T-Fal Thermo-Spot Non-Stick Pans: No Flakes, No Scratches, No Sticking, No Problems!
Written: Dec 09 '04 (Updated Dec 09 '04)
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Pros: Tough, resilient non-stick coating doesn't flake or mar easily.
Cons: None!
The Bottom Line: T-Fal touts their Thermo-Spot but I think their pan's best feature is the tough non-stick surface that stays put, even after extended daily use. Highly recommended.
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| mrs-j's Full Review: T-Fal Thermo-Spot Non-Stick Saute and Fry Pans |
All non-stick pans are not alike. I learned that this past summer when my husband and I were stuck in corporate housing for a month. The newly-stocked kitchen included a standard, no-name non-stick skillet. I used only plastic utensils on the skillet, but each and every time I cooked, little Teflon flakes would come off. Blech.
We had only one non-stick skillet in our own collection so when we got settled into our new place, we went out and purchased two T-Fal Thermo-Spot Non-Stick Saute and Fry Pans for our kitchen.
About T-Fal & Red Dot/Thermo-Spot Cookware
T-Fal, or Tefal, makes kitchen and home applianes throughout the world. In other countries they're known as Tefal but here they're branded as T-Fal.
Jamie Oliver really helped boost the publicity of T-Fal's thermo-spot pans. He uses them in just about every episode of his show, "The Naked Chef". He partnered with T-Fal to design his own upscale, professional series line of their pans as well.
But T-Fal sells these pans in many other lines as well. We purchased our two T-Fal Thermo-Spot non-stick pans at Target separately. The first was an 12.25" aluminum fry pan which cost about $20. We were very impressed with this pan, and I also wanted to make one-egg omelettes for lunch, so we then purchased a small 8.5" saute pan for about $10.
These pans, which are a part of T-Fal's Royale Gala line of non-stick pans, have a hard-coated black enamel exterior with a graphite/copper coated exterior base and ergonomically curved handles.
Using the Thermo-Spot
In the center of these black non-stick pans is a vivid red dot with small, brighter red lines running through it. Putting the pan over heat for a few minutes activates the red dot, so that the entire dot turns bright red. The theory goes that once you see the dot bright red, your pan is pre-heated and ready to use.
In truth, I view this as nothing more than a total marketing gimmick from T-Fal, but I have to hand it to them, it's quite a brilliant one because not only does it appeal to the average cook who wants to feel like they're cooking everything just right, but it also unmistakably brands the cookware without requiring you to be able to read a name. You see the red dot and you think T-Fal. Even on a cooking show. Jamie Oliver's use of the Thermo Spot cookware greatly legitimized the Thermo Spot in the eyes of many home chefs, as is evidenced by their partnering with Jamie and the resulting "professional" line of cookware.
In case you can't tell, I'm underwhelmed by the Thermo Spot. I don't think that the dot changes color enough to be easily discernible, and even if it did - I can already tell when a pan's preheated.
I bought the T-Fal cookware in spite of the Thermo Spot. I bought it because well, I must admit, Jamie Oliver's use of it legitimized the cookware itself in my eyes as well. If the non-stick surface held up for him, I figured it would hold up on me.
Using the T-Fal Thermo-Spot Saute & Fry Pans
I put at least one of these pans to use every single day. I usually make an omelette for breakfast or lunch, and out comes the small saute pan to do the job. I use the larger fry pan for dinner at least half of the nights that I cook.
The pans are solidly built and have a fair amount of heft to them for their size. I try to use only plastic utensils on them, but about once a week I very gently whisk inside the frying pan, trying my best not to touch the bottom, in order to make my husband's recent favorite recipe - Chicken with Feta Cheese sauce.
After two months of constant use, I'm happy to say that the non-stick surface has not been marred one single bit. Not a flake, not a scratch, nothing. T-Fal's nonstick pans have stayed perfectly non-stick. And to me, that's way more important than the red dot.
Cleaning and Maintenance
These pans are dishwasher safe but believe it or not, I find that it's much quicker to wash them both by hand as soon as I'm done cooking. Food effortlessly wipes out of them and with a little soapy water they're clean. It literally takes less than a minute to clean the pans usually. The exterior splatters and grease require more attention than the interior!
Warranties and Customer Service
T-Fal provides a limited Lifetime warranty for their cookware for the original owner and any subsequent owners of the cookware. Warranty service should be arranged through T-Fal directly.
Address:
T-Fal Consumer Service/ASSD
2121 Eden Road
Millville, NJ 08332
Customer Service Phone: 1-800-395-8325
Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm, Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm (All times E.S.T.)
Summary
Our T-Fal cookware stands up to the rigors of daily use and cleaning. The Thermo Spot is a neat little gimmick, but it doesn't impress me nearly as much as the resilient non-stick finish does. T-Fal pans cost a little more than their off-branded counterparts, but you'll save money by not having to replace your non-stick pans nearly as often.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10/20
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mrs-j
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Reviews written: 319
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"Man was made for something better than disturbing dirt." - Oscar Wilde
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