What do you prefer and why?

stef240377

Am looking to find out what base material you prefer when looking to buy cookware. Main reason for being nosey is over hearing a conversation in the Pro Cook shop in Cheshire Oaks yesterday.

An elderly couple were looking to buy Le Crueset cookware but decided to have a nosey in Pro Cook as it was only a few stores down. The young pushy SA tried telling them they were better off with the pots and pans they stocked as they would last a lot longer, be cheaper in the long run and not be so heavy - i guess using the couples age in his favour for the hard sell.

Admittedly i have a Tefal combino set of saucepans, prestige pressure cooker and a number of different casserole type dishes from le creuset, pyrex and a couple of asda owns. But would it be beneficial to only purchase items from a select manufacturer or is it only the label you are paying for? Does it matter if you spend £10 on a 3 piece set of pans compared to £150+ cos chefs prefer em? All input valued.

angeltreats

I have a Tower pressure cooker, a set of Circulon pans, Pyrex casseroles and glassware, and one griddle pan from Lidl that was about £15.

I've had cheap pans in the past (set of five for £15 in Argos type of thing) and they were horrible to use. Apart from my griddle pan which I wouldn't use enough to buy an expensive one I would never buy a cheap saucepan ever again. Mine are about six years old now and I can't see them being replaced for at least another six years and probably far longer.

(The Lidl griddle pan is actually surprisingly good though!)

And I've always loved Pyrex so it's kind of a case of stick with what you know.

stef240377

Just thought i would ask as this poor couple looked like being harounded in to having something against what the 'MRS' had her heart set on. Poor old dear was going to have the full range of La cruesets from the sounds of it as Hubby said they were going to spend around £300 on the lot :eek:

Magpye

Blimey, is it that much for Le Creuset? _pale_ I've honestly had the opposite experience to the previous poster. My set of fairly cheap stainless steel pans are still soldiering on, while the (relatively) expensive Tefal coated pans are beginning to look tired after only three years.

Crisp_£_note

I personally buy the cheap value sets and renew them every 12 - 18 months depending on how they are doing. Although I have ended up with several small milkpans and not many medium or large pans as I obviously use these more.

I dont see the point in spending a lot of money on fancy labels so long as it does the job!

wssla00

Personally i like the le cruset casserole dishes and stainless steel pots and pans oh and non stick frying pans.

The difference my le cruset does to my cooking is absolutely amazing

Hardup_Hester

I used to have a Le Creuset, but gave it to my DD, I find it too heavy for me now.
Hester

purpleivy

I have had some le creuset. It came as a wedding present. The frying pans hardly lasted any time at all.

I have Pro Cook (formerly SKK) cookware (2 saucepans, large saute pan, very large casserole and a frying pan. I have found it to be great in use and extremely durable. The items that I bought well over 10 years ago are still relatively non-stick due to the high quality surfaces. The heavy bottoms mean that stuff cooks evenly. I couldn't recommend them highly enough.

wssla00

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

I used to have a Le Creuset, but gave it to my DD, I find it too heavy for me now.
Hester

They are very heavy! I also have a griddle from them but it is totally useless and so heavy all I use it for is grilling bread........ but the casserole pan's heat conduction is brill.

stef240377

I have a http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8430249/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C15701295%7CCookware%7C14418537/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418537%7CBakeware%7C14418540.htm

The largest one of the two but it only cost me £7 from TK Maxx. As previously mentioned i do find it heavy to use and rarely drag it out unless it is for lasagnes.

got-it-spend-it

My MIL has Le Creuset but I find them so heavy when draining or dishing up. We have a cheapy ss set of pans which are still going strong after 6 years, as well as a set of copper pans which are also still in perfect condition.

The tefal saute and frying pans we've had for about 5 years are getting a bit worn out and could do with replacing soon.