Cookware Reviews

I remember looking at can openers in a store about 5 years ago and an old man handed me a swing away. It didn't look fancy like all the others I was weeding through, but he said "This one is the only one NASA trusts and the one I use at home is probably older than you!". He showed me the gears and how it's pretty much impossible to wear them out. It was cheaper than the fancy ones, and only a little bit more than the low-end ones in the mall shop I was at.

It worked great, but was 'borrowed' permanently by an ex-girlfriend (she did leave her fancy one...which would butcher any can you attempted to open with it)...

I finally talked my wife into trashing the dollar store one she picked up a couple years ago....she thought all can openers were the same.

My wife is happy we got it, especially the fact that it has more leverage to open the tough cans she used to struggle with.

We been looking for a can opener for 10 years that was easy to use. This is the one. I ordered 3 more for gifts, don't need an electric one, this one is just as easy to use. A Plus item.

bought one for my first apartment (in college!) it's been almost a decade and this can opener is worth every penny. it's sturdy and easy to turn. even my mother, who has arthritis in her fingers, can manage it! i paid full price for this can opener at the time ... and i'd spend that much again if i had to -- but i don't have to!

My neighbor borrowed it when her electric one stopped working. She now owns one too! This is a fantastic kitchen tool!

This pan gets a frequent morning workout at our house; it's perfect for making (for example) eggs with a side of tofu sausage. Probably one of the most useful pans, you'll find many other uses for it. I've been very pleased by the sturdy construction and the appropriately heavy weight that distributes heat evenly. The long handle stays cool to the touch. In addition, the pan cleans exceptionally easily, saving time and energy.

After hearing a lot of bad things about non-stick cookware, I decided that it was time to change my cookware. After extensive research on the internet, I went with All-Clad stainless. This is my first All-Clad pan. I love it. The quality is excellent. The food browns evenly. It is easy to clean. I am adding more All-Clad to my collection.

There's nothing much negative to say about All Clad in my view. I've upgraded almost all my stove-top pots and pans over the last year, and can't say enough good about them. New Year's Eve, I did fettucini Alfredo, and this pan held the butter, cream, cheese mix at a perfect temperature until the fettucini was ready. So much of a "perfect" dish is in the timing, and All-Clad lets you do that.

This pan gets a real workout at our house. A bargain at twice the price!

I have this pan and it is the best and my favorite. I would like to purchase more for gifts.

I've had this piece for three years, and it still looks NEW! This is perfect for stews, chile, pot roasts, soups, sausage/potato/sauerkraut dinner, and a wonderful corned beef/cabbage/'tater/carrot meal. With the even-cooking-all round capabilities, you find each meal tasty and tender. So to save yourself time, dirty pots, easy cooking - I highly recommend this piece; you won't be sorry for the investment...gollleeee...the price is soooo *right*!!!

This pot heats very evenly, the non-stick coating releases whatever you cook with ease. It is a great shape for many foods in which a smaller based pot with a larger opening is desirable. The pouring lips are very convenient.

As with all Circulon pans, the Classic 2-1/2 Quart Covered Straining Windsor Pan with Pouring Lips, is an outstanding product. The non-stick surface is a breeze to clean. The pot,lid, and handle are all solidly constructed, very durable, and easy to maneuver. And those wonderful pouring lips make transferring food easy and spotless. You cannot find a better product than this on the market. My family's thanks to Circulon for their superior cookware. And our appreciation to Amazon for making Circulon cookware readily available to consumers at such affordable prices!

I am not much of a cook, but I use this pan almost on a daily basis. It's great for making everything I eat: rice, soups, and sauces for pasta. It cleans with remarkable ease, even when it's been sitting in the sink overnight. I recommend it to anyone, but especially to people like me -- inexperienced cooks who like to mess around in the kitchen

I love this stockpot. Now I can make a big batch of stew or soup without using two pots. It cleans up very well and is easy to handle.

I was impressed with the thickness of the pot and immediately made beef stew--it handled the initial saute to three hours of simmering perfectly, and was still easy to clean. I have a non-stick Anolon stockpot in the same size--but its not as easy to clean even though it has the same size and heft as the Farberware. Its a great addition to anyone who loves and needs to cook.

This pot is a great size, large but not unwieldy,(even when loaded with food). It heats quite evenly and is a pleasure to cook in. The no-drip lip and the well fitting cover are a plus. It is simple to keep clean and is also dishwasher safe.

I purchased this non-stick griddle with hesitation. The other 15 pieces in my calphalon collection are commercial hard anodized as I prefer the browning ability of that line and I don't particulary care for having to baby my cookware surfaces.

This non-stick variety is easier to clean however, and considering that i'll primarily be using it for the usual breakfast fare and the ocassional sandwich I decided to give it a try.

I prepared bacon and eggs on it and was satisfied with the results as the food browned nicely and tasted great. I really appreciated the fact that I was able to cook everything at once without creating a sinkful of dirty pans and cleanup was close to effortless.

Something I frowned on however, was the tendency of eggs to slide towards the grease channel while frying. Hopefully, this won't be an issue with pancakes. The jury is still out as to how well it browns bread for sandwiches or hashbrowns but I anticipate it will perform well here also.

I store my griddle upside down resting on the sturdy handles to protect the non-stick surface from scratches.

I cook for a family of five and just love this product. I thought I would use it for breakfast foods but find I use it in preparing dinners the most. It spans two burners, heats evenly and cooks just as you would expect a Calphalon product to. It is wonderful for fajitas, burgers, grilled sandwiches, meats, veggies, etc. I like it better than using the outdoor grill.

I love the fact that any fats/juices drain in the ridge around the perimiter of the pan. The non-stick surface cleans very easily. The only drawback is given the height of the handles it can be hard to find a convenient place to store it. Also make sure you have at least one calphalon heat resistant spatula - they are perfect for their pans as you don't have to worry about their warping due to heat. A bonus is I feel like a "chef" when I'm cooking with this.

I am so happy that I ordered this griddle! It now has a permanent place on my stovetop. With three kids (four if you include my husband) it's perfect for bacon, pancakes, hot sandwiches....you name it!!! How did I ever live without it? Turn both burners on your stovetop and viola....even heat! I highly recommend this griddle.

If your looking for a high quality wok, this is it. There is one draw back. No long handle for tossing food, and the two metal handles get extremely hot. But if you're a true stir fry enthusiast, you won't settle for a flat bottom wok, or a non stick wok. The great thing about this anodized wok is how it holds the heat. It seasoned fairly easily which was a concern for me since I was used to the old sytle steel woks. This 14" wok can take care of just about any dish. One problem with the steel woks is that when you steam a dish, there's a good chance the wok will rust, no problem with this one. Well worth the price.

Among the many Calphalon pieces in the kitchen, this is one of my favorite. Its versatility (size!) and efficiency in heating makes it indespensable in Asian cooking, which requires space and maintaining high heat; from steaming to stir frying. And the size! Its large enough to cater to cooking for a large dinner party, yet elegant enough for displaying your culinary prowess at dinner for two. The cooking qualities of the hard anodized surface are numerous, most importantly, even heating, non scratching, durability, and easy clean up. To top it off, the lid and ring are a bonus to set that is sure to be an important cooking utensil in my kitchen for years to come.

I've had many woks, the regular steel type that is high maint., and usually rusts on you, to stainless steel that everything sticks to. I've even had the calphalon 12" wok. The problem with that one was the knob to the lid was attached by a piece of rubber that once it strips always falls off. The handle also wasn't like it should be for the price you pay for it. This one, however is worth the money. The lid has a sturdy riveted handle, and the the size of it keeps it from moving while your cooking. The food doesn't stick like you might expect, but seasons well.

I love it and its about time someone came up with this idea. I had bought one of those cheap ones ( $29.00 ). The first time I used it paint chiped off the outside. The second time I used it I somehow acquired a horrible dent. It was too poor of a quality. This one is fantastic.

The 5 quart Circulon strainer pot is sturdily made, the straining lid works well, is a heavy stainless steel and is a safety measure I like, as I have arthritis and find it difficult to wield large hot pots in draining noodles and potatoes. I simmered chili in this on warm/low! on my burner - it cooked evenly and without hot spots even on my warped electric burner. The handles are nice and roomy between handle and pot to reduce chance of burned fingers. The handles are easier to grasp than round knobs are, for me. This pot comes in a 5.5 chefs pot as well, which I didn't see when I purchased this one. For me, 5 quarts is sizable enough. I've no complaints and hope to get another Circulon pot with the same type of lid, in a smaller size, soon.

I had the TV Pasta Pots. Waste of money. The nonstick coating lasted about 6 months. I threw them out. I should have taken the $20.00 I spent on them and put it toword the cost of this pot. It cleans up easy and the nonstick is very durable. No regrets on this purchase.

As a mom of two active boys I need my Duromatic pressure cooker almost every day. Especially after swimming they are starving and want real food fast! A standard dish is my 7 mintues risotto.I just throw in whatever I can find in the fridge or follow the great recipe provided in the cookbook "Quick Cuisine" that comes with the cooker. For all of you out there who are afraid of pressure cookers I have this to say: This unit is a high tech and safe as your computer! It's so easy to use even my husband can do it. Some of my favorit dishes: Beef stew, BBQ pot roast, beets, corn on the cob (no boiling 10 gallons of water) potatos for mashed or salad, whole chicken in 20 minutes! Well you just have to try it out. This cooker is the best--my kids will tell you so.

I've gone through 4 or 5 pressure cookers in the last 10 years, and I think I've finally found one I like. I work full time (40-60 hours a week), and I like to cook, so the time saved by pressure cooking is important to me. I use the pressure cooker mostly for meat, potatoes, beans and lentils. Typically, meat cooks in about 1/3 the time it would take in a regular pot. Pressure cooked meat is very tender and flavorful, but you need some experience in matching the cooking time to the type of meat. You have to be careful not to overcook.

The construction and finish of this cooker are excellent. It is made of stainless steel, with a thick aluminum plate at the bottom to spread the heat. This is a useful feature. Typically, pressure cooking requires high heat initially to quickly build up steam pressure before you turn the heat down. That is when food can burn and stick to the bottom of the cooker. This cooker spreads heat very well. So long as you use the prescribed amount of water or other cooking liquid, this cooker will not burn food at the bottom.

There is a two-level steam pressure indicator on the lid. The cooker comes with two booklets containing recipes, and a very comprehensive list of recommended cooking times for all sorts of meats, poultry, vegetables, beans, etc. If you follow directions, the cooker does not whistle or otherwise make any objectionable sounds. I can barely hear it from 10 feet away. Of course, if you forget to turn down the heat after the cooker is up to full cooking pressure, it will release a loud burst of steam. This is a safety feature.

The cooker has a shield on top of the lid to direct any escaping steam downwards, so there is no danger of burning your hands.

Kuhn-Rikon recommends using nylon spatulas to maintain the mirror-like finish, but you'll find them sadly inadequate when, for example, browning meat. I use a heavy gauge steel Calphalon spatula and steel tongs. After several months, I can see minor scratch marks inside the cooker, but the outside is still bright and shiny! Anyway, cookware should be designed to take this kind of handling -- it is meant to be useful rather than decorative. Stainless steel is the best material to withstand normal levels of use and abuse, and this cooker handles it well.

Keep in mind that a pressure cooker can't be filled to the top when cooking. It should never be more than half or two-thirds full, so the 5 liter capacity translates to about 2.5-3.0 liters of usable capacity. If you cook large quantities, you might want to get a bigger model.

This is a relatively expensive cooker, but it is well worth the money.

Remember Grandmom's pressure cooker with the rattling pressure control weight and all the associated hassle of using the thing? Well, all that's history. This cooker is a gem -- about as good as it gets in pressure valve technology, beautifully constructed, easy to use, and best of all, it turns out great meals in minutes.

We use ours to cook all kinds of stews, soups, casseroles -- you name it-- and they turn out just as good as the versions cooked for hours. Moroccan lamb stew, chicken cacciatore, braised lamb shanks, and many more recipes have all been delicious. And they all cook in 30 minutes or less -- yes, that's right -- half an hour. The prep time usually takes a preliminary half hour, so a great meal in 60 minutes with no fuss.

Simply put: I can see this piece lasting a century, in as great shape as when it was new. This was my first Le Creuset piece (the large frying pan being second), and I bought it while it was on sale. I thought it would be too small to be truly useful but affordable enough for an introduction to Le Creuset. This french oven is indestructible. The enameled finish isn't going anywhere, no matter how hard you scrub. Plus the sheer weight of these pieces causes the heat to evenly distribute and hold in heat. And while I was correct in forecasting that I'd rather have a larger french oven, I've at least found that it's the perfect size and medium for cooking white rice. I'd say performance rates a a 5 star, but I have to remove one star for the size and also for the color white. I picked white because I was looking for a subtlety that the other colors didn't offer, but I found that the brown stains that form on the bottom of the pan on occasion are that much more noticable. So you're either going to forget about removing them, or end up buffing away with the Ajax more often than if you chose any other color.

This pot is just wonderful!
My husband claims everytime I use Le Creuset the meals just come out perfect so, as you can imagine I'm using them everyday now. I am a "Happy Homemaker" and I take the job of creating tasty meals to heart even though I am only cooking for two (my husband and myself). If you love anyone get this pot for them, if you enjoy cooking get this pot for yourself! I also have the 5 1/2 French oven and the 2 3/4 oven as well and all of them are used daily... they can take on fried chicken or a delicate wine sauce and still look perfect when the job is done not to mention serving up the meal... Just beautiful sitting on the table! And clean up? FORGET ABOUT IT! Cleans like a dream come true, you won't believe until you do it yourself. Makes me want to cook right now... maybe I will.
For your sake don't waste time and money on the "cheap stuff" pay a decent price now and have it for life.

This is a fantastic pot. Heats very evenly and holds high temperatures for long periods of time. A breeze to wipe clean and looks fantastic from stove to table . you must towel dry when you wash. But the most fantastic piece of cooking equipment I have ever owned! Super important that you never drop or bump it too hard or the enamel will crack and it will be ruined. Baby it!!!
I recommend it even for the beginning cooks. You good foods will come out master pieces!