Stainless Steel pots and pans


 
Brett-EDH

Brett-EDH

TVWBB Olympian
Seeking input and experience(s).

I might be buying a new set of stainless steel pots and pans.

What are your faves? Which to avoid?

I have my eyes on a few but want more feedback before pulling trigger, if I actually do pull trigger.

Must be oven safe to 500F, so no plastic handles.

I do NOT like glass lids. Must be SS lids.

Seeking to buy a set and maybe a few pieces added on after. So something like an 11-15 piece set (pans and lids make this number) is what I thinking.

My current set is Cuisinart MCP Pro, triple ply SS. They've been very good to me.

Mind you, I don't think I'm wanting to spend that $1k on All Clad. But sell me/tell me whatcha like and why.
 
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Honestly I've been having great luck with Tramontina Tri-Ply. Nearly as good of quality if not better in some areas than my All-Clad ones. Though I do like the All Clad. But, Costco has some great deals on Tramontina ones. I must admit, all my All Clad are second hand I picked up through "resale" ads. Honestly once you use them what's the difference?
 
<edit> I have no firsthand experience with this but I've had my eye on it </edit>

All-Clad d3 12-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set $549 until 12/25/2024

  • 3x Frying Pans
  • 4x Lids
  • 2x Saucepans
  • 1x Saute Pan
  • 1x Stock Pot
  • 1x Steamer insert

Brand All-Clad
Cleaning Recommendation Hand Wash
Coating Type Uncoated
Color Stainless Steel
Features Induction
Features Oven Safe
Material Stainless Steel
Model 40012R
Number of Frying Pan(s) 3 Frying Pans
Number of Lid(s) 4 Lids
Number of Pieces 12 Piece
Number of Saucepan(s) 2 Saucepans
Number of Saute Pan(s) 1 Saute Pan
Number of Skillet(s) 0 Skillets
Number of Stock Pot(s) 1 Stock Pot
Oven Safe Temperature600 F.


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And how can you go wrong buying from Costco?

But I'm curious...what don't you like about glass lids? And are you looking for induction cooktop compatibility?
 
I'm tempted to get that set above. I have some revere ware pots and pans from the 50s/60s yet they are a very thin single layer, but my "newer" stainless is junk.
 
DanHoo said:
I'm tempted to get that set above. I have some revere ware pots and pans from the 50s/60s yet they are a very thin single layer, but my "newer" stainless is junk.
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Dan, you think the Revere ware is thin? Do you have the copper bottom ones?
 
LMichaels said:
Honestly I've been having great luck with Tramontina Tri-Ply. Nearly as good of quality if not better in some areas than my All-Clad ones. Though I do like the All Clad. But, Costco has some great deals on Tramontina ones. I must admit, all my All Clad are second hand I picked up through "resale" ads. Honestly once you use them what's the difference?
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i concur 100% with your statements. Tramontina are high on the list. If All Clad wasn't $1K+, I'd consider them. i just don't feel that rich atm.
 
Ed P said:
And how can you go wrong buying from Costco?

But I'm curious...what don't you like about glass lids? And are you looking for induction cooktop compatibility?
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I'll break the glass lids is my thought(s). i've always had SS so maybe I'm just stuck for no reason.

I love Costco. That's an easy decision for me.

New home is NG. so induction is a secondary need if I fry (outside the home on induction single burner). IIRC, all 3 ply SS pans will be induction compatible.
 
DanHoo said:
<edit> I have no firsthand experience with this but I've had my eye on it </edit>

All-Clad d3 12-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set $549 until 12/25/2024

  • 3x Frying Pans
  • 4x Lids
  • 2x Saucepans
  • 1x Saute Pan
  • 1x Stock Pot
  • 1x Steamer insert

Brand All-Clad
Cleaning Recommendation Hand Wash
Coating Type Uncoated
Color Stainless Steel
Features Induction
Features Oven Safe
Material Stainless Steel
Model 40012R
Number of Frying Pan(s) 3 Frying Pans
Number of Lid(s) 4 Lids
Number of Pieces 12 Piece
Number of Saucepan(s) 2 Saucepans
Number of Saute Pan(s) 1 Saute Pan
Number of Skillet(s) 0 Skillets
Number of Stock Pot(s) 1 Stock Pot
Oven Safe Temperature600 F.


View attachment 104907



Click to expand...
this is also highly rated but it has glass lids: https://www.costco.com/henckels-tri...12-piece-cookware-set.product.4000269635.html
 
I purchased the Calphalon Contemporary SS 13-Piece Cookware set probably around +10 years ago; its equivalent today would be the Premier series. It does have the glass lids, but the set looks as good today as the day I bought, BKF is your real friend. This is the last set I will ever buy. I like the fact that I was able to buy additional items within the line such as, Dutch oven, pasta strainer & a wok. I do not think Calphalon offers SS lids, which does not bother me.

IMG_7018.jpg

IMG_7019.jpg
 
EricV. said:
I purchased the Calphalon Contemporary SS 13-Piece Cookware set probably around +10 years ago; its equivalent today would be the Premier series. It does have the glass lids, but the set looks as good today as the day I bought, BKF is your real friend. This is the last set I will ever buy. I like the fact that I was able to buy additional items within the line such as, Dutch oven, pasta strainer & a wok. I do not think Calphalon offers SS lids, which does not bother me.

View attachment 104910

View attachment 104912
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i have a calpholon anonzied aluminum set from 1994 that I non longer use due to the finish wearing off. would calphalon do a warranty exchange for me as these were/are "commercial" stamped on the bottom? i stopped using them and went to SS when i did some reading about aluminum leaching into food from these pots/pans.
 
My favorite stainless pans are the Silga Teknika line. In the US, they are sold as singles at TJ Maxx/HomeGoods/Marshall’s alongside the discounted All Clad.

They’ve held up better for me than the premium brands I’ve had, including All Clad. Silga is disc bottom but I have not had any issues cooking on powerful gas stoves with them.

Silga follows a metric quasi-standard, so you can use them with metric components (lids, steamers, etc.) from commercial brands like Matfer Bourgeat and they fit perfectly.

I also like Matfer Bourgeat commercial stainless disc bottom cookware, but even Demeyere items are often cheaper than Matfer 😂

For All-Clad and other multi ply stainless cookware with exposed aluminum core on the edges, make sure you look up the details of All Clad’s class action lawsuit related to the edges getting sharp over time when washed in the dishwasher with strong detergents (the 3-ply and 5xply lines used to be advertised as completely dishwasher safe).

I have All Clad and Tramotina 3-ply stainless cookware with edges sharp enough to cut your fingers with. I missed the claims window for replacements, and most of my pans weren’t eligible anyways, so I just stuck them in a tall cabinet out of the way somewhere.

Edited to add: also, I don’t like buying stainless sets because they usually come with 8- and 10-inch frying pans, which I think are too close in size to be meaningfully different, and I pretty much never use stainless fry pans anyways.
 
Brett-EDH said:
I love Costco. That's an easy decision for me.
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Me, too. We used to belong to the Price Club and Costco Wholesale both as separate entities, then Price-Costco, and now just Costco. We have never been disappointed, and that says alot.

Brett-EDH said:
I'll break the glass lids is my thought(s). i've always had SS so maybe I'm just stuck for no reason.
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I'm very much a form-follows-function guy, and the wife and I are nowhere near the chef that you guys are. We treat our cookware with total disregard and we tend to prefer the glass tops so that we can see what is going on without opening the lid. I don't know what kind of glass they make the lids out of, or maybe it's the dome shape that they have, but we have yet to break even one, and these are not top shelf cookware.

I am at the age where, with the things I buy, I'm looking beyond what I have an immediate use for. I think induction burners might be something future generations will be using.
 
Brett-EDH said:
i have a calpholon anonzied aluminum set from 1994 that I non longer use due to the finish wearing off. would calphalon do a warranty exchange for me as these were/are "commercial" stamped on the bottom? i stopped using them and went to SS when i did some reading about aluminum leaching into food from these pots/pans.
Click to expand...
One can only try, see below:

Calphalon's anodized aluminum cookware is covered by a lifetime warranty that covers defects in material or workmanship. The warranty is valid for the original purchaser and is not transferable. To make a warranty claim, you can:
  1. Fill out the warranty claim form on calphalon.com
  2. Call 1-800-809-PANS (7267)
  3. Provide proof of purchase, delivery, and photos of the product
  4. If instructed, mail the product to Calphalon with a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number
 
Ed P said:
Me, too. We used to belong to the Price Club and Costco Wholesale both as separate entities, then Price-Costco, and now just Costco. We have never been disappointed, and that says alot.
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I remember the Price Club to Price-Costco to Costco transition. I still have a Casio watch we bought at the Lawrence Station Price Club in Sunnyvale.
 
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I've never broken a glass lid and I'm not kind to them.

Edit. I have glass lids that fit pans that are long gone and I use these wherever they fit.

I put glass lids and SS lids in the dishwasher if there is room
 
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