which saucepans to buy?

grizzly1911

daska wrote: »

LOL, you think that's bad, I have Cristel pans (from back in the days I could afford them). They are brilliant and I love the detachable handles but... and I buy cheap non-stick Tefal frying pans when Argos have them on offer.

My mum spent a lot of money on a set of heavy stainless steel but chose not to have the version with metal handles because she was worried that she'd burn her hands. Big mistake, she couldn't use them in the oven and over the years the handles have started to perish (not to mention the ones she melted LOL). She thought they'd last her lifetime and we'd be grateful to have them handed on to us - ermmm, no thanks!

My vot goes for stainless steel too. Stellar do seem to have some nice ones at a fair price.

I too scrimped on, two sets, of stainless steel pans with plastic handles. On both sets they came, have come loose. I have used other sets with metal handles and they always seem better balanced.

The pans themselves have been fine. Th efirst set died because my daughter tried to do popcorn in one and it burn into the curve where the sidejoind the base, when we tried to clean it we found a small hole left.....

I do prefer a nonstick frypan though.

[Deleted User]

I still have three pans that were a wedding present 48 years ago I have only one of the lids left but I must have cooked thousands of meals in them There are stainless steel with copper bases underneath No idea where they came from but I wouldn't part with them for anything.Even burnt on food comes off I soak in cold salted water for half an hour and nothing sticks afterwards.I also have a non stick one which I bought about 20 odd years ago and although the base is beginning to lose its non stickiness its still o.k. to use.I know they can be expensive but I am a great believer in quality paying its rewards and when it comes to household goods I will pay a bit more so it lasts a lot longer.Over the past 48 years I have had three irons and my DD seems to buy one a year at least but she won't pay much for one and consequentially they don't last very long.My present iron I bought in John Lewis' around 18 years ago and my late OH replaced the lead about 10 years ago.with a longer one for me as I never think that iron leads are ever long enough. if you can afford it save a bit more and buy the best ones you can get and hopefully they will last for years as mine have

alex21

Was in Debenhams today and saw a set of 3 circulon pans and frying pan for £100 (down from £200) but check TK Maxx as well

attentionseeker1

I think I might go for Circulon after all your recommendations- even my Tefal non-stick pans don't need soaking before cleaning so not sure I want to add that to my chores list! Has anyone had them for more than 3 years (have they been around that long?!)

Have bad memories of scrambled egg on my Mum's stainless steel pans- does paying more for them reduce the likelihood of sticking as well then because hers probably weren't that expensive!

mmmsnow

I got hard anodised Circulon pots on special in Makro last year (three pots and a giant stock pot) for £89.99 (reduced from £200). This is one of the best purchases I've ever made. They heat evenly and they seem to bring water to the boil quicker than my old pots!

CrazyIndianZA

Would never buy Circulon again....non stick to stick in 3 years or less.

lemontart

do not go for metal handles they get hot not good

morganlefay

I was looking at a Green Pan frying pan the other day - has anyone got one of these ? I have never worried about the nasty things the non-stick surface has been doing to us all these years, but should that be a concern ? I have used Tefal NS pans for years and just bought a new one whenever in France where they are cheaper if my old one started getting horrible (mostly on the outsides - oddly. But would be grateful for any thoughts on Green Pans

PS I have a Circulon frying pan which I treated with huge care = it being so expensive - and it got stuff stick on it within months and is really non non-stick now. Would NEVER buy another.

Justamum

I've got a blue steel pancake pan. It is brilliant. I want to buy a big frying pan now - they develop their own patina with use so get more and more non-stick as you use them.

stonecircle_2

Avoid SKK Pans, I have one of their titanium frying pans which I returned to them as it is no longer non stick.

I have today been told by Chomette (UK agents for SKK) that my pan is not covered by the warranty on the grounds that I have misused it and it looks like dishwasher damage???

Strange thing is I don't have a dishwasher and have never had a dishwasher

Next I was told I needed to use more oil in my cooking??

Is that not the whole point of owning a non stick pan??

Poor quality and ever poorer customer service. I was speaking to a representative at Chomette and I asked if I could speak to someone in SKK and was told I would only be referred back to themselves. So I cannot even discuss the matter the the people who have made the decision. What a joke!

So I am left with a pan that is useless, a glass lid and a spare handle that I purchased as the spiel I read on this pan made it sound like it would last forever.

Back to my 15 year old Le Cruset, which is still surprisingly non stick after all this time!