Really beautiful on the stove. The shining, sloping sides add a very elegant and sophisticated air. Extremely quick and even heating. Handles stay cool. Just all around a great cookset! We almost didnt get it for 2 concerns: we were concerned the handles would get too hot (they stay cool!) and difficult cleaning ..we were looking for non-stick (these still clean quick and easy with a swipe of a brillo pad). We've since realized that non-stick would wear out in 5-7 years but without it...these should last almost forever!Great purchase.
The rivets that attach the handles to the pans are located high on the sides of the pans.If you fill a pot clear up to the rivets, you'll have lots of splashes and spatters as you cook and stir.The easy solution?Use a bigger pot!No spatters, and no leaks.
Out of curiosity, when I was washing mine prior to use I did fill them up over the rivets, and no leaks on my set.
So, a little more on the set in general.I purchased this as a replacement for my 35 year old Revereware, which was wobbly on my new glass induction stove.Also wanted to get rid of the nonstick stuff for health reasons.This is perfect, very stable, great heat conduction, glass lids fit well and make it easy to monitor cooking.A joy to use, and on top of that they look gorgeous.
My suggestion is to notice the cooking hints in these reviews, and to google "cooking with stainless steel cookware" for more hints.With a few minor tweaks to my cooking techniques (which admittedly had gotten sloppy over the years), clean up is a breeze.The basics: heat it dry on 5 for 5 minutes, add butter or oil to hot pan, turn the heat down to 3 and cook more slowly than you may have been doing.Perfect eggs, veggies, grilled cheese sandwiches etc.Then when you're putting the meal on the table, let the pans cool a bit, give a quick swish with a nylon scrubbie, and add warm soapy water before you sit down to eat.After the meal, they clean as easily as nonstick cookware.So easy!
I also ordered the 1.75 qt pot and 4.75 qt pan with helper handle, and these will probably get more use than some of the items in the 10 piece set.
Absolutely love my new cookware!
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Update: 6 years later and I still love the set! They work great. They're holding up well. No issues at all. They work great with my induction burner/hot plate thing.
Original review:
This cookware is wonderful! I purchased it after going through my second set of anodized nonstick that didn't stay nonstick. I wish they had more pieces available that match. I've already bought the saute pan and the roaster separately. Unfortunately, I had to get a nonmatching KitchenAid saucier.
I'll admit I wasn't thrilled about the sloping sides at first. But they've grown on me -they work. The lids don't get as hot as other pans I have.
It heats evenly and holds the heat forever. They're easy to clean a few minutes soak for the worst mess works and you can use brillo pads. You can use metal utensils (wisks, spatulas, *SPOONS*) in it. Folks, there is a reason that you never see the real chefs on Food Network using nonstick!
But for me personally, the best was when my mother-in-law came to stay for a few weeks and realized she had made a mistake paying big bucks for her All-Clad set. All-Clad is nice and great for the status conscious, but if you're actually planning to cook with your pans, why don't you get a set that leaves you some money to buy the great ingredients to match. (Don't get me wrong. My MIL is a great cook -but I think a salesman convinced her to buy the A-C for her new induction cooktop.)
If you're looking for a great set -this is it.
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This cookware set is visually appealing, though it discolors with even low heat from a gas stove. Successive uses, though, tend to remove the discoloration. It distributes heat nicely around the base and allows boiling liquids inside to circulate well from top to bottom.This said, my experience with Meyer's customer service (Meyer Corp. out of Vallejo, CA produces and provides support for KitchenAid-brand cookware) has been far from stellar. Three items in the purchased set contained bubbles in the copper/steel base visible from the bottom.
I contacted Meyer to return the defective items and was put through quite a bit of hassle. The representative first gave a stock answer without reading my message. Then I had to quote KitchenAid's "Hassle-Free Replacement Warranty" to get Meyer to pay for shipping the defective product as it is within the first year of ownership. When the replacements finally arrived about five weeks later, one item was dented. I have requested another warranty replacement for the remaining item. It is now over two months since my initial purchase and I still do not have a complete set.
Conclusion:
Physical product: 4 out of 5
Warranty service: 2 out of 5
Total: 3 out of 5
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These are wonderful pots and pans.They have a nice heft without being too heavy, excellent even heat conduction (and they stay hot a long time--if you have electric stove you can turn off burner before cooking is complete, and don't forget to use medium heat).Also very sturdy. (I accidentally dropped an expensive Calphalon lid in the store when shopping, and it easily dented--I was NOT impressed).Handles stay cool, but you should know that the lid handles will get hot with prolonged cooking.FYI: the lid to the 4 qt saucepan fits the 8" skillet-otherwise, lids are not interchangeable and the 10" skillet doesn't come with one--too bad, I could use one. Also, I find the 10" skillet a bit small (and the 12" that you can buy separately a bit big and heavy, such that it has a helper handle)
I've had mine long enough to use them every day in every cooking situation, and find them very easy to clean.I rarely have to use anything stronger than a "tuffie" or scotchbrite pad with a quick soak.As for the other complaints that they stain, my experience with stainless steel is that they all stain some.The vinegar and baking soda trick works, as does boiling a little auto dish detergent and water in the pan.
But I don't care if my pans are perfect.The outsides stay nice and shiny and the style of these are beautiful and a pleasure to use.
I also purchased the large saute pan(wonderful capacity) and the 10" nonstick skillet(for eggs) to round out my set, both of which I love and use all the time.
For anyone who loves to cook, a real winner! This set should last a lifetime.
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