Decent, inexpensive pots and pans

[DanM]

I'm thinking that I'm going to buy new pots and pans next year for Passover to replace my tired old meat set. They do not need to be a fancy set, just something that will get me through a week. I'm contemplating a 10" cast iron pan (easy choice, IMHO), but I will also like a small sautee pan, a 1-2qt pot, a 4-6qt pot and a large stock pot. I'm trying to keep my budget around $150, but willing to go up to $200 if the pots are worth it.

Dan

[kayb]

If you're near a factory outlet store, look for a set of copper-bottomed stainless Revere ware. I bought a set a few years back with a 1 1/2 qt and 2 1/2 qt saucepan, 6 1/2 qt Dutch oven/stock pot, and 10-inch saute pan for, I think, $110. They're heavy enough to be serviceable, and have lasted well.

[HungryC]

I'm a fan of MagnaLite. It's ugly, workhorse aluminum cookware, but I have a few pieces that have been going strong since college. Not pretty, but sturdy, thick-walled, and affordable.

[gfweb]

I'm a fan of MagnaLite. It's ugly, workhorse aluminum cookware, but I have a few pieces that have been going strong since college. Not pretty, but sturdy, thick-walled, and affordable.

If its aluminum it ought to be called nonMagnaLite.

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[gfweb]

I'm thinking that I'm going to buy new pots and pans next year for Passover to replace my tired old meat set. They do not need to be a fancy set, just something that will get me through a week. I'm contemplating a 10" cast iron pan (easy choice, IMHO), but I will also like a small sautee pan, a 1-2qt pot, a 4-6qt pot and a large stock pot. I'm trying to keep my budget around $150, but willing to go up to $200 if the pots are worth it.

Dan

The Tramonte line at Walmart always gets great reviews. Comparable to all clad say some.

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[David A. Goldfarb]

Get a cast iron skillet and the rest can be standard issue cast aluminum from a restaurant supply shop.

[weinoo]

I bought a couple of T-Fal "Professional" non-stick pans. They were highly rated in Cook's Illustrated, and the handles on this line can go into a 450 F oven. And, they were cheap.

[andiesenji]

Check on Overstock.com and look at the Cuisinart SS.

Cook's Illustrated or America's Test Kitchen tested several fry pans and large sauce pans and found the Cuisinart was a best buy compared to their favorite, All Clad.

The hard-anodized aluminum cookware carried at Costco and Sam's Club, that looks like Calphalon, is also a good buy and I know several people who use and love it.

My local senior center has has it in their kitchen for three or four years and it has held up very well. I do some volunteer work there and have found no fault with it.

I don't think you have to spend a huge amount on something that is going to get little use.

[Edward J]

Ikea.

The pots are really not that bad for the money. I've been using a few of them in my cafe on a daily basis for four years now, and like them.

[rotuts]

Ikea has two 'stock pot' like items that have a variety of inserts. cooking pasta, steaming etc if you plan to do that they are great. I use these two routinely for those two things all the time

T-fal is also good for non-stick saute pans. make sure you get the ones with the red circle in the middle if you choose to go this route. some do not have that and are thiner and cheaper

I agree that the Tramonte are very good, if there is an IKEA near you they have similar items much cheaper.

some of the 'top of the line' IKEA knives are also good. get the steel and the white ceramic shsarpener.

best of luck!

[Dave the Cook]

The problem with Ikea cookware is that their stores are still geographically sparse, and I wouldn't buy a pot or pan without having handled it in person. Their stuff might be great, but I'm not going to purchase it based on a web image.

I'll third the Tramontina (also available at Target). I don't know who's calling it the equivalent of All-Clad, but I'd question both their judgement and their criteria. As far as I know, none of the Tramontina stuff is fully clad, not that I think that's very important. Moreover, I'd say that Tramontina's handles are superior to All-Clad's -- but that's a matter of individual preference, and a perfect example of why you should get your hands on a piece before buying.

No one's mentioned the deals to be had on overstocks and irregulars at places like TJ Maxx and its spin-off HomeGoods, so I will. I've probably gotten a half-dozen pieces there -- Cuisinart, Sitram, Calphalon -- at stupidly cheap prices. You just have to visit often, and don't buy something until you find exactly what you want.

[andiesenji]

Dave, you are totally correct.

There is a "Tuesday Morning" store in Palmdale that often has very high end cookware for very cheap, less even than Marshall's or T.J. Maxx.

I don't "need" any more cookware but I do buy things at these places for gifts for new brides, housewarming prezzies and etc.

You can get a weekly or monthly notice of new stuff by signing up here.

Right now there has been a rash of engagements of grandchildren of friends (seems like only a couple of years since it was their children) and at the discount prices I can afford to give them more than if I purchased at a department store.

Here in Calif. Smart & Final has great prices on cookware that is designed for restaurant use.

Edited April 24, 2011 by andiesenji (log)

[gfweb]

The problem with Ikea cookware is that their stores are still geographically sparse, and I wouldn't buy a pot or pan without having handled it in person. Their stuff might be great, but I'm not going to purchase it based on a web image.

I'll third the Tramontina (also available at Target). I don't know who's calling it the equivalent of All-Clad, but I'd question both their judgement and their criteria. As far as I know, none of the Tramontina stuff is fully clad, not that I think that's very important. Moreover, I'd say that Tramontina's handles are superior to All-Clad's -- but that's a matter of individual preference, and a perfect example of why you should get your hands on a piece before buying.

No one's mentioned the deals to be had on overstocks and irregulars at places like TJ Maxx and its spin-off HomeGoods, so I will. I've probably gotten a half-dozen pieces there -- Cuisinart, Sitram, Calphalon -- at stupidly cheap prices. You just have to visit often, and don't buy something until you find exactly what you want.

If memory serves, it was Cooks Illustrated that did the pan ranking. It surprised them too.

[Chris Amirault]

I am a very big fan of Sitram, and though this set is beyond your range, well, I couldn't resist including it here. I got a similar one years ago and see no need to ever get anything else.

[tim]

As far as I know, none of the Tramontina stuff is fully clad,

Hi,

In fact, the Tramontina 8-Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel TriPly-Clad Cookware Set is fully clad and available a many discount stores.

Tim

Edited April 25, 2011 by tim (log)

[jrshaul]

Sorry to push the thread off-topic, but I'm very much in need of a good multipurpose frying pan and have a very small budget. The low cost of restaurant supply stuff is quite appealing, though I don't know the brands - any good ones aside from Volrath?

[Will]

Sorry to push the thread off-topic, but I'm very much in need of a good multipurpose frying pan and have a very small budget. The low cost of restaurant supply stuff is quite appealing, though I don't know the brands - any good ones aside from Volrath?

Are you looking for aluminum with non-stick interior, carbon steel, or stainless interior with aluminum or copper base?

As far as non-stick / aluminum, probably on the mid-price, good quality:

Lincoln Wearever (I think they're owned by Vollrath now?)

Browne-Halco

Winco

Polar Ware (I believe also US made; never used their pans, but their bowls are pretty well made)

Many of these brands have different levels of thickness. While stuff designed for restaurant kitchens should be tough enough for home use overall, given the price difference, might as well go for something heavy duty - this also helps prevent over-heating of the pan to the point where any toxic stuff might be a problem.

I'd buy somewhere local if you can (so you can feel the pan in your hand), but Food Service Warehouse http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/aluminum-frying-pans-non-stick/c1978_447-Yes.aspx will give you a pretty good idea of what's out there and what it costs.

Maybe a bit higher end, but pricier:

Mafter Bourgeat

Sitram

Pick up a carbon-steel frying pan too - a cheap one can be had for not much at all.

Edited July 13, 2011 by Will (log)

[Porthos]

If you're near a factory outlet store, look for a set of copper-bottomed stainless Revere ware. I bought a set a few years back with a 1 1/2 qt and 2 1/2 qt saucepan, 6 1/2 qt Dutch oven/stock pot, and 10-inch saute pan for, I think, $110. They're heavy enough to be serviceable, and have lasted well.

I'm 57. I have a Revere 3 qt pan that I cooked with as a child, my mother continued to use after I left home and I inherited it from her 3 years ago. It's still in good condition. We have 2 more that my wife and I added 33 years ago. IMHO it's good stuff.

[Porthos]

By the way, I strongly recommend against the Paula Dean 12 Qt stockpot available at Walmart, Target and other places. I bought 2 and they both had the enamel coating start cracking off.

[annabelle]

There is an All-Clad outlet store in Canonsburg, north of Pittsburgh and about 2 hours from Akron, OH. They also have an online store that is comparable in pricing. If you or one of your friends/family is active or retired military, AAFES has some really great deals on cookware, with the bonus of there being no charge for shipping if you are in the US.

Edited July 14, 2011 by annabelle (log)

[ScoopKW]

I shop for pots and pans at Thrift Stores, on Craigslist, on "Crazedlist" (google it), and on eBay.

I have a near-complete set of All-Clad Cop-R-Chef and a bunch of Mauviel. I paid $5 to $30 for each piece. Just have to be patient. Took me about four years to assemble all the pots and pans I wanted. Short of the paella pan, I have them all. I'll find the paella pan some day. And I'll pay $11 for it. Just you wait.

EDIT -- Oh, and just the other week, I found some 15-piece Calphalon stainless set at a thrift -- new in the box -- for $99. Snatched that up, for when I'm not in the mood for scrubbing copper.

Thrift stores -- you won't BELIEVE what turns up in them. Tiffany glass, Patek Philippe, you name it...

Edited July 14, 2011 by ScoopKW (log)

[Dakki]

By the way, I strongly recommend against the Paula Dean 12 Qt stockpot available at Walmart, Target and other places. I bought 2 and they both had the enamel coating start cracking off.

Enameled steel is pretty much disposable cookware. The coating is fragile, and any tiny crack will expose the underlying steel, which will in turn corrode and damage the enamel further. I grew up with it and it remains cheapest and most common stuff around here, although light-gauge stainless is making strides.

(*waits for the flood of contrarian posts from people saying their wonderful Italian grandmother cooked with the same enameled pot for six hundred years and how dare we judge them*)

[Porthos]

(*waits for the flood of contrarian posts from people saying their wonderful Italian grandmother cooked with the same enameled pot for six hundred years and how dare we judge them*)

I will say that I have a 20 qt stock pot of the same style of construction that has held up.

[Dakki]

You've had two out of three fail.

[Porthos]

I shop for pots and pans at Thrift Stores, on Craigslist, on "Crazedlist" (google it), and on eBay.

I have a near-complete set of All-Clad Cop-R-Chef and a bunch of Mauviel. I paid $5 to $30 for each piece. Just have to be patient. Took me about four years to assemble all the pots and pans I wanted. Short of the paella pan, I have them all. I'll find the paella pan some day. And I'll pay $11 for it. Just you wait.

EDIT -- Oh, and just the other week, I found some 15-piece Calphalon stainless set at a thrift -- new in the box -- for $99. Snatched that up, for when I'm not in the mood for scrubbing copper.

Thrift stores -- you won't BELIEVE what turns up in them. Tiffany glass, Patek Philippe, you name it...

I need to move to Vegas. Here in southern California I have visited multiple thrift stores weekly in northern Orange County, eastern Los Angeles County, and Western San Bernardino County for the last 10 years and have never found such good deals as you describe. I'm Jealous!! I visited 2 thrift stores on my way home tonight and found nothing of interest.

I do use ebay for commercial cookware for my Renaissance Faire cooking (not for the public but for one of the guilds).