Reddit mentions: The best kitchen cookware sets

I was actually starting to draft a little cooking ideas post like this. This is just what I found value in and will ramble because I haven't really edited it down at all. So if anyone reads it and has notes please let me know, it's fairly directionless at the moment. It is also from the perspective of and aimed towards young single people but not exclusive to. I am also well aware a lot of you folks are good cooks or at least have a functional kitchen and I in no way want it to sound like I'm more knowledgeable than anyone with an hour to watch youtube videos.

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TL:DR Make sure your skills are on point before getting convenience tools as you might not need them, a cast iron or good stainless steel skillet and a good couple of knives can do most things in a kitchen, plan meals before you shop to avoid wastefulness.

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This post is big, flawed, and broken into two main sections. One is purely skills based, stuff you can totally do for free and can start doing right this moment. That's a big part of minimalism for me, gaining skills and getting good at some things rather than owning and being okay at a ton of things. The second section is more of a buy guide, again all from my experience.

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First off is to focus less on the equipment and more on the technique. Fundamentally, knife skills, understanding of cook times, heat, and technique, creativity and planning are some terms I like. In addition I have thoughts on tools and ingredients

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First, learn your knife, do drills, practice good form constantly. When I started in a fast-food-y sandwich shop when I was 16, the manager (who was a line cook for years) suggested I practice things like chopping a carrot as thinly as possible, or celery, or breaking down onion and garlic. Then I got to work with the prep team (which was cool because they taught me Spanish) to learn basic stuff like sauces and cooking meats. The result is a few years later, I have a decent knife. Not as good as a legit cook or anything but enough that I can confidently use a sharp knife to do anything a home cook would ever need to.

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Cook times. It's way less intimidating to work on food when you know "okay my chicken will take this long, oven takes this long, rice needs this much time", and so on. From a minimalist perspective, this will help you cut down on some tools such as a plug-in type grill, rice cookers, stuff that times or cooks food for you. Learning how to use heat also really improves the versatility of something as simple as a cast iron pan. Technique will allow you to make staple dishes or at least be able to take a guess at how to prepare just about anything, and the most valuable tip for that is look up how to make individual components of dishes rather than just recipes over and over. This becomes relevant in the next portion as well.

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Creativity. As some people are mentioning, "aspirational groceries" cause clutter and waste in the form of garbage and money. Creativity helps solve this when paired with planning. When shopping, I found it valuable to plan out meals for the week. Buy what you need, make a note of what isn't used, and refine. That's planning. Creativity is ending up with some random ingredients and Macgyvering it together so you don't waste or overspend. That is made much easier by having solid cooking techniques so you have a bit of a starting off point for creativity.

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Now into the stuff. I personally think a couple things are fundamental. Babish from YouTube has a great List . First off, get a good 7" to 8" Chef knife. I use a Gyuto but that's more because I impulse bought one when I first moved out and had all the money in the world from not having any expenses and was talked into it by a very nice saleswoman at the knife shop in town. Wusthof is a great name in knives and if you can get a hold of an 8" one of those, a bread knife, and maybe a pairing knife (I don't really use mine much but some people do) you will be able to do most things. I'd avoid buying a knife set just because you're more than likely paying for an extra 3 or so knives you won't use, and they're cheap for a reason. But to each their own, it is very convenient to have the steak knives, honing rod, and scissors that most of them include. No judgement here. Plus they're really really affordable.

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Now as to everything else, I'm not as researched. I think a good cast iron skillet is fantastic from a minimalist perspective as you can do most things that you'd really ever need to do on it, from frying to saute to some baking. Kent Rollins is first off a joy to watch but more importantly uses very limited tools. He does have his specialized "bertha" stove but for the most part it's just him with either open fires or a hot stove cooking in cast iron pans and dutch ovens. If you want to know more, I'd just watch the babish video above, he talks more about why he has what he has, such as this expensive but amazing set of pots and pans. Off the top of my head: baking sheets, a large cutting board, a meat thermometer (safety), measuring cups and spoons, box grater (or one coarse grater and one microplane grater), spatulas, tongs, etc.

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Like I said this is mostly ranting, and I'm going to research and trim it down for the future, but these are my thoughts at the moment.

Lots to discuss here.
Knives: those knives look nice, but I recommend you go to a kitchen store and actually try knives before you decide. Handles are really important, and what works for one person might not work for another. You can go to WS or SLT and try knives to your heart's content.

Don't know anything about that particular cookware, but I notice there's no skillet in the set: perhaps you want to buy a skillet separately? Which is a smart move, IMO. The skillet will likely get the most use and the hardest use, so spend some money on a good one. Cuisinart MC Pro and Tramontina are almost as good as All-Clad for less money, or if you want to go top of the line get a Demeyere Proline skillet. You won't regret the investment if you want the good stuff, I promise!

Nonstick: love Vollrath, but hate the silocone handle on that skillet. A T-fal is going to last just as long for a little less money, or you can get a set of 2 All Clad cast aluminum pans for less than $60 (a great deal!).
sous vide: I have the Anova but if I had to do it over I would get the Joule all the way. Head and shoulders a better product! All the accessories? Eh. I use a big stockpot and it's worked for pretty much everything. Not sure you need a dedicated sous vide tub, and think of the storage space you'll need for it.
Coffee: my coffee maker broke 15 years ago and I've been making French press ever since. It's way better, and no coffee maker out on the counter. I have this guy after breaking a few glass ones. It's lasted for about 5 years now and going strong. Almost as good as espresso at a fraction of the work!
Immersion blender: You have to be really careful here. The cheaper ones have plastic gears and won't last. Even some of the higher-priced ones are questionable (Breville? All-Clad?). I recently bought a Bamix, the original immersion blender, Swiss made, built like a tank. Read the reviews, you'll see what I mean.

Also would get a good blender: I have a Blendtec, never regretted it.

Electric pressure cooker: TBH I would get a stovetop. They're better quality (Kuhn Rikon or Fissler all they way) and so much more pleasurable to use.

I love that you want the good quality stuff! Good tools make all the difference in the kitchen. You don't have to go top of the line on everything but what I've mentioned here I've found have made my life so much easier. Have you considered a vacuum sealer? It's the dark horse kitchen appliance that I never would have thought I needed, but I got it when I got the sous vide and it has saved hundreds if not thousands in less wasted food.

Have fun stocking your new kitchen!

The best advice I can give you is to check out the America's Test Kitchen equipment reviews. Some of the things they recommend will be out of your budget, but most of the things will get you great quality at an affordable price. I'm very active in my kitchen and I don't buy anything without first looking to see if it's an item they've reviewed.

Example: Victorinox Fibrox Knives. Commercial quality, BIFL knives, and a fraction of the price you'll spend on department store BS.

$600 is a stretch to outfit a kitchen, but there are soooooooo many kitchen items sold that you DON'T need. Stay away from gadgets that only have one purpose. You can do MOST of what your really need with simple, multi-purpose tools. So here's the basics:

1. Knives (Victorinox Fibrox)Amazon This is a decent starter set that will give you versatility starting off. Add as you go.
   
2. Pots and Pans - All clad is the BIFL industry standard. I have them and love them. But a set will crush your budget. A starting set will usually be cheaper than one-piece at a time. For your budget I'd recommend the Tramontina tri-ply wich ATK rated highly right next to All Clad. At around $140, it's a great set. Also, get a non-stick skillet and whatever other non-stick pieces you can afford. The best rated non-stick cookware (better than All Clad, I've had both) is good old Tfal. Ask for the All Clad Stainless stuff if you ever get married.
   
3. Food Storage - I consider good food storage to be a kitchen basic, and the I like Snapware Airtight. But if the budget is tight, you can probably get buy on Gladware for a while.
   
4. Other Tools - This list should get you started without too much "fluff"
   vegetable peeler, grater, liquid & dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, thermometers (instant read), spatulas (plastic & metal), Wooden Spoons, Ladel & Larger Spoons, Tongs, Colander
   
5. Bakeware - at a minimum, get 2 commercial style aluminum sheet pans and I recommend 2 silpats to fit. These will make flawless cookies, roast vegetables, whatever in the oven. I'd also get some wire racks to fit as well. The rest depends on what you want to bake.
   
6. Small Appliances - this is where it gets tricky. Remember, focus on multi-purpose machines. I'd rather have one high-quality electric motor than many cheap ones - less to break. The first appliance I would buy are: a stand mixer (kitchen aid), a food processor(cuisinart), a blender (my favorite value, the new Oster Versa (a Vitamix without the price tag).
   
7. Dinnerware, Flatware and Glasses - Stick with classic stuff. White plates never go out of style and make the food "pop". Doesn't need to be expensive now.
   
   I'm sure I missed some things, but this will get you started. My recommendations added up will take you over your budget but you can decide what's most important to you. Don't skimp on the knives or the pots and pans.

From Season 10: Who Wants Pasta?

> Overview:
We’ve never liked cookware sets. Most bundle together a lot of pans we don’t need and not enough of the ones we do—the five or six hardworking multitaskers that we turn to every day. Besides pans in impractical sizes (1-quart saucepans good for little more than melting butter or 8-inch skillets that are only useful if you’re cooking for one), these sets typically feature limited-use “specialty” cookware. Why clog your cabinets with sauté pans (skillets with high, straight sides), sauciers (rounded saucepans with wide rims), or “chef’s” pans (saucepans shaped like woks with domed lids) if you’ve already got a Dutch oven and other basic pans that can do anything they can do and more? And if you think you’ve found an incredible deal on a “14-piece” assortment, beware: Manufacturers count each lid and anything else that isn’t riveted on as a separate piece.

>That said, buying pieces one by one gets expensive—particularly with high-end brands. If we could find a set that was a truly good value for the money, offering durable, high-quality construction and a selection on a par with our needs, we’d happily recommend it.


TESTING NOTES

WINNER:
All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10 piece - $799.95

> This set came closest to our ideal and includes winning pans from previous testings in sizes we’ve identified as the most useful. The fry pans have low, flaring sides and broad cooking surfaces; the saucepans are sturdy and hefty for slow, steady cooking; the stockpot is roomy enough for most big cooking jobs.

Pros: Superb construction; proven winner; plenty of pans to add

Cons: Expensive; available only at Williams-Sonoma NOT! ~OP

Best Buy:

Tramontina 18/10 Stainless Steel TriPly-Clad Cookware Set, 8-piece - $144.97

> This fully clad cookware set is an amazing bargain, with performance, design, and construction comparable to All-Clad cookware (though cooking surfaces are slightly smaller). Sturdy and moderately heavy, with riveted handles and slow, steady heating.
Pros: Well designed; performance comparable to All-Clad
Cons: Small pans; limited supply; available only at Wal-Mart

Also RECOMMENDED:

• Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 8-piece - $299.99
  
  > A strong performer at less than half the price of the top-ranked All-Clad set. Wide, low saucepans made it easy to see the food inside; fry pans with low, angled sides encouraged evaporation during simmering. We only wish that instead of glass, the lids were stainless steel, which is more durable and heatproof at any temperature.
  Pros: Solid performers; stable supply of additional pans
  Cons: Stockpot and fry pans are small; glass lids
  
  2 others were RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS:
  
  
• KitchenAid Gourmet Reserved Brushed Stainless Cookware Set, 10-piece - $179.99
  
• Kenmore Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10-piece - $159.99
  
  
  
  NOT RECOMMENDED:
  
  
• Rachael Ray Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10-piece

Different surfaces for different things.

One decent nonstick pan is great to have for things like eggs, but isn't great at high heat applications like searing meat. You'll never build a good fond in nonstick, and having pots lined with nonstick coating is just unnecessary. A couple of pans -- a larger one for cooking fish or day-to-day "I'm just browning some ground beef" kind of stuff, and a smaller one for fried eggs or whatever -- will be plenty. You don't want to spend too much on a nonstick pan, though, because by their nature their lifespan is limited.

One cast iron pan is great to have because it's great at really high-heat applications, but can also be used for any number of other things -- you can sear a roast in it, you can bake a deep-dish pizza in it, or brown off some chicken and then braise it in the same pan. It can become pretty nonstick over time, with the right care, but that's a long-term process. Cast iron is heavy, though, and requires different care than other pans (it's not difficult to take care of, just... different. You can't chuck it in the dishwasher and walk away.)

For an all-purpose workhorse, look for stainless steel. It's good in a wide range of applications, and can do almost anything reasonably well. It's a little more prone to sticking (which is a good thing in many cases), but it's also durable enough that you can scour the fuck out of it on those occasions when you need to.

More important than the surface of a pan, IMHO, is the base. Avoid anything with a thin base; over time, it'll warp, and that creates hotspots and wobbles that make cooking a pain in the ass. You want pans that have a pretty thick base. If you can get something that has a layer of aluminum sandwiched in, that's great. Aluminum conducts heat better than steel, so pans will get hot faster with some aluminum included. You don't really want to cook directly on aluminum, though, so something with steel and aluminum layers in the base is ideal.

You're probably not going to find one single set that covers absolutely everything; I'd advise one base set of stainless steel, and then a few add-ons as time/money allows. I know Cuisinart does a pretty nice set of tri-ply stainless steel pots and pans that runs under $200, and goes on sale for even less regularly. Add a T-fal nonstick pan or two, and one good Lodge cast iron skillet, and you'd be well-equipped for most things.

So, the market has gotten full of a bunch of spammy branded stuff.

The standard advice would be it's better to pick individual pans, vs a set, but in your situation a set may be better.

Anodizing is a way of finishing aluminum with a durable surface. Usually these will have a nonstick interior with the anodized exterior, but all anodized pots do exist. TFal, Faberware, etc, make a lot of sets of this sort, and they're generally a good value option for nonstick.

True copper pans are quite expensive. They're the best in terms of head conductivity and precisely adjusting temp, but you'll be paying for it. Copper plating is just marketing BS to trick people into thinking a cheap pan is something like a copper core'd pan.

Ceramic can mean a bunch of things, but in recent years the market's been flooded with non stick coatings that are essentially equivalent to teflon but branded as ceramic to avoid people who read too many BS health blogs.

As far as safety goes, teflon is perfectly safe so long as you don't get it hot enough to start smoking. It's used routinely in medical implants, and no matter what's on some blog, we're quite confident about the lack of health risks.

As for what pans are best, to some extent that comes down personal taste and style. But broadly you're looking at either aluminum pans with a nonstick coating, or tri-ply which have an aluminum core with stainless exterior. With tri-ply stainless pans you want one where the entire pan is the sandwich construction, not the ones that just glue a disk on the bottom. Stainless are best for searing, and in particular the technique of deglazing. On the flip side they're a bit of a nightmare for eggs. So in the end I have a mix of stainless, nonstick, and some cast iron thrown into the mix.

If you just want a basic setup that's high value to get going in the kitchen, I'd get a nonstick set similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Anodized-Cookware-Thermo-Spot-Indicator/dp/B004KSN8XY and then either a cast iron or tri-ply skillet for searing duty.

• What are you doing right now? Be as specific as possible. (And don't answer commenting on this thread, smart ass)
  
  I am listening to Blue's Clues and thinking about turning the heat on. It's cold today. Wet and rainy and gray. Yuck.
  
  
• Why are you doing that?
  
  Well the kiddos are watching Blues Clues so I don't have much choice but to hear it. As to comtemplating hte heat, well, I'm cold.
  
  
• What are you going to do tomorrow?
  
  Hopefully pay bills and do some grocery shopping. It depends whether or not I can get a payday advance since my husband's work screwed up his direct deposit.
  
  
• Name one long-term goal you have (A month off or more)
  
  Well my goal is to get my husband's credit score up 60 points so that we can qualify to buy a house within the next year.
  
  
• What is on your desk? Be as specific as possible.
  
  Oh God. My desk is everybody's dumping ground. Umm...there are a ton of papers, hand sanitizer, headphones, stack of DVDs, a koosh ball, a beanie baby chicken, a marshmallow shooter, my wallet, my cell phone, my check book, a bunch of pens, 2 different packs of girl's hair clips, scissors, a packet of girls earrings, a box of nail gems, a corded pirates of the carribean phone, green lantern head phones, an MP3 player, cheese cloth, a pack of AA batteries, a packet of green bean seeds, a flat head screw driver, a stapler, a reddit alien decal, clothes pins, receipts, playing cards and cough drops.
  
  
• Open the nearest book to a random page and post the first sentence from that page.
  
  It has been sixty-four years since the president and the consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected the cure.
  
  
• What book was it?
  
  Delerium by Lauren Oliver
  
  
• What was the last thing you had to eat?
  
  A leftover piece of Pizza Hut's meat lover pizza
  
  
• What is the last book you read? Did you like it?
  
  Delerium by Lauren Oliver. I did like it and wanted to read the next in the trilogy until I ran into a review that ruined it for me.
  
  
• What is the best book you've read since the start of 2013?
  
  I read the Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin, that was really good.
  
  
• Link to the item you want most on your wishlist.
  
  I hate doing dishes and would LOVE these.
  
  Zweihander

1. Something grey

2. Thunderstorm MP3

3. Take your pick just scroll down

4. For my baby because I want a cool ass baby haha! Also, daddy will like it!

5. The Hater trilogy, linked is the first of the 3. This book keeps you on your toes. It's an amazing apocalyptic book that has immense imagery. All I can say is read it.

6. Nail tape, it's not nail polish, just decoration.

7. Cats! There is a cat in the design.

8. So pretty!!

9. Because it'll always put a smile on your face!

10. Survival Backpack Has enough items to help a group of 4 survive for 72 hours. This will give the people with the pack a 72 hour head start from everyone else to establish a safe spot. Everyone else is trying to find essentials now getting stuck and eventually taken over by a hoard, whereas the person with the pack doesn't need to waste time getting food, water, and some medical kit.

11. Cookware My boyfriend and I have been living with his parents for a while now and we are getting our own apartment soon (all utilities included, yay!!). His parents decided not to pay the gas company the $500 deposit to have it turned on because we live in the south and don't need to heat our apartment, we would only use gas for cooking. Because of that I haven't had a meal cooked on/in a stove in about a year. We either eat things fresh, microwaved, in a crock pot, or fried. I am sick and fucking tired of it. With the cookware I'll be able to change my eating habits because I won't be limited to what things I can cook with. Also, when I was a little girl, I never ate at a kitchen table because we didn't have one. We would eat meals separately, and I always longed for the family dinner atmosphere. My goal is to have a family dinner at least 3 times a week. I know the cookware won't help me achieve that goal, but it puts me one step closer.

12. Baby mittens

13. Soda Stream It's the 2nd most expensive item, the survival pack above is, but the Soda Stream is my dream item. My ex roommate had one and it's amazing! Also, I'm pregnant and can't have caffeine, but I love the bubbles so much!!! With the Soda Stream, I'll be able to make anything carbonated!!! I LOVE mixing in the Crystal Light powered packets, yummy!!

14. Cute storage cube

15. Owl Necklace

16. Chocolate

17. Beautiful Katmari

18. Pens

19. I'm obsessed with my unborn baby. But then again, aren't most expecting mothers??

20. Instant smoke ring machine! Does the awesomeness of instant smoke rings need to be described!?!

Made in Oregon

Thanks for the contest, this was fun!!

fear cuts deeper than swords

1 ~ I am eating oatmeal with brown sugar and golden raisins. and black coffee

2 ~ I am attempting to eat breakfast daily as i have issues with that, with eating in general. i picked oatmeal as its easy to make and filling. i found a good brand that i enjoy with a few different flavors.

3 ~ tomorrow i am going to most likely be taking my kids to their grandma's like i usually do on Fridays. after that i'm not sure. its payday so probably grocery shopping.

4 ~ the current long term goal i have is to run a 5k. the one i have set is Emotions in Motion, a walk put on by SAVE (Suicide Awareness and Voices of Education) i hope to run in honor of a friend of mine that killed himself in December. he was a marathon runner and maybe someday i'll run one of the marathons he did. (i'm a complete running newb though, just picked it up after his death).

5 ~ my desk is my kitchen counter, so... its got a container full of spatulas and spoons and whatnot. there's two picture frames with some postcards that a painter friend made that i found fitting for the kitchen. and a hook with potholders that my Nagymama crocheted.

6 ~ After parking the department's speedy beefed-up hover-car on the roof of the San Francisco Hall of Justice on Lombard street, bounty hunter Rick Deckard, briefcase in hand, descended to Harry Bryant's office.

7 ~ Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick.

8 ~ see #1, currently eating oatmeal.

9 ~ I am currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman, i'm about halfway through and i'm loving it.

10 ~ best book i've read this year was A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. the 14th and final book of the Wheel of Time series. it was an amazing book, but also the conclusion of my journey through the series has been amazing. ten years of reading the same storyline (although i know for others its been longer).

11 ~ this pan set is my most wanted item i believe. my pans have crapped out and i'm unable to make a few of the things i like best because of that. crepes... mmmm... crepes.


not gonna lie, i had to google Zweihander. thanks for hosting a contest.

Is your apartment unfurnished? If so you will need some basic furnishings:

• a table
  
• some chairs to go with that table
  
• comfortable seating of some sort- possibly a couch (a futon is nice if you are going to possibly have guests sleep over) or love seat or upholstered chair of some sort
  
• a TV if you feel like you want one (optional)
  
• a bed and a mattress and some bedding and sheets (obviously)
  
• a bedside table (optional)
  
• somewhere to store your clothing if your room does not come with a closet already
  
  As far as basic living supplies go:
  
  
• 4 spoons, knives, forks
  
• mugs
  
• 2 dinner plates, bowls
  
• some knives for cooking
  
• cutting board
  
• mixing bowl
  
• spatula (HEAT RESISTANT) and turner and spoons for mixing. Also possibly a whisk but really you could usually get the job done with a fork
  
• cheap set of pots & pans
  
• a cookie sheet
  
• a fan is usually useful for some airflow
  
• microwave if this is already not included
  
• books just for fun
  
• cleaning supplies: shower cleaner, clorox wipes, swiffer, toilet cleaner, dish soap, windex
  
• plunger & toilet brush
  
  School supplies in college are pretty basic- you don't need much, but depending on your major this could go waaay up or down. But as far as I'm concerned your basic supplies are as follows:
  
  
• laptop (optional- there are always computers everywhere anyway, laptops are just convenient)
  
  
• notebooks and folders OR binder with looseleaf paper, depending on your organizational preference
  
  
• stapler
  
  
• pens and pencils (I like to have two different colors for pens)
  
  
• calculator (if you will be taking math courses- go for scientific because a lot of the time graphing is not allowed)
  
  Things to consider:
  
  
• Will you be paying for wifi and/or basic cable (if you want a TV)?
  
  
• Is your lease for a year or X months? If it is a year, will you have to sublease while you're away for the summer (if you are going away)?
  
  
• How far from campus do you live? What does the general area look like? Are you going to have to take public transportation different places? Know the area.
  
  I know its scary, but living alone is great, and studying in a university is really not a huge deal once you get into the rhythm of things. You'll do great, kid.

I love cooking and while I can not help you with the soap and other beauty products I can help you with the cooking utensils

As said before- Pyrex Is the way to go when getting rid of plastic (29$)

For Cooking utentisls I would never recommend stainless as it gets so hot and can ruin certain pans. Instead Wooden is the way to go for 6$

As a bonus here is a link to disposable wooden utensils for camping and holiday use for 20$ so you wouldn't have to use plastic.

If you don't have one a steamer is a life changing item, this steamer and ricecooker gadet is a great combo for you. You can use it strictly for gluten free cooking and let your family have their rice made on the stove. at 15$

I highly recommend Pyrex for your measuring cups too. They work in the microwave and are pretty amazing for 15.

I agree that stainless pots are the way to go I checked out the reviews on this set and found that it has the best costumer service and finishing at 57$

I don't know if this helps or not but I did try! Good luck stopping smoking and if I win surprise me!

I'll just list everything that I can, how's that?

The bakers rack on the left is This

The left most skillet is an AUS-ION
They're made in Australia and so smooth. Some nice touches of the piece are the very detailed cut-out of Australia on the handle and another nice engraving on the bottom.

Then there's the Stargazer. My first expensive piece. It's also very smooth. It's had a hard time keeping its seasoning, and I've admittedly been babying it by seasoning and seasoning it with flaxseed oil and a Crisbee puck.

Then there is the Finex group. It starts with the 10" grill pan. Then there's the 12" and 8". I just love the different geometric shapes of them.

All the way to the right is the Lodge Sauce Pot

I haven't used it a whole lot other than to make a few dips.

Between the big hanging skillets are some Lodge 4" and 5" skillets that I thought just looked cool and rounded out my collection.

The griddle is just a double sided griddle from world market. It's my go to pancake tool.

Then there is an A1 Chef pizza pan that I honestly don't use very much. I tend to just use some cheap aluminum pans with holes on the bottom because they're easier to form the crust on.

On the middle shelf from left to right are my 10" and 12" lodges. The 10" was my very first cast iron skillet. They've both been stripped and reseasoned and are much smoother than factory. I don't see myself giving up my first two skillets. I still use them a lot.

In the middle is the 10" grill pan from Lodge. I honestly hate cleaning the grill pans and have found that the lines in the meat aren't really worth the scraping. There's also some cheap fajita skillet that I don't think I've ever used.

And on the right is the Lodge enameled dutch oven but in the light grey. I love this thing, and got it for a song on Amazon one day.

On the bottom shelf on the left is the Lodge Wok I have definintely not used it. It seems like it would be better on a gas range, which I don't have. This was an impulse buy, and I don't know how to really cook any asian food, so who knows.

Then last but not least is the regular Lodge Dutch Oven
Many a roast has been made in this. The drip spikes on top does the basting for you. I just got a sous vide setup, so I'll probably be using it less and less, but sometimes I know I'll want the smell of a roast wafting through the air all day on a cold Autumn day.

Bonus pieces Kitchenaid Stainless Steel cookware set on top with All clad non-stick pans to the right of those.

Then there are some Lodge Stonewear on the other bakers rack

Not the fanciest, but we got this set when we got married and those pots are still going strong 8 years later. Not reason for us to replace them. The pans lasted us about 5 years before we upgraded to all clad.


As for towels. Those are friggen expensive.
Also a couple of sets of sheets.

Maybe some nice pillows. My husband and I both recently bought these and love them.

A nice set of silverware and steak knives. Get six steak knives. You think 4 is enough, but it's not.

Hmmm what else... Oh a roasting pan. You might only use it once a year, but you'll want it some day. Mine is kitchenaid and I love it. Literally only use it once a year on thanksgiving but it's awesome.

I buy gift cards from Kroger because of the gas points :D

Also, if you haven't already, try the Kind brand bars for snacking. They have other great things too like cereal and other goodies.

You're going to think I'm crazy, but baby wash is so good to use for bathing. It's gentle on the skin. The shampoo is a good idea too. Also, it doesn't have to be bought from Pantry.

Mixing bowls in steel so you know you can get them hot in the sink or dishwasher and they'll be clean.

If you need food storage, get rid of the porous plastic and go with Pyrex, which is glass.

Again, I think stainless is the way to go. You can see if there's something on it, there's no extra lining (like non-stick that chips) and you can get it hot and completely sanitize it. I like this cooking set and you can add the cooking utensils too!

If I win, just surprise me :)

This stuff (minus the wash) puts you at about $130 so in between your ~$100-$150

I eat brown rice and vegetables pretty much Monday through Saturday... Then on Sunday I will cook a nice steak or bbq chicken.

It's a great way to save money and eat better. I cheat all the time but I've become a much better cook and I really look forward to cooking something delicious on Sunday. Trust me if you plan on changing your diet you're going to have to learn to cook if you haven't already. It's really not hard, and once you start to really learn what you like you really do eat quite well for cheap.

Maybe this will help:

1. Rice Cooker
   
   
2. Spices to play with until you find out what you like
   
   
3. mother fucking rice blends
   
   
4. food processor
   
   
5. decent starter kitchen set
   
   

I purchased this Cooks Standard set 4 years ago for $225 and I've been loving it. No need to worry about using metal or scrubbing hard. I do occasionally use Bar Keepers Friend to polish up the pans for a brand-new look.

If you don't want this brand/set specifically, for sure get at least tri-ply like already mentioned. I think metal pans (vs non-stick coating) are better for all around cooking. Sure, you need to use more oil/butter in your cooking, but moderate amounts of fat are important in a diet. Its highly processed, added sugars, and excess salt you need to worry about.

For when I needed a non-stick, like for eggs, I picked up this T-fal and the non-stick is fantastic, even after a few years of careful use.

I also have a Lodge cast iron dutch oven set which is great for when I use it, but I find it difficult to use effectively. Perhaps I'm just not using the proper techniques, so I don't get much use of it... but I do love to use it when I get around to it. Learning proper care for cast iron is essential - read up before you use (and possibly ruin!)

I just bought this set:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooks-Standard-Multi-Ply-Stainless-Steel-10-Piece/dp/B00421AYJK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1426122458&sr=1-1&keywords=cooks+standard+cookware

I am very happy with it. It cost $163 (was on sale for $125 a while back, but I missed it), and it's every bit as good as All Clad. Stainless steel inside and out with an aluminum core that goes all the way up the sides.

There's also a larger set that has a big saute pan with a lid in addition to what's in the ten piece set.

The weird looking piece is a nice steamer that fits in either of the smaller saucepans. There are lids that fit both frying pans. The handles are more comfortable than All Clad handles which have edges that dig into your palms. The handles stay cool to the touch even after prolonged cooking in a pot or pan.

The Cuisinart multi-ply set looks pretty good and isn't much more, but the handles on that set look like the All Clad handles from the picture. I haven't tried them in person.

My opinion is that you want to look for a 3 ply set (2 layers of steel surrounding aluminum that goes all the way up the side), not just a 3 ply disc on the bottom.

Condensed college class are great, but my BIO II class is cray. I've got two papers, a presentation, 10 labs, and 5 exams to complete in 5 weeks. I am looking forward to dissecting the pig fetus.

Beer of the week is Lagunitas IPA, pretty good drink that you can make last for a while. Has anyone had beer from Jolly Pumpkin Brewery? They just started distributing in Texas..

Making some Koren ground beef and broccoli with rice tomorrow, then the next day doing some Chinese style boiled chicken. Haven't tried to do a Chinese style boil, or poach, so that should be pretty interesting.

You choose: Management Information Systems at UH or Information Systems + Information Assurance at UTSA.

Thoughts on a set of these as an upgrade for pots and pans?

I've got a small toad living in my potted herb garden, keeps burrowing in'em. Want to scare the little fella away but can't bring myself to do so.. As of now he's chilling with a pot that used to have some mixed micro greens.

Anyone else really looking forward to the World of Ice and Fire by GRRM?

Interesting article on bacteria that eat electricity

If any of y'all ever played C&C these folks are working on an open source version of Red Alert, and it is amazing.

Anyone want to buy me one of these to give away?

Controversial opinion, cupcakes are the devil.

Hey, in general the size of your pot or pan doesn't need to correlate directly the the size of the serving of sauce you plan on making. You may find that you end up wanting to make a huge pot of pasta sauce and simmer a bunch of sausage and meatballs in it on Sunday so you have enough for the week (or month), in which case you will want a big stock pot. If you're not planning on adding sausage and meatballs to your sauce and simmering it all day, you could probably get away with a 3-4 quart pot. It also sort of depends on how many people you're going to be cooking for -- a week's worth of food for a single person is different from a week's worth of food for a family of 4 or 5.

Now, if you're planning to use pre-made sauce from a jar, you can just dump it in the bottom of the still-hot pasta pot to warm up after you've drained the pasta and then mix the pasta back in. Like the /u/apocalypse-cow mentioned, the amount of sauce you like on your pasta is a matter of personal taste so nobody is going to be able to give you solid advice on that. I know that for me, I like my sauce to coat the pasta nicely but I don't like it to pool at the bottom of the bowl or anything like that. How much sauce I need to accomplish this sort of depends on the pasta I'm using as well as the characteristics of the sauce. In general, less is more insofar as it's easier to add more sauce if things are too dry than to subtract sauce if you've added too much.

You may find that you also want to use your pot to steam some veggies on the side, or to poach a half dozen eggs for breakfast one morning, or to boil up a little pasta or frozen dumplings as snack. I think that if you're buying your first few pots and pans you want to get a few versatile pieces that can carry out a variety of functions in your kitchen so that once you've hit your target weight you don't need to go out and buy a few new pans as you adjust your cooking style. You may want to consider this -- if you're bulking and basically eating for two, you don't necessarily need to buy anything different than if you were eating half as much food. I know I didn't go out and buy a whole new set of pots and pans when I started cooking for my SO in addition to myself even though the amount of food I was making roughly doubled.

It sounds like you're maybe just getting started cooking/stocking your first kitchen based on your last few posts. Something like this should cover most of your bases, with the addition of a cheap nonstick pan if you're planning to make a lot of eggs. If money or space is limited, you could probably get away with skipping the smaller 1.5 qt pot.

With frequent weekend trips what I recommend is to have duplicates of all your basics (silverware, can opener, potato peeler, frying pan, dishes, etc.). If you don't like to do dishes by hand, keep a plastic bin in the RV for dirty dishes. You won't have very many for a weekend trip. Then when you get back home, take the box in, wash everything and reload the RV. That way as soon as you've got the time to be off again, you don't have to waste time going through your sticks and bricks kitchen to load up. Feeling like you can just pick up and go is really nice (same thing with towels, sheets, and clothes).

For weekend trips, I would not bother with having things like a blender (unless you want to make daiquiris) or a mixer. If you have a good sized battery bank, you can do limited use of heat generating appliances (toaster, crock pot, electric pressure cooker, rice maker, etc.), but generally I wouldn't bother with those since you'll be boondocking a good portion of the time (unless you have a lot of solar) as they can chow on the battery (you need to really know your electricity capacity and draw so you don't end up with no power).

I like to cook, so my list is rather long:

pot set - http://www.amazon.com/Magma-Gourmet-Nesting-Stainless-Cookware/dp/B002TV7QD2 (with the optional strainer)

coffee peculator

coffee grinder

Set of ceramic plates (one for each person + couple extra)

Acrylic/polycarbonate glasses (one of each type per person + couple extra)

Mug for each person (big enough for soup)

Set of silverware for each person + couple extra

Measuring spoons

Plastic measuring cups (dry & wet)

Giant plastic measuring cup (for pouring pancakes)

Two mixing bowls

Trivet

Spatula (for pancakes)

Whisk

Slotted spoon

Serving spoon

Rubber spatula

Knives (I have good knives so these I shared between home & RV) - chef, fillet, paring, carving, one steak per person

Church key

Corkscrew (if you drink wine)

Potato peeler

Pizza stone (keep in the oven - it helps disperse/hold heat better)

Flexible plastic cutting sheets

Cookie sheet

Ove glove

Pizza cutter (I use one of those big rocking knives)

Sponge

Ice trays

Kitchen towels

Corn holders

Consumables:

Salt/pepper/most often used spices

Coffee

Coffee filters

Tea bags

Paper plates/bowls, plastic cups, plastic silverware

Cooking oil

Dish washing liquid

Hand soap

Paper towels

Ziplocs/foil/cling wrap

Bins of flour, sugar, rice, grits, lentils

We use the "real" dinnerware for stuff like steak and the paper stuff for sandwiches, etc.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff (I'm trying to mentally go through each cabinet). When I go out later, I'll take another peek to see what I've missed.

Emphatically, no.

I use a combination of Cuisinart Multi-Clad Pro, Cooks Standard Tri-Ply, and yes, All-Clad.

I cannot tell the difference between the All-Clad 10" fry pan and the Cuisinart 10" fry pan. They are heavy, solid, and retain heat exceptionally well. All-Clad is actually infamous for its terrible handle design.

Likewise, my 11" Cooks Standard tri-ply saute-pan has a better handle than All-Clad, and it was $44 with Amazon Prime. $44! Even if you scour Marshall's and T.J. Maxx, you will pay $125+ for the same piece from All-Clad. And that's at a clearance-goods store, where they may not have what you're looking for!

Read the reviews of the Cuisinart and Cooks Standard. They are exceptional pieces of gear. My brother-in-law was a sous chef for a fancy San Francisco eatery, and he swears by his Multiclad Pro set. He said that unless he had a $5,000 range in his house, he would not be able to justify the triple or quadruple price of the All-Clad. My sister is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and she endorses the Cuisinart.

You can get a used set for $247 on Amazon right now. That kind of money will buy you one All-Clad saute pan, or maybe a pair of saucepans from Marshall's.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B0007KQZWU

Here's the Cooks Standard, which is a similar product. Very heavy, very solid.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004APTMPK/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

$185 in like new condition with Prime shipping. You absolutely cannot beat that deal. That's less than the cost of a single new All-Clad fry pan.

You would be much better off saving your money for a new range or better knives. Or better spices, or new cookbooks, or cooking lessons, or farm-raised meats, or fresh eggs, aged cheeses, cured meats...

Edit: To all the people saying you can get All-Clad tri-ply and D5 for $50 at the clearance stores... prove it! I've never seen an All-Clad piece under $100, with the exception of maybe a 1.5 qt saucepan. Prove it!

I'm trolling around here looking for ideas for the same reason you are.

In response to your situation:
I gathered that you are both moving out from under the parents roof for the first time. There's lots of things that can go on the list, depending on what you have already.

Cookware: You're going to want hard anodized nonstick. They are versatile and easy to clean, the key here is that you can use metal utensils on them - which simplifies your utensil shopping. Low range Mid range either of these sets will last you a few years.

Plates/utensils: Plates/bowls are a very personal choice, I'd handle these on your own/with the lady. I've been able to score some awesome sets of plates/bowls/etc at the dollar tree, believe it or not. Knives!.

Kitchen gadgets/appliances: Food Processor, Crock pot, Toaster are essential. Blender, hand blender, stand mixer, waffle maker etc.. are all pretty advanced.

Washer/Dryer: Sears Outlet has great deals on HE washer/dryers. Search their website and see if you find something you like.

Bedroom set: This is a secondary concern, as I'm guessing one of you will be grabbing your bedroom set.

Entertainment: What do you need to entertain yourself? New TV? The seiki 4k displays are ~$300 right now. If you're not planning on subscribing to cable do you have a game console/roku/pc that you can use for movies/shows etc?

Guns: Hopefully you never need to defend your home from an intruder, but if you'd like the insurance go with a shotgun. Remington 870, or something similar. Take a real safety course and spend some time at the range.

I make this about once a week:

• Cut block of firm or extra firm tofu in half
  
• Wrap in a towel and put something heavy on it. Let it sit 10-15 minutes.
  
• Take a bag of cut broccoli from trader joes, put it in a bowl, put a dash of water on it and cover the bowl with a plate. Microwave for 2 minutes.
  
• Heat a pan or wok on very high heat. I usually let it heat up for 3-4 minutes.
  
• Put some canola oil in the pan - I don't measure, but use enough to coat the bottom of the pan. probably 2 tablespoons. At this point you have to be careful with the heat. I set the oil on fire once at my sister's house (oops! didn't know her range well enough). So if you're not sure how hot your burners are, use less heat.
  
• Let the oil sit 1 minute or so. While waiting, cut the tofu into cubes.
  
• Throw the tofu in the pan. If you got things hot enough it won't stick.
  
• Use a spatula and move the tofu around a lot. Brown it on all sides. Should take a couple of minutes
  
• Throw the broccoli in
  
• Toss for another 2 minutes
  
• Cover it with hoisin sauce (about 1/4 cup should do) and whatever else you like. I usually throw in some red pepper flakes and soy sauce. But hoisin sauce is pretty tasty by itself.
  
• Serve over rice or noodles
  
  For a long time I could never get tofu to turn out right. The two things I found that were critical:
  
  
• Press the water out of it. Use a hand towel and plenty of weight. I use cookbooks.
  
• Heat the pan before you put oil in. The hotter the pan is the better (up to the smoke point of the oil of course). When my tofu doesn't turn out it's usually because I was impatient and threw the oil and tofu in before I had the pan hot enough.
  
  Hope that helps, and just keep trying. I seriously screwed up a few dozen times before I got it down. It helps to invest in some decent cookware. I use these Cuisinart stainless steel pans and they work really well.
  
  Good luck!

I second the 7pc Cuisinart Multi-Clad Stainless set. It is a quality set that will give you the most versatility. The multi-clad will provide more even heating that some of their cheaper sets. You can use any utensils with them and you can take them from stovetop to oven, which can be very handy. At 8 quarts, the stock pot is plenty big enough for pasta, chili, or deep frying.

Eventually, you'll probably want to get a nonstick frying pan and rubber spatula for eggs and other things that easily stick in stainless steel. This 8 inch one, also by Cuisinart is pretty good for the money. This spatula by OXO is well-made, and only $7. Stainless steel will be just as good, or better, for most things, but eggs are best in nonstick.

A 12 inch cast iron pan would be handy to eventually get too, if you want to be able to cook steaks indoors. They're also good for baking corn bread and making pancakes. I wouldn't get one immediately, but they're nice to have.

Couple years ago I got some Cuisinart MultiClad Pro and have been really happy with it. I linked to their 12-piece set just so you can see what several pieces look like, but it's also sold individually so you can pick out exactly the pieces you need. Fully clad, great handles, very even cooking, no burning or sticking (though it's stainless, not nonstick). I think it's as close as you can get to All-Clad without taking out a second mortgage (and IMO the handles are actually better than All-Clad). I use a lot of acidic ingredients, so it's great not to worry about that. Very happy with the skillets and also the 5.5-qr casserole, which I use for risotto or prepping Guinness stew.

I still keep a cheapo nonstick for eggs, and a little cast iron for steaks, cornbread or pizza, but at this point, most of what I pull out on a day-to-day basis is one piece or another of MCP. It suits how I cook and it's very well made.

I'd recommend at minimum 1 non-stick pan, 1 big and 1 medium pot, 1 big stainless steel sautee pan with high walls & lid, and 1 small stainless steel pan. At least, that's what I use the most. If you like cast iron get a skillet too.

I got my 12-piece stainless steel Cuisinart set from Bed Bath & Beyond because my mom gave me a coupon. It's very nice. I don't care for cookware with glass lids. All-clad makes great stainless steel cookware too.

For a non-stick skillet, T-Fal is recently popular. I like mine. It doesn't feel cheap yet its cheap enough that I don't worry too much about scratches. Got mine on Amazon.

For cast iron it's really hard to beat Lodge. Their skillets and Dutch ovens are top notch once properly seasoned. Never mind any cast iron that says it's pre-seasoned, best to give it 3-4 more coats to start with. It's easy just time consuming. I bought mine at Orchard hardware actually but you can find it on Amazon too.


Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens are a joy to use but Le Creuset, while undeniably top notch, is prohibitively expensive. Lodge, Cuisinart, and Tramontina are cheaper brands but I believe all their enameling is done in China.

Get stainless steel (including handles) or cast iron. You can use them both on the stove or in the oven, they both require minimal maintenance/care compared to nonstick, and they both should last a long time.

Look online, BB&B is expensive, and so are other B&M stores or the quality is crap. I just moved with nothing and needed a whisk and bowl to make emergency cupcakes for christmas. So i bought from safeway (not cheap) The whisk was left in water overnight by accident, and rusted badly. The bowl was used to crush candy canes for a coating, and the bottom was destroyed by crushing hard sugar. Decent quality items would have stood up to those without issue, but it was a case of 'i need to buy it now and cant wait for shipping'.

These are what i bought based off amazon reviews and another frugal website
Knife set:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LY0YQ0/ref=od_aui_detailpages02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (laugh at the 'as seen on tv' junk, i never buy that stuff, but research shows that this is actually a pretty decent set besides looking a bit cheap. Obviously the blades will go bad much quicker than a $40+ for single knives, but im not going to hone them or send them out for refinishing. Id rather use their warranty or rebuy as needed.

Cookware:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TIN0GW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (to be frank, i would have loved a second skillet or pan, but as a single guy, its fine.)

Tools: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9178892694/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (few reviews but i was really happy with the weight of the set, they seem very high quality for what i paid)

Baking pans i got at the dollar store, as i always use tin foil, so i just needed a platform for that, but they also sell things like cake and cupcake molds. From what ive seen, im much happier buying them for a dollar than buying a good one.

Keep in mind, i bought these things like a week+ ago, so prices may be different.

I personally would get the following way sooner if I was building my kitchen all over again.

Also if there is a place you can get bulk spices near by I would go there for your spices, because if you havent already noticed spices are pricey at your local megamart.

Lavatools Thermowand - Same form factor as the much more expensive thermopen but at 1/3 the price.

Lodge cast iron skillet - great for searing meats or as a good starting pan.

OXO Bench Scraper - Makes prep work much easier and safer as you don't use your knife to scrape your food off the cutting board.

Immersion Blenders - When you dont want to use your big blender or want to blend something in your pot or pan.

Stainless Steel Cookware - Has a little bit of a learning curve but is great after the fact.

Aeropress - Life is too short to make shitty coffee.

Edit: added a thermometer/spelling

I have this Cuisinart SS set: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_w46uxbD7WZ283

It's awesome.

I definitely recommend SS, it gives really nice browning and heats up real quick. And it's super durable, you don't have to worry about flimsy handles - and you can scrub the shit out of them, and not have to worry about scraping off a teflon coating. Plus, you can throw them in the oven to finish off whatever you're cooking.

The only thing you need to be aware of is sticking and heat. Learn to season a pan and you won't have any sticking problems (heat up some oil till it starts to smoke, drain it out and then swirl with a paper towel).

They're not appliances, but I could not live with my stoneline pots and pans. They cook like cast iron, but are so much lighter, are completely non-stick (I can wipe off burnt cheese and caramel sauce with a damp paper towel).

I also love my slow cooker, I use it at least once a week if not more.

My cuisinart griddler, it's like a fancy George Forman, but the plates are removable and dishwasher safe. It also opens flat so I can use it griddle. I also have the waffle plates.

I've moved on from using to nonstick to stainless. It'll take a few more minutes to clean at night but nothing cooks better and nothing will last longer. I don't recommend using Teflon coated pots and pans because of their health ramifications. Pros use stainless. You'll learn how to use it soon enough.

http://amzn.com/B009JXPS6U

I also have my trusty 10" Lodge cast iron pan. It's my favorite piece in my kitchen and never leaves the range because I use it everyday for breakfast and dinner. It will soon become your favorite in a few years because you have to learn to care for it.

http://amzn.com/B00G2XGC88

Hm, thanks. I have this set of stainless steel Cuisinart cookware that's pretty decent. It's MILES better than the cheap set of non-stick everything cookware I had before that, but I don't love using it and I had a hard time believing the All-Clad stuff is that much better. I found an All-Clad 10" skillet at TJ Maxx about a year ago for like $70 and was tempted, but I still couldn't swallow the spend (same for the 6.5 qt Le Creuset Dutch oven I found there a couple weeks ago for $200).

Thanks for your reply. I'll keep my eyes peeled for sales and look at getting a couple pieces I'll use a lot vs. buying a whole set.

I've heard that, too.

However, the Cuisinart MCP is well-regarded and is tri-ply. More expensive than the Tramontina, but $300 is a good price for something that you'll use for decades.

I'd also recommend Calphalon tri-ply. A few years ago, I bought one of their inexpensive "try me" pans. I ended up using it a lot, then eventually bought more pieces. It has held up beautifully, almost still like new! I won't wear them out any time soon.

I use these:

GreenLife Soft Grip 14pc Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Set, Turquoise https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXOA59U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_3Vyjzb1Q9BAZK

Ive had them a few years now. They are the best cookware I've ever had and a very good price. Extremely easy to clean. As long as you clean them same day as you cooked in them, use a soft sponge, and don't use any metal utensils, they will last a long time.

I also own about 7 various sized cast iron pans for cooking meat in.

I don't know what your budget is but I got a 12 piece Cuisinart Multiclad set and I love it. You can find them on Amazon.

I did quite a bit of research before getting these and they seemed like the best value for dollar. Many people compared them to their All Clad pots and pans very favourably (All Clad is ridiculously expensive). I think there is also an 18 piece set available but 12 seems to cover all my needs and I cook almost every day.

The other thing I would recommend is a food processor. I have the basic Kitchen Aid one and have no complaints.

Very highly rated all clad knockoff made by Costco. It's NSF certified which for me is the icing on the cake, I'm strongly considering this set despite not really needing 13 pieces of cookware.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11631728

I don't think costco messes with reviews (newegg has had a history and I'm often skeptical of reviews on sites other than amazon) so here are some other reviews on Amazon, one negative:
http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Stainless-Cookware-559728/product-reviews/B005SYWLBE/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

And while I personally can't vouch for it, based on the quality of costco stuff that I've dealt with, their products are top notch. They also treat their employees well from what I've read and have good overall corporate ethics and the lowest margins in the industry which is why I'm gladly a member for $50 a year. It pays for itself by buying paper towels, trash bags (~$12 for 200 well made draw string kitchen bags), over the counter drugs (picked up $10 for 365 pills of claritin (loraditine) ! and 2 x 365 81mg of coated aspirin for $4 last week when I went there). This isn't /r/frugal but just more reasons to plop down for the membership but as you can see from amazon its $220 on there, cost of membership is $50, so you can buy it without it. Some other considerations: return policy is great (for most products other than electronics there isn't any) and they'll also refund your membership at anytime. No I don't work for them, just like the place a lot.

One of the reviews on Costco mentioned this as an alternative:
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B0007KQZWU

I probably will end up buying one of these though as I just ended up researching it quite a bit recently and this is these are at the top of my short list.. but do I really need 12-13 pieces of cookware? So I might end up just buying stuff individually. We'll see.

Why are you replacing your old set?

The sets you have mentioned are cheap and will get the job done, but they are low quality.

Actually, the IKEA 365 that I' looking at is only 2 pots and a pan and it's $60. Not exactly a full set and not exactly cheap.

Generally speaking you want to get tri-ply stainless for your basic workhorse pieces. And then you'll want a cast iron and a non-stick in case you need them. And then whatever specialty cookware you might need for the stuff you like to make (a wok... a griddle... whatever).

Do you have a Marshalls or a TJ Max or a Home Goods in Au?

That's where I got most my stuff. Sure it doesn't match, but it's all tri-ply, quality stainless and works like a charm!

Might have saved money if I bought all at once like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/

But then again I was able to get exactly what I needed and nothing that I didn't.

I try not to buy into over-priced bullshit, but I am in the 'buy it for life' camp.

So I have a set of All Clad D5. To be honest its a pain in the ass to keep in great condition. What I do is refuse to cook on electric with them. I will only cook on gas and induction. I live in an apartment and have electric so I bought this. I highly recommend this to everyone. After I finish cooking I soak my pans in hot water for a couple minutes. next I scrap of food with this. I use these sponges because the scptchbrite side will not scratch. After I finish that I will get a Viva paper towel and rubbing the inside cleaning it and polishing it using this. Once that is complete I will rinse the pan in warm water then take another viva paper towel and wipe all the residue off. Once all the residue is off I will then go ahead and wash the pan with soap and water by hand then dry the pan immediately with a microfiber cloth. Yes I am OCD about my pans...

If you are looking for a good set without breaking the bank of stainless steal pans I would recommend this [set.]
(https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1498533826&sr=1-1&keywords=cuisinart+stainless+steel) or you could also go to TJ Max and they have a good selection...

A water vinegar mixture will remove the rainbow. Just let it sit for a few minutes.

Does the aluminium core extend all the way to the top of the utensitls in the costco set, like this? In some brands, it is only at the bottom (which is mostly where it is needed, I guess) and you have to be careful before buying.

If you want a smaller set that is truly multi-clad, look at these. I just ordered them a couple days back when the price was $143 and they should be arriving today, really looking forward to them. I like the costco ones, esp. the fact that they are NSF certified. I will have to check out with my friend who has a costco membership.

I'm sure the All-Clads are really nice (I enjoy the couple pieces I have), but I don't think there's any way they actually cook 4x better than, say, a set of Cuisinart Multi-Clad Pro, which also gets excellent reviews.

I love this Cuisinart cooking set. Great price too: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-77-10-Stainless-10-Piece-Cookware/dp/B00008CM68/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418150129&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisinart+pots+and+pans

I've been using my set for about 5 years and it's still going strong.

Unlimited budget? I'd cook with one of these

Okay just kidding. Family of 4 car camping? I'm an adult I don't eat mac and cheese with hot dogs, gotta step your game up! I eat better than that backpacking!

What would I use? Well I'd have two cooking systems. For main courses I would use this. It's a multifuel stove that can use isobutane canisters, the same fuel used for backpacking stoves.

For heating water, small items? I'd also carry a MSR Pocket Rocket 2.

Both stoves share/use the same isobutane fuel canisters so you're not mixing and matching fuel, keeps things easy.

As far as pots/pans go? Magma nesting stainless steel cookware. Don't forget the carrying case.

Also a 550ml titanium pot for heating liquids in seconds on the small burner.

Don't forget the staple dinnerware set

My first real cookware was a set and I used every piece of that set all the time. The set you reference looks nice, but only has the encased aluminum bottom, the sides are thin.

Better to get a tri ply (or more) set where the entire pan is aluminum core encased in stainless. This type of manufacturing creates pans that are more sturdy (a bit heavier) and the way they heat up and maintain temp is more even. With these pans you'll find that things just seem to cook more evenly.

In my opinion, the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro set is a better set, and less expensive option. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JXPS6U/

It sounds like you're looking for good non-stick pans that are also induction-compatible?

If so, then I love my All-Clad anodized pans - they are very nonstick and great with induction. You won't get the browning you'd get with stainless or cast iron, but they are great with eggs and other things you don't want to stick.

All-clad makes up the bulk of my pots and pans. Been meaning to throw out my old non-sticks. Cast iron when needed.

Edit:
I know a lot of people of this sub are pretty "anti-set" but I purchased this almost 12 years ago. Still going strong, I use each pan/pot pretty often, almost weekly.

Something like this will do you well forever. You need a small shallow frypan, a wide one with sides, a tiny 1 L saucepan and a couple of big saucepans. A set like this, plus a scanpan and a big stock pot have gotten me through my whole life, family, entertaining, everything. Just very recently have I bought a second small saucepan and a second scanpan.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U

Think back to when you would cook before you went to college. You need a pot for pasta and one for the sauce, a pan big enough to fit a meal, and one small enough to toss nuts. You know what you need.

Make sure nothing is Teflon coated. You'll also want things that can go in the oven, something metal for roasting and something glass or ceramic for baked things.

T-Fal is fine, there's nothing wrong with it.

This set is pretty good. If you can go up to $450, this set is even better.

I adore my All Clad non-stick pans. I've had them a couple of years now and they still work as beautifully as the day I bought them. Heat distribution is perfect and nothing sticks. I hand wash mine and, of course, never use metal utensils. https://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-E785S264-Anodized-Nonstick-Dishwasher/dp/B0170TFNXM/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1510937795&sr=1-4&keywords=all-clad

I'm not a huge fan of huge cookware sets. You end up with a lot of things you don't necessarily need that are all the same material. Really you should get a variety of materials for different things you might make. I have this Tri-Ply [set] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATZE4M0/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01ATZE4M0&pd_rd_wg=10dpo&pd_rd_r=KQTHVC5GTSGFTQ34JNQX&pd_rd_w=wCZb9) which I love, and I have a couple cast iron skillets, a couple non-stick pans, and a nice Le-Creuset 4qt dutch oven for all under $300. You just really need to look for deals and buy at the right time. I got my 4 1/2 qt Le Creuset dutch oven at a Williams Sonoma Outlet for $100 after promotions. Costco is currently selling a 12" and 10" Lodge skillet set w/ handles for $30.

People like that calphalon tends to be lighter, it also depends on if you prefer glass or metal lids. /r/buyitforlife tends to favor cuisinart, which has metal lids. I had cuisinart before I upgraded to all-clad and it was good. Also, if there is a kitchen store near you check out different handle styles on brands, that always seems to be pretty polarizing for some people.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U

> I'm looking to spend a max of $200.

OK. That's right at the bottom edge of what I'd consider effective cookware for a decent-sized set, but you can do it. Consider this Cuisinart set for $205. Multi-ply stainless has solid performance, is reasonably heavy and conductive, is more durable than non-stick Teflon, and cleans well if you take a little care. The Cuisinart MCP cookware is basically China-made All-Clad at a third of the price. I hear Tramontina's stainless is decent too and in a similar price range but don't own any pieces myself.

You could argue about the most cost-efficient material for particular pieces, but at that price point the set savings on the Cuisinart MCP set probably outweigh those considerations. If you can find an extra $25 beyond that set, a 10" cast-iron Lodge skillet would serve you well for eggs, searing, and general frying where you don't need any deglazing/scraping.

I've been looking at this aluminum core set for when I upgrade. Typically I would just buy the pieces separately, but these pots and pans are the exact sizes of the hodge podge I've assembled over the years. It also has some pretty good reviews and isn't crazy expensive (considering these will last a lifetime of cooking).

These are similar in design and material as All-Clad, but a lot less expensive, especially if you are look to replace the whole set. I got them as a wedding gift, and so far I love them. The reviews on Amazon will give you a good idea of their quality and performance.

This is a good starter set. If you put it into your cart and leave it there they may drop the price on it a bit too.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/

Most of the reviews I've read indicate it's comparable to All-Clad in terms of cooking. I have a couple of the pieces (along with All-Clad) and can tell no difference in my cooking. I'm not measuring heat and conductivity or all the other things that people tend to harp on when saying All-Clad is the best ever and how dare anybody say otherwise. :)

But, it's a good set with a lot of practical/usable pieces and the price is right.

If you decide not to go with them the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro set is a very good value. Sometimes even better when on sale on Amazon. I expect mine to outlast me.

Edit: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/

I have this set and it is fantastic. It's a ceramic set and I really love it.

The triple-ply patent on All-Clad expired a few years ago. Cuisinart and Kitchenaid now both make comparable items for a quarter of the price. At this point, if you buy All-Clad, you're paying for status.

This Cuisinart Multiclad Pro set is "buy it once for life," for under $300.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U

Cordless drills are pretty nice too. :)

Cook's standard are fantastic and affordable, I like them better than calphalon and if this set is too big or costs too much they have smaller sets for a little over $100.

This set is highly rated and much more reasonable. I purchased it at the beginning of this year and love it; cooks like a dream!

I bought this set from Amazon a few years ago:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007KQZWU/ (Cuisinart MCP12 MultiClad Pros.)

I've been really happy with them. They seem to be built extremely well, do a fine job at distributing heat evenly, and they clean up as easily as any other non-Teflon pan I've ever used.

I think they're probably BIFL if you treat them properly, and they're not ridiculously expensive. I paid $230 for my set, on sale. They're presently $262, and I bet they'll stand toe to toe with much more expensive offerings.

edit: It looks like these pans have changed. More recent reviews are not flattering; it looks like they're no longer 18/10 stainless, but Cuisinart didn't change the model, so that people are buying inferior pans based on ratings from a superior model. Looks like an avoid.

It's a damn shame, because my set from 2010 is really good!

This set of tri-ply pots and pans is probably the last i'll need for a very very long time. They're generic clones of All-Clad, stainless with aluminum cores in them, no slug on the bottom, just a solid piece of steel. The handle rivets are huge and should handle all kinds of abuse. The lids are steel and sit flat with room to spare for wear.


http://www.amazon.com/Cooks-Standard-Multi-Ply-Stainless-Steel-10-Piece/dp/B00421AYJK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413999599&sr=8-2&keywords=cooks+standard


I was only going to buy 2-3 pieces but it's cheaper to buy that set on amazon. The steamer insert is way more useful than I thought it'd be, we steam every veggie now, no more boiling. I accidentally put too little water in a pot when steaming once, it ran out of water and cooked empty for a good 2-3 minutes. The pot was insanely hot, got black on the inside and burnt whatever residue was in it from the water. I let it cool down, scrubbed it with barkeepers friend and it looks brand new.

They decribe it as a stainless steel cooking surface, so that sounds good.

This looks like a good price

T-fal is a good, non stick, set. We had an expensive set of skillets and saucepans, and they were fine. But we tried T-fal after seeing the brand recommended by America's Test Kitchen and they are just as good as the pricey stuff.

If you have to go with a set, These are probably your best bet for quality and price. They will occasionally sell for under 200. Also if you have a Costco membership, the Kirkland 12 piece stainless is really good and usually runs around 169$.

I use this 10 inch pan mostly along with my all clad stainless steel pan.

All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Frying Pans, Cookware Set, 8 Inch Pan and 10 Inch Pan, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0170TFNXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aMY6BbC7D146B

It doesn't seem to be ceramic or Teflon. Not really sure what hard anodized means. Any clue?

My non stick used to be a ceramic pan but it started to show it's age. I really enjoyed it though but wasn't sure if it was still safe

I opted for this 10-piece Cuisinart set and I think it's pretty awesome, especially for the price (which is right within your range). It's all stainless steel and, having used the set almost daily for over a year now, I can't even notice any wear.

I have this set from Cooks Standard
I like them and use all the sizes regularly. (tho I've never used the steamer.)
I like the all stainless because they can go in the oven and the dishwasher. They are lighter than cast iron (I love my cast iron pieces, but don't have a knack for flipping with them because of the weight.) but if the dishwasher doesn't get it clean I can scrub the heck out of them.
These aren't my only pots & pans, and I agree with others that other pieces can really round out your tool set. But I also like that they all look alike since they were purchased as a set even if it has no impact on the functionality.

Just wanted to add my two cents: My mom had this set (older version) for a good 10+ years and we received the new set for our wedding. It's worth getting non stick and learning to take care of it as nonstick pans won't stay nonstick forever. These pans last through everything. https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece-Cookware/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=dp_ob_title_kitchen

The most bang for your buck, in my opinion, is to get a set of cladded stainless cookware. Then pick up a single non-stick skillet from Target or Walmart. If you feel like you need a cast iron skillet you can add that later. Sure you can spend time rummaging through TJ Maxx piecing together a cookware set, but I think you'll be much happier with a set of stainless clad. The set below is by Calphalon and fully cladded.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1479329754&sr=1-2&keywords=cuisinart+triply+stainless+set

Hey with this stuff I could cook more pickles than any one person needs, but I would do it for science's sake. And because I would love to cook a pickle.

Magma have a great set. They're not cheap but they're really good quality. https://www.amazon.com/Magma-Products-A10-360L-Stainless-Cookware/dp/B002TV7QD2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540810567&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=magma+cookware&dpPl=1&dpID=41-m6mFS8kL&ref=plSrch

Thanks for the detailed reply. I do kind of want a stacking set, but I don't think I can justify the price either. And it seems like some reviews say some pots are hard to clean and they serve up to six people. I don't want to have to cook two meals to serve everyone.
Is this the set you use?https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXOA59U/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00WTV2XBM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=HT0Y443PMGXXFZ7X2NZP

Things every kitchen should have :

1 stainless steel stock pot with a lid
1 12 inch non-stick skillet
1 12 inch stainless steel skillet
1 12 in cast iron skillet
1 stainless steel sauce pan with a lid
1 stainless steel saute pan with a lid

1 9x13 baking dish
1 9x9 baking dish
1 Round casserole

1 Cookie sheet
1 Muffin Pan
1 set of cake pans

1 8 inch chef's knife (It doesn't have to be very expensive, but make sure it has a REAL edge instead of that serrated edge stamped steel BS they sell at Wal-mart)
1 Paring Knife
1 Slicer
1 Boning Knife
1 Cleaver
1 Serrated Bread Knife
A honing steel

You should also get a slow cooker and a food processor.

As for quality, well you're not going to be shelling out for All-Clad stuff in college. Check for deals online. For example, Amazon has this stainless steel set on sale:http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-77-11G-Stainless-11-Piece-Cookware/dp/B005H05SXM/ref=sr_1_26?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1369786418&sr=1-26

I like your theory but it doesn't seem to be true over at Amazon yet.

exhibit 1

exhibit 2

exhibit 3

exhibit 4

I am a huge Amazon - phile, and they have a line that is well reviewed called Cooks Standard. I got a full set 3 years ago for my wedding and they have held up very well, although I shouldn't expect anything less from stainless steel.

Edit : Cooks Standard 10 Piece Multi-Ply Clad Cookware Set, Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATZE4M0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PiyTzb3RBTEN1

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro, if you're looking for a set, Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/
They'll perform almost as good as All-Clad for a fraction of the price. If you're not worried about price at all and just want something really good, then look at Demeyre.

• 5qt pot
  
• 3qt pot
  
• 2qt pot
  
• 1qt pot
  
• A large non stick and a small one.
  
• A large SS Saute pan with lid
  
• A large and small SS skillet with curved walls
  
• A wok
  
• 10" cast iron pan
  
  You may think wow thats too many pots. But that is what came with my set and I use them all the time. Sometimes I wish I had more pots. I still need a stock pot though...
  
  Not the right store but for an idea of price I would look at these sets/items
  
  
• 1
  
• 2
  
• 3
  
• 4

If you want All-Clad and only have $200 just wait and save.

All-Clad are nice but don't let yourself be fooled by their name on the Emeril sets. Those are the worst of All-Clad. Farberware are better than the Emeril All-Clad set.

I would recommend This Set. It's under $100 and as long as you properly season the pans they will hold up for many years to come. I have this set and use it as the "basic essentials". You'll find, assuming you cook a lot, that you will end up buying various other pots and pans as you need them but this set is perfect for most everything.

Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

Cuisinart makes good stuff. Not on the level of All-Clad, but still very good, especially for the cost.

I have had this set for over five years and they are fantastic. I haven't used All-Clad, but I just don't see how you could get much better than what these pans have delivered - at half the price.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooks-Standard-Multi-Ply-Stainless-Steel-10-Piece/dp/B00421AYJK?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I took a stab at finding the set you mention on Amazon. Is this it?

I have never owned this set, so I can't speak from experience on this. But, I can tell from first glance that it has a clad base design versus a full clad design. This article explains why, in general, full clad is better.

Vollrath, All-Clad, and other performance cookware tends to have full clad design. The Cuisinart MultiClad Pro line also appears to have full clad design. Here is a thread comparing the MultiClad Pro to All-Clad. Once you get that baseline down, you can adjust the price point of the All-Clad side down to Vollrath prices and that should give you a rough idea of what you're looking for.

Hope that helps!

I got this set as a wedding gift and I really like it. Cast iron is also nice and Le Creuset is lovely but kind of pricey.

Which models are these? I’ve heard good things about them. Tests show heat distribution on par with All Clad.

Edit: Here’s the set I was referring to. Reviews are really good.

This is probably the best bang for your buck on amazon when it comes to clad stainless cookware sets.

I bought this set of pans a few years ago and I think they are a nice quality set that covers most of my needs for a reasonable price. Between these, a handful of non-stick and a dutch oven I'm good to go.

Amazon- T-Fal Pan Set

But I found it cheaper at Walmart. About $78, I think?

We just got it. Love them.

Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

This is the set I got when I first moved into my apartment, and has been great. I bought a 10inch T-fal nonstick from Walmart, and I don’t need much else. I’d definitely suggest getting the T-fal pro series though, their cheaper stuff already has a loose handle.

I picked up This set 3 years ago now, and love it. Bought it for my mother last year as well. The price varies on Amazon, I've seen them as high as $350 for the set. After reading all sorts of reviews, I settled on the Cuisinart Multi Clad Pro set. The 12 piece is a useful set, and has everything you'll need to start out. I'm thinking of adding a 12" skillet to the set, but that's it.

Check out Cuisinart MultiClad cookware set. It's only 299$ and it's comparable to All-Clad cookware. It will last you a life time. I personally have it and i pan sear 3 chicken breasts in a 11" skillet and all 3 come out exactly the same. Can't beat it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009JXPS6U/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile

I've done A LOT of research before purchasing the set it's really the best deal for the money can't beat it. Top of the line.

This set is excellent:

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U

The price might drop around the holidays too.

I have had this set for about two years, and I still love them every time I use them.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614894&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisinart+stainless+steel+cookware+set

Simply not true. This is a fantastic set that competes well against all clad. http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B0007KQZWU

I have Cuisinart MCP-12N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_C7Dttb0X12BB0
It is amazing. I am sure Calphalon is really good, but I could never live with myself if I spent that kind of money on pots and pans.

I bought this set 5 years ago and it still works fantastically. Just make sure to follow the instructions for cleaning it (never use steel wool unless you want it to look like crap).

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-77-10-Stainless-10-Piece-Cookware/dp/B00008CM68

I use these multi-ply ones from Cooks Standard and they work great. Even cheaper than Tramontia I think.

A kitchen starter set would be handy! Nonstick is wonderful to cook with : )

I bought the Cuisinart MCP-12N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set and have been very happy with it.

I usually avoid nonstick. My go to cookware is a Cuisinart set of stainless steel. I think it's pretty much this set:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-77-10-Stainless-10-Piece-Cookware/dp/B00008CM68

Besides the oft-cited downside of nonstick cookware not being able to withstand high heat, I find metal surfaces better for browning meat. The stuff that sticks in the pan is necessary for sauces that require deglazing, and won't form in nonstick pans.

Also, with all metal you can go right from the range top to the oven.

I invite you to compare the price of an All-Clad stainless steel cookware set to a functionally identical "Cook's Standard" Chinese alternative. Same 18/10 steel tri-ply construction, same fit and finish. one is $128 for a set of 10 one is $560 for an eqivalent set Can you guess the one major difference between them? All Clad is made in the USA.

I've used both, by the way.

I recently purchased this set and love it. Looks great, cooks great (except for scrambled eggs, but I think all stainless sucks at that) and seems very durable. I can't speak to the BIFL quality of it, but I don't see how it could possibly fall apart. The rivets look very strong, and it has a lifetime warranty should it fail.

pans I want these so they can look pretty in my cabinet because i wont let anyone use them .

I started out with that set (I think it was the smaller set but the same series) and used it for several years. it wasn't bad, but IMO wasn't anything super special either. I replaced it with this set which is a nice option IMO, if gives you a number of usable pans and not a lot of extra stuff you'll never use. I added the 12" skillet eventually when it went on sale and use that more than the 8 that came in the set.

This is what I’ve had for about two years

A little oil and nothing sticks. Still look brand new after heavy use for two years. Oven safe.

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KSN8XY/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Home-Piece-handle-Cookware/dp/B003IKMSFE/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1465136966&sr=1-4&keywords=cooking+set or you can start with something like that and then build from it.

The stainless set is like [this one](Cuisinart 77-11G Chef's Classic Stainless 11-Piece Cookware Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005H05SXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XHlRyb0QAEFWC)

If your budget is ~$200 this is a nice set.

I don't know if there's a right answer to question of budget, but I bought those with the intention of them lasting at least a decade or two - so the price seemed right.

They are also right now at a near historic price low.

A nice set of pots pans. Preferably these, but I'd rather pick and choose than have the set.

Never buy sets since not many people use all the pieces in the set.

You need a couple of skillets, 10 and 12 inches. A dutchoven, stock pot, and a couple of saucepans. A nonstick for cooking eggs.

also always read 1 star reviews if you plan on buying stuff from amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Home-12-Piece-Stainless-Steel/product-reviews/B007TIN0GW/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&showViewpoints=0

There is a stainless Cuisinart set and a stainless Cook's Standard set in that price range on amazon. I wouldn't recommend non-stick for anything other than a skillet for eggs.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U

I've bought this set 5 years ago. You probably can't go wrong with the similar set at Costco ( Kirkland Signature )

You can find it for cheaper. These go on sale all the time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008CM68/ref=asc_df_B00008CM685379118

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

https://www.amazon.ca/Cuisinart-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece-Cookware/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJ7T5BOVUVRD2EFYQ&linkCode=ll1&tag=thebigaawes06-20&linkId=ccf1a5ba6af3a2341ef58e3a7c645e9f

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71DwqGSnhEL._SL1500_.jpg

Is this it?

These were the things I initially bought when gathering cookware.

Enameled cast iron dutch oven

Cast Iron Wok or a carbon steel wok.

Stainless steel cookset

Pressure Cooker

Cast Iron skillet

Stainless steel roaster

*Pyrex Bakeware

Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Magma-Products-A10-360L-Stainless-Cookware/dp/B002TV7QD2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538134784&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=magma+pan+set&dpPl=1&dpID=41-m6mFS8kL&ref=plSrch

In case the link doesn't work, it's the Magma stainless steel non-induction set. It's pricy, but very convenient and completely rust proof. I have the 10 piece set, with 4 pots, 1 pan and two handles and lids. I think there's a smaller set that's a bit cheaper.

My neighbor bought the induction stove version, and it rusted - it's not the same steel because it needs to be magnetic. They also have nonstick options, but I've never used them. Most things (eggs being the exception) come right off the steel if I soak for half an hour or less.

We bought this set as an intro to stainless and I’m digging it so far. Otherwise I only use cast iron and we have one 8” and one 10” nonstick pans for when we rarely need them.

Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sv0YBb2ATSTVZ

http://www.amazon.com/Cooks-Standard-NC-00232-Multi-Ply-Stainless-Steel/dp/B004APTMPK/ref=psdc96_t1_B00421AYJK_B004APTMPK

Cuisinart MCP-12N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.6pFub0F473SV

http://www.amazon.com/Stoneline-Nonstick-Stone-Cookware-All-Purpose/dp/B00851BPDC

You’re so nice to do this!
This cooking set https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-Multiclad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=stainless+steel+pans&qid=1574433337&sr=8-3
And then that is under $400 so If you don’t mind a j.henckles bread knife and this yoga mat
https://www.amazon.com/Jade-Yoga-Harmony-Mat-Raspberry/dp/B00B97QKRK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=jade+harmony+yoga+mat&qid=1574433674&sprefix=jade+harm&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFFSlZLRTVZSzE1RkQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTEwMTI0MzgxWklKNVlCRzUyUU4xJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NzU4MzQyRVYxSU1TM0pIS080JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

It costs less than $50 to get a full set of non-stick cookingware.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003IKMSFE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1450125980&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=cooking+ware&dpPl=1&dpID=51bjSF2kIML&ref=plSrch

Price History

Multi-Clad Pro by Cusinart

set goes down to under $250 all the time not sure why it is so expensive right now, but still less than All Clad

I will warn you that calphalon does Not hold up to its name. I have purchased 4 pans by them and they didn't last long. the nonstick coating wore off way too quickly

what do you really use or need? there are 4 skillets, 2 saucepans and a soup pot.

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maybe not a full set but singles??

https://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Nonstick-Frying-Cookware-Anodized/dp/B0170TFNXM/ref=sr_1_8?

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https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-622-30G-Classic-Nonstick-Hard-Anodized/dp/B0078P9D8K/ref=sr_1_3?

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https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-8919-14-Professional-Stainless-Saucepan/dp/B00NAU8VYY/ref=sr_1_16?

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https://www.amazon.com/Secura-Whole-Clad-Stainless-Induction-Cookware/dp/B004HAEWHQ/ref=sr_1_12?

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Dutch oven

https://www.amazon.com/Vremi-Enameled-Cast-Iron-Dutch/dp/B06WW463CS/ref=sr_1_27?

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https://www.amazon.com/Update-International-SPS-8-Induction-Stainless/dp/B0052Y5B08/ref=sr_1_18?

Damn. They have some cheap, legit looking sets on amazon, too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004KSN8XY/ref=mp_s_a_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1480982434&sr=8-21&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=calaphon+cookware&dpPl=1&dpID=51S6lX-GC0L&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01H1UWEZ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1480982550&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=calaphon+cookware+set&dpPl=1&dpID=41baJAa78KL&ref=plSrch

I'm pretty sure Calphalon and All-Clad aren't affiliated, but I digress. Have you read the negative reviews about the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro line? It would seem they suffer from quite a few issues. Depending on your needs, this may or may not be an issue.

At $475, oh hell no.

In practice, glass lids fog over so you can't see what's going on and they shatter easily. Get steel lids.

The Cuisinart Chef's Classic is highly regarded here at less than 1/3 the price.

The only thing you need nonstick for is eggs. Get a supercheap restaurant teflon pan.