teflon yet. If you want to fry an egg for breakfast and not spend a lot of time scraping and cursing that you didn't have the pan at the right temperature, that teflon will come in handy. Lesson learned: the steel surface of All Clad pans heats differently from other pans, and is simply not designed to be "non-stick."

Second: this cookware leaps from the box glossy and dazzling. Yet I tend to scratch things. A lot. The mirror finish will not last in the average chef's kitchen. (This does not, of course, degrade the cookware's functionality.)

Finally, this set is Hard To Clean, no matter what. The instructions caution against using steel wool on the interior. I recommend that owners with average to low patience remove all steel wool from their homes.

An option: All Clad makes a sister set called the Master Chef Two. One of the pans is non-stick and the exteriors are a very attractive brushed aluminum, not meant to shine at all. Happy cooking!!

For a good even heat, excellent quality of workmanship, and a dependable name, I can't think of anything better than All-Clad. For years, I used cheap cookware store non-stick skillets and hand-me-down pots and pans my mother used when she first got married. What a difference it makes.

Most cookware is way too thin, which leaves you with hotspots. For years, I would make up for this by using a cast iron "defuser" to even out the heat and keep the direct flame off the bottom of the pan. I don't have to do this any more. With the triple-layering, you get even heating, regardless of whether it's the middle of the pan or the outer edge.

Personally, I like the stainless. MC2 wasn't around when I bought mine, and I might have chosen that because of the low-maintanace exterior, but I'm not regretting it either. I don't have to be worrying about scratching through the coating with it and it cleans up easy enough with a little water and even less elbow grease.

Cooking will always be a chore, even if you enjoy the act in itself, if you never invest in good cookware and good knives. This is the first step on at least one of those. You might also wish to add a double-boiler, the steamer insert and a 1 qt. saucier; and maybe a larger stock pot (12 qt. if you can afford it), but this really lets you hit the ground running.

This is my second set of All Clad. When I installed a Viking gas cooktop a year ago, I discovered why all the pros use All Clad....my thick-bottomed, thin-walled cookware couldn't take the heat and food burned on the sides rather than the bottom. My darling husband gave me a full set of MC2 and from that point on I was hooked. I have added several pieces via Amazon's great buys, both MC2 and stainless which I love. Mind you, my previous cookware was all non-stick so this was a challenge but once I figured out the proper way to cook I've had no problem with anything sticking and I hardly ever use any fat besides cooking sprays. It's so simple: preheat the cookware! It only takes a minute on medium heat then you can spray the pan and add your food and nothing sticks. Cleanup is a breeze and the stuff is so gorgeous I bought a stainless rack to display it. If you are serious about cooking, buy this set. It's a fantastic deal and it will last a lifetime. I'm betting some of you will even go on to buy a pro-type cooktop or stove after you start using All Clad. It's really true that the right cookware makes all the difference and this is the right stuff!

Not sure if this is just my experience, but this is not a normal Calphalon Pan. We have over a dozen of Calphalon Pans and Pots, both Commercial or Professional, they all made in Toledo, Ohio. This one is made in China. All of them came in Calphalon Boxes, this one in plane brown box with a sticker: Violator Label. All of mine came with inserts describing warranty, this one has just the pan inside that brown box. I did not get a chance to use it, this does not look like Calphalon Professional Nonstick II Limited Edition 10-Inch Omelet Pan I've seen in BB&B. I called Amazon to check, and was told that I got the correct item. For 12.99, it is hard to complain, but beware, this one is not so good as a gift.

This pan is fantastic. I had fried up some bacon the day before in my old iron skillet and had lots of splattering using only medium heat plus the bacon did not cook evenly. (Boarshead bacon is not what it used to be. It consisted mostly of fat.) I did exactly the same thing with this pan with absolutely NO splattering and the bacon cooked very evenly. The fat was gone and only the crunchy bits of meat remained. Very impressive performance. I also made an omelet with sauteed onions and peppers and, of course, it came out great.

Clean up was a snap.

I can't speak to its durability but I am reasonably certain that with proper handling it will retain its non stick properties for many years. Plus there is a lifetime guarantee. Note that this particular pan is made in China but the quality doesn't seem any different from all the pans that I recently purchased made in Toledo, Ohio.

You can't go wrong. I have been adding to my collection of cookware as Calphalon items show up on special. Now that the H/A line is being closed out, the steep discounts are impossible to resist. I now understand why people rave about these pans. The only problem is that I keep buying more pans . It has gotten so bad that my newly engaged daughter has ordered me to cease and desist from buying her any more. (She doesn't have my cooking genes obviously.) We should all have such problems.

Buy this pan. You will love it. And the price can't be beat. (Well, yes it can. I paid only $13. Absolutely amazing. Thank you Amazon.)

I have contacted Calphalon and told them about this item and they have written me back that this is indeed their product. I love mine and it really didn't matter....but I wanted to put this issue to rest. GREAT pan at a GREAT price!

We received this pot as a wedding gift six years ago and it has seen almost daily use ever since. The size is perfect for cooking for 2-4 people and is our favorite for pasta and homemade soups. We've even used it for oven braising meats and it works beautifully. This is an excellent price as I have paid much more for Calphalon elsewhere.

If I could only have one pot, this would be the one: an everything pot that even goes into the oven without a complaint. It's a perfect size and depth. You can use metal utensils in it. You can scrub it with an abrasive, but you won't need to-- it's easy to clean. Its thickness embraces your food with even heat. The lid is nicely designed to allow you to vent it just the teeniest bit or full steam ahead. This same quality also allows you to drain off liquid without losing a grain of whatever you've cooked in it -- and the placement of the two handles makes this easy, too. I've been rattling around the kitchen for about 60 years and this is the best quality, most usefully sized and shaped pot I've ever had. Food tastes better cooked in a quality pot. And did I mention it's a steal at this price? Go for it.

This is one of four new Calphalon pans and I couldn't be happier. I just got this pot delivered and already have sauce cooking in it! What a PERFECT size for most everyday needs!

Well weighted, with a thick bottom...this pan will be a mainstay in my kitchen...I can tell already! My only question is...why in the world did I wait so long to start my Calphalon collection??? If you enjoy cooking and quality, I suggest you seriously look into this line.

I prefer the PRO line of Calphalon to their Commercial line. I appreciate the untilitarian approach of their PRO design, having owned and run a restaurant in my past. The weight of this cookware and the sturdy rivets let me know I'll have this in my life for a very long time.

Non-Stick finishes have worn out their welcome in my kitchen. Too many claims of long lasting coatings peeling off after a years wear. With this line of cookware, you don't have to worry about any of that, and sticking has not been an issue with any of the pans I've recently aquired from Amazon[.com].

I tried cooking eggs in one of my new pans, just to see how it performed...and they slid right out of the pan. No non-stick surface needed with these babies! Great stuff!

If you like pretty...go with the Commercial selections. If you like sturdy, no nonsense cookware...PRO is the way to go!

I'll be buying more very soon! I'm hooked! Check out some of the GREAT DEALS being offered in this line right now! You can't lose! .... Amazon[.com]...as always...provided quick and clean service!

Linda

The Calphalon 8 1/2 quart saucier is big enough to cook for a mob! There are a few problems, however. For those accustomed to using non-stick pans, be advised that this is not non-stick, but rather stick resistant, which, loosely translated, means it does stick. Not the best for frying breaded stuff, for example. On the other hand, it does a great job with soups, stews, and the like. Nice look and feel, heavy enough to promote even cooking in the oven, but doesn't fit very well on standard stove top burners due to size. But size is what you get with this item! If you like to cook for crowds, this is a handy size to have.

This is not my first piece of Calphalon and it certainly will not be my last. I wasn't sure how large this saucier would be when I ordered it, and I still haven't found a place to store it in my limited cabinet space, but I have honestly had little need to store it since it works so well for most anything. It has a huge amount of surface area so it works well for searing and braising, but it is somewhat shallow so it is perfect for poaching eggs. Plus, this is an amazing price. Worth every penny.

We have owned Calphalon pans for nearly 20 years now, and we love this pan more than any of the others. We can cook a large chicken, a small turkey, a whole batch of marinara, a standing rib roast, anything we want. What I really like is that it is about the same volume as my 8 qt. stockpot, but much easier to use due to being wide and flatter. It makes stirring so much easier. My husband can brown a whole cut up chicken, then transfer the entire pan to the oven to bake it. Clean up has never been a problem with any of my Calphalon, even when the pan is not prepped properly. We will never own any other cookware. I don't like the so called "non-stick" coating - they scratch too easily, metal utensils are a no-no, and the coating wears off. And yes, food will stick to "non-stick" coating, if it gets scratched or worn. And, since we own parrots, anything with "non-stick" coating is out of the question. Overheat a "non-stick" coated pan and the fumes will kill a parrot!

This little number popped up in my Gold Box a few months back. Remembering that grilling food was more healthy than some other cooking methods, I thought I would check out the reviews. Most of them seemed good, and it was such a cute little blue thing, I figured I could blow a little less than $40 and give it a try.

Wow! I *love* my skinny grill. From chicken to bacon to salmon burgers, it does the trick and looks good doing it. Because it's cast iron, it is sturdy (and heavier than it looks -- but not too heavy). Because it's enamel coated, you can't use high heat, but you don't need to.

Note, the grill is not Teflon coated. It takes a little effort to clean, but nothing horribly difficult. If you expect to lightly run a sponge over it and have it be completely clean you will be disappointed.

The wonderful performance of this grill made me curious about other Le Creuset products, which I've now been buying at a record clip. The grill is a good, inexpensive introduction to the line and cast iron cooking.

I have used LeCreuset cookware since the late '70's after using my Mother's LeCreuset stockpots and skillets (when I was in high school in the '60's). I bought a LeCreuset 9 inch cast iron grill (the one with a spring-type handle) about 15 years ago and have used it ever since. I bought 5 of the new skinny grills in the past 3 years as gifts and I only have good things to say.
First, it is easy to clean. Pour some hot water on a warm (not hot) grill, let it sit for 3-5 minutes and wipe it off with an abrasive kitchen sponge (not steel wool) under running warm water. It comes clean and ultimately, the smooth surface of the grill acquires a non-stick finish to it. I have a GE electric oven and the grill can get very, very hot on top of the burners so you do not need a gas oven to heat the grill. The 10 inch diameter makes it excellent for cooking 2 steaks or 3 cheese- burgers. If you are cooking for more, you need to use your broiler in your oven. The skinny grill is not designed to cook dinner for 4 (unless you cook in 2 shifts) so that should not be a criticism of this great grill. The grill is excellent for fine steaks, hand-packed hamburgers, or grilling any meat for sandwiches (like sliced rib-eye for Philly cheesesteaks) and the taste of steak cooked on this grill is incredibly good. My skinny grill is always in my oven, ready to use whenever the need arises. I would recommend this as the best indoor grill on the market, no reservations. And as far as requiring ventilation, any hot grill or skillet will smoke when grilling steaks, burgers, etc. If you presently fry anything on top of your stove, you can use your LeCreuset grill pan (and the food will taste better than what you are now using).
PS: I'm a guy, and I have had LeCreuset cookware for 25 years,...wouldn't be without it.

I purchased this item as a "bonus offer" to another Le Creuset item I purchased, even though I didn't think I'd get much use out of it since I already had the Le Creuset double burner grill. Turns out though, I use this little grill more often than my larger grill, or any of my other Le Creuset pieces. It's the perfect size for grilling up a couple of chicken breasts, salmon fillets, or steaks when I'm cooking for just my husband and myself. I can also grill up to four burgers on it. Just like my larger grill, I love the cooking results I get from using this little grill, but it's especially handy when I need access to my other burners on my stovetop. It's also much easier to clean than the double burner grill.

If you are just starting your Le Creuset collection, this is a definite "must have" item to your kitchen. And especially at the price Amazon.com is offering it, you can't go wrong!

Ever wish for the perfect size pan for vegies, soup, sauce or gravy? Are you cooking for one or two, or need a small pan for a side dish? Ever wish you could thoroughly heat clam chowder without scorching it? Wish you could save energy by being able to cook at a lower temperature? Wishing for a pan that takes little room in the cupboard or dishwasher? One that heats from the sides as well as the bottom for even heat distribution without hot spots? A pan that is so substantial and sturdy that it may last a lifetime? If so, this may be the perfect pan for you. I am so pleased with this pan that I bought two, and a six inch lid to go with them. Some people avoid stainless because food might stick, but I have absolutely no problem with this pan. I have a small kitchen and am delighted that this pan actually fits sideways in the dishwasher between rows of posts, and because it is wider than it is tall I can stack several on one shelf. It is 3 ply, with aluminum for superior heat conduction sandwiched between layers of top quality stainless steel. Stainless doesn't react with any foods, and this pan is oven safe up to 500 degrees. I can start cooking in the pan and finish cooking or keep it warm in the oven, even use it to serve from, and store leftovers in the fridge. The double riveted handle can't fall off like a welded handle could, and there are no screws to tighten or lose. If you've ever thrown away a pan because the nonstick was scratched or peeling or the pan was warped, or thrown away food because a warped or thin pan caused it to scorch or because aluminum reacted with and discolored the food or caused it to taste metallic, then you know what a poor value in cookware can do. This pan is top of the line at a great price. Over half a century I have used many brands of cookware and none have completely pleased me until now.

For Christmas, I received a gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma. While shopping there, I saw they had a table set-up with All-Clad cookware. I had never used the brand before (well, in all honesty, all we've had is cheapie cookware that falls apart within a year). The 1 qt sauce pan was on sale, so I thought, what the heck. We need new pots and pans, why not start little by little with this? I picked up 2 of them and am ever SO glad I did!

This pan is a great size for gravy, sauces, etc. You pick it up and can feel how durable it is (very heavy in contrast to the cheapie pots). The handle stays wonderfully cool and is solidly attached to the pot (unlike cheapies, I highly doubt the handle on this pot will ever come loose!) The ease of cooking with this (such even heat distribution!) is a joy. Clean up? Piece of cake! All I've ever needed to do is use soap, water and a cloth-covered sponge.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend the All-Clad brand to anyone who needs new cookware. I am completely sold and cannot wait to buy our next piece! Thumbs up from this extremely, deliriously happy customer.

OK, that may sound a bit juvenile, but how else do you communicate to the world when you find a product that actually gets you EXCITED about pots and pans?

The look and feel of this item (and others in a larger set I purchased separately) is heavy and high quality. This particular sauce pan is perfect for cooking dinner for one (i.e. soups) and making small quantities of sauces, etc. Amazon routinely has great pricing on All Clad items, so while it's a bit much to buy lots of it at once, you can continue to add smaller items like this to your collection over time. A wonderful value!

What a distinct pleasure to have this fine Creuset in my kitchen! It was worth every penny and then some. The 4-1/2 quart size is perfect for our small household, perfect for use as a Dutch Oven, and a true Best Buy in the Creuset line.
The sloping edges of the pot are my favorite aspect. Or maybe it's the gorgeous variegated "Volcanic Flame!" with the rich vanilla-colored enamel interior. Or maybe it's the smart, competent way it sits atop the stove, ready for any assignment. Spaghetti sauce! Beef stew! Chicken soup!
Solid and enduring pots and pans for the kitchen are always a wise investment; and this one, this one in particular, was love at first sight.
Hallelujah.

I use this pan every time I can. It cleans up beautifully in the dishwasher which is a real plus. It's the perfect size--not too big or small. Great heat conduction. Great for oven or stovetop. Wish I had one in every size!

If I could marry a soup pot, this would be my groom. He would last longer than a lifetime, cook like a pro, and clean up without any effort, all whilst looking like he's too beautiful to do anything but sit and preen.
I truly adore this pot. It does everything they say it does, and better than you expect. The solidity and weight of the pot, a problem for some, are to me the emblems of durability and resilience in a line I will look forward to passing down to my children.