Pots and pans

Rain_Shadow

Frugal_gem wrote: »

I've had a look at the website and can see various brands like le creuset - is this a good investment? They also have copper pans which I thought were good as well?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks :j

I replaced all my old Circulon pans about two and a half years ago with Le Creuset cast aluminium non-stick pans. They are really, really good and I am very pleased with them. But, as someone has pointed out above, they are expensive. I was fortunate to have a small inheritance that allowed me to spend just over £1000 on the pans and it has seemed like money well spent so far.


I would recommend Circulon if it is still made as I was very pleased with mine and they lasted well.


Personally I wouldn't touch Le Creuset cast iron pans as they are just too heavy.

madnotstupid

Another vote for circulon pans from me - I had to replace my copper-bottomed pots and pans after 10-ish years as water had got between the pan and the base and they were falling apart. I bought 3 circulon frying pans and a milk pan, then 3 cheaper stainless steel pots. Very, very happy with the pans, nothing sticks, not too heavy, feel difficult to destroy, and I am quite a destructive cook. The pots - meh - mostly they have stuff boiled in them - spuds, rice, pasta, veg, there aren't many demands made of them, and they are fine.

Slinky

We have some Circulon pans and I loathe them! Our ones have circular ridges in them and stuff sticks when you're trying to wash it off.

Much prefer our Tefal Spot ones.

JP08

Ha - was going to say you get what you pay for, then realised that half the pans we use on a daily basis are a 20yo set of Woolworths ones ...

Feral_Moon

I have some Le Crueset pans but find them to be very heavy, especially now I'm having problems with arthritis in my wrists. I still regularly use the round and oval casserole pots though.

I recently invested in a range of Stella 7000 pans which are great! Very solid but not too heavy and have self-draining lids which I find incredibly useful. Well within your budget too.

http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/Stellar_7000_Cookware.html

I also use Tefal red spot non-stick frying pans for everyday use.

LameWolf

Another one who won't have Le Creuset in the house. I can't lift them empty, even using both hands.

I have JL economy range, which is lightweight, does what I want it to do, and is inexpensive enough to be replaced if I manage to damage it.

Islandmaid

I have Le Creuset, but not the cast iron, their range of stainless pans and non stick bakeware is amazing - I have 2 'chef,s pans' by them, and they are the best pans I,ve ever used.

I have a huge cast iron casserole by them, and it weighs a tonne, but use it when cooking for a crowd.

I sent my cast iron pan set to the chazzer about 10 years ago as, like other,s have said, too heavy for everyday use, but we're fab when I cooked on an aga - horses for courses and all that

honeythewitch

Anything made out of cast iron is going to be heavy, but it might be worth remembering that Le Creuset is much lighter than other cast iron brands, especially the newer ranges, so the smaller casseroles shouldn't be a problem for most.

CurlyTop

Hi

I can certainly vouch for John Lewis Classic II range. You can buy single pans which is what I did to start off. Once I was happy with a small one I went back and added to the collection. I too can't lift heavy pans but find these a good weight to hold. Stainless steel but I've never had a problem with the handles getting hot. I've found them to be good value.

Frying pan wise, I've bought a small Eaziglide from John Lewis....it's been great no oil needed when making omelettes. As I'm twonk at making omelettes DH makes these amd he loves this pan. We're going to get a bigger size for other bits of cooking. Really easy to clean, made of aluminium it's really lightweight. I can't recommend it enough.

Hope this helps.

greenbee

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

When they get too heavy for you, you pass them down to your daughter

I've got my mother's, grandmother's and godmother's.... a HUGE collection of volcanic orange. It'll be well used when I finally have a kitchen I can actually cook in again. Two years and counting....