Pots and pans

midnightraven3

I gave away all of my le creuset pans, didnt like them at all:(
I have Greenpans, LOVE them, go from hob to oven, their non stick quality is amazing and they are not expensive, I bought one to make risotto in and ended up buying 6 all together once i had tried them. Look on amazon at reviews for them

Nicki

As you are going to buy in John Lewis have a look at their classic range. We recently replaced our Jonelle saucepans after 29 years hard use (also JL) with these. They do have metal handles which means that you can out your saucepans in the oven as well as use them on the hob. I haven't found that using them on the hob the handles have heated up and they wash well in the dishwasher. No idea if they work on induction jobs though - we have a gas one!

melanzana

Le Creuset are very heavy. VERY... But some people like them, not me!

I bought Circulon pots and pans with a retirement gift card pressie a couple of years ago. They are excellent have to say but a bit pricey.

If you want to see if the pots you are buying can be used on induction, well, if a magnet sticks to the bottom, they can! But the blurb will usually say I imagine.

I wouldn't have Le Creuset in the house ever. Too heavy for me and that's that.

Frugal_gem

Thanks all, we are having an induction hob! I didn't know the difference, probably should have!

I like the John Lewis range and they are induction hob compatible - the professional plus range. I think I'll go in to the shop and have a look and a hold and see what's best.

Thanks very much, as always so much great info! :beer:

jackyann

Absolutely go for John Lewis own brand - I have some and they are very good.

suki1964

wanderingwondering wrote: »

I have a round le creuset casserole and I absolutely love it, it lives on the hob (gas range type cooker) and it gets used at least twice a week, it is fairly non-stick for initial frying and does make delicious meals. I wouldn't make a chilli, curry, pasta sauce, Bolognese or anything like that that needs slow simmering in any other pan now as it cooks slower which seems to improve the taste, I find with gas that in other pans some things boil too hard and then burn. Plus it looks beautiful in my kitchen and makes me happy every day to see it! My mum has had one for around 15 years and its still fine.

Im the same, I use mine nearly every mealtime, last night it was pork chops, day before cottage pie, even on roast days I use it to cook the cabbage and peas. However it is heavy, mother cant lift it at all

I also have a cast iron grill, which is great for the perfect steak and for charring chicken

I also have a big stainless steel stock pot for soups and pasta, a good non stick frying pan and a couple of heavy bottomed stainless steel pans

Induction means you can really cook at low temps, as well as high, so I never have problems with burning sauces to the bottom of pans now and stainless steel can really take a battering, can use any utensil in them, put them through the dishwasher etc with no damage getting done to them

Lleucu

this one http://www.johnlewis.com/tefal-preference-stir-fry-pan-28cm/p231631776 used everyday and this one http://www.johnlewis.com/tefal-madras-khadai-pan-dia-26cm/p1389368, never sticks, easy to clean and the sides stop too much mess when used to fry.

Emm-in-a-pickle

I have lusted after Le Creuset stuff for all my adult life, but resigned to never spending THAT much... then I found Sainsbury`s version, first a shallow casserole/lid, doubles as a frying pan, reduced to 15 quid in the sale, so I couldn`t leave it there!
Since then, I`ve collected more, different shapes and sizes, and also bought some as gifts for my daughter and daughter-in-law, when on `special purchase`. (I bought another for DIL`s birthday in January, keeping it till her birthday in July!) Patience, look for the special offers, and forget Le Creuset!
Yes, they are heavy, but the effort is worth it, they cook so well and clean easily with a short soak, and they look lovely and joyful on the dresser or even just left out in the kitchen. My DIL calls the first one I bought her `the magic orange pot`. We all find they cook well on very low settings, so fuel saving too.
My other best loved pan is a non-stick frying pan with metal handle, for some hob to oven stuff.

suki1964

Emm-in-a-pickle wrote: »

I have lusted after Le Creuset stuff for all my adult life, but resigned to never spending THAT much... then I found Sainsbury`s version, first a shallow casserole/lid, doubles as a frying pan, reduced to 15 quid in the sale, so I couldn`t leave it there!
Since then, I`ve collected more, different shapes and sizes, and also bought some as gifts for my daughter and daughter-in-law, when on `special purchase`. (I bought another for DIL`s birthday in January, keeping it till her birthday in July!) Patience, look for the special offers, and forget Le Creuset!
Yes, they are heavy, but the effort is worth it, they cook so well and clean easily with a short soak, and they look lovely and joyful on the dresser or even just left out in the kitchen. My DIL calls the first one I bought her `the magic orange pot`. We all find they cook well on very low settings, so fuel saving too.
My other best loved pan is a non-stick frying pan with metal handle, for some hob to oven stuff.

Yep them's the ones I have

Might not get matching colours but who cares at £15

I use them in the pizza oven as well

MallyGirl

We have a set of 5 Le Creuset pans on a hanging stand bought in a French supermarket in the late 1980s. They get used a lot. Due to the wooden handles they don't go through the dishwasher.
We have one stainless steel pan with a copper bottom and I hate it - the handle gets hot and water gets in between the copper and steel bits of the base and then slowly leaks back into the pan drawer.
We also have a couple of Tefal spot type non stick pans - a wok, a big frying pan and a little frying pan. These get replaced once they cease being non stick.
We also have a few Le Creuset and similar type casseroles bought from various sources and they are all fine and used now and then when they are the right size for the job.