Stainless Steel vs Non Stick Pans

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

I am looking for a new set of pans.

We have an eclectic mix of pans at the moment from various sources but mainly hand me downs from friends and all the non sticks are damaged in some way.

I am looking to get a half decent set, probably spend up to £150 on them.

I was drawn to Stainless due to the last-a-lifetime reputation and the fact that when treated correctly they can produce better results - i am a keen cook. I am also put off non-stick as the coating - by my experience - invariably gets damaged or starts to fleck off after a number of years. Another factor is that we keep our cookware rather untidily in a drawer which is a major contributor to the damage to the non-stick.

Since having an initial look about most pan sets available have a non-stick coating on them and even the stainless sets seem to be steel with a non-stick coating.

Have things moved on? Are non-stick more durable than they used to be? Do they produce the same results as stainless pans?

My current thoughts are to buy this set from Costo - http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_2,cos_2.7,cos_2.7.4/559728 - but am open to suggestions.

Any advise gratefully received!

C.C.L.

I have a set of Viners stainless steel ones that I got 12 years ago, and they are still in excellent condition. They weren't expensive about £50 if I remember correctly. I had used non stick before these and they had to be replaced often due to the coating chipping or simply wearing away.
I know non stick have got much better now, but I swear by the stainless steel ones and the heavy base on them distributes the heat evenly.

Leif

Is the CostCo one any good?

I also hate non stick, although I have a couple of non stick frying pans bought recently. I find stainless steel frying pans too hard to clean, probably because I do slow sweating down of veg in a drop of oil.

I would have thought now was a good time to buy a good set, although many sales are not really sales.

daveyjp

Ours are Stellar stanless steel ones, 20 years old and look like new. Always on offer if you buy the set.

Primrose

I think a good set of stainless steel pans should last you years, but depending on the type of cooking you enjoy doing, I think investing in a really good non stick frying pan is a "Must". We cook all our sauces such as Bolognese, and rissottos in one. In fact we have two, of different sizes, depending on the quantities we need to cook. We treat ours carefully using plastic spatulas and they last for years. Storage damage shouldn't be a problem if you need to store pans inside each other. Just put a thick layer of bubble wrap cut to the size of the pan inside it before putting in another layer of pans on top and this will prevent any damage. Some recipes make burning of the base of the pan all too easy to do, with the subsequent cleaning difficulties. Non-stick was designed to make life easier, and it does work. You just have to treat your pans with care.

Leif

Primrose wrote: »

Non-stick was designed to make life easier, and it does work. You just have to treat your pans with care.

I beg to disagree. The surface gradually deteriorates whatever you do.

evokit

Look at these, in my eyes there better than stainless.
i now offer these free with induction hobs as they work on them also

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320919158111?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Ive done alot of reasearch on them, so as there rather new to the market (prob be popular in the uk in 3 yrs time)
read them up

ZootHornRollo

thanks,

nonstick pans in general are defo out. There's no way theyll be looked after. Ill have a hard enough job trying to stop GF from washing them with soap, nevermind outing bubble wrap in them prior to outing the away... Never gonna happen! Good idea tho.

think ill take a gamble on the costco set and take advantage of their return policy if they don't measure up!

**Patty**

Mine are Prestige stainless steel.

They're coming up 20 years old & are starting to show their age plus the copper plates in the bases are *patchy*.

Gutted to find Prestige are no longer in business & i have looked at the Taste the Difference ones in Sainsburys.

I'm another one that hates non-stick.

hardpressed

evokit wrote: »

Look at these, in my eyes there better than stainless.
i now offer these free with induction hobs as they work on them also

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320919158111?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Ive done alot of reasearch on them, so as there rather new to the market (prob be popular in the uk in 3 yrs time)
read them up

Can I ask which induction hob you reccomend?

cyclonebri1

I haven't reads all the replies and am not a specialist in the kitchen by anymeans, never having been in there for 30 years. But now I do abit.:D:D

You need both, that's from an engineers perspective.

Teflon frying pan and wok, with lids for adventurous and slightly drunk cooking.

Stainless with either copper or ally encapsulated heat bases for general use.

And a decent steamer stack, again in stainless, great way of cooking.

And last but not least a deep fat/chip frier, confined toi the garge and on a timer for safety's sake, simply because she won't allow the disgusting thing in the house.

PS My wife would never believe I'd posted this, but to me the choice seems simple.;);):A:A:o:o