We just got hitched and have some money to buy a good cookware set. Most of our cooking is everyday stuff, but sometimes I like to go gourmet (I love cooking French food ala Julia Childs!) Any suggestions? Oh, and should we go with non-stick?
Wow! Tough Question!
Of course sizes will depend upon what you cook, and for how many. (I know there’s two of you, but family, friends, etc. should be considered!)
Also, if you are heavily into sauces, a saucier (medium-frying pan-looking thing with rounded edges at the bottom for easy whisking), perhaps a wok (if you are so inclined), and a few other specialty items should be considered.
As for materials… Stainless steel with a heavy bottom (see Revere<http://www.revereware.com/index.asp?page…
for an example. Unless you like polishing copper, get eh all-stainless type.
These will last more than your lifetime and give excellent service. There are many good brands, so do some shopping. OH! Get metal handles so you can stick them in the oven!
Non-stick. I was devastated when my beloved T-Fal just wore out and had to be pitched. It scratched badly, and cost a bundle! <grumble>
I hate to sound like a commercial, but having scraped, scratched and just plain worn out favorite pots and pans, I now buy Calphalon <http://www.calphalon.com/calphalon/consu…
Downside? Rubber handles. You can (carefully) slip them under the broiler, but no oven time please!
Otherwise, they are tough as nails, and work extremely well.
It may seem odd, but I have a couple of IKEA nonstick frying pans and pots. Incredibly cheap (3 pots, 1 frying pan for under $25), they are my "danger" pots. If I’m doing caramel, or a recipe that is new and likely to burn, I use them based on the theory that if the worst happens, I can replace them for a few bucks!
I hope this helps!
Best wishes!
