Cuisinart 77-10 Chef's Classic Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Set

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am Italian and raised 5 children on daily home-cooked meals.The kitchen is the center of my home.So when my daughter got her own apartment out west and asked for a set of pots for Christmas, I wanted to make sure I got her a quality set that would last her for years and years.I knew what I wanted for her, but didn't know which brand to purchase.Non-stick was out (I have never liked it).The pots also had to be both dishwasher/oven safe, and I wanted the pot handles to be riveted into the pot.Off I went to the mall with my "specifications" in hand to look at the different brands and sets available.Boy was I amazed at how many there were!I took my time and examined each set.Not only did I look at the sets, but I also handled the sets.This is VERY important.Many of the quality sets were so heavy that I needed two hands to lift the larger pieces, and although I could lift the smaller saucepans, I had difficulty tilting them to the side to pour. Others had handles that were very uncomfortable to use.Then I came upon the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 10-piece cookware set.I was very impressed by the quality.They were heavy grade yet easy to handle.They also met my other specifications listed above AND they looked really nice as well.The price of $149 was quite unbelievable.I drove home and ran straight to my computer and ordered the set through Amazon.I got free shipping and hadthe set delivered directly to my daughter.I also used the holiday bonus coupon for $25 off my order. I was so impressed with the set and the deal Amazon was offering, a few days later I purchased a second set through Amazon for myself.I LOVE them.They cook beautifully on my gas range and clean up well in the dishwasher.The handles DO NOT get hot while cooking, which totally surprised me.Do be careful with the lid handles though.They will get hot if cooking on higher heat.I haven't had a problem with delicate foods burning due to the high thermoconductivity of the pans; however, my stove is a professional grade 6-burner unit.I don't know if that makes any difference or not.All I can say is this set looks great, cooks great, handles great, and sells at a great price.What more can you ask for?

After comparing major cookware lines, All Clad, Emeril, Wolfgang Puck, Jamie Oliver online, as well as in major stores, Williams Sonoma, Macy's, Linen n Things, etc.,I purchased Cuisinart's Chefs Classic set.Quality, features, and value could not be matched!The price (with free shipping), also included a kitchen tools set, a nice bonus.

Thanksgiving was my big "road test".The quality is outstanding!The mirror finish stainless kettles have a nice weight, well-fitting lids, classy sturdy riveted handles, flat bottoms that fit nicely on the burners, and stay-cool handles.They heat evenly.I do not like nonstick cookware, and by adding a little water to the pan after cooking, cleanup was a breeze.I put them all in the dishwasher and they come out sparkling.

I bought a chrome potrack and display them proudly.They indeed look and perform like very high-priced cookware.This was indeed a great purchase!

Any minor spotting or discloration from use, disappears like magic with the use of a small amount of Barkeeper's Friend powder.

I am so pleased with my set that I have already added to it; I purchased a 2qt. and 3qt. saucepan, and the 5 1/2 qt. saute pan.The saute pan is a work of art; especially good for those big pieces of meat on Holidays, and at $39.99, an unbelievable value.I plan on purchasing several as gifts.

It is also ovenproof to 550 degrees; something not found in the plastic-lid products.

You will not be disappointed.

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The day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday" is the official kick off of the Holiday shopping season. I have never participated in this event, however those 20% coupons to shop between 6AM and 11AM enticed me. I needed a new cookware set, since my old pots and pans dated back to before I was born.

I am known as the "Research King" & "The Negotiator", so yes I did my homework. I was going to purchase a non stick set for $300.00, however you have to "feel" the set before buying. Is the weight even, do the covers fit right you know what I mean. NOTE: I cook every night and have for years. I am not a Chef, but can cook a great meal.

Right next to Anolon at Macy's Dept. store, was the Cuisinart 10 Piece Classic Stainless cookware. It looked good, the weight was even, the lids fit great, but why so inexpensive? I researched Cuisinart and knew it was a good brand, so after playing around with the pots and pans for 20 minutes I bought the set! So this is what I got:

8" & 10" Skillet

1.5 QT & 3 QT Saucepan with covers

3.5 QT Saute with helper handle and cover

8 QT Stockpot with cover

FREE Gift with purchase: 2 QT Saucier

Extra Purchase: 5 1/2 QT All purpose pan with cover.

So, all in all, I got a 13 piece set for the grand total of: $130.75

Yes, I took advantage of a 20% coupon and then an additional 10% coupon. All 13 pieces are part of Cusinarts's Cheft's Classic line.

My Experience: (Rate by school grade A through F)

* Appearance: All the pieces looked great. The set looks as if it should be worth $500.00 (Grade A )

* Weight: The weight of each piece is solid and even. An important point because I flip my food and move the pans a lot while cooking. Note: These pieces do not feel cheap. Very good solid feel. (A-)

* Covers: The lids are a little light in weight, however they create a vacum seal when the heat is turned down. They do a better job then I expected. Normally with lighter lids you think they would wiggle and pop off, but these hold tight! (B )

* Handles: Solid Stainless steel, riveted handle. Solid feel and yes they stay cool. Also long enough to get a good grip. (A)

* Heat Distribution Cuisinart recommends cooking on lower heat. Yes, this is true. The aluminum bottoms heat quickly and there are no hot spots. Trust me, use low heat. (A )

* Sticking Well, these are not non stick. I used most of these pots and pans already to reheat our Thanksgiving dinner. Some things really stuck to the pots even when using PAM. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, stuck like glue. Next morning: Bacon stuck, but eggs did not. Go figure.... (B-)

* Clean Up: Water and soap in pan right after cooking. Yes this works well, but I have always done this. (B)

* Dishwasher: Yes, they are dishwasher safe, however after one cycle, the inside bottoms of a couple of pans had a purple tint to it. So, I have decided just to hand wash these for now. (Until I get lazy). (C-)

Final grade: B

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Guess again!

The 5-piece starter set includes the 8 qt. covered stockpot, 3 qt. covered pot and 10" open skillet. This set sells (curently on the Amazon site on 10/01/2005)for $59.99. Add the following open stock items currently on the Amazon site:

-1 1/2 qt. covered sauce pan; $13.99

-3 1/2 qt. saute' pan with helper handle and lid; $20.99.

-8" open skillet; $13.99

-TOTAL $108.96 !!!! (If I added correctly)

There are some other good Cuisinart open stock values out there as well.

Not rocket science; just another example of Amazon's sometimes quirky pricing.

(9/24 update):There have been many price changes (mostly trending lower and revised in my example above) for this fine Cuisinart Chef's Classic line.Be a smart shopper and check the openstock (and starter set) item prices first before purchasing a larger multi-item set.

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Ups:

-They are decent pans, looks great when you first take them out.

-They are sturdy and I use metal utensils to cook, I like that.

-The attached aluminum plate in the bottom helps spread and retain heat, if your stove isn't that powerful.

Downs:

-I like to sear and stir fry a lot with hot pans, so they will discolor a little with heat.Overheated oil will cause black oil spots on the pan that are hard to remove.

-You need the pan to be hot so that it doesn't stick, and you will need to use a little more oil than typical.If you don't do either of these, your non-greasy food WILL stick to the pan.

-The aluminum plate takes some time to heat up.

-The aluminum plate reduces the responsiveness of "lowering the flames" on your stove.Less control.

What this set needs:

Large Pan

Non-stick omlette pan

Wok

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Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron 10-Inch Round Fry Pan

I have found this pan have great quality and durability. I'm very happy with my purchase. This pan is a superior and safe alternative to the questionable toxicity of Teflon coated pans and it is more durable. I also like it better than bare cast iron. Some reviewers of the Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron Pans suggest treating the pans a certain way with oil to make them more non-stick. Even untreated I don't have much of a problem with sticking. I just coat with oil or butter when I use it. ANY type of pan can be abused or damaged from overheating. This pan is also fairly easy to clean. I hand wash with dish soap and water after soaking. I don't recommend abrasive pads. Occasional subborn burnt on stains can be safely removed with Comet powder.According to the enclosed instructions it is dishwasher safe.

Update:

I noticed that regular cooking of tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce which is acidic is the best way to remove and prevent staining and build up on the inside of the pan.

Recently, I ordered one Cuisinart pan, and one Le Creuset pan....to me, they are equal..(they may come from the same source(?). The weight and finish seem identical. The food sticks to these, identically. Cleanup is equally time consuming...but...it's not Teflon....and the Cuisinart cost a third (+/-), of the price of the Le Creuset. I returned the Le Creuset...just could not justify the extra cost, for a seemingly identical pan.

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Guess I really didn't read the fine print was hoping that the enamel was only on the outside and wanted a true cast iron finish on the inside.Either way, cooks fine, looks good, and because of the enamel is dishwasher safe (something that can't be said for cast iron).

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This is the third enameled iron pan I've purchased, and the combination of functionality, weight and price are very hard to beat.The two other enameled pans I compare in this review are Le Creuset and Lodge.

I really like cooking on enamel iron pans because of durability, ease of cleaning, and not having to worry about the chemicals in non-stick pans. But to prevent sticking, one should use lower flames than one might be used to with other kinds of pans. Iron retains heat and gets hotter than other types of pans, which causes burning and sticking. And one must coat with oil after heating and before putting the food in the pan.

Shape The Cuisinart bottom is perfectly flat, whereas the center of the Lodge pan is slightly raised (imagine a dome that has been almost completely flattened, but is not perfectly flat).Consequently, the Cuisinart is better than the Lodge for cooking omelettes because eggs gravitate to the perimeter of the Lodge and might not cook evenly.

Shape The Cuisinart bottom intersects the wall of the pan at an angle. The same is true for the Lodge.In contrast, the Le Creuset bottom rises gradually upwards to form the wall, so food won't get caught at the edge of the Le Creuset.Depending on your cooking technique, you might prefer one shape over the other.

Weight-wise, the Cuisinart and Le Creuset are manageable, and the Lodge is very heavy (it is a workout to wash and dry).

Durability the enamel is chipping on the handle of the Lodge, but not on the cooking surfaces, where it matters most. So it's unsightly, but it does not affect functionality.There is no chipping with the other pans.

Price the Cuisinart and the Lodge were each about a third the price of the Le Creuset.

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its a great skillet qnd the size is just right.i have cooked stove top and have baked, works great.this cookware is so easy to cook with .if in doubt buy it, worth the money.so much higher at local stores.

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Calphalon 3-pc. Unison Nonstick Sear and Slide Essentials Set with Lid

These pans are not light weight, thin sided aluminum. They are as thick, but not quite as heavy as my cast iron. So far I've not had to heat these above medium heat, and I still got a nice crusty sear on scallops and salmon on the sear surface pan. The slide pan works just as well on medium as any other I've used on high. These pans are a little on the pricey side for me, and the price seems to be locked in, same here as BB&B, the outlets etc. They don't appear to be prone to warping. I'll try to remember to edit this review in a few months to comment on the nonstick surface longevity.

UPDATE:

Well it is three months later. The pans still look fine, not scratched, scorched or warped. No metal utensils were used in them, never heated over medium. Only difference is, they're not non-stick anymore. I still use them, they are fine pans, just not non-stick anymore. I'll contact customer service at Calphalon to see if I can get them replaced as they are not abused. I will post my experience here as it may be instructive.

Great replacements for two of my favorite Calphalon Professional Nonstick pans losing their nonstick coating, after 10 or so years of use.Will send them back to Calphalon for replacements, but I have no idea what they will send back, if anything, under lifetime warranty.Meanwhile, these are great.Not so heavy, longer handles and helper handle on saute, which is useful.Liking the tempered glass lid, too fits both pans.$99 for two premium pans, plus the lid, is a pretty good deal.

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I have not really discovered the "sear" quality of the one pan yet. But 2 nice, heavy, 10" pans with a quality lid that fits both is a deal. I can see them lasting a good while.

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These Calphalon pans work great! Nothing sticks to the pan and omelettes just slide right out. Heavy duty and built to last. Dishwasher safe too.

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Great cookware. I have used it for several weeks. Perfect size for me. The nonstick works perfectly, I use nylon utensils and there is not a mark or scratch on the nonstick coating. Super easy cleanup.

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Healthy Nonstick Ceramic Coated Frying Pan - 10" Eco Friendly Durable Fry Pan

For the $20 price tag this is a nice enough pan.I don't see it last very long though.It is very non-stick now but I already see a ring of discoloration forming and some is starting to stick a bit around this ring.I've only been using this pan for about a month.It also wobbles on my flat stovetop.

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Circulon Elite Nonstick 12" Open French Skillet

I have to return this now because the phrase "18/10 stainless" only refers to the handle, not the whole pan.I have a full set of Circulon pans that work with our induction cooktop this one looks just like them.But this one apparently is aluminum (never mentioned in the product description) and it does not have the steel bottom needed for induction cooktops.For any other cooking method, this would be great.Circulon pans are great -far easier to care for than All-Clad.

Start with this is a great product--cooks evenly and is truly nonstick and washable.I purchased this item to go along with set of 10.I also purchased the 12" frying pan with a top.Honestly, you do not need both since they are virtually the same pans.The slight slope of the side classifies the pan as a skillet and if the side is striaight, it is classified as a frying pan.If I had to do it over again, I would just buy the frying pan since it has a top whereas the skillet does not.

I purchased elite as opposed to infiniti even tho elite cannot go into the dishwasher and cannot be in the oven at a tempt above 400 to get the silicone handles (Note, you can put the tops in the dishwasher).

In addition to really wanting elite, one can make exceedingly good purchases--Circulon may be considering dropping the line for more jazzi colors like platnum etc.Amazon's price moves up and down so be sure to check the web like potsandpans.com

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I have not had this item that long but as a initial thought, it is very well made!!I am a professional chef and i love it!The bottom has nice weight for even heating, the handle is sturdy..I am really excited about my buy and i have cooked lots of great things thus far, no sticking or burning.Plus my 12" glass top fits perfect!

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I have been looking for the perfect skillet and I finally found it.There are no hot or cold spots, everything browned evenly.The clean-up was extremely easily--just rinse in hot soapy water, dry and its clean.

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Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick Skillets

I ordered this twin pack of Circulon skillets and am extremely satisfied with them.They are heavy duty and so non-stick you can wipe them out with a paper towel!The feel is nice and not so overly

heavy that those of us with arthritis in our hands cannot manage them.

I have really enjoyed them and would definitely recommend them to

others.As always, they were shipped very quickly, and I know I could

depend on Amazon to make it right if they had not been so.You can buy with confidence if you are in the market for good-quality smaller

skillets!

I'm a very visual person and 1st impressions do last for me. A bit of pre-history: I looked for 2 10" quality pans for quite some time and found Circulon® Elite 8" & 10" Open Deep Skillet Set Reg. $80.00 Sale $39.99 on macys.com Thanks to my insightful husband who asked me to look the set up on amazon, I found out from the amazon reviews that the pans' weight was not centered and shifted toward the handle, which made them very unstable. Macys.com had glowing reviews for the set and noone mentioned such a major drawback. I really wanted to buy circulon pans, because according to reviews the quality was exceptional and they were on sale. I finally came across this set (Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch and 10-Inch Skillets Twin Pack) and made up my mind to get 2 sets since I needed 2 10" pans and didn't mind to get extra 2 8" ones. The deal was really sweet: 4 pans for $60, no tax, prime free shipping and in 2 days I'm opening the box. The design is very sleek, the pans look sturdy and well-made, they are not light, but aren't heavy either quality stuff. I do not believe the pictures do them justice. I have not tested the pans in action yet, so there will be an update, but they look solid and stand flat on my crooked electric stove. When I placed the order, I felt like I was gambling, because you can't really see the quality from the images provided. Because of that, I decided to give circulon some free advertising for the sweet deal and attached several photos to make the decision easier for you.

------------------------------------------------------------

4.5 months later.....

These pans are very different from the ones I used in the past.

(1) The major thing that needed some getting accustomed to was the fact that you'd hardly hear any "cooking" sounds unless your stove is on fire. I mean, on temps under med-high (electric stove)...almost nothing. Then you flip your food over and it's burnt.

(2) I learned fast that these pans heat up way more than regular ones, so if I used to cook something on 4, I'll go down to 2.5-3 for the same results here.

(3) It's not unquestionably non-stick. I fried an egg without adding any oil and it didn't really slide around. I cook eggs over easy and the egg york tore while being flipped over. No bueno! BUT a single drop of oil makes it truly non-stick. Besides, food does taste better this way!

(4) Absolutely true that cleaning is a breeze. I kind of even like doing it :-)

(5) A few times accidentally touched the metal part of the handle, where it attaches to the pan. It was H.O.T.!! My older pans have non-metallic handles all the way, so I don't know what's up with this design glitch.

Overall, after a week or so of adjusting my cooking techniques to this new purchase, I'm truly happy. The food cooks faster and crisper due to grill-like wavy surface of the pan. I would buy the pans again and highly recommend them, especially when they are on sale you won't find such great price/quality ratio. Subtracting one star, though, because there's room for improvement.

P.S. I'm glad you found my pictures helpful in making a decision. Enjoy new recipes and easy clean-up!

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I want to warn the customers who are looking for non-teflon cookware that the non-stick feature of this Circulon Hard Anodized Skillet is actually from a coating using DuPont's technique, which is the same as Teflon pans, and not from the anodized aluminum.

I was trying to get rid of all the teflon cookware in my kitchen and looking for replacements. I read some online articles saying hard anodized alluminum cookware is safe and strong to withstand scratches and therefore long-lasting. That led me to this product. On the Amazon webpage, there was NO any description of COATING on the skillet, so I thought the anodized construction could yield non-stick feature for the pan. Plus almost all the reviews are very positive so I purchased this twin pack. However, after I received the product, I read through the product description on the package very carefully. It clearly says that the surface of the skillets were treated using DuPont autogragh technique. Because I know the teflon coating was first developed by DuPont, I immediately realized that there is a teflon coating on the pan that makes it non-stick. I also called and asked the company about this and got confirmed.Of course I was very upset with this and decided to return this item right away. The good thing was I could print return label online and drop off in UPS store without any charge of shipping fee for return. I am still waiting for the product to arrive to Amazon and getting my refund back. Hope this review will help someones like me who don't want teflon coating cookware.

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I have used these pans for a few weeks now I have to fight for them from my husband who thinks they belong just to him. Nothing sticks to these pansthe pans are great. Just a little problem of balance on sm pan does not lay too flat on cook stove but this could be my stove creating this; no big deal for this price this good cook wear. Thanks Amazon

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We have only had these pans for about a month, but they work great.Pan heats evenly and quickly and the handle are very comfortable.These pans have a nice feel when using them.Highly recommend.

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Farberware Affiniti 12-Piece Cookware Set, Red

No, these aren't anodized aluminum and no you can't put these in your oven. But, for a "cheap" set of pans, they're great. I bought these on super sale. The bottom of the pan is flat(not always the case with "cheap" pans I've had) and they cook evenly throughout the pan. You can tell they cook evenly because when you boil water, you get several bubbles spread evenly throughout the bottom. I've had this set for several months now and the non-stick coating is still going strong. One issue I have is that at least one of the pan covers is warped. Also note that you cannot put these in the dishwasher. I especially like the smaller deep pans makes cooking sauce easier because it minimizes splatter issues. The large frying pan also nicely accomodates making crepes. Overall, I'm very pleased with the value of this purchase.

They look and cook great. But be careful not to touch the metal next to the red silicone on the lids ouch, hot.

If you stack them the Teflon inside will chip around the edge.

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I would highly recommend this set if you're looking for a set in this price range. We received this cookware set for a wedding gift, and I instantly fell in love with the cherry red colour.It's not a bright fire engine red, but a rich cherry.Just lovely!

As far as the construction goes, I think they're fairly well made. They seem to cook evenly, however the weight of the skillets could be heavier.Until I put food in them, the weight of the handle causes them to tip.I have to hold the handle until I get the food into the pan.That is my only major complaint, but I guess this is common for cookware in this price category.And I'm used to it now.My main concern was how well these pots and pans cook, and they do a fantastic job.I also love the rubber on the handles.The non-stick works wonderfully, and cleans up easily.Please note that I don't have a dishwasher, so I wash them by hand.So I can't attest to how well they wash up in the dish washer.

So far I've used these for a total of 7 months, and they're still going strong.I wish this set came with a saute pan, and I can't seem to find the saute pan for this set anywhere!The matching saute pan is 10" and 3qt.Everywhere that had them for sale is now out of stock.That's a bit annoying.Does anyone know where I can find one (red)?

Oh yeah, the spatula that came with it is terrible.My eggs stick to it all the time, so I don't really use it.But don't let that discourage you from buying these lovely pots and pans.

Read Best Reviews of Farberware Affiniti 12-Piece Cookware Set, Red Here

Great, no complain at all. Best choice I made, The set looks nice, and my wife love it, best set we ever have.

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I have owned the stainless steel set previously and loved it.I was in need of a new set and my new theme is red so this fit the bill.Works great and I love the deep red color!

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Berndes Tradition 9-1/2-Inch Skillet

This is a great skillet.I was looking for a replacement for my existing Berndes 9 1/2 skillet which I have used for 13 years. Stuck with using electric hotplate (instead of my favorite, gas) for all cooking needs, but this skillet still delivers.

I recently purchased this pan thinking it would be like many others I have experienced in the past.But it wasn't.It is a heavy duty, excellent, non-sticking pan.I do all the cooking in my home and have for over 40 years of being married.My wife simply doesn't cook.So when my other non-stick surface pan "died" I went shopping.I read with great interest other reviews of the Berndes tradition and decided to give this a try.We lived in Germany for two years and most things built by German companies, sadly, far exceed most American companies for the same product.This is true for this pan.The price is a little higher than the other brand names, but the quality far exceeds your expectations.I don't think you will be disappointed.As soon as Christmas is over and I see where our budget is, I am going to order another one.

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I an ready to re-order more, as my Anolon pots are starting to scratch and have damage on their surface.

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Well beaut is a word we sometimes use in Oz when something is good and so far it's a beaut frypan. I have only used it a few times but it seems to be a premium product with good non stick properties. How it stands up to long term use only time will tell.

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Epicurean Kitchen Utensils Saute Tool

I purchased the Epicurean Saute Tool a couple of years ago and really liked it.It stood up to extensive use and repeated dishwashing.But when I ordered a replacement, I found that the tool has been redesigned.The new saute tool has a smaller head with a more angular shape.(The picture still shows the old version.)The new one is pointed at the edges instead of curved as shown in the picture.The quality seems to be the same, but I am disappointed that the shape was changed.I preferred the rounded edges of the original design.

This is a good saute tool, but better suited to a pan than a wok. Someone has posted new pictures showing the best view; the true shape is the brownish one to the right, in the photo of two tools together. The slate color is a lovely, matte black, not dark grey, to be exact about color. Except for the shape, this does work well and stands up to heat, so far. It's great for turning and pushing food around a frying pan. This one does work in a wok, of course, it's just not the optimal shape.

For wok fans, try the same brand, flat, long spoon: "Epicurean Kitchen Utensils Large Spoon", sold on Amazon for about same price as this. The curved edges of the flat spoon make scraping the sides of a wok easier than this more angular tool. Or, buy both this and the spoon! They make a terrific set for cooking many things. Use the two tools together in a wok, in a salad-tossing/mixing fashion, to thoroughly mix all ingredients. It's useful to have two tools of the same length! I'm happy to have both in my kitchen.

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Lodge Logic L12SC3 Self-Basting Iron Cover, 13.25-inch

As with all Lodge products this cover works as it should. It keeps whatever you are cooking moist and allows a very low heat setting. It would be five stars if it did not cost almost twice the price of the skillet it is used with.

It's a lid. It covers my matching Lodge skillet.It does what it's supposed to do.It seems well made.

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Heavy duty lid for my extra-large skillet.This set up can do just about any job you want.I will take these camping too.Together they are pretty heavy so if you don't have a lot of strength in your arms you might want something else.Also, it is tricky to fit the skillet into the double sink without scratching white enamel.Don't use detergent to wash.Just hot water and scrubbing.Dry right away to avoid rust.Will leave a mark on light countertop so use a pad.Cooking with them outweighs most negatives though but not for the person who wants something to throw in the dishwasher.

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I love this lid, but I think it's funny that it costs more than the pan.

However, with this lid, you definitely bring the pan to life. The 13.25 inch skillet is endowed with Dutch oven capabilities now. It now does roasts, sautés mushrooms, and generally gives you a stovetop baking option. In general, I highly recommended this lid as well as its matching skillet. The only drawbacks are that it is incredibly heavy and takes up enormous amounts of space in the kitchen.

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It works great and meats are very moist. When one buys this you have to think long term. Cast iron can easily be handed down to the next generation if taken care of, making this well worth the purchase price! Besides it sucks trying to use tinfoil on a pan this size when you don't have the lid.

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Bialetti 10-Inch Aeternum Easy Saute Pan, Purple

I'm beginning to wonder if non-teflon non-stick pans just have a lifespan of two months. I previously ordered an eco-friendly nonstick pan from Ozetti, and it was awesome for two months and then everything started to stick. I thought this might be because my husband likes to dredge everything in flour before he cooks it, so I bought him a wok and bought myself this purple Bialetti pan and forbade him to use it. For the first two months it was perfection--I cooked eggs, tofu, fish, scallops, pancakes, and everything came out perfectly cooked, didn't stick, and cleanup was a breeze. And then, just at the two-month mark, it started staining and sticking. I have to pour a LOT of oil in now to flip pancakes without having them come apart because they're stuck to the pan.

This skillet is a lot lighter than the one by a different name that I already owned; It really does look like a skillet instead of a saute pan. It has worked out ok so far

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I am not a gourmet chef by any stretch and I hate washing pots and pans ... This pan made me enjoy cooking and was a breeze to clean up!!!

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Jo!e Lil Flip Nylon Egg Spatula

This little egg spatula is ideal for use with a mini fry pan.It's also good for removing cookies from a baking pan.

When it's not in use, it makes a fine display on my pegboard storage wall in the kitchen.

I've been cooking for decades and until now have never had an egg turner that I really liked.This one easily and consistently flips an unbroken over-medium egg in a small or large skillet.It is thin, so easily slides under the egg, but sturdy and does well in the dishwasher.I like it so much, I'll be checking out more of this company's products.

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This is a great companion for the one-egg fry pay.It works great, because these small fry pans do not accommodate a regular-sized spatula.Also, really cute-looking!

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This took some getting used to in combination with the small egg skillet.I'm not sorry I got it and it certainly won't scratch my pan.It works way better than regular sized spatulas or turners.

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No doubt this spatula is very cute, but look again at the size it's quite small! I wish the handle would be a bit longer.

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Anolon Advanced Bronze 12" French Skillet

Arrived quickly. Cooks great. Never have touse more than medium heat to get a good sear on meats. Hope the nonsticklasts, but for now LOVE this pan.

Ordered for my daughter, she is very pleased.She has not used it yet, but my friend received this cookware as a gift, I'm very impressed as is she.It arrived on time.

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this is a very nice looking skillet. cooks well and not to heavy for me. goes into the oven fine also.

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Cuisinart 77-17 Chef's Classic Stainless 17-Piece Cookware Set

I bought these to replace some 6 year-old nonstick pots and pans which warped like....well, to make a long story short; this time, I am going Stainless-Steel! Although I would love to have an All-Clad set, but where else can you get a quality 17-Piece like this for more or less around $200 and ships for FREE from amazon?

I have read many reviews (many negative ones) and this is my conclusion:

1.) Yes, 'Stainless-Steel' sticks! Not to mock this, but that's why 'Nonstick' cookware was invented perhaps for the folks that do not know how to cook in stainless-steel. Easy remedy: return your set for a Nonstick set...if not, a little oil and lower your heat will do the trick. But, in addition to my stainless set, I will always have one nonstick skillet handy for my eggs (it's just much quicker and easier). But for searing and browning; there's no comparison to stainless-steel!

2.) Some complaint that the sides don't heat up compared to other brands: Yes they do, if you want to spend a little more $$ for the 'Multi-Clad' line. Also, unless you plan on cooking your food "on the sides", otherwise the encapsulated base heats evenly and works flawlessly for me.

3.) Stains, Marks and Colorful Swirls If you use it to cook food, then expect the usual marks and normal wear maybe even some tear. My solution for all of the above: 'BKF', OR unless you plan on displaying it for good.

The set:

There are TWO different 17-Piece sets available from the Chef's Classic line; the other one comes with a 2 qt. open 'Saucier' (and odd sizes for the rest) but I opted for this one because it is more versatile beginning with a 1.5 qt. Saucepan, then 2 and 3, a 12" Covered Skillet and for the Pasta Insert, etc, etc..

Again, for the money, they are as good as you can get. The product has a very solid feel to it and an even-weight distribution light, yet heavy enough to do the task. Although I did find some minor flaws; like a few minor buffed-out scratches by the bottom edge between the encapsulated base on my 1.5 qt. The 'lips' on some of the larger pans (closer to the handles) seem to have bent down a bit; this produces a very small gap when the lid is covered, particularly on the 12" skillet where you can see an 'arch' effect with its lid on (the large lid is uneven on this one) and pressing it down once tends to reduce the effect. Though nothing significant, but it just appears to break that 'vacuum seal' and not so perfect tight-fit lid that was claimed by the mfg.

I have put all of them to a rigorous test for the '08 Christmas '09 New Year's feast and they have performed very well. It cooks evenly on my old electric 'coil' stove top burner, although it could've been much better if I've had a gas range, this way I have more control of the cooking temperatures (very essential for heavy-bottomed cookwares).

Pros:

*Design lip for spill-proof easy pouring.

*Good heat distribution (not great).

*Oven safe up to 450 degrees, that's high for a set priced like this.

*Handles: well balanced and stays cool no matter how long it's been on the burner.

*Most lids are interchangeable, especially for the 8" & 10" open skillets and they also fit other non Cuisinart that I have laying around.

*Nicely polished stainless-steel exterior and lids.

*Sturdy and well weighted/balanced.

*Well priced.

Cons:

*Workmanship and Quality Control (minor, this reduces one star).

*Slow to heat (especially the 9 qt Stockpot for cooking pasta compared to my other pot with the same amount of water).

*Pasta insert bottom sits a bit high (if sat lower, can prevent the use of more water so heat up time can be faster and to avoid boil-over spills).

I have always loved food and have been an avid cook for decades.I wanted to move up from the cheapo Farberware and other such "ordinary" tools to a better set and bought Cuisinart, because I didn't quite want to go as far up as AllClad with the $1,200 set.

I am sorry to say that I found out soon enough why these are as cheap as this.

First of all, these have the bonded bottoms where a separate heat conducting material is bonded to the bottom of the pot, then sandwiched in with another layer of stainless steel.The instructions that came in the package (and which you will not find in the item description) tells you that if you used anything beyond medium heat on the stove or heated them empty, the conducting layer (aluminum alloy) may melt and the second layer of stainless steel on the bottom may simply fall off.Great.So it may fall apart if I wanted to heat it up empty or just with oil to sear something quick.

Second, the steel is not quite stainless.The mirror finish on the outside held up well enough, but the steel on the inside -the part that actually touches the food -is of very low quality.I made a simple stock with a pot and it pitted on the bottom, with a few gray spots.No amount of scrubbing would get these out, whether with Barkeeper's Friend or with steel wool.Subsequent cooking has resulted in more and more spots of various colors with different foods, which can only mean that the steel is of very low quality, with pockets of impurities that will react with different ingredients in food.

I might have fixed this by seasoning the cookware, but remember?You can't heat these empty or the bottoms may fall off.

These are cheap for a reason.If you must have bonded construction and don't have the budget for an all AllClad or La Creuset kitchen, look to Sur la Table for a serviceable intermediate set at a good price.The fact that the steel in these things react with my food is really scary to me because I don't know what the impurities might be and whether or not they might be getting into my food.

Oh and Belgique does the same thing with the pitting.These are cheap for a reason -because they have gone on to use really lousy materials.Don't fall for it.

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I finally decided after many years that it was time to treat myself to a new set of decent cookware following the purchase of a new stove with a glass/ceramic cooking surface. The manual recommended aluminum clad with straight sides and flat bottoms. When I researched the best in this category (not including the very expensive dual clad), Cuisinart Chef's came up time and time again. I googled for the best price and found it at Amazon actually an amazing price that no one else came close to for a 17 pc set. I have used the cookware a few times and already am very pleased. Although they seem to heat up slowly, they cook beautifully and clean up easily. I was a bit concerned that the instructions recommend that you do not use anything abrasive to scrub the cookware (like brillo etc) but I didn't need to worry cleaning with a sponge has worked very well, and on occasion I also use some Cameo cleanser for water spots cleans up like new. I expect this to be the last set of cookware I will ever need to buy.

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I just love this set.I bought it because I wanted something that would last a long, long time, be good to cook with, and look beautiful.I went to different stores, picking up saute pans until I found the one that balanced nicely and it was a Cuisinart! I waited until it was on sale, and I bought it.I was thrilled when it arrived.

The tops fit snuggly on the pots and pans.It's so nice to have a top for every pot, and not have to share tops. I like this set because I always have the right tool for the job. Now, sometimes, one of my Cuisinart tops does double duty and tops one of my cast iron skillets.They do just fine, even with the old stuff.

Be good to your cookware and it will be good to you. A little Bar Keeper's Helper (why didn't someone tell me about this fantastic product sooner!?) takes care of any tough problems (like when I burned a sausage in a saute pan wasn't paying attention).

My friend, who is a professional chef, came by and was trying to boil something at the edge of the pan, and was stymied because the pan heats so evenly he could not get a hot spot, even though he wanted one.I told him to try the old Farberware I still have (I keep one piece just for that reason).

This set is a true work horse just because it's pretty doesn't mean it can't work hard and it does.

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I ordered this set of cookware a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely love it.I had a set of Revere cookware but recently moved into a house with a glass top stove.My revere cookware rocked and spun on the burners it was not completely flat on the bottom.The Cuisinart cookware stays put!Everything cooks perfectly in it.If you use it properly (i.e. do not use too high heat), it is virtually non-stick with just a spray of Pam or a little olive oil.I had the Revere cookware ever since I got married (23 yrs. ago) and always liked it.I hated to part with it.However, I am glad I had to get new cookware because I love the Cuisinart.

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Art and Cuisine Austral Series Aluminum Ceramic Coated Deep Frypan with Lid, Grey, 11-Inch

A friend of mine bought an Art & Cuisine pan but it was a different model. He really liked it so I figured I was safe in trying to find a nice pan of the same brand for my father for Christmas. Out of the box the handle was loose. We tightened it a little and it was fine. Then my brother prepared some bacon in the pan. I watched him like a hawk: he didn't have the heat up too high and only used the silicone utensils I got specifically for this pan. Before cleaning the pan, my brother let it cool completely. He then used a wet paper towel with a bit of soap to clean it out. The ceramic chipped. We treated it very gently and it still chipped. Also, the handle got loose again. I was really hoping that this would be a great pan for my dad, but sadly it wasn't. We returned it.

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Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 12-Inch Covered Fry Pan with Helper Handle

My mother has owned this pan ever since I can remember, and she used it three or four times each week for at least 10 years, from the time I was aware of such things until the time I moved out. She still uses it 15 years later. I truly believe she has never replaced it in all that time. I have since purchased a set for myself including the frying pan, and it is a very durable product. Best and most even heating of any pans I've owned. It's got a very comfortable weight balance and I don't have to worry about the handle getting hot. I like the classic version without the teflon because you never have to worry about scraping the coating off.

I love Farberware Classic and I want to complete my set and never have to worry about buying new pans again.

Farberware classic is great -an inexpensive yet equally functional alternative to the very expensive pots & pans.Note: recently Farberware reduced its quality, in that older Farberware pots & pans had their thick aluminum base completely encased within a stainless steel shell.The newer pots & pans have the aluminum base attached to the bottom, but not encased within a stainless steel bottom.So, their quality is less than it was; most people who "grew up with Farberware" may not realize this.Farberware used to hold the patent on the technique of having the aluminum base CURVE up the side of the pan -they no longer do this, and are the same as many other manufacturers.Also note: if you are buying a 12" pan, this is a HUGE pan, since it has a squareish cross-section.I found it to be so absolutely huge -you could fry a dozen onions in this monster -that I simply never use it.The 10" and 8" sizes may be what you're looking for!

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How many products do you know when you buy it that it will last 30 or 40 years? This is one of them. My mom has had hers for 35 years, I've had mine for 5. It's simply the best pan out there. It cooks evenly, it goes in the dishwasher, the handles stay cool, and you don't have to use plastic spatulas. The only problem that somebody might have is that it is not nonstick. For that reason my wife usually uses a Calphalon nonstick professional pan, even though it can't be cleaned in the dishwasher and you have to treat it carefully. So if you must have nonstick, buy something else. But if you want a large, beatiful, indestructible pan that will last longer than you will, buy this pan!

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This is a great pan for preparing meals. I generally have trouble with a pan being able to hold all of the ingredients, but this one is definitely up to the task. Although it's not stick-proof, most of my cooking involves sauces or olive oil (usually both), resulting in relatively easy cleanup. Keep in mind that it's very heavy (12 inces of stainless steel), but it doesn't warp, tip over, or get knocked off the counter.

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This is a handy-sized frying pan, and the helper handle is great when it is full.It is dishwasher safe.Because it is uncoated, it can scorch, when means hand-washing with a scrubbing pad.Also, because it is large (with the lid) it can be tricky finding a place to store it.

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