Step Away from the Cook's Essentials
Written: Apr 02 '02
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Pros: Attractive; Even Heating; Oven Safe to 350 degrees
Cons: Poor construction; knobs separate from glass lids when heated in oven; bonded base separates
The Bottom Line: You get what you pay for and in this case, you pay for a chance to have the phenolic handles and knob disintegrate in your hand.
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| pogomom's Full Review: Cook's Essentials Stainless Steel Non-Stick 2.5 qt... |
I define my experience with the Cook’s Essentials® line of cookware as a nightmare. The hodge-podge serving as a set of culinary tools in this house consists of several brands of cookware and bakeware. Until recently, I trusted those items to perform admirably as promised by the respective manufacturers.
Today, I sport a neat gauze wrap on my left foot. The bandage covers a curved burn matching the rim dimensions of my Cook's Essentials® Stainless Steel Non-Stick 2.5 qt. Chef Pan’s lid. I admit, ”clumsy” describes my athletic ability. Those bearing witness to this misshapen soul’s attempt to walk across a room might swear that it appears I am under duress when self-consciously putting one foot in front of the other. Oddly enough, in the kitchen, Nancy Kerrigan shows less grace on ice than I exhibit during my well-choreographed dance of the prep chef.
How, you may ask, did I manage to fry my foot?
I pray no one relates to what I share in this exposé of QVC’s line of inferior cookware. I foolishly trusted the manufacturer regarding the utensils’ oven-safe capabilities. On a few occasions, I placed individual pieces of my Cook’s Essentials® in a preheated 325° oven. On the day of my injury, I exposed the newest pan in my assortment to fifteen minutes of sustained heat. I removed the pan from the oven and placed it on top of the range using professional quality oven mitts. Through good sense and experience, I knew those stay-cool handles only remain cool when used on the stovetop.
As is my habit, when removing the lid from a hot pot, I invert the lid before placing it on the counter. Using those same high-grade oven mitts, I lifted the lid and the stainless steel rimmed glass disk fell away from the phenolic resin knob in my protected hand. The searing hot lid bounced off the counter and rested, steel rim side down, on my foot. The natural reaction of pulling my foot out from under the searing lid scorched even more of my skin as it dragged a layer of blistered epidermis from the top of my foot.
As I stood, dumbly staring at the knob in my hand, I noticed the sizzling screw that once held the lid’s components permanently embedding itself into a nylon throw rug. The heat not only melted that rug; it turned the threads inside the knob into dust. Miraculously, the lid failed to show a crack, scratch or any damage from the drop.
I make a point of checking for loose knobs and handles on any cookware manufactured without (what is now mandatory) riveted metal handles. A bad experience with T-Fal® taught me the wisdom of checking for loose screws. In that instance, one of the Dutch oven handles became loose and I wisely feared picking up a filled pot using those flimsy ear-shaped appendages. As a result, the habit of assuring the secure condition of all similar knobs and handles usually saves me from turning into a flaming kabob. This time, as always, I checked and everything appeared snug.
Black Phenolic Lemons – A New Phenomenon!
After treatment and a few analgesics, examination of the offending knob commenced. Cook’s Essentials® uses a single stainless steel screw to affix the chubby black grip to the glass lid. The knob consists of six components:
1. Black phenolic resin knob
2. Decorative stainless steel ring insert
3. Black phenolic center threaded cog
4. Black rubber washer
5. Stainless steel metal washer
6. Stainless steel screw
All elements correspond neatly until exposed to heat from a dishwasher (recently tested by this sorry consumer) or an oven. The threaded cog cannot stand up to the approved temperature range suggested by the manufacturer. Presently, I await some reply from QVC’s Cook’s Essentials® support team regarding the fact that they purvey hazardous merchandise. So far, I feel propelled by frustration and pain to seek the nearest competent personal injury attorney.
For those still not convinced of the possible perils awaiting those choosing to purchase any Cook’s Essentials® glass lidded cookware, I present the following specs and pertinent information:
The Out of Box Experience
• Cook’s Essentials® Stainless Steel 2.5 quart Chef’s Pan
• Tempered Glass Lid with Stainless Steel Rim
• Full Replacement Lifetime Warranty (Consumer pays shipping)
• One-page Use and Care Card
No assembly required, the pots come cradled in heavy-duty cardboard.
Features, Features, Features:
The Good
• The 18/10 Stainless Steel exterior stays new looking for the life of the pan. The rounded bulging bowl-like shape of all Cook’s Essentials® pots and pans allows the cook to easily get into the corners or edges at the base of the pan with a spoon or scraper. The shape gives the pots an attractive retro look.
• The non-stick interior coating is DuPont's® latest arc sprayed "Scratch Guard™.” Proven by this test kitchen to be truly metal utensil resistant, the surface provides excellent food release capabilities.
The Bad and The Ugly
• According to the manufacturer, the Riveted Handles never need tightening. Since the rivets are also stainless steel, clean up is less of a problem. The accompanying Use and Care paperwork reads, “The cool touch handles are oven safe up to 350º.” I feel I covered that aspect in previous paragraphs; I tend towards redundancy when in the throes of distinct discomfort. Please direct any possible remaining question relating to that subject to the comment area of this review.
• The heavy aluminum disk base extends to the edge of the pan’s base. Encased within layers of stainless steel, the base promotes true even heating with no hot spots. According to the manufacturer’s adverting blurb, “Disc separation due to overheating is virtually eliminated thanks to the patented Impact Bonded Base.”
Oops, dear reader, I nearly failed to mention the inaccuracy of that statement. When enamored with the shiny new line from Cook’s Essentials, I purchased a number of Everyday Pans to give as gifts. I served as witness to my neighbor’s unfortunate accident when hand washing one of those gift pans. The base separated from the pan, leaving a sharp edge along one small area. The poor woman sliced her hand; immediately dumped the pan into the trash and suggested that next year, I purchase a bottle of wine if I feel the need to spread goodwill.
Is that my Final Answer?
No, Regis, I possess the knack of rambling on for hours without a break on matters about which I feel a strong sense of responsibility. Two glowing reviews of other Cook’s Essentials® Stainless Steel utensils serve as testimony to my former sentiment regarding this line of cookware. I plan to amend those commentaries in the near future to align with my current, more experienced assessment of the products. Begging the reader to avoid these pots and pans via this critique, I simply state in closing, “Been there, done that and practically wrote a book.”
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 20.00
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pogomom
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About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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