Saucepan problem...

newlywed

We have the shiny silver saucepans with glass lids and metal handles.

Cooking frozen veg on Saturday the saucepan started to crackle and make strange noises.
When I lifted the pan up, I realised that the bottom had kind of blown out - almost like it has been bashed from the inside. So now my saucepan doesn't sit on the electric hob like it should and doesn't heat up the food as well either :rolleyes:

Any ideas what caused this???

Any ideas where I can buy one pan at a time and replace just one???

No idea where OH got them and erm haven't confessed yet either

dND

That bowing is usually caused when the different layers that are used to make up the bottom are heated or cooled to fast. Different metals expand at different rates when so if the outer piece of the base gets longer than the inside, and they are still bonded together the only thing they can do is form a cup shape.

That's the science bit, but I wouldn't have expected it to happen in normal use. Did you have the hotplate really hot and had you had the frozen veg in the pan for long?

noonesperfect

A bit tricky if you haven't confessed yet, but it must be a faulty pan .

Alot of saucepans come with some sort of guarantee, maybe yours are still covered.

I'm not absolutely sure but I would think Woolworths sell single saucepans. Our local Matalan did till they stopped selling housewares..


Can't think of anywhere else right now sorry, HTH.

newlywed

Thanks dND - needed the science bit before I confess :rotfl:

Yes the frozen veg had been in there for a little while - maybe 10 minutes before I switched the hob on but it was on low for 10 mins then I turned it up - would that have done it?


Think this is probably the set he bought - looks about the same

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8604903/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500005988.Kitchen%2Band%2Blaundry%3EC%24cip%3D1500006070.Cookware%3EC%24cip%3D1500006073.Saucepans.htm

newlywed

Thing is he likes everything to "match" and I don't see the point of paying out for a whole set when it's just one that's duff. They are over 2 years old - no idea how much older than that though

noonesperfect

Do you know what make they are, such as Prestige?

newlywed

No make markings on them at all. Think it's those in the link for Argos so goodness knows :rolleyes:

noonesperfect

Mmmmm, that makes it harder to track down a replacement unless your OH can remember where he got them. Maybe they will have some nice AWT saucepan sets on BidTV soon :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sorry to make light of your trouble (slapping self on wrist).

If I'm cooking frozen veges, like you, I put them in the saucepan ready to cook when everything else is nearly ready, but I always add boiling water from the kettle, then put the ring on. Doesn't take as long to come to the boil that way. It might safeguard the rest of your pans......

dND

Hi newlywed

Unless the pan had got really cold and you had no water in there and the hotplate was sizzling I don't think it's you.

As pans are supposed to go on hotplates and accept frozen food I would say the pan was faulty. I think the term is 'not fit for purpose' (I think that's the proper phrase when making the complaint).

Is the pan discoloured? If it was seriously overheated I think it would show marks so if it's not and they say you've overheated it remember that - all my overheated pans have shown marks, I've been known to burn boiled eggs:eek:

dND

Following on from what noonesperfect said, I'm now very careful with my pans and frying pans.

Many moons ago when I had some money I treated myself to some very expensive ones. and do my best not to move them from very hot to cold or vice versa. And woe betide any of my children who don't let my frying pans cool down on the hotplate or dump them in cold water while still hot:D

The pans are still doing well after 10 years - the frying pans are only a year old but are still perfect. It took me a long time and a lot of cheaper pans, which to be fair did last a couple of years before either they bowed or the linings came off or both, until I finally bought this set.

Hopefully this is a one off and the others will be fine. I would have a go at complaining.

trying-very-trying

If you do have to replace just one pan, try one of the supermarkets. they nearly all do their own pan range, and these are usually sold singly, and you might find a near match.