Cheshirepat

So, we're at the point where we need to replace my old set of coated cookware. Right now the stove is a ceramic top (which I hate but that's another thing altogether) so I want to make it work as best I can. I'm wanting to switch to mostly uncoated cookware...and maybe add a few anodized aluminum pans. I'd love to be able to spend enough to get an All-Clad set, but I don't think that will happen. Consumer Reports came up with good ratings for both the "Made In" brand and Caphalon for uncoated cookware. I've had Caphalon before and liked them well enough...but "Made In" is a relatively newcomer -anyone have their pans? https://madeincookware.com/

I know cookware is like sewing machines, everyone has a favorite flavor...but anyone have cautionary tales? Unexpected happy results? Advice of any sort? ;-) Appreciate any input, really...

nativetexan

they look great. i had such a time finding ones without aluminum in the bottoms. I hate electric stove tops but it is what i have. I still need a 3 qt pot! Good luck.

newbee3

i have had good luck finding a pan every once in a while at the consignment stores and the price is right.

Bags

Ooh, new pots and pans! I've heard of the Made In brand, good reviews. I've never had a chance to use them, unfortunately, but I do love Grant Achatz and Eric Ripert and if they recommend them,...

I think it is very much like a sewing machine. One brand may be loved by one person and another person maybe not like them at all.

We're fortunate that the only "set" of cookware we own are a set of Dansk that was my mother-in-law's. We love using them as everyday pots and pans. Still works as wonderfully today as when she got them. They're at least 17 years old.

Otherwise we buy cookware in individual pieces. We have a couple of Cuisinart, Le Creuset, Emile Henry, of course lots of cast iron, as well as different ethnic cooking vessels. None of them are non-stick and have had no problem with any of them.

Just my 2 cents, not much help Have fun with it though. Can you tell we like to cook at our house?

Barb2018

I was raised in a house where Revere Ware was used. I still have a couple of pots that were my mom's and I'm 63. When I got married over 35 years ago we got a complete set and they're all going strong. The style has changed, and I have no idea if the quality is the same, but I love them.

Cheshirepat

@Bags - Yes, yes I can! I do too -Which cuisines do you enjoy? I have a very mish-mash bunch of cookware right now, including 2 cast irons, a decent stockpot, but my day-to-day skillets and saucepans...just are too beat to work on a daily basis any more. I would love to own some Dansk! I always keep my eyes open at resale stores...

@Barb2018 -Yes, I'm told 'classic' Revere Ware is something to be sought out as well! I love that you have a set from mom... I've got one Le Crueset (bought discount) in orange that is the same style as the one my grandmother used, wish I had her cookware.

@nativetexan -thanks for the luck, I'll need it! I hate making life-changing decisions...like investing in cookware, lol!

Cheshirepat

So! i *may* have semi-obsessively researched pans on my lunch hour. Found 2 things of interest -
1) Carbon steel is probably a better option than anodized aluminum
2) Carbon steel and flat-top stoves may *not* be meant for each other...https://youtu.be/Ub-ADtsGo5s

That being said, I may just try to oven-season and do the slooooow warm before using. I really like the idea of pan is as stick-free as a seasoned cast iron, but less heavy. My arms/hands hate me after a night of cast iron cooking!

Bags

Chesirepat, it would be a shorter list to tell you what we don't like. Lutefisk, and I'm Norwegian! Right this very minute, Ziggy (DH) is fileting anchovies to put on homemade pizza. It's our comfort food some nights.

We make and eat Morrocan, African, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Greek, I know I'm forgetting a whole bunch of others.

We make pretty much everything from scratch. The red sauce is from our garden, if we were using ricotta, we make our own. The sausage we're using tonight, Ziggy made late last month. He also makes chorizo, merguez, lamb sausage, Macedonian. We're always on the hunt for interesting recipes.

Sometimes we don't have the time to make tortillas, so we use store-bought. Or if we forgot to start the dough for pitas or naan, we always have an emergency bag in the freezer

I forgot we don't have an attachment for our hand crank pasta machine to make tubular pasta, so that's store bought

Ziggy just told me that the Dansk set we use is more like 30 years old. If you can find some, buy it.

I forgot to add in my other post, we still use a pan I purchased, when I just got divorced 14 years ago, from Target. The other pan is one Ziggy got at the local Walmart. When we were moving from Montana and the majority of our kitchen stuff was in the moving van, he was in Maine and I was living in a small apartment in Montana for a month, he needed something to use until the van got here.

We don't have to worry about scratching them or abusing them. Inexpensive and they've held up well.

Oh, boy, I've rattled on...Sorry about that. I/we love to cook. Again, have fun. What do cuisines do you like?

pennycandy

TJ Maxx/ Marshall's sometimes has All Clad cookware. I found a 8 quart stockpot and a 2 quart saucepot marked down to half price in the clearance section.

Murphy224

Since you mentioned All-Clad, they have a periodic sale of "seconds" and damaged boxes cookware. I get the emails when they have this sale and have been looking for a 6 or 8 quart stockpot. This past sale I finally got a 6 quart stainless stock pot for $109.00 - regular price about $300! It was a second and the only thing I found on it was a small mark in the center of the bottom of the pot. Made it not perfect but still very usable and a super bargain. Made a pot of soup and it worked like the wonderful 3 quart saucepot my daughter gave me for Christmas. She got mixed up as to what pan I wanted lol.
You can go to All-Clad website and see what they have on sale and sign up for the emails that let you know when they are having those super sales. I have seen the sets on sale as well.
I accidentally ran into a super bargain on QVC of all places and got both the 8 and 10 inch tri ply stainless fry pans for $69. They were used in the on air demos and not a thing was wrong with them. Sometimes you just get lucky.
Have fun shopping for the perfect pans!