So the wife has asked for new cookware.

[Jay Ralston]

We have been married for almost 11 years and in all honesty, we have always had cheap hand me down pots and pans. Well, our stuff is wearing out and my wife has asked for new cookware for Christmas. I want to get her something good but am clueless in this department.

I saw this commercial for something called stonedine and as a guy I think it looks cool but don't know if it really is any good or not? Here is the link to their website.

https://secure.stonedine.com/special...ookieSupport=1

Does anybody on here have this stuff or know anybody that has this stuff? If so, how do you or they like it? Is it worth the money?

Also, if this stuff is not good, can someone please recommend a brand that is good?
Thank you all for your help!
Jay

[elgecko]

Don't take this the wrong way, but that looks a bit cheesy.

Step one: determine whether she prefers non-stick or...non non-stick. People have preferences.

Step two: determine how much you want to spend. A "decent" set of cookware will easily cost more than an SX! If you really wanna get jiggy, you can go stainless steel or copper. You can get into new MIM prices in that territory.

Whatever, you get. You guys will have that cookware for a long time...choose wisely.

Calphalon makes some really good stuff.

[Jay Ralston]

With her, I don't think she has a preference as we have always had inexpensive stuff. Think Walmart cookware. With us, price is an issue as we have 4 kids we also need to Christmas shop for.

So what is the difference between non stick and non non stick? The last one is a double negative that seems to imply to me it would cause the food to stick.

[Funky Ghost]

I've owned a full compliment of Circulon cookware and couldn't be happier with them. I'd guess they are middle of the pack cost wise but they have been exceptional.

As a cost effective alternative I'd roll with cast iron and never look back. I still have all my cast iron I inherited from my grandmother and when properly taken care of is non stick without the coating.

[JimB52]

The set you linked to is too small for a family of six. No pan sizes were given, but I bet they are on the small side. Calphalon cookware is nearly four times the price of the set you are considering, but it is a much bigger set and will last a very long time.
Calphalon Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10-pc Cookware Set at Calphalon Store

[James Hart]

after 15 years of misc cheap stuff... we upgraded to this set

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...01_i00_details

I love it so far!

[elgecko]

Non-stick cookware is usually made of aluminum and has a teflon coating that keeps stuff from sticking. Unfortunately, it's also easy to scratch if you use the wrong utensils. Other, more expensive materials (iron, stainless steel, copper) don't have the same sticking problems.

For less than an SX, look into Faberware and Tramontina. And a set of plastic utensils

[agent77]

My sister-in-law really likes Pampered Chef, and she is really into kitchen stuff. I don't think it's crazy expensive either.

[MJ5150]

We have a mixture from a few different brands. We normally buy from open stock (meaning buying pots and pans one at a time instead of a set or kit like you often see for sale) as we need a piece. The brand most represented in our kitchen is Calphalon. Another good brand is All-Clad, but it can be spendy. If you have a Kohls nearby, check them out. A few of the chefs of FoodTV have their own lines of cookware that are good quality and affordable for families.

-Mike

[Jinro]

I use Belguique quite a lot....

[Jay Ralston]

Right now I'm looking at JC Penny's website and they seem to have decent cookware.

[basscooker]

+1 to caphalon. BTW i am a chef. don't waste money on pampered chef, my wife and her friends have that crap and it's exactly that-crap. the stoneware isn't bad, but nothing else they have will last very long. i agree with the idea of picking up cookware one by one. you can get really good stuff- one at a time- say every birthday, christmas or whatever, and before you know it you'll have what you need. some suggestions, though: much like gear, you can't get good stuff really cheaply; items with glass lids or plastic handles limit your use (glass lids can shatter just from temperature change like from the oven to the counter, and obviously plastic will eventually melt); if you go with budget concious stuff, seek out welded-on handles as rivets will fail, bolts and washers loosen and never go back properly; consider your and her skill level and what you will actually use/ do with it-- if most of your 'home cooked meals' are hamburger helper and rice-a-roni, a skillet without a lid is useless, etc; non-stick cookware requires care-- if your little ones want to "help" cook dinner, they can instantly ruin an expensive pan with a fork, spoon or metal spatula, and should never go into a dishwasher, or cleaned with chemicals or scratch pads; cast iron will rust if not oiled or seasoned regularly, can literally break if overheated, and stay super hot for a long time- not to mention it's heavy as hell; wok style skillets have a very small surface that actually sits on the heat- so unless you do alot of wok cooking, it's not a good idea; hey, i could go on for days, but you get the idea. i think all-in-one sets aren't a great idea unless you're willing to fork over 600+. my opinions don't mean squat if most of your meals come from the oven (chicken fingers and tater tots) or the microwave (hot pockets and easymac), so take that into consideration also.

[Jay Ralston]

I found a nice Calphalon set at JC Penny and also another brand called Cooks. The Cooks brand is normally $500.00 but is on sale for $188.88.

Here is a link to both sets I am looking at.

Cooks
cooks 20pc Dishwasher Safe Hard Anodized Set : cyber monday : kitchen & dining : jcpenney

Calphalon
Simply Calphalon Stainless Steel 10pc Set + BONUS : calphalon : kitchen & dining : jcpenney

[Old Fart]

My sauce pans (regular pots with long handles and lids) are Revere. So are my dutch ovens (big pots with small handles on each side, and lids). I have Revere frying pans too, but my go-to frying pans are three sizes of cast iron. I have had these things for decades, and they either look the same (stainless steel) or they get better (cast iron).

I'm not a Teflon man. That stuff is weird, and it does not age well.

[basscooker]

the cooks set looks okay, i guess, depending on the types of cooking you do, but those damn glass lids and plastic handles would turn me off. the calphalon set has far fewer pcs,but is probably better quality. i'm a little on the fence, much like with basses, with buying something i haven't held in my hands. but if you do lots of different styles of cooking and know you will use all those pcs, i'd say go for the cooks set. best of luck, and pm me if you need cooking tips!

[JehuJava]

Get all-clad and you'll own em for life. You can probably find seconds available for reduced prices. I agree plastic handles and glass lids are no good.

[Jay Ralston]

So basscooker, you recommend the Calphalon set then? It does have really good reviews. I'll definitely be hitting you up sometime with cooking tips. I've always just grilled food or nuked it but my wife and I are starting to get more into cooking now.

[basscooker]

I have experience with and own calphalon. it's what I buy, one at a time, and have tons of it. i actually recommended the cooks set, but yes--- if you like it (even tho less pcs) you def can't go wrong with calphalon, plus i'd be a little afraid to put the cooks set skillets in the oven--which is a big deal to me-- pan seared and baked food is way easier to do in the same pan. and i love giving tips on cooking, so i look forward to it. if you're just starting out learning more than from the box-add water type stuff, alton brown is the best, imho. sure the other big stars make good stuff, but there's no way some of the things i've seen them do on tv could be pulled off by someone with no experience (or a culinary staff) without burning something or losing a fingertip.when you're ready to get into it, knives are just as much of a big deal as cookware, so i can help there too- like for example henckels-no, wusthoff,yes, anything advertised as never needs sharpening is a hell no, and paring knives are for peeling, not general cutting- etc.

[Passinwind]

Le Creuset for the win. Buy once, cry once...



That said, buying one piece at a time, tailored to your particular needs and wants rather than in a set is the way I'd go.

[knumbskull]

yep Le Creuset stuff is very good. maybe don't tell yr wife this though, as they are costly...