Farberware Millennium Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set

I WAS TRYING TO REPLACE MY COOKWARE OF OVER 20 YEARS.THIS SET OF COOKWARE FAR EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.IT IS VERY EASY TO WASH, IS DISHWASHER SAFE, AND VERY SCRATCH RESISTANT.I LOVE IT, MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IT DIDN'T COME WITH A 3 QT SAUCEPAN.

()For a single, college-aged individual or a couple that is just starting to figure out their cooking tool needs, this is a fine set to add to the kitchen.I am surprised to be typing that.Here are my reasons for awarding four stars:

1) Use your favorite metal kitchen tools: Normally, I hate nonstick pans.The convenience of easy cleanup seems to always be counteracted by my inability to use my favorite cooking tools, which all happen to be metal. Normally, using metal on a nonstick surface is a huge no-no.But with this set, metal tools can be used and there is no scratching as the pans have a metal guard nonstick coating. For people just learning to cook, more industrial surfaces are also a bonus.

2) The weight: I was happy with the weight of the individual units.They are of a mid-range weight.If you bump one on the stove, it shouldn't go flying off.The weight is not so substantial that you cannot pick one of the skillets up with one hand.

3) Looks: Overall, the set looks quite attractive. The set has the stainless steel appearance with the bonus of a nonstick interior.

4) Easy clean-up:Really, this is the reason to buy a nonstick set.Who likes to spend hours cleaning pans?The pans are very easy to clean.They are also dishwasher safe.I love pans that are dishwasher safe.

5) Versatile:Despite the nonstick interior, these pans can be placed in the oven up to 500 degrees.I don't usually cook at temperatures over that so this feature is wonderful.

6) Usable on multiple heating surfaces: This set is suitable for induction, solid plate, radiant ring, ceramic, halogen, and gas heating surfaces.

7) Glass lids:I don't use glass lids frequently.In fact, I have many lids from other sets and I would have preferred another pot or pan instead of four lids.However, many folks love glass lids as it is easy to monitor foods while they are cooking.

Overall, I was pleased with this set.When combined with devices like a crock pot, griddle, and additional stainless steel and cast iron cooking pieces, the new cook should have a good set to begin a life long appreciation of cooking.

Country of origin:The components of this set are made in Thailand and China.

Buy Farberware Millennium Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set Now

()இ Fuzzy Wuzzy's Summary:

ѾѾѾѾѾ Highly recommended with warm fuzzies!

► Packaging, Style, Appearance: ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies rating

► Construction & Build Quality: ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies rating

► Design & Features: ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies rating

► Performance, Durability, Reliability: ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies rating

► Competitive Pricing & Value: ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies rating

փ Positives:

փ The DuPont "Teflon Professional with Metal Guard" is quite durable and resistant to scratching by metal utensils (but it still can be scratched with metal forks and knives).

փ The "Impact Bonded Even Heat Base", composed of a thick aluminum core encapsulated in stainless steel, evenly heats food without having unbalanced hot spots in different parts of the pot or pan.

փ The two 8-inch and 10-inch skillets are nice and deep, with a 2.0-inch depth. I dislike shallow skillets that are only 1.0 or 1.5 inches deep.

փ This cookware set is dishwasher-safe and oven-safe to 500 degrees.

փ This cookware set comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

փ This nonstick heavy-gauge cookware set uses a professional-chef-grade Teflon coating and offers performance that is very comparable to other sets costing 40% to 100% more.

ჯ Negatives:

ჯ As with all nonstick cookware that uses Teflon, you should throw away the cookware the moment that its surface coatings begin to have scratches or flake off.

This stainless steel nonstick cookware set consists of 6 pots/pans and 4 glass lids: 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet, 1-quart and 2-quart covered saucepans, 8-quart covered stockpot, and 3-quart covered saute pan. My one personal nitpick with this cookware set is that I would have preferred the two skillets to be 10-inch and 12-inch, instead of 8-inch and 10-inch, even although all other cookware sets also do not include a 12-inch skillet. For cooking omelettes, crepes, and pancakes, I just prefer to use a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet instead of an 8-inch skillet. But the good news is that both of the included skillets are a full 2.0 inches deep. Some skillets are too shallow with only a 1.0-inch or 1.5-inch depth, which can create more of a messy stove when there is spattering.

This cookware set was shipped in a very sturdy box with numerous cardboard inserts that kept everything in a pristine condition. You could probably drop this box from a truck and nothing inside would get damaged. The polished stainless steel exteriors and precise-fitting glass lids are of very high quality, and along with the large beefy rivets that hold the handles to the cookware, this looks and feels similar to my All-Clad stainless cookware, which is much more expensive. This cookware has a good solid heft to it, and their bases heat evenly. When I heat water, oil, or fluids in this cookware, the bubbles are evenly distributed as they form. During the cooking of food, I do not notice any uneven hot spots where one side of the pot or pan cooks faster than another side. Even when this cookware and the lids become really hot from cooking on high heat, the pot handles and lid handles still remain comfortable to grab with bare hands.

Most of my cookware is high-quality stainless steel, including some with copper bottoms. Stainless steel is the day-to-day workhorse in my kitchen, and I like the versatility of stainless steel in being dishwasher-safe and yet also oven/broiler safe. I also use anodized aluminum. But I only reach for nonstick cookware strictly on an as-needed basis because I try to maximize the longevity of its nonstick surface, whereas some people just have one set of nonstick cookware that they constantly cook everything in.

The "Teflon Professional with Metal Guard" coating on this cookware performed very admirably. I was able to cook a variety of egg and cheese dishes without the use of any cooking spray or oil and nothing ever stuck to the surface. Even though the professional-chef-grade "Metal Guard" Teflon is resistant to scratching by metal utensils, I still use wood, silicone, or soft plastic utensils when cooking with this (and any other nonstick) cookware to try to keep the nonstick coating free from scratches as long as possible. So I did not try using metal turners, spoons, or ladles with this cookware to see what force it could endure without scratching. Clean-up of both the interior and exterior surfaces was easy too; I did not even need to use the scrubber side of the kitchen sponge to wipe the nonstick surface. At most, for the stubborn food that was stuck on, I just let the cookware soak in a tub of warm soapy water for a short period before sponging the residues off.

Some nonstick cookware *claim* to be oven-safe, and this cookware set states that it is oven-safe to 500 degrees. I think that using nonstick cookware in an oven to 350 degrees may be okay. But, frankly, I do not want to risk the degradation of these PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) compounds like the Teflon that is used in this nonstick cookware set because the fumes from overheated PTFE are not healthy to breathe in. DuPont states that Teflon is non-toxic if you eat flakes of it, but I really want to minimize the possibility that my body absorbs these highly synthetic PTFE compounds either through my lungs or through my digestive system. So I only use nonstick cookware when I *really* need its nonstick advantage (cooking eggs or dishes containing cheese are two classic examples), and I throw away nonstick cookware the moment that the surface coating starts to scratch or flake off, which it always does eventually regardless of how carefully I try to not scratch the surface. So I like to invest in high-quality stainless steel cookware, but I do not care to spend a lot for a top-of-the-line nonstick set when I know that I will eventually be throwing some of them away. And this is why I think this cookware set is great especially when you compare prices. You can easily pay at least 40%, or even 100%, more for a 10-piece nonstick cookware set, and its Teflon may not last any longer than the nonstick coating used in this set.

Some pros and cons of this nonstick cookware set also apply to ALL nonstick cookware, regardless of price. For example, if your cooking requires prolonged periods of very high heat, do not use nonstick cookware because the surface coatings cannot withstand that. All nonstick cookware, and not just this set, is best suited for low to medium heat. Nonstick cookware is also not optimal for searing and browning. The best searing/browning is done in cast iron, followed by stainless steel, followed by aluminum. You can sear using this nonstick cookware by slowly pre-heating the pan to full heat before adding the food, but the best searing and browning is done in a cast iron pan or skillet.

This cookware set includes a "Important Safety, Use, & Care Information" pamphlet that repeatedly emphasizes to never let cookware (any kind of cookware really) boil dry. If you have birds as pets, the safety pamphlet also warns that the PTFE/Teflon coating on nonstick cookware can emit fumes that can kill birds because the birds' respiratory systems cannot handle the fumes. This also applies to the overheating of cooking sprays, oils, fats, margarine, and butter, which can be toxic to birds. While overheating or boiling dry any kind of cookware is never a good idea, the health hazards, both for birds and humans, are more acute when using PTFE/Teflon-coated nonstick cookware. Even though PTFE/Teflon fumes can kill birds but does not kill humans, this still does not provide me with totally reassuring confidence to convince me that I can use nonstick cookware to cook all of my everyday meals. This is another reason why I use nonstick cookware only when I really need its nonstick ability.I emphasize this again because it is important: never overheat nonstick cookware.Overheating Teflon can cause the release of fumes that can cause flu-like symptoms in humans, a syndrome that is called "polymer fume fever".Additionally, the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives" published a study conducted by researchers from Yale University and Harvard Medical School where they found that the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) used in Teflon are "associated with higher prevalence of osteoarthritis, particularly in women, a group that is disproportionately impacted by this chronic disease".Their analysis showed that women who had the most exposure to PFOA had twice the odds of developing arthritis compared to women with the lowest exposures; PFOS exposure was also associated with arthritis in women, but not as significantly as PFOA.

௫ Fuzzy Wuzzy's Conclusion:

Overall, I really like this cookware set and it compares favorably to more-expensive 10-piece sets. I sometimes do not need to use nonstick cookware for one or two weeks, so I expect that this set will last me a long time with its durable nonstick coating. If your cooking really requires daily use of nonstick cookware, this cookware set is durable in both its nonstick and cooking performance to be the main cookware that you use everyday. Just be sure to never use sharp metal utensils like forks or knives and do not use hard cutting actions on this nonstick surface, and throw away a nonstick cookware the moment that its nonstick coating starts to scratch or flake off.

Read Best Reviews of Farberware Millennium Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set Here

()This set is made up of1-quart and 2-quart Covered Saucepans, 8-quart Covered Stockpot, 3-quart Covered Saute, 8-inch and 10-inch Skillets

My first impression of this set was that it was extremely well packed so that nothing would be damaged while in stock or when out being delivered.

My second impression was that this set was heavier weight than I was expecting, and compares very favorably in appearance(VERY nice looking) to the more expensive Cuisinart 10-piece set (see images).(The Cuisinart has one more lid and one less pan than this set.)

Like the Cuisinart set, this set features aluminum cores clad with stainless steel.Also, like premium cookware sets, this cookware has long riveted handles.Because the handles are long, they don't get hot even though they are metal.

I was very surprised to see that Farberware says that it's perfectly OK to put the non-stick pans in the dishwasher.Additional information regarding the non-stick surface:

Use low to medium heat only

Do not use non-stick sprays, as they will build up on the surface and cause food to stick (who'd a thunk??)

If oil is needed, olive or peanut oil is recommended

I tried out some of the pans.I liked the weight in my hand (not flimsy but not too heavy) and sure enough, nothing sticks.But we all know that nothing sticks to new Teflon.The proof of the pudding will be found in the long run only time will tell us if these pans are the paragons of wonderfulness that Farberware claims them to be.

Some years ago I discovered that I like the less expensive Farberware much more than some more expensive lines of pans.Therefore, I am inclined to be A True Believer, at least for the time being.

I am sincerely hoping that if given the proper care, and if not exposed to high temperatures, this set will last me a good 20 years or more.

I believe that this is a good buy.

Want Farberware Millennium Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set Discount?

()I have owned an older set of Farberware since I was in my 20's, and after a breakup the set got split up between me and the boyfriend.Over the years,I must have misplaced a pot or two but I still have a few pots from the original set, still going strong.

Now I have thisnew version of Farberware. I am used to using pots withsolid steel lids, as a creature of habit, was not sure what to expect with all the see through glass.Here is what i discovered for some reason, this set of pots, with the cover on,seems to heat up food a lot faster.I actually have ended up burning a few pots of green beans.I am sure it has nothing to do with the lids, but more to do with the construction of the pot, the bottom insulation (or lack thereof, am not sure).With that said,I have to explain that I use a very old stove/oven and have been frustrated with the amount of time it takes sometimes for something to heat up, but I am not having this problem at all with this set of Farberware.

Am I complaining? No I love my new pots and pans! They are easy to clean, love the see-through lids, and silly me, it makes it fun to cook again.(I just love new toys in the kitchen).My main warning is to be careful with the heat, as I swear this set seems to heat up food faster.

Save 9% Off

Read More >>

Emeril Stainless Steel Fry Pans

I bought this 8 inch Emeril Stainless fry pan because it was a few dollars cheaper than the 8 inch Emeril Pro-Clad fry pan.Big difference.First off, the aluminum and copper disk on the bottom of this pan looks cheap and does not distribute heat evenly.But the biggest flaw is that the handle is heavier than the rest of the pan making it very difficult to balance on a gas stove top.I couldn't keep it from falling over no matter how I tried.Who is the design wizard that came up with this pan?I sent it back and bought the Pro-Clad version for a few dollars more.The Pro-Clad has three layers of stainless and aluminum all the way up the sides, so heat distributes evenly and the weight and balance are perfect.Much happier now.Not sure if all the Emeril Stainless Fry Pans are handle heavy, but this 8 inch one is a clunker.Don't waste your time or money on this poorly designed pan.

FWIW, I have only used this Emeril 10 inch stainless steel with copper and aluminum and stainless bottom once!That was tonight.This is NOT the Emeril Pro Clad which I have not been able to find in a single fry pan.Since this pan was on sale today at Macy's for $29.99 and even less with coupon, I decided to give it a try.

Even though I am a 'senior citizen', I have never used a stainless fry pan.I read all the reviews for the different brands and read how many people complained of food sticking, difficult clean up, staining, etc.So, I decided to research exactly how to cook with stainless before ever getting any.

So, bought this today and decided to cook pork chops tonight.The instructions that came with the pan are a little different than what I read about how to cook with stainless on line.I followed the on line directions.I first washed the pan and dried it.Allowed my chops to sit out for about 15 minutes to get closer to room temperature and dried them with paper towel before seasoning them.I then turned my electric glass top stove on to medium and allowed the pan to get hot and then added a small amount of evoo to coat.When that began to shimmer, I added my chops and left them alone for about 6 minutes.After 6minutes I gently tried to raise one chop and it came right up as did the other one.I turned them over and left them alone again for another6-7 minutes.I also added chopped onions just after I turned them over.Well, they came out beautifully!Great caramalized onions, nice juicy chops, terrific gravy from the drippings.

Nothing stuck nor burned.I immediately wiped the pan out and filled with hot water and placed back on the same burner to sit while we ate.After dinner I washed it up and noticed just a few spots on the pan where the meat had sat.I used a tiny amount of barkeepers friend on a sponge and wiped it with hot water and it came perfectly clean.No scrubbing.It is nice and shiny just like it was before I used it.

Now if I can do this, I am sure better cooks and even those like me can use this pan with ease.

Also, the handle remained cool to the touch and the pan sat very level on my stove.

The instructions that came with the pan that I DID NOT USE, said to add oil to a cool pan and then heat over medium heat until oil became hot, then add food.When I researched how to cook with stainless steel, I read that you should add oil only to a hot pan, so that is what I did. It worked well for me, so will continue to use that method.

I will now look for the 12 inch pan with lid.If I become disappointed with this pan, I will definitely post an updated review.But, right now I am thrilled with it.

Buy Emeril Stainless Steel Fry Pans Now

So far I like this pan.It's my first stainless fry pan and am getting the hang of it.I found that pre-heating is key.I preheat for about 5 minutes on med heat (have an older electric stove) before I try to fry or scramble eggs and they don't stick.Only thing I don't like is I feel the handle is just a hair too heavy.When the pan is empty (preheating) it leans just a tiny bit toward the handle and I would think that would reduce effectiveness/evenness of heating.Other than that one thing, I really like the pan.Handle stays cool and it's easy to clean.

Read Best Reviews of Emeril Stainless Steel Fry Pans Here

there are several things I like about this pan, it's stainless steel, has a copper core and does the job I bought it for. The one problem is that the pan is very light weight, and the handle is nice and heavy, which means that it's very easy to tip while you're cooking. Still, at it's price, I can't really complain.

Want Emeril Stainless Steel Fry Pans Discount?

I bought this to supplement a 10 piece set and am happy with it.It does discolour but that is just part of what these pans do.Very nice, substantial, everything I was looking for.Now I just have to learn to cook with lower heat settings as this cookware is makes very efficient use of the heat!

Save 29% Off

Read More >>

Green Cuisine 12 Inch Skillet with Non Stick Ceramic Coating

I took a risk and bought this as my first ceramic pan and I must say it's so much better than the standard non-stick coated ones. You don't need a lot of heat and its so easy to clean. It's a little heavy.

The drawback is in the handle design there is a very slight play in the handle rotating left/right since the pan is heavy. Tightening the screw doesn't help as it is the way the handle was designed, it doesn't catch the curved surface of the pan exactly. But after a month or so of using it, this hasn't bothered me. I saw another design of this manufacturer that has 2 screws but its more expensive.

The handle itself is well made, as I left it near one of the gas burners and it became extremely hot but didn't warp or change.

Read More >>

Berndes Milestone Cast Aluminum 8" Fry Pan Skillet

TRY this Berndes non stick pan great size for small portions and great for eggs too,just make sure not to use metal utensils. The handle is comfortable and it is fairly lightweight considering the high quality,and its MADE in Germany,NOT IN CHINA.....the chefes

Read More >>

Le Creuset 26CM Round Grill Cerise

At the time I'm writing this, there are three reviews already.

One says it heats up quickly on medium or low heat. Um, no, it heats up pretty slowly, because it's a massive hunk of steel. Only 10 inches though, so you can't fit two T-bones on it, but it fits anywhere. The mass of this grill helps achieve outdoor BBQ style. It's a grill, not a griddle or frypan, so using it on medium heat is counterproductive. Throw it on a High flame for a few minutes before you try to cook. Yes, it will smoke. But you're trying to cook, not worry about air quality!

Another review says things stuck to it because it was not coated. Yes, it is. But things still stick to it because the cast iron surface under the coating was evidently pretty coarse. Oh, well. You don't scrub it with a sponge, you heat it up and plunge it under running water and the "deglazing" will lift off most of the gunk. Give it a scrub with a brush (no soap) and return it to the heat to dry. Total time about 45 seconds.

The third review said that fish stuck to it. This is possible. They used nonstick spray, which isn't all that ideal with nonstick or cast iron surfaces. But mostly I suspect the grill wasn't hot enough.

I, however, did ribeye steaks last night and they were perfect. Look on foodtv.com for Alton Brown's method and follow that. It's great. But remember: HOT!

This is the first grill pan I have had that has not warped after the first use.The thin ridges leave a nice looking sear mark on the food and the valleys between are deep enough to allow the oils to run off so you are grilling and not frying.It is a fairly easy pan to clean and it looks great too boot.The one down side: it is a bit on the small side.A tad expensive but it is worth the cost.

Buy Le Creuset 26CM Round Grill Cerise Now

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!

Read Best Reviews of Le Creuset 26CM Round Grill Cerise Here

I purchased this grill because it showed up in my daily "Gold Box" at a reasonable price.Inasmuch as I am an incurable meat eater, I grill a lot of hamburgers and steaks.As it's inefficient to fire up a charcoal grill for one little steak or hamburger (I don't think gas grills have the flavor), the skinny grill seemed a good idea.I usually just pan fry in either my dad's old cast iron pan or my copper bottom Revere Ware pan.Because I buy New York strip steaks and burgers with the lowest fat content possible, I have never had much of a problem with fat in either of my regular pans.But now, so I reasoned, I CAN HAVE SEAR MARKS!Not worth the thought; although I did not turn my electric coils up to high or anywhere near high, it seemed that the enamel on the bottom of the grill wanted to cook faster than the meat in the pan. (The enamel is still on my coils and it has been several weeks since I last used the skinny grill.) Further, in my opinion, the little handles on either side of the pan look nice, but were hard to grip when holding hot pads because they are TOO little. (With an electric cooktop, one obviously has to move the pan immediately upon completion of cooking.)As for the smoking pan, I did think that there was more smoke with this grill than with my usual pan but that was not my major complaint. If you like a steak that is "seared and rare" I don't think this pan is for you. You will end up with a seared and melted enameled grill.I did return the grill and, thanks to Amazon, it was received without question and no UPS return charges were applied to my credit.

Want Le Creuset 26CM Round Grill Cerise Discount?

I bought this for quick grilling.For cast iron, the weight is fairly light and it is very managable in the kitchen. It was a bit sticky on the first use, but it has improved tremendously with use.I don't find it necessary to use the highest flame on my stove to get this hot.I am using closer to a medium flame, so I do wait a couple of minutes or so for the pan to come to temperature.I have no problem with getting the grill marks on the food.I used to own an electric Jenn Aire stove, and the grill on it was always wimpy.This little pan beats the old grill completely.I am very happy with this addition to my kitchen.

Read More >>

Farberware Classic 12 Covered Frying Pan

This skillet is quite large and excellent quality materials. The skillet is larger than I expected to be of practical use as it is humongous! One should view this skillet in person before purchasing because it dwarfs the size of the largest burner and will rarely get any use. Consider a 11" skillet as the largest suitable skillet for practical use, even for a family of 8 or 10 people. I will still keep my new 12" skillet because I like the lid which fits fine over my 11" skillet that did not come with a cover. I believe it is a Mirro brand. I would NOT recommend this skillet because it is just TOO BIG to be of practical use for even the largest of families. Just being honest, so please look at this skillet before buying or it will just be sitting on your shelf.

Save 48% Off

Read More >>

Norpro Cast Iron Pig Bacon Grill Press

Just had a chance to try out the bacon press tonight for BLT's--it works great!

We love our bacon nice and crisp, and this little press does the job great and seems to speed up cooking time (perhaps because the cast iron "holds in the heat" while the bacon fries?).

Bacon was crisp and delicious; the press prevents bacon curling and relieves you of the neverending task of flipping bacon over and over and over again when cooked conventionally.

This press is a great addition to my kitchen; only gave it 4 stars, simply because it isn't quite as heavy as I would like, although it still performs well.

Just make sure you season it before first use (directions in the box---just oil the press, oil a frying pan, then heat both together on VERY low heat for 20 minutes.

Allow to cool and wipe excess oil off press).But don't use it with nonstick pans!

This litle pig has it all. Right size. Well constructed. Fun to own and does the job right.

Buy Norpro Cast Iron Pig Bacon Grill Press Now

I have a pig collection but this is great anyway.I use it for every piece of meat I fry.I do not use oil so want the meat to sear and this fits the bill.

Read Best Reviews of Norpro Cast Iron Pig Bacon Grill Press Here

I bought this bacon press from Williams Sonoma and be warned--the screw holding the wooden handle on rusted out.The handle will not stay attached to the screw which makes the press pretty much useless. We followed the exact cleaning instructions to keep it from rusting, but it happened anyway.While this is a great looking product and worked well for a little while, it is now trash.

Want Norpro Cast Iron Pig Bacon Grill Press Discount?

This item really helps create crispy bacon that's super flat, which I love. I'm not sure for certain, but I could swear it's also cut down the cooking time, which is also a plus. The only downside is that it's a little difficult to store after usage. Since it's cast iron, it can't be, or shouldn't, be cleaned, but only wiped down. This leaves the item greasy, which is fine if you have a place to keep it that doesn't get other things greasy at the same time. I've taken to putting in a Tupperware, which I don't really like, but it works. Overall, I would definitely recommend this product! Oh, and it's a totally cute pig!

Read More >>

All Clad Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan

suspicious of non-stick surfaces since the first pans appeared on the market, my only experience was with $20 pans with screw-on handles.you know the type.i converted all my pots and pans to all-clad and viking when i moved in 2000 and left non-stick pans in the trash.but.but last year i got an all-clad non-stick pan and i am now a convert.it is a joy to cook with and is as easy to clean as the dinner plates (i do it all by hand).

after reading these reviews i felt compelled to respond.reading about pans and surface coatings i learned that non-stick surfaces are designed to get hot as 500 degrees before they degrade.in fact, the surface material actually "off gasses" before you see the material degradation.

to enjoy the pan the way it was intended do not use it in high temperature situations.if you are going to sear, then oven broil chicken, for instance, use a traditional pan.if you are sauteing onions and vegetables, reducing a stock, or doing a stirfry, use the non-stick.

these are pricy, i know, so if you can afford only one, get the regular surface (which cooks have been using forever) and you will have a pan you can give to your grandkids.

**update**

this pan lasted me 5 years before i gave it away.it is definitely no longer non-stick and requires gobs of butter or oil to do its task.since i already have a traditional surface with the All-Clad 51125 All Clad Stainless-Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid and a non-stick equivalent with Lodge Logic L8SK3 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet, i don't need this non-stick pan cluttering up the kitchen.

reduced from 5 stars to 3 stars.i still love all-clad, but i will not buy expensive non-stick pans again.

People!If you're going to buy expensive non-stick pans learn the basics on how to maintain them!Read the user directions!!You should not use high heat on ANY non-stick!Using high heat voids the All-Clad warranty!High heat also eventually compromises non-stick surfaces.You should not use aerosol spray oils in non-stick as it ruins the non-stick coating.Use only utensils made to use with non-stick pots and pans.Never put very cold food in a hot pot or pan.You should not clean non-stick in dishwashers hand wash with Bon Ami and a plastic mesh scrubber. Bon Ami (or similar) also works best on All-Clad stainless.Hard-anodized pots and pans are not dishwasher safe, no matter what the brand.I can boil water in my All-Clad pots on Medium!It IS possible to brown foods in non-stick pans.I have an All-Clad non-stick grill pan (has ridges in the bottom) and I can brown sliced potatoes in it AND bacon doesn't curl when fried in it! If you want to cook as you want and abuse the pans, buy the cheap stuff and quit complaining!!I work for one of the three major top brands (not All-Clad!), so you can take all this info for what you think it's worth.All-Clad, Anolon and Calphalon cookware are investment-type purchases.Treat them as such!

Buy All Clad Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan Now

I received my All-Clad set when I got married in 2001.In general I have been very happy with this pan.It cooks great and has been through a lot of use over the past six years.

On the down side the pan is a bit heavy and the handle can get hot toward the base.As a result whenever I am cooking a 1.5lb of ground beef I need to use a pot holder to grab near the bottom of the handle so I can drain it.

The other draw back that I have recently noticed is the non-stick seal isnot what it once was.I am very careful with the cleaning, high-heat, and utensils.However, food has been sticking on the pan for the past year and is getting worse.

Since All-Clad is all about durability I expect better.

Read Best Reviews of All Clad Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan Here

I have owned this pan for a few years and it has gradually lost its non-stick coating.It is now totally useless and I am off to replace it with the Cuisinart pan that America's Test Kitchen preferred over the other non-sticks out there.I love all of my other All Clad products, but from now on I am not spending more than $50 on a non-stick pan.

Want All Clad Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan Discount?

On Sundays, I cook my lunches and dinners for the entire week.This is my new Sunday fish and seafood pan!Soon, it will become my new breakfast pan when I have to feed the six people staying with me for my family reunion.

The nonstick finish is great. I haven't had any problems with it. I like the fact that I can get the All-Clad even heat technology with a non-stick surface. Because of the non-stick surface, the pan is not dishwasher safe. However, it's so easy to clean that you don't even think about it.

Caring for nonstick

To avoid damaging the coating, you should always heat the pan with oil. The oil will smoke before the pan gets too hot to do any damage. Do not use nonstick spay with nonstick cookware.The droplets are so fine that they can form a brown film on the finish over time.

When a plan losses its nonstick properties, All-Clad suggests cleaning with a paste of baking soda and water. If the baking soda doesn't turn brown, switch to Bar Keeper's Friend and water. Always scrub with something made for nonstick cookeware.

Enjoy!This pan is big enough to feed a crowd!

Save $0.05 Off

Read More >>

Hecuk 33036 Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Fajita Pan with Wooden Base

I dislike ordering sizzling Fajitas at a restaurant when they come out not sizzleing. I decided to order two of these pans and make my own. I use one for beef and one for chicken. I prepare the peppers and onions in a seperate pan and place them in the oven to keep hot. Meanwhile, I place the iron pans in the oven, top shelf under low broil, just to get the pans nice and hot. I prepare the meat. Once I am ready, I test the pans with a drip of water to see if they sizzle. At that point, I remove the pans, use a light spray of Pam on each and place the meat, chicken, peppers and onions on each pan and serve "sizzleing" right away. They taste better then the restaurant because they are prepared with TLC. You can make up your own sauce or use the packets. I use Baja Chipotle by Lawry'sServe with all the usual fixings.

Read More >>

Lodge 2HHC2 Hot Handle Holders/Mitts, Red Pepper, Set of 2

These are perfect for all lodge skillets and I also use them on the older pieces of Calphalon that get hot handles.These are so much handier than having to pick up a pot holder repeatedly, you can just slip them on and leave them right through to clean up.

The first thing you need to realize is that when cooking with cast iron, the entire piece gets HOT.It is an even heating surface, and yes, that even includes the handles.That's why Lodge made the Hot Handle Holder Set, and they really hit the nail on the head with this one.The holders fit perfectly on the handles of the pans that they make.They slide on easily and can remain there while you're cooking the item, if it is not near an open flame of course.They protect your hands from heat, even when holding the pan for extended periods of time like while you're cleaning it after cooking.It also makes the handle more comfortable, and provides a pretty good grip.The red peppers are my favorite, but I also have a set of the green salsa holders and they're nice too.Lodge is a company that is known for their quality, and this product is no exception.

Buy Lodge 2HHC2 Hot Handle Holders/Mitts, Red Pepper, Set of 2 Now

This product works pretty well, fitting onto the handle well.The issues with it have been mentioned in other reviews: It's somewhat on the thin side, and can get hot if you leave it on the handle while cooking.Taking it off and back on everytime you manipulate your iron skillet can be annoying, especially if you forget and burn yourself however, the learning curve is rather short, especially after you burn yourself.And since the skillets are guaranteed to hold an even temperature throughout the whole skillet, you are assured of a nice, even burn to your entire palm.

I would pay a couple of bucks more for the Lodge Max Temp Handle Mitt it's thicker (so you feel less of the metal handle, giving you a psychological edge in being able to grip it firmly), stays cool longer, and although it's not in festive colors and pattern, it's utility-driven.

Read Best Reviews of Lodge 2HHC2 Hot Handle Holders/Mitts, Red Pepper, Set of 2 Here

May shield heat a touch better than a kitchen glove. They are OK if you are going to use them on the cast iron handles for a few seconds at a time. Anything longer than that and they will get hot and so will your hands. So, unlike what a previous reviewer said, you cannot leave them on while the pot is on the stove, unless you are not cooking long enough for the handles to get hot (and in that case why even buy them), or if you want to get burned. The choice is yours. Hope this helps.

Want Lodge 2HHC2 Hot Handle Holders/Mitts, Red Pepper, Set of 2 Discount?

These handle covers are very handy and work well.I bought them with a Lodge cast iron skillet.Glad I got them since I know it would just have been a matter of time before I had burned my hand since I usually use more modern skillets.I am sure I would have forgotten to pick up a pot holder or an oven mit at some point before grabbing the iron handle.I have a gas stove top so the other thing I like about these sturdy handle covers is I don't worry about cloth hanging down from the handle to catch fire.

Read More >>

Presto 85690/85754 electric skillet handle.

My sneaky large dog pulled the skillet off the kitchen counter and broke one of the handles.(He was at least smart enough to wait for it to cool down.) My husband thought that would be the end of his favorite skillet but Amazon saved the day!

I broke a neighbors handle, so needed to replace it, part was priced right and came on time, broken handle fixed and back to its owner, no foul,

Buy Presto 85690/85754 electric skillet handle. Now

Read More >>

GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 9½" - Non-stick

I'm not sure what crack the other reviewers have been smoking, or if this seller has been sending them the wrong pans . . . The only official retailers in the US are:

.HSNfrom their airing and their website.

.Target Stores.

.Crate & Barrel.

.Frontgate Catalog house.

That's direct from GreenPan. I got mine at Target and loved it so much I bought the rest of the set. Nothing sticks to them, and I mean nothing. I've burnt eggs on it just for the fun of it and it comes off with water and a little finger rubbing. This is the only dish I don't throw through the dishwasher simply because it's just too easy to clean.

And let me add, I'm no expect at non-stick pan cleaning. I'm used to cast iron pans. After a year of daily cooking and cleaning this pan doesn't show any scratches. So bottom line, these pans do as they promise. Perhaps they should be bought from official outlets to ensure you're actually getting the right product. Otherwise, you won't regret buying these pans. I haven't.

For their official site.

i have the 12 inch stainless steel version which i got for christmas. 4 months later and the non-stick aspect has essentially failed. the coating is still in tact, but many things, tofu in particular, are sticking to the surface. we have had non-stick pans in the past, and all but the cheapest the surface held up well. We were not novices to the care of this stuff. We were excited about this one with the non-PFOA coating. It worked great at the start, but quickly declined. Our use of a nylon scrubby when stuff started to stick appears to have hastened its demise. Still, for a viable option these things need to be more robust. An average stainless steel skillet works better at this point. Sad.

Buy GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 9½" - Non-stick Now

We've been using this pan for a couple of months.I must say that this pan has not performed up to the same standards as some of the other reviewers, and yet not as poorly as the rest.

We own all kinds of pans, le crueset, all clad, teflon (now discarded), cast iron, traditional carbon steel woks.We love them all.The greenPan I must say I'm on the fence about.We purchased this to make eggs, nothing cooks eggs like teflon, it just glides off.We decided to replace our teflon pan when the handle broke and looked for something environmentally friendly.

We do some light sauteing in this pan, and veggies and bits of meat are fine in this.but when we cook eggs....it needs more oil and it definitely sticks.Not horribly, but it does stick, bits of egg are left behind when i remove the egg when using a half teaspoon of oil and spreading it out with a brush. Infact, I think my le crueset pans perform on par if not better, but they are too heavy to flip omelettes.I'm confused by a reviewer who said that their eggs just slide off even without any oil.That's definitely not the case here.

However, it does clean up easily.While i can fry the same egg in an All Clad with sufficient oil, but where this pan excels is the clean up.Despite fried rice bits and egg stuck on the surface, with hot water and some soap it cleans up beautifully. For that I'll give it 3 stars despite it not being fully non-stick.

Read Best Reviews of GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 9½" - Non-stick Here

We purchased this pan in two sizes and were excited to find pans that would be safer than our old non-stick pans.After carefully following the seasoning instructions, we the pans several times to make pancakes, etc. and were utterly disappointed--everything sticks to it unless you use a ton of oil--and where is the health benefit in that?If we want to cook with less oil, we use our stainless steel fry pan!Also, once something is stuck on these Green Pans, they become impossible to clean.This product is terrible.Do not waste your money like we did.

Want GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 9½" - Non-stick Discount?

I have a 13 piece set and love it, the finish holds up well and with a tiny amount of PAM it is completely non stick, clean up is a breeze, I get compliments on my beautiful cookware all the time. I have a set of Allclad cookware that I hardly ever use since I got the Greenpans,I am very satisfied with them and would recommend them to anyone.

Thank you David G Morgan.

Read More >>

GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 8" - Non-stick

I purchased a set of this cookware at Target approximately 9 months ago. I have used the skillet to make omlettes 6-10 times a month. I use a smidge of butter for flavor in the beginning. The pans were non-stick and there were no issues. However, after about three months, the non-stickiness began to wear out and I've got burn marks on the pan that will not come off, despite soaking and hot water and scrubbing with a scratch-resistant sponge. I appreciate the safety factor of the Green Pan over 'traditional' non-stick pans, but I believe I will be looking at another alternative solution so that I do not have to replace the pan every 6 months.

Update:

The pans got to the point by January that they were completely unusable. I could use 3 pats of butter to cook 2 eggs, and I would need 3 more pats to flip the eggs and they would STILL stick.

Target, of course, no longer carries the pans because they suck. I was referred to the manufacturer who first offered to send me replacements (I was quite clear in my email indicating that I had purchased them from Target). I declined as I have since purchased Cuisinart Green Gourmet Cookware set and LOVE THEM. The employee told me they would send me a return label and issue me a refund (in writing). I asked what would be the timeline for receiving refund, when she said it would be forwarded to HSN. I advised her I did not purchase it from HSN as my email stated. She said they couldn't refund it then.I advised her that her oversight was not my problem. I was then treated extremely rude.

If you do research online, you'll see that there are mentions of defective batches and that the Better Homes and Gardens seal is being revoked. They have Facebook pages about how much the Greenpans suck. And I have created a blog dedicated to how much Greenpans suck showing photos of what 'lifetime non-stick' is like as well as the emails I received.

I have been cooking for over 30 years and this is the worst pan I've ever owned. The nonstick properties disappear after several uses making this pan more difficult to clean than any pan I've ever used. Very unhappy

Buy GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 8" - Non-stick Now

After a few weeks of use you'll be frantically scraping things off the bottom of this pan, even while it is still on the eye. As far as I'm concerned it is the worst piece of cookware we own. My mother also has a set and has the same issue. Buyer beware.

Read Best Reviews of GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 8" - Non-stick Here

I've been using these pans for about 6 months and LOVE them. What an upgrade from my old pans. My husband did a ton of research before settling on these. We tried at least 10 different brands at the homes of just about every friend we have. It paid off. We made a great choice.We heard that previous generations weren't perfected yet, but we couldn't be happier with these : )

Want GreenPan Stockholm Skillet - 8" - Non-stick Discount?

i wish some of these reviews were available a year ago. agreed, these pans lose their nonstick after only a few weeks. i also got my pan from target. i called greenpan and they replaced it without problem, but it's certainly not the miracle nonstick it's claimed to be. i also had a martha stewart pan from macys that experienced the same problem worked great at first, then became useless.

Save 33% Off

Read More >>

Update International AFQ-14 Quantum2 Coated Aluminum Fry Pan, Non-Stick, 14-Inch

Very good so far. Excellent nonstick coating. The handle could have been better(Uncomfortable to hold & gets a littlehot. I don't know about the durability yet but so far it seems to be holding up. With all non stick coatings you have to baby & treat them gentle when cooking & washing. Otherwise they will break down. Medium heatto cook with & mild or very little soap to washwith (ALL NON STICK COOKWARE). We'll see in time how good it is.So far so good.

Save 25% Off

Read More >>

Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/Griddle

I absolutely adore this griddle, and I use it almost every day.

At first, I wasn't sure that I wanted a cast iron griddle.They are HEAVY and not dishwasher safe . . . so I tried a few nonstick brands first --top dollar brands with high ratings.

I hated them.The nonstick surface was inferior.On a reversible griddle, the underside became sticky and difficult to clean.The heat was distributed unevenly.One claimed to be dishwasher safe, yet when I put it in the dishwasher, some of the nonstick surface came off.

I am extremely health conscious, and I use very little oil when I cook.Food often stuck to the "non-stick" surface -go figure.

I wanted to find a great griddle that I could use for many things, including cooking like the chefs in Japanese Steak Houses -I dreamed of using a small dash of my favorite oil and flinging shrimp, chicken and veggies on the griddle like a pro.No, I didn't think I could toss my tools in the air or catch the shrimp in my pocket . . . I just wanted the flavor and the ease of cooking.

By this time, I was on a quest, and the non-stick stuff just wasn't cutting it.I did a little research, and I learned that pros recommend the Lodge griddle, so despite my apprehension, I thought I'd give it a try.

Wow!The pre-seasoned surface is perfect and better than any non-stick surface I have ever used.Just a tiny bit of non-stick spray is all I need, and everything from pancakes to eggs flip with ease.Grilling Japanese style works perfectly.

On the grill side: whole steaks, chicken, fish -fabulous, fast, and everything has those beautiful grill lines.Nice for grilled vegetables, too.

The griddle is indeed heavy, but it's okay.I wouldn't recommend lifting it if you have serious muscle or joint problems, and I wouldn't want to drop it on my foot, but otherwise, go for it.I'm a softie, and if I can handle it, so can you.

As for not being able to put the griddle in the dishwasher:I don't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't care about having to handwash it.The griddle cleans so easily, a few swipes and I'm done.If I forget to clean it and wake up to it the next morning (okay, so I'm not Suzy Homemaker), I just lay it straight across the top of my sink -not IN the sink, but rather, balanced from edge to edge, on top . . . and I run a little water over it, let it set for a few minutes, and it'seasy to clean.

A word of advice:Just as it says in the instructions, you need to clean the griddle without soap (water only) to preserve the pre-seasoned finish.However, should you want to use soap, you can.There are instructions included in how to re-season the griddle -it's easy.

I frankly didn't like the idea of not cleaning with soap.I didn't feel as though the germs were destroyed . . . but soap doesn't really kill germs, it merely works as a surfactant that makes water wetter so things become easier to clean.

If you want to kill germs, heat is one of the best ways to do it.Every time you use the griddle, you preheat it on the range for about five minutes or so -you're killing far more germs than if you had used soap!

You can also rub your griddle with a very light coating of oil, stick it in a hot oven and disinfect it that way (this is also similar to how you reseason it).

This is one of the easiest, most wonderful kitchen tools I own.It is a breeze to use, I feel like a pro flipping all that food around.Everything comes out great, and it is very easy to use, and food does not stick.

I have since added six more pieces of cast iron to my collection, one triangle cornbread/scone, a round muffin/biscuit, and four cast iron skillets.Two of the skillets are antique -talk about well-seasoned!I do not use the bread/muffin bakers as much as I thought I would, but I use the skillets almost every day.I love them.

PS:I remember reading somewhere that using cast iron also adds iron to your diet -not sure how true or how much, but if it does, it is a nice extra, yes?

Goodness I see two chief complaints posted here: First, some people say it's heavy. Well, yes, it is. It's over 200 square inches of iron, folks.The weight is clearly advertised, so I'm having a hard time understanding this complaint. The second complaint some have is uneven heating. Lodge could fix that all they have to do is make it thicker and much heavier, and even more people would be unhappy about the weight.

Since the number of comments about the weight and the uneven heating seem about equal, I'd say Lodge did a great job of hitting a happy middle ground. Personally, I count on a little uneven heating, I'll sear breakfast chops on one end over a high burner and flip eggs on the other over a lower burner I've even been known to run mine on just one burner, cooking on one end and warming on the other. When I was a grill cook, that's how I ran my grill, hotter at one end. You also have to allow for some "settle time" for cast iron compared to aluminum, it's a fairly slow heat conductor, which gives cast iron it's wonderful thermal stability. But it takes time for the heat to distribute, so give it a few minutes.

I can't comment on the factory coating I strip and season the cooking surfaces on all my iron, new or used. I made one modification to mine, which Andrew pointed out I took a dremel and ground a shallow notch in the outer lip of one end of the grease gutter to help pouring the grease out if you do this, be sure to smooth the edges of the notch to avoid heat stress cracks they love to start at sharp corners and don't make it too deep just a small notch makes a big difference when dumping grease.

While I'm at it I'm a heretic a blasphemer an apostate. My confession? I sometimes clean mine with soap to be more precise, detergent, which most modern dish soaps actually are. I think the "no soap" thing is a bit of mythology that's come down to us from Great-Grandma, whose dish soap was basically lye and some type of animal fat (my grandma used bacon grease for her soap). So yeah, maybe lye soap was a bad idea, but it had a very different chemistry from today's dish detergents, and as far as I can tell, modern detergent won't touch the baked-on grundge on the bottom of my aluminum and enamel cookware, and they don't touch my properly seasoned iron either. I do always make sure to rinse very thoroughly, and re-oil after cleaning, however, as that thin film of oil is life to cast iron.

I love this grill on the cooktop, but if you want to see this beauty at it's best, and you have at least a 20" charcoal grill, set it on your charcoal grate and have some fun. I don't think mine ever cooled off during the week or so after hurricane Charley, while we had no electricity. I had stocked up on hardwood charcoal before the storm, and as my neighbor's fridges warmed, and their freezers thawed, they kept bringing me food to cook before it spoiled and of course, they shared with the cook. The neighbors saved some of their food, the Lodge grill got quite a workout, and my family ate very well!

It's a well-made product. It's American. And it's a great value. What's not to love? Just don't drop it on your foot did I mention it's heavy?

Buy Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Now

With all the reviews raving about this griddle, I was quite excited about my purchase.I had planned on using this on my gas range over two burners for cooking pancakes and such. The dimensions of my burners seemed to be a great match for the size of the griddle, but it turned out to be unusable. I returned it.

On many gas ranges this griddle will not lay flat, but will be tippy and unstable. The reason for this is the handle cutouts on the griddle. It is a little hard to explain so I have uploaded a video to illustrate.

If it weren't for the cutout handles, this griddle would be perfect and would work on a much larger set of stove top ranges. However, the current design limits its use for many potential users.

Other than that, the quality appears good. I have several other Lodge products and have been happy with them.

Update: I didn't measure the dimensions between the inside edges of the handles before I returned it. This would be helpful those considering this griddle. If anyone has this griddle, if they could post this measurement in the comments, that would be great.

If you found this review helpful, let me know with your vote below.

Read Best Reviews of Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Here

I just received my griddle last week and I've been using it daily with excelent results every time. Mine arrived with a few minor scratches on the preseasoning but all of them seem to be disappearing quite soon (I spray a little pam all over the griddle before using it). I cooked some hamburgers on the grill side which turned out delicious and they got those great grill marks on them also. I've had no sticking problems at all with this thing so far. Cleanup is easy providing you have a stiff brush, a large sink and the strong arms required to carry it from the stove to the sink every time you wash it (this thing weighs 15 pounds). I highly recommend this griddle to anyone, it's very well constructed and looks like it will last a lifetime with proper care.

Want Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Discount?

I've owned this grill for over a year now, and I want to let you know how it has worked out so far.

It fits over two burners, so it's great for cooking several items at once.It heats evenly but tends to overheat a little with the burner at the highest setting.(DUH!).Even then, I have not experience damage to my stove-top.

I love the way it "releases" everything it cooks.I have cooked the best Japanese style grilled beef/potatoes, South American arepas and cachapas, and everything in between.You name it, it can do it!.Even after I grill fish, or anything which makes a mess, all you do is pour some water on it while it's hot, and wipe it down with a terry cloth.No soap is needed.Then I cover the surface with a light oil rub and it's ready for storing. In fact, mine sits on the stove top for the most part, and it blends nicely with my kitchen.I recommend that for older folks having difficulty lifting it.You practically never have to move it, if you don't want to.

I live in a condominium and chose not to buy a patio grill.I don't need it with this grill.

I bought another for my sister!!

Save 33% Off

Read More >>

Norpro 7 Inch Stainless Steel Mini Skillet Fry Pan

For me the most appealing feature is the welded on handle so there are no rivets or screw heads in the pan to collect cooked on food or to clean.What the picture doesn't show well is that the handle is a split "wire" type rather than solid or tubular, there is a thick heat diffusing disc on the bottom, and the sides of the pan are mirror finish, but the bottom and cooking surface are brushed finish.It seems to heat quickly and much more evenly than the teflon pan that I used before to grill sandwiches and fry eggs.

This skillet discolors quickly.It works just fine, but it's appearance is stained looking after cleaning.None of my other skillets look like this.It is inexpensive, but I don't think I would recommend it.

Buy Norpro 7 Inch Stainless Steel Mini Skillet Fry Pan Now

Needed a small frying pan for cooking and this one fit the bill perfectly. Nice weight, easy clean-up. I use this one a lot.Information listed was adequate.

Read Best Reviews of Norpro 7 Inch Stainless Steel Mini Skillet Fry Pan Here

While the description states it is stainless steel, it does not say that it is not induction capable.I found this out when I tried to heat some sauce on my induction cooktop.All I got was an error message.

Want Norpro 7 Inch Stainless Steel Mini Skillet Fry Pan Discount?

I would not have purchased this pan if I had known that it was recommended to be hand washed only.

Save 11% Off

Read More >>

Skillet Seattle - How to Eat at Food Trucks

Food trucks, carts, and other mobile food vendors are HOT right now. Every city is starting to see these business pop up all over town. For consumers, especially those who love food, this is a great thing. Maybe you are just tired of the limited choices near your office. Or maybe you don’t have time for a sit down meal. Or maybe you do not feel like cooking, but do not want to blow your budget eating out. These food vendor typically offer much better quality food than you can get at fast food factories, but you have to be comfortable eating outside standing up or with food in your lap.

I have been eating at these places for years, so I could not be happier about the proliferation of options. From various trucks, stands, and carts, I have eaten hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, pizza, tacos, burritos, corn, lumpia, Thai food, Indian food, Korean food, popsicles, ice cream, and cupcakes. Even more interesting have been some of the fusions of different cuisines and styles like Korean tacos and Hawaiian Thai. The trucks make more diverse options more available to more people.

The great thing about these businesses is also the biggest problem sometimes. They tend to move around. Some have set schedules each week, and others post their schedules via websites or Twitter. Some corporations, like Starbucks, have various food trucks that park outside their offices each day. If you are in a city neighborhood with a very active nightlife, trucks and carts are likely parked on the streets nearby.

So if you are new to this, how do you order? Assuming you have not heard anything about the place in advance, ask the vendors themselves what their specialty is. The best mobile vendors have small focused menus, just doing what they do best. Yet sometimes one or two things still stand out. If people are nearby eating, you can always ask them for their opinions or suggestions. Food trucks often have many loyal regulars.

Food Truck Gatherings

f you are a fan of food trucks, you no doubt get excited about the many mobile food gatherings cropping up around the country. In Seattle, we have the Mobile Chowdown in October and the Mobile Food Rodeo in September, not to mention the Bite of Seattle in the summer. From Nashville’s Battle of the Food Trucks to Detroit’s Eastern Market Truck Stop, almost any city now has events like this. If you are new to the world of food trucks, these events are the perfect opportunity to dip your toe in the water and see what you might like in this brave new world of eating. The trucks and trailers often offer smaller sample sized tailored to these events, so that you can try more than one.

I would suggest not eating for a while before such an event. Eat lightly the meal before. You want to be able to take full advantage of the incredible bounty of goodness that awaits you.

Divide and Conquer

The best way to attend a food truck rally is with a small group. If you are by yourself, you cannot realistically try many places. If you are in a large group, people are less likely to share. With a small group, you can try many different items and just share. You get a bite or two of lots of different things. It is a fun and adventurous way to eat. Call is street tapas. While it is true that sometimes a dish is so delicious that you wish you did not have to share, other times you are happy to have only one bite. Sampling a bunch of places lets you know in the future which trucks you want to stalk and which you will skip.

There is another reason for sharing in small groups. There are always lines at food truck events. With a small group, one or two of you can stand in one line while others stand in other lines. When someone gets some food, they can join the people in the slower line and munch while they wait. Believe me, it makes waiting much more pleasurable when you are nibbling on some truffle fries or chicken satay.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that the best places must be the places with the longest lines. However, sometimes the line just means that the food is more labor intensive and takes longer to produce. Other times the workers in there are just not efficient enough to handle the hordes of diners at a festival. I would advise trying a mix of places.

Pace Yourself

Do not stress when you get there, spending too much time choosing which vendor to try first. Just pick a good looking one with a line and start waiting. You will have plenty of time to try most anything you want before you leave. Send your companions to find something with a shorter line to try, and bring it back for the wait. It is always good to talk to people around you in line. They can sometimes tell you the best things to order or give you tips about other trucks. For instance, I heard that this mini-donut trailer had a one hour wait, so I could make an informed decision about if and when I wanted to stand in line for that hour.

After you get through one line, you can jump to the next line while still eating. After that, you can visit the places with no waiting to take a break between the lines. By then, you should not be as incredibly hungry as you started out. So maybe take a break and listen to the live music. Have a beer. Then you can be more strategic about choosing your final purchases. Walk around and see what looks good. Ask other people about their favorites. By this time, your stomach will not mind waiting in line for a little while. And you want to end with something spectacular and/or something sweet. If you leave a food truck gathering and you are not a little uncomfortable, then I do not think you have been successful.

Fad or the Future?

It would be absurd to deny that food trucks are trendy. They have exploded across the country. Yet, I think they could be here for years to come. They provide a great service to us food lovers. They also provide an opportunity for people to get into the food business without the enormous and risky outlay of cash required to open a restaurant. Many of the more successful trucks lead their owners into full service restaurants. Skillet Diner and Marination Station are two examples here in Seattle. Both restaurants still maintain their trucks and trailers. Maybe that is a sign that they are here to stay. I sure hope so.

Now go forth and be adventurous!

Read More >>