We need to replace the random T-Fal pots and pans and with so many options I'm not sure where to start but I would like to limit it to $150 for at least 2 pans and 3 pots. Ive seen some stainless sets with non stick that look nice in that price range. My wife does nearly all the heavy cooking so I want something decent without having to spend $500. She likes the look of stainless but I have no patience for cleaning dishes so I like non-stick, especially on the pans.

Last good set of pans I got were from Costco. Next good set of pans I get will likely be from Costco. They have everything from bottom of the line to close to top of the line. Pick the one you want to pay for.

I use T-Fal, but they are non-stick with the stainless steel bottoms.

Work and last pretty decent.

Is this a valentines present.

That is an excellent idea!

Then heres a question to ask yourself.

If you gave Momma $150 cash to "treat" herself to anything she wanted without any input from you would she buy a cookware set?

bought a high dollar "no stick" set of pans for my wife

read up a bit about them and learned that cooking them on high (on a gas stove...I assume its the same for electric) ruins the no stick

we cook with them on medium heat and hand wash

they have been used hundreds of times and still work like the day we got them. She loves them.

Yup. Maybe get her a chainsaw!

Costco has a good selection of cookware for reasonable cost, both stainless and non-stick. I prefer the laminated stainless or cast iron, the non-stick doesn't last long.

Hell yeah, I knew I could count on the Fire for good ideas. In all seriousness, we both agree that we need a new set and we don't do Valentine's. We just got back from Jamaica, I think I'm covered for a while on gifts.

Try Wal-mart. Plenty of cheap chicom stuff there.

Buy whatever Walleyworld has on sale.

Cookware Set

Yeah, get her a set of Pioneer Woman cookware. It's so purty....lol.

I've moved to stainless steel and cast,or hammered iron. I've thrown away all kinds of junk over the years. No more non stick anything for me.

Costco SS cookware

Mother in law sent us cash in '99 for our wedding present to buy what we wanted. Had the typical hodgepodge of thrifts shop/hand me down stuff two recent college grads would have. Decided on a nice set of pots and pans. We bought this brand:

http://www.meyer.com/us.html

Of course, now it seems they don't have anything under their brand. We bought Stainless with an aluminum disc bottom for heat transfer. As mentioned, non-stick will rarely last 20 years as these have before the coating wears off. Used correctly, we rarely have anything stick worse than having to soak in the sink or on the stove for a bit with hot water in them.

Ours came with 1, 2, & 4 qt sauce pans, a big spaghetti/soup pot with steamer, and a skillet ( 10"? ) that fits the lid used with the big pot. I couldn't be happier.

The few things I like better are Revere Ware and cast iron.

If you decide to go with stainless instead of non-stick, DON'T put oil,butter,etc on a cold pan and then start cooking. Heat the pan some first, then put the oil in.

Good luck finding a set you're happy with. I like to cook and like most other things in life, I like to have good tools that last and last to accomplish the task.

Geno

Start by skipping the sets. Make a list of what and how you cook. Then go to TJ Max/Home Goods and buy just the pieces you need.

Lodge cast iron from the hardware store.

Mostly I don't need a whole set of sizes I'd rarely use...

Couple of good size frying pans, couple of decent size pots and one large pot, and I'm happy.

I don't have any use for those small pots or small frying pans at all. None.

Question:
Where is this made?! What is the country written on the box ?!

Answer:
My T-gal use and care instruction guide says China is the origin.

Jk
· April 18, 2018

I mainly use Carbon, some cast.

I keep a small Teflon for eggs.

If you buy your woman cookware for Valentines Day you deserve to be hit over the head with a frying pan....just saying

If one selects carefully, there are some really nice pots/pans at very low prices in second hand stores.

Don't have a single piece of nonstick stuff anymore. All cast iron with a couple stainless sketti pots.

These 4 pots do about all I need-

12" Lodge deep fryer
10.5" Lodge flat griddle
a 3?? qt sauce pan
a large stock pot

I bought my son this set for Christmas. It is made here in the US. I thought it was a bargain. He is quite happy with it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lodge-Se...et-w-Skillet-Griddle-Dutch-Oven/24873923

Some good suggestions, although I'm not sure my wife is willing to deal with non stick pans and the weight of cast iron. I've been eyeing sets like this due to having the non stick frying pans.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...s-steel-10-piece-cookware-set/1017866311


https://m.samsclub.com/ip/15pc-ss-cookware-set-emeril/prod21280139?xid=plp_product_1_2

In the under $150 range it appears you spend your money and take your chances.

Decently smooth and seasoned cast iron can't be beat in my opinion. People spend a lot of money trying to meet their performance level. Decent US made cookware and a small amount of upkeep will keep you happy for generations. I've had good luck with Lodge after initially getting rid of the factory 'seasoning' and smoothing them out some. There are fancier (and lighter) makes out there too like Stargazer, Field Co and Le Creuset . Lots of old iron out there too with a lot of life left in them.

A lot of if not most cookware with anodized exterior finish is usually not dishwasher safe as they will stain and discolor badly (daughter ruined a new set of Emeril Lagasse branded anodized cookware via auto dishwasher) We've never had a skillet yet with the typical type of "non-stick" interior coating to last much longer than a year or two, regardless the brand. Any use of metal utensils will soon have the nonstick coating scratched and flaking off. No telling how much of the nonstick coating we've ate.

A good many cookware sets are basically the same construction and manufactured by the same companies but sold under multiple brand names with a few minor mostly cosmetic differences.

For normal family use moderately priced stainless cookware, Revere Ware with the thick solid copper or aluminum base was the best bang for the buck we've had.

Got two T-Fal skillets right now needing to be replaced after just barely two years of use and the nonstick coating is flaking off. Same for a Faberware electric skillet, too.

Been kind of thinking about giving one of the "Granite Rock" mineral based nonstick coating skillets try to see how well they hold up.

Here is a 10 piece set of the "Granite Rock" cookware for a $99.99 --- GraniteRock 10-Piece Non-Stick Ultr...ranite Coated Scratch Proof Cookware Set

Lodge claims to be the only USA manufacturer of cast iron pots and pans/skillets

If you believe in quality and have a set dollar figure in mind, go buy the piece that you use the most in the best quality you can find. Later do it again with a different piece, until you have what you need. Best money in the litchen is spent on quality knives and cast iron cookware. Buy once. Cry once.

They are definitely the largest, but not the only.

Holy Crap FG!!! Are you the cook in a logging camp?


mike r

I'll also chip in as against a set. Nothin' wrong with a set I guess, I'd just round up each piece I like.

TFF!!

Hard to go wrong there. A LOT to be said fro good USA made cast iron. Personally, I have a modest collection that covers 90% of my needs. 4 skillets(#5 Lodge 3 notch, #8 Ozark unmarked, #8 Griswold, #10 New production Lodge), 1 griddle(Lodge Pro 2 burner) and a dutch oven(#8 Favorite with lid). Been scoping out a Wagner Ware waffle iron lately, a buddy has an extra.

I would recommend that you avoid anything non-stick or hard-anodized, they simply do not last and the plastic utensils you must use with this type of cookware sucks. Vollrath commercial stainless steel cookware is high quality and the prices are fairly decent as well if you shop around. Look at the Vollrath Tribute. I would also get a few vintage Griswold cast iron skillets and a dutch oven, which is probably the best cookware ever made - 12" & 8" etc. - and they can often be found at flea markets and garage sales, but modern LODGE cast iron will suffice (though significantly more bulky than a vintage Griswold) if you don't want to spend the time looking for a vintage Griswold. A Vollrath Stock pot or two (6 and 8 qt); sauce pans (4 and 3 qt.); and a 10"-12" stainless steel skillet, will likely be all you need. This way, you can use quality stainless steel utensils that will last forever and not melt like the crappy plastic/nylon ones. Go check out a local restaurant supply and see what they have available and you can get all the stainless steel utensils you need there as well: tongs, spoons/slotted. spatulas, turners, sieves, forks, etc.

Edit: Barkeepers Friend is excellent for cleaning stainless steel.

In 2013 when Paula Deen was dropped by Wal-Mart I picked up a set of her non-stick cookware on clearance cheap. It has held up beautifully over the years and I cook in it daily. I have an electric range but never use the nonstick for high temp frying and only use non-metal implements. For high temp cooking, I use cast or stainless if it is acidic. They held up so well I searched Amazon to see if I could still get a set for when these bite the dust and was able to order a set last year. Here they are if you are interested. PAULA DEEN COOKWARE $119 shipped. IMO, if you are going to roll non-stick, you'll still need some quality pieces to augment.

There are other sets by Paula Deen but this is the only set that matches what I have. The newer model stuff is much cheaper and I can't speak for its quality.

That's a perfect starter set right there Ed.....Maybe throw in a copper bottom sketti pot and call it good.

I bought a set of the Gotham Steel pans (10 pieces) for the ranch house and another set for the travel trailer. I really, really like how easy it is to cook using them. Good stuff and saw this week at Walmart, marked down from $99 to $79.