Can your pan withstand the burn factor?
Written: Feb 14 '04
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Pros: Attractiveness
Durability
Non stick coating
Cons: The lids handles can heat up
The Bottom Line: You won't get frustrated in the kitchen when other pans would burn your food faster than this set will.
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| Melaney's Full Review: Calphalon Kitchen Essentials Styleware 8-Piece Coo... |
I bought the Calphalon cookware set of 8 two years ago at Target. I bought my set in the gray with glass tempered and stainless steel edging lids.The set includes: 2 sauce pans of 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 quarts.Two skillets of 8 inches and 10 inches. A 5 1/2 quart stock type pot and a 11 inch griddle (the 11 inch griddle was considered free with the purchase of the 8 piece set which includes the lids. There are three in the set.
When I first went to the store I said, I need a good set of cookware that will have riveted handles, cookware that is sturdy and will go the distance. Especially with me in the kitchen. I wanted a set that would cater to me.One that would be there for me in good times and in bad. What do I mean by bad?
Oh, you know those times when we forget that we have something on the stove and normally if it boils down it usually gets stuck or burnt to the bottom and your pan is ruined? Those kinds of bad times. OK, so now I sound like a horrible cook. No, hardly ... more like I'm the forgetful cook once in a while and I hate having a pan get ruined because I miscalculated a temperature setting and maybe had it boiling too high etc.
OK, so I've had a few incidences of my bad times with this new set...and what did I find? I found that the pans live on and OK so maybe I burnt the food and that was not savable but OK, my pan withstood the burn factor!
Perfect and ready for more cooking.
So what is so special about this set aside from my burn factor? The pans are heavy weighted which I actually enjoy. Gives me something sturdy to work with. I don't have to worry about my pans sliding around on the stove because they are too light weight.
The riveted handles will last forever. No worries when I'm taking some boiling water off the stove if the pan will falter and lose a handle and burn me. Which yes, I did that once too on my leg. The hot chicken soup all over one of my legs. Ok, so I'm rambling out of context, no one wants to hear about that story, now do they?
I'm glad they have the riveted handles. Gives me peace of mind.
The handles themselves are heat resistant. Nice and thick handles which leave me not having to grab an oven mitt to grab the handle.
However, when grabbing the lid handles you DO need an oven mitt or towel. They will heat up. I have made the mistake of forgetting about that a few times. The interior of the coated non stick surface is a nice thick hard black color with some sparkle and although most people say "oh don't throw it in the dishwasher," sometimes I do; on the top rack. Also, I can scrub the interior surface with a dobie sponge if I want to and that non stick finish is fine.
I do not use metal in the pan though so I wouldn't recommend that as I'm sure it might scrape up the surface. I use the plastic cutlery when cooking.
I use all the pans and they all have their purpose in my kitchen. All of the pans are safe in the oven up to 450 degrees. I also think they are an attractive set.
So what exactly are the benefits of this set?
Attractiveness
Durability
Non stick coating that also stands the test of time and mels burn factor ;)
Riveted handles
Glass tempered and stainless steel lids that let you view what you are cooking
Even cooking
Dishwasher safe on the top rack with no regrets
The set is large enough for you to have a pan for every need when cooking large meals
The cons?
The lids handles can heat up
If you drop a pan as I did recently it can dent or warp
(I had one of the pans I had just washed and put in the strainer and it slipped and fell, making the pan warp slightly so now the lid does not fit quite right on that pan)
As for the price on this set. I paid $150 almost two years ago but definitely turned out to be a great investment. Pocket change when you think of how well these pans perform.
I really looked at all the other sets that they had in this store and other stores before I settled on this set. I compared prices and how well the pans were made and I think one of the reasons I like the calphalon set was the fact that it had weight, and the non stick coating looked like it was really durable.
In ads that I had seen before I went to the store, I sort of had my mind set on perhaps the Farberware set because of how nice it looked but in person it did not look or feel as durable. I'm glad I made the Calphalon choice as I'm still enjoying it today.. and now I'm lucky if I burn something once a yr. We all get better with age as they say.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review *peace* Mel
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150.00
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Epinions.com ID:
Melaney
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Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 87 members
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