Good pots and pans ??
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Discussion

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,982 posts

256 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Need to buy a decent set of pots and pans but have no idea of any makes to look out for !! Any ideas ?

Obviously don't want to get hot handles, 5-6 in a set. Don't care whether s/steel, black, etc.

Up to £150 for the set.

LooneyTunes

9,331 posts

186 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
Circulon Infinite.

Was going to buy them soon as some of our other pans have just about had it, but found them on Amazon yesterday at £122 for a set... good price based on what we paid for the first few from John Lewis.

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,918 posts

244 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
'Le Creuset' all day long.

Me and a load of cooks can't be wrong!

They have a lifetime guarantee too. My set is 13 years old now, used constantly, still as new.

The cast iron construction ensures longevity - but also the ability to absorb and retain heat, unlike other pans, stainless steel or otherwise.

Also, an important by-product for me, is that my frying skillet can be heated to a huge degree, and hold that heat one food is dropped in - vital for doing a good bit of steak.




Murph7355

41,951 posts

284 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
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Le Creuset are fantastic. But fiercely heavy (more so when full - don't underestimate this). My other half can't use them one handed and struggles with some when full with two hands.

As we needed a couple of new, larger pans and were passing an outlet, we bought a large frying pan and large casserole pan from ProCook. And they have been superb pans thus far. Light, good to cook in, can be put in the oven/dishwasher, good non-stick etc. And cheap, so if they bugger up after a year or two it won't really matter too much (especially as they have a 10yr guarantee).

Flibble

6,538 posts

209 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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Have some Le Creuset stainless steel pans - would definitely recommend them. Less heavy than their cast iron offerings, but still chunky and well built.

stevethegreek

578 posts

221 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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have a look at Stellar also...

Mobile Chicane

21,976 posts

240 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
quotequote all
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
'Le Creuset' all day long.

Me and a load of cooks can't be wrong!

They have a lifetime guarantee too. My set is 13 years old now, used constantly, still as new.

The cast iron construction ensures longevity - but also the ability to absorb and retain heat, unlike other pans, stainless steel or otherwise.

Also, an important by-product for me, is that my frying skillet can be heated to a huge degree, and hold that heat one food is dropped in - vital for doing a good bit of steak.
What he said.

Yes, they're expensive, but you'll be handing these on to your grandchildren.

I'm still using a Le Creuset casserole dish that was given to my parents as a wedding present in 1964.

rscott

17,434 posts

219 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
quotequote all
stevethegreek said:
have a look at Stellar also...
I'd also consider Judge ( cheaper product range from Stellar). We've got a set of Stellar stainless steel pans and a smaller Judge pan - they're all wearing equally well. Great customer service - I dropped them an email after I broke the handle from the lid enquiring the price.. 3 days later, new handle arrived free of charge!

Can agree with Le Creuset as well - we've got a set of these as well (gift from a weedy friend :-) )

It does depend on the cooking facilities - we've got an Aga and found that certain types of pan just don't heat properly..

Stu R

21,622 posts

243 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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I've long been an advocate of Le Creuset, but more recently I picked up a set of Costco's own brand 'Kirkland', and they're easily as good - if not better. Certainly got nicer handles on than my LC's, and the sauté pan is brill. For £140ish I don't think you'll get better.

Circulon aren't what they once were - coatings are v. easy to damage on them.

Roger645

1,795 posts

275 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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John Lewis own label pans are pretty good Their triple ply stainless stuff has a 10 year guarantee

Bonefish Blues

36,230 posts

251 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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Roger645 said:
John Lewis own label pans are pretty good Their triple ply stainless stuff has a 10 year guarantee
Re-badged Le C Tri-Ply, I believe. Good stuff whatever it's badged as.

andy43

13,084 posts

282 months

Wednesday 16th May 2012
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Flibble said:
Have some Le Creuset stainless steel pans - would definitely recommend them. Less heavy than their cast iron offerings, but still chunky and well built.
Same here. Lid sealing is really good, and you can actually lift the things when they're full. Good non-stick surfaces on some too.

uncinqsix

3,239 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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I think it's best to get a mix of different types. Sets strike me as being a bit of a compromise as there is no one material that works well for all cooking tasks. IMO, the best approach is:

Carbon Steel frypans (De Buyer Carbone Plus or Force Bleu)
Stainless steel pots (almost any with a decent thick sandwich bottom, Hahn, Scanpan or whatever John Lewis has)
Cast iron cocottes (Staub or Le Crueset)
Cast iron griddle (LC, Lodge or whatever you can get)

Don't know anything about non-stick.

Bonefish Blues

36,230 posts

251 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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re non stick, SKK are the best I've used.

Turn7

25,636 posts

249 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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Our LE C stainless steel 3ply pans are one of the best I've ever bought un my life.

Bullet proof,quick to heat on a lower gas and superbly made.

ali4390

2,385 posts

193 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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Stu R said:
Circulon aren't what they once were - coatings are v. easy to damage on them.
Is this true? I recently bought some Circulon pans based on what I had read on here in the past and other websites. Havne't had the chance to use them yet but will be disappointed if they damage easily.

zcacogp

11,239 posts

272 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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Mobile Chicane said:
I'm still using a Le Creuset casserole dish that was given to my parents as a wedding present in 1964.
I'm still using a Le Creuset casserole dish that my grandmother bought before she was married!

(Avoid their non-stick frying pans tho'. The non-stick isn't that great.)


Oli.

Stu R

21,622 posts

243 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
ali4390 said:
Stu R said:
Circulon aren't what they once were - coatings are v. easy to damage on them.
Is this true? I recently bought some Circulon pans based on what I had read on here in the past and other websites. Havne't had the chance to use them yet but will be disappointed if they damage easily.
My mum bought my sister a set for her birthday a few months ago, they've been swapped for something else as the non-stick coating on the frying pan flaked, and the outside coating on the saucepan looked like it'd been used in battle.

pjdow

1,116 posts

182 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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John Lewis own brand Stainless Steel.

LooneyTunes

9,331 posts

186 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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ali4390 said:
Stu R said:
Circulon aren't what they once were - coatings are v. easy to damage on them.
Is this true? I recently bought some Circulon pans based on what I had read on here in the past and other websites. Havne't had the chance to use them yet but will be disappointed if they damage easily.
I bought a couple of infinites about 6 months ago. They've had metal utensils in them and only ever been cleaned in the dishwasher. They're still as new... which is why a more complete set to replace some knackered ones (another brand) arrived today. Don't know if the ones lower down the range are more fragile though?