Saucepan set recommendations
Discussion
hi all, our current saucepan set which cost me £19.99 for 3 pans are well down to 2 and another one is on the way out.
I was wondering if anyone can recommend me a pot and pan set that won't break the bank. I'd love non-stick but i'm open to the argument that I don't need them.
My budget is max £100 and i'd love them to last as long as possible. We bought a nonstick wok from John Lewis but it lasted about 3 months until the non-stick came off when we were washing it so any help to prevent this from happening would be great. We only use wood or plastic tools for cooking with and the usual sponge with rough side for those sticky bits.
Hope someone can help!
I was wondering if anyone can recommend me a pot and pan set that won't break the bank. I'd love non-stick but i'm open to the argument that I don't need them.
My budget is max £100 and i'd love them to last as long as possible. We bought a nonstick wok from John Lewis but it lasted about 3 months until the non-stick came off when we were washing it so any help to prevent this from happening would be great. We only use wood or plastic tools for cooking with and the usual sponge with rough side for those sticky bits.
Hope someone can help!
May be a bit too expensive for you but I have and would recommend Circulon Infinite. You may be able to get the essentials for around £100 then add to the collection as you feel the need.
In fact here you go, five piece set for £140 form the same place we bought ours: http://www.housemakers.co.uk/infinite-circulon-4-p...
In fact here you go, five piece set for £140 form the same place we bought ours: http://www.housemakers.co.uk/infinite-circulon-4-p...
Debenhams - They often have 50% off their cookware.
Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:33
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:34
Thanks for all the suggestions! I do like the look of the Raymond Blanc ones as they're in my price range and seem to last a long time!
Thanks for the advice with the Wok i never thought about going down to a Asian shop and buying one! Advice taken on the green side i never thought it would be because of that it went wrong. We're going to take it back to John Lewis tonight as the mrs' friend works there and says we can get it replaced which is a result!
Thanks for the advice with the Wok i never thought about going down to a Asian shop and buying one! Advice taken on the green side i never thought it would be because of that it went wrong. We're going to take it back to John Lewis tonight as the mrs' friend works there and says we can get it replaced which is a result!
thelittleegg said:
This is spot on except I recommend spun steel. Cast iron is what I want a griddle pan to be made out of, very heavy and good at retaining heat. But, if you get one of these chinese supermarket woks, which are fantastic and cheap, you season it with some super hot oil and then it will be effectively non stick as long as you don't scrub it with detergent.
It could be steel to be fair, all I know is it'll rust if you soak it, don't dry it and don't treat it!Don't buy pans with a non stick coating, even the brands like anolon and circulon will fail given time. We chucked our set of anolon pans away after 5 years as they were knackered, despite careful handling and cleaning.
As others have said, go for stainless steel, we now have a set of procook stainless pans and they're great, 25 year warranty also.
As others have said, go for stainless steel, we now have a set of procook stainless pans and they're great, 25 year warranty also.
EnthusiastOwned said:
Debenhams - They often have 50% off their cookware.
Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Another vote for Meyer. We have a set that is 15 years old, used a lot and almost as good as new. A quick Brillo and they sparkle.Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:33
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:34
55palfers said:
EnthusiastOwned said:
Debenhams - They often have 50% off their cookware.
Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Another vote for Meyer. We have a set that is 15 years old, used a lot and almost as good as new. A quick Brillo and they sparkle.Look for some Meyer sets if you can - Stainless, heavy with a thick base, suitable for all hobs and great quality. My parents bought some around 7 years ago and they are still going strong, I bought some last year and they are still like new - And I use them almost daily. They aren't non stick but I rarely have issues, the only time I do is when I put the heat up too high and wander off. Non stick is only required for frying pans in my opinion.
I ended up getting x3 Saucepans, x2 frying pans and a large skillet for under £100. All are oven safe and dishwasher safe too.
Oh, and as for a Wok - Get down to your local Asian supermarket, sub-£10 and cast iron. Never fully wash it or it'll rust, just rinse and wipe; then oil up afterwards (cooking oil on a cloth and give it a real light coat - like waxing your car!) and it'll last you a lifetime.
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:33
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 16th June 09:34
I might have a look around to see if there are any other deals about.
I found this set of Meyer pans on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meyer-Professional-Stainle...
But then in comparison on John Lewis is found a set of this for way over my budget http://www.johnlewis.com/meyer-infinite-circulon-3...
Is there a middle ground somewhere?
But then in comparison on John Lewis is found a set of this for way over my budget http://www.johnlewis.com/meyer-infinite-circulon-3...
Is there a middle ground somewhere?
How about something like this: http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/Judge-Vista-5-...
Scantily said:
Don't buy pans with a non stick coating, even the brands like anolon and circulon will fail given time. We chucked our set of anolon pans away after 5 years as they were knackered, despite careful handling and cleaning.
Circulon ( Not sure about Anolon) have a lifetime guarantee. I've had a few pots replaced over the last 10 years or so, never been an issue.you might want to try to re-season your work before ditching it....get it hot, tablespoon of vegtable oil, use kitchen paper to rub this in (very carefully of course) rinse and repeat. The killer for non stick woks is using a detergent to clean them or using a dishwasher.
According to Ken Hom. . .and he should know !
According to Ken Hom. . .and he should know !
This has to be the hardest decision i've made for Kitchen equipment. So i'm determined to get it from John Lewis as I can get 25% off which makes things a bit nicer.
I've been looking at Mayer which comes with a lifetime guarantee. I can get these for £134 with discount http://www.johnlewis.com/meyer-infinite-circulon-3...
Do they seem reasonable or are there any other good pans on John Lewis worth looking at?
I've been looking at Mayer which comes with a lifetime guarantee. I can get these for £134 with discount http://www.johnlewis.com/meyer-infinite-circulon-3...
Do they seem reasonable or are there any other good pans on John Lewis worth looking at?
they're almost like new. You should be able to get a set of 4 for about £100.I would put most of your selection effort and funds into a really good sautee pan (like a large frying pan but the side walls are at 90 degrees not sloping, maybe 8 or 10cm high, and usually they have a lid); simple stainless steel and a good heavy base for sure, no need for non-stick gimmicks; as you can use this for the main part of nearly every meal, whether it starts off fried or whatever. Ideally one with a good metal lid, glass if you want but bear in mind they aren't so see through once covered in condensation or sauce anyway; after that it's all about choosing one with handles you can get on with and which won't fall off.
Once you have a good sautee pan you just need a couple of saucepans for, well, sauce; and vegetables/rice, these can be as cheap as you like as once the main meal is in the sautee pan all the sauce pans are going to do is boil water etc. Although probably out of budget for this thread, making sure one of the saucepans can take a steamer on top is a good idea (most of the proper pan makers like Stellar sell steamers that sit on top of their normal pan range and then the saucepan's own lid goes on top of the steamer pile).
Other details to check are the temperatures that things like handles and especially any glass lids can handle; should be written on the box; because sometimes you want to put the whole pan in the oven (assuming you choose one that fits) or under the grill to finish things off. Many glass lids have surprisingly low temperature tolerance. Conversely certain plastic handles can cope with very high temperatures. You just have to check before buying.
The final thing to look at and often neglected is the lip of the pan, and how good it is at pouring. The best and more expensive pans tend to have the pan lip turn 90 degrees again so there is a few mm horizontal to pour off. Some pans all the way round, some just the "pouring area". It keeps things a million times neater and cleaner when you are pouring from one pan to another or on to the plate.
Even if you disregard most of the above, which is fair enough because I know you said the budget was £100 and a good sautee pan will approach that on its own; I would recommend breaking the obsession with having to have pans that all match each other. Buy the best individual pan for each part of the meal prep job. To do that, one of the best places to buy is actually TK Maxx or their homewares-only branches. Don't buy their very cheapest tat, but they do have superb individual pans (also proper thick baking sheets/trays, knives etc for that matter ... so long as you are willing to break the OCD of having to have matching sets of everything, and just keep popping in and buying an item at a time when you see something good in there).
Once you have a good sautee pan you just need a couple of saucepans for, well, sauce; and vegetables/rice, these can be as cheap as you like as once the main meal is in the sautee pan all the sauce pans are going to do is boil water etc. Although probably out of budget for this thread, making sure one of the saucepans can take a steamer on top is a good idea (most of the proper pan makers like Stellar sell steamers that sit on top of their normal pan range and then the saucepan's own lid goes on top of the steamer pile).
Other details to check are the temperatures that things like handles and especially any glass lids can handle; should be written on the box; because sometimes you want to put the whole pan in the oven (assuming you choose one that fits) or under the grill to finish things off. Many glass lids have surprisingly low temperature tolerance. Conversely certain plastic handles can cope with very high temperatures. You just have to check before buying.
The final thing to look at and often neglected is the lip of the pan, and how good it is at pouring. The best and more expensive pans tend to have the pan lip turn 90 degrees again so there is a few mm horizontal to pour off. Some pans all the way round, some just the "pouring area". It keeps things a million times neater and cleaner when you are pouring from one pan to another or on to the plate.
Even if you disregard most of the above, which is fair enough because I know you said the budget was £100 and a good sautee pan will approach that on its own; I would recommend breaking the obsession with having to have pans that all match each other. Buy the best individual pan for each part of the meal prep job. To do that, one of the best places to buy is actually TK Maxx or their homewares-only branches. Don't buy their very cheapest tat, but they do have superb individual pans (also proper thick baking sheets/trays, knives etc for that matter ... so long as you are willing to break the OCD of having to have matching sets of everything, and just keep popping in and buying an item at a time when you see something good in there).
Edited by kev1974 on Thursday 18th June 09:01
What ever you do don't buy the non stick le creuset stuff. They don't like dishwashers and too high temp when cooking. They even sell a wok and a griddle but then advise not to cook at too higher temperature as it might damage the surface. 
Last time I checked the whole point of a griddle or wok is to cook at high temperatures. The sales assistant in the outlet store in Portsmouth didn't have an answer either.
Their cast iron stuff is great the non stick is expensive junk.
Last time I checked the whole point of a griddle or wok is to cook at high temperatures. The sales assistant in the outlet store in Portsmouth didn't have an answer either. Their cast iron stuff is great the non stick is expensive junk.
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