Functional as well as beautiful, the 13 pieces in this
cookware set will bring joy to any serious cook. The
set includes a 1-quart covered saucepan, a 1-1/2-quart
covered saucepan, a 2-quart covered saucepan, and a
big, 8-quart covered stockpot (6-1/2 inches high, 9-3/4
inches in diameter). Also included are 8-inch and 10-inch
nonstick skillets. (The stockpot lid fits the larger
skillet.) Finally, there are three mixing bowls--1-quart,
2-quart, and 3-quart--with snap-on plastic lids.
Except for the plastic lids, all pieces are made of
heavy 18/10 stainless steel polished to a mirror finish.
The saucepans and stockpot have aluminum cores in their
bases to spread heat quickly and evenly. The cores are
completely clad in stainless steel for corrosion resistance
and easy cleanup. Thick rolled rims add durability and
make it possible to pour without dripping. Because the
handles are safe to 350 degrees F (they stay cool on
the stovetop), the pans, pot, and skillets can be used
in the oven. The entire set comes with a lifetime warranty
against defects. -- Amazon.com
Anolon Professional 10-Piece Nonstick
Cookware Set
Exhibiting a rugged, contemporary beauty, this 10-piece
set of hard-anodized aluminum pots and pans not only
cooks exceptionally well but also looks fantastic in
open storage. Coated on the inside with DuPont's durable,
three-layer Autograph nonstick finish, each piece of
heavy-duty cookware resists sticking and scratching,
heats evenly and quickly, and is oven-safe to 500 degrees
F. Tempered glass lids fit snugly and allow cooking
progress to be monitored without releasing heat or nutrients.
Riveted and polished, the durable stainless-steel handles
stay cool on the stove. The nonstick finish means little
or no oil or fats are needed when cooking.
Perfect as a gift for serious cooks, this set consists
of 1-quart and 2-quart saucepans with lids; a generous
8-quart stockpot with lid; a 10-inch (2-3/4-quart) sauté
pan with lid; an 8-1/2-inch skillet; and a 10-inch skillet.
Anolon Professional cookware carries a lifetime warranty
against defects, and the Autograph nonstick surface
is guaranteed not to chip, crack, peel or interact with
foods. Replacement of lids due to breakage is guaranteed
for a lifetime. -- Amazon.com
Calphalon Professional Hard Anodized
8-Piece Cookware Set
Any cook would happily welcome this eight-piece set
of cookware. Every pan goes into the oven, adding versatility
to the set. The 1-1/2-quart and 2-1/2-quart saucepans
and 4-quart chef's pan with rounded sides all have lids
and are perfect for making sauces and a myriad of other
tasks, and the chef's pan is useful for braising. The
nonstick 8- and 10-inch omelet pans sear and sauté as
well as cook omelets. Though not all of the cookware in
this set is nonstick, the pans are anodized for stick-resistance
as well as hardness, and metal utensils won't harm the
surface. Chrome-plated, cast-iron handles are multiriveted
for durability and balance. Made of heavy-gauge aluminum,
the pans cook without hot spots or warping and should
be hand washed with mild detergent. This cookware carries
a lifetime warranty against defects. -- Amazon.com
Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized
10-Piece Cookware Set
This 10-piece cookware set is deluxe and outfits a kitchen
for a lifetime of essential cooking needs. The virtues
of Calphalon's anodized aluminum are highly praised among
cooks: even heat distribution, stick-resistant surfaces,
quick heating and cooling, durable construction, and attractive
design. The set includes two fry pans (or omelet pans,
as Calphalon calls them), 8 and 10 inches, for individual
and larger portions; two lidded saucepans, 2-1/2 and 4-1/2
quarts, perfect for making a variety of sauces, simmering
side dishes, or cooking small batches of soup; an 8-quart
lidded stockpot that will handle the gamut from pasta
to soup to corn; and a true gem, a 3-quart sauté pan with
a lid, great for browning, braising, and making vegetables
or sauces. The details of these pots make them especially
satisfying to use: riveted stainless-steel handles are
sturdy and stay cool while cooking, lids fit easily and
seal in juices, the stick-resistant finish means you need
only use a minimum amount of oil, and the pans are safe
for the oven and broiler. Care for these pans with consideration
for the long, useful life they offer by always washing
them by hand with mild cleaners. -- Amazon.com
Lodge 2-1/2-Quart Cast Iron Deep Fryer
Kit
Cast iron is one of those materials true kitchen aficionados
love. It gets better with age and seasoning, won't warp
or chip, and keeps food warmer longer. Put your seafood,
veggies, hushpuppies, or beignets (French doughnuts--they're
heavenly) in the fry basket, then lower into the fry pot.
Just remember that cast iron is very heavy--this pot weighs
7 pounds--which is why there's a looped handle on the
opposite side to help you lift the pot (use a hot pad).
The pot has two pour spouts, and the kit includes a 5-inch
thermometer that goes up to 400 degrees F. In general,
you'll want to hand wash the pot with just hot water.
However, prior to first use and occasionally thereafter,
you should season it by washing it with a little soap,
oiling it inside and out, and cooking it in the oven for
an hour. The finish will soon turn black--the sign of
a well-seasoned cast-iron pot. -- Amazon.com
Cuisinart Copper Classic 10-Piece
Cookware Set
Constructed of copper, aluminum, and stainless steel,
the stockpot, skillets, sauté pan, and saucepans in
this 10-piece set perform superbly, stand out handsomely
in the kitchen and dining room, and will outlive their
lifetime warranty against defects. This is cookware
for serious cooks who appreciate three-ply advantages.
Copper exteriors conduct heat quickly and uniformly
and respond to minute temperature changes. Aluminum
cores extend up the sides to cook food evenly and retain
heat. And interiors of 18/10 stainless-steel won't discolor,
corrode, or react with food.
The 8-quart stockpot (11-1/2 inches in diameter, 5-1/4
inches high) is ideal for simmering stocks, soups, and
stews. The 3-1/2-quart sauté pan (10 inches in diameter,
3 inches high) has a helper handle and can also go into
the oven for braising. (All pieces are oven-safe to
500 degrees F.) The slope-sided, 8-inch and 10-inch
skillets are ideal for frying, sautéing, and pan-roasting.
The 2-quart and 3-3/4-quart saucepans are kitchen workhorses.
The stockpot and pans have 18/10 stainless-steel, mirror-finish,
tight-fitting lids. Tapered rims on all pieces provide
drip-free pouring, and big, stainless-steel handles
are riveted for strength and have hanging holes for
storing this gorgeous cookware where it can be seen
and admired. -- Amazon.com
Le Creuset 10-Inch Round Skillet
Grill, Cherry Red
With a grill pattern of raised ribs in the bottom, this
heavy, 10-inch round skillet grill sears tasty, appetizing
grill marks into steaks, burgers, fish, sandwiches, and
other foods that benefit from stovetop grilling and the
caramelized flavor grill marks impart. The ribs also elevate
food so fat collects between them, allowing for low-calorie
cooking (spouts on both sides of the skillet permit the
fat to pour off). Because cast iron is unexcelled at retaining
heat and distributing it evenly--no hot spots--foods will
cook uniformly in the skillet. Enameled outside with a
bright, smooth surface and inside with a black-satin-texture
finish that doesn't need seasoning, this durable skillet
goes onto any stovetop, in the oven, or under a broiler.
It's also stylish enough to bring to table. Though it's
dishwasher-safe, hand washing preserves the patina that
builds up with use and aids in the skillet's stick-resistance.
Like all Le Creuset cast-iron cookware, the skillet is
made in France using a one-of-a-kind mold that ensures
each piece's uniqueness and carries a lifetime warranty
against defects. -- Amazon.com
