I invested in this set almost 4 years ago. I had this set for less then 2 years when I noticed that some pans were showing signs of peeling. I never washed the pans in the dish washer and I only own bamboo and plastic utensils so I knew the peeling was not from my neglect. I called the Calphalon customer service number and was told I would need to ship the entire set back (at my own expense). I was told it would take 6-8 weeks before I would be notified whether or not the cookware was going to be covered under the warranty. If the cookware was not going to be covered I would be responsible for return shipping on the cookware set. NOT the kind of customer service I would expect from a company as well known as Calphaon. I have purchased cheaper cookware at a big box store and had it last longer then 2-4 years. I will have to replace this cookware and will not be doing it with any products in the Calphalon line.
We purchased this set from another venue.
When you first open the box and see the new set you are thrilled.Especially if your old set that you just replaced was horrible.
BUT after you have had it a while you start to realize that owning this set of cookware requires a LOT of effort on your part to keep it looking nice.
The bottoms darken easily and need constant attention to make them look good.
On our particular set, the largest saucepan interior was "bubbled".Well....we are NOT everyday cooks in this house and it only took a few months for the interior finish to begin chipping off the pan.
We had to go out and buy all new utensils and special scrubbers etc. to clean these pans.Most things we had in our drawer just didn't work well with this set.Stick a metal fork in it once and IT'S DONE!
Remember....NO dishwashers, NO metal utensils, NO harsh chemicals, NO abrasive scrubbers, NO cooking spray, NO stacking of pans, NO contact with other surfaces or the exterior WILL scratch!
In short....these pans take your full attention but when you buy anything worth having, you are willing to expend the extra energy and time to take good care of it.
If it weren't for the interior surface chips, I would have to give this set an "ALMOST PERFECT" score!!!!!
Buy Simply Calphalon SA10H Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set Now
I was looking for quality when I purchased this set, and I got it!I read the instructions that followed it.I hand wash, use only plastic and wood utensils, and no non-stick cook spray.I couldn't be happier with them.Nothing sticks, the handles don't get hot, it's a pleasure cooking with them!(I have not tried them in the oven yet, but they are oven safe to a degree!)
Read Best Reviews of Simply Calphalon SA10H Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set Here
I gave this as an early Christmas gift for my wife. She absolutely had to have a set of non-stick cookware. She loves them.
*Pros
Sharp Looking Anodized Aluminum Finish, Solid Feeling, Comfortable Silicone/Steel Handles, Made of Thick Solid Aluminum, Heats much quicker then Stainless Steel. Cleanup is a Breeze, Good Weight sits firmly on the stove when empty). Great Value, Amazon/Calphalon even threw in a free 12" "bonus everyday pan" separate from the set.
*Cons
Anodized Aluminum doesn't like your silverware nor does the non-stick. Many things you have to remember not to do. No Metal Objects, Handwash only, No Stacking, No Green Scrub Pads, No Cooking Spray, That is if you want them to last a while. Also if you have a stainless steel sink, I wouldn't allow them to touch that unless you don't care about the appearance of the black anodized aluminum. Or if you do, you could polish them with the alum polish they sell every once in a while.
Overall my wife and I are both very pleased with this set. Even though it has all the drawbacks associated with a non-stick set and then some, we've managed to find that the clean up, speed of cooking, and Looks outweigh the negatives. Gave it five stars because it works like it should.
Want Simply Calphalon SA10H Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set Discount?
When I bought this set 3 years ago, it cost me about $300. I thought I was making a long term "investment". I was super careful with them, as was my husband. We never stacked the pots, we cleaned then with cloth, we used wooden spoons and plastic utensils in them. The small sauce pot is still doing ok, and the stock pot is still working out great (I must admit, we use these two pots infrequently). But the other pots and pans are all just about shot. The non-stick coating on the large skillet just started popping off in tiny shreds one day, all in the food. And once that breach was made, it was all over for that pot. Large chunks started chipping. My guess is that it got "too hot" when cooking... i hear a rumor that you are not supposed to cook on Hi with these pans, though I didn't read that anywhere when i bought them. The large sauce pot's non-stick coating didn't pop off like that, it just started to kind of dissolve away. Who knows how much of it we ended up eating. And now I read on the net that even the fumes of this non-stick stuff are toxic. Anyhow, we are tossing them after 3 years and switching to cast iron. Pretty short lived, if you ask me, but at least the price has gone down.
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This is such a handy sized pan. It is great for one grilled cheese, scrambled eggs or omelettes for one and any small sauteeing job. I like the Contemporary Nonstick series from Calphalon because I have never had any success using the anodized type of pan, this is the more traditional non-stick and I am happy with it. I've had several of this series for over six months now and the surface is holding up fine, no deterioration so far. The design of the pan is good, the handle stays cool on the stovetop and you can put it in the oven because it is all metal. The weight is comfortable and the shape is stable on my gas cooktop.
