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(More customer reviews)KitchenAid knows how to build appliances, so its no surprise to see them do such a good job with cookware. As you might have read, these are HEAVY stainless steel cast cookware--tho they arent actually THAT heavy. They're SOLID. On the bottom of these pots and pans, are 3/8's of an inch of SOLID STAINLESS STEEL. If you have a radiant heat stove, with a ceramic top, this type of cookware is perfect for your type of stove. Aluminum and copper bottom pans cause metal marks on ceramic topped stoves. And, if you use lighter versions of steel cookware, the WAY that radiant heat behaves between HIGH and LOW settings, means you will not have a good, continuous heat source under your food. If you cook with gas, you raise or lower the flame, and adjust the heat. If you have electric elements, about half the electric element turns off, for medium heat. Or, just a small part will not turn on, for medium high heat, etc. BUT...radiant heat works like a microwave works when set below HIGH. ITs turning ON, then OFF, then ON, then OFF, etc, when you have medium heat. If you are using low heat, the element turns ON, and then its off for quite awhile, and turns ON again. With cookware that has less steel thickness on the bottom, that CAN be a real problem. However, because of the thickness of the steel here, it heats up, and HOLDS THE HEAT STEADY, while your stove's radiant heat element keeps turning ON, off, ON, off, ON, off, etc. This gives you an EVEN FLOW OF HEAT on your food. IF you are making a butter sauce, saulding milk, or any type of cooking that requires low heat, you know you want even heat, and not a blast of HOT, and then nothing. You'll notice at first, these heavier pans take a little longer to heat up. BUT THEY HOLD THE HEAT NICE AND EVEN. And that is the secret to cooking success on radiant heat. The lighter the pan you use on these stoves, the less success you have cooking between HIGH HEAT settings, and OFF.
This set of cookware would suit a gourmet chief, or anyone who does serious cooking at home. Their design is beautiful, and practical. The lids surface of super high polished stainless steel looks like the reflecting mirror of a telescope. The saucepans and frypans beg to be hung above the stove. Practicality requires it when cooking complex, multi-course meals which demand access to many saucepans and frypans. The handles, including the lid handles, are covered with that new rubberized looking material, that conducts no heat. (So you can forget about potholders, or burning yourself by grabbing a lid handle to check cooking progress, etc. I've lit potholders on fire, or burnt myself forgetting to use them far too often, so I's sold on this stay cool handle/lid coating.) The 8 various pots and pans handle nearly ANY type of cooking method, or food amount, you might throw at it. I estimate you could prepare a Thanksgiving feast for a large family without a problem. You have the 3 saucepans, 3 quart, 2 quart, and 1.5 quart. Then, you have the BIG soup kettle that's an 8 quart, 10 inch wide, 7 inch deep beauty. (On these ceramic topped stoves, you actually CANT USE a kettle much bigger than that, for fear of cracking your stovetop.) Then, you have the two frypans, an 8 inch and a 10 inch version. The only pan that doesnt have a lid that fits over it, is that 8 inch frypan. There's the 11 inch wide stove top wok pan for stir fries, etc. (Its like a wok with a flat bottom.) To top it all off, there's the all purpose super sized pan. Its a 3 quart, 2.5 inch deep, 10 inch wide, "shallow fryer". When you have a recipe calling for 1.5 inches of hot oil for french fries, or tempura, or whatever, that's THIS pan. Because of the pan's weight, there's a great safety feature. You grab this pan by the long extended handle, along with the second "lid-like" handle on the opposite side, and avoid spillage. Since you can easily lift pan and contents from both sides simultaneously, it doesnt drag over the top of your stove. You maintain the pan's level balance, while distributing the weight on both arms. This set's design combines ergonomic considerations with esthetic qualities quite well. The 6 lids fit tightly over the various pans, tho they arent vented. This shouldnt be a problem, as long as you control your cooking heat. When your cooking heat stays in the pan, you save money, and the kitchen stays cooler. But for some, it may take a bit of getting used to, if you presently use vented lids to let steam escape.
I've tested these pans now, and have found no real problems. If you keep your stovetop clean, the pan bottoms will remain clean, and shouldn't oxidize. Teflon doesn't peel or scratch off, so long as you use the proper cooking utensiles. So, let your new pans last, and spend a few bucks on some good, non stick stirring spoons, a ladel, spatula, etc. If you clean teflon cookware with a blue multi-purpose no scratch scrub sponge, and an ounce of common sense, then you wont have anything to complain about. I love teflon, cos for starters, I like to use as little oil to fry food as possible. Beyond that gastronomic consideration, I just HATE SCRUBBING POTS AND PANS CLEAN. You soak these, you wipe them, you're done. I'd recommend this cookware set to anyone who seriouly loves to cook. Especially cooks who hate to clean up, and ESPECIALLY cooks with radiant heat stoves. Guten Essen!
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KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Stainless Steel Non Stick Cookware SetsA high-quality starter set or a sophisticated upgrade, this 14-piece cookware collection provides all the essentials required to keep up in a busy kitchen. The set includes a 1-1/2-quart, 2-quart, and 3-quart lidded saucepan; an 8-quart lidded stockpot; an 8-inch and 10-inch nonstick skillet; an 11-inch lidded everything pan; and a 3-quart lidded saute with helper handle. Use the saucepans for cooking rice or quinoa, boiling water for noodles, or making a homemade marinara sauce. The deep stockpot comes in handy for soup and stews, and the skillets with their wide, flat base and gently curved sides make it easy to flip peppers and onions or slide a grilled cheese sandwich from the pan to a plate. The everything pan offers a narrow base and wide rim for low-fat stir frying or pan searing, and the saute works well for one-dish meals like chicken and rice. The versatile collection allows for cooking up just about anything--from a variety of family favorites to new culinary creations.
KitchenAid's Gourmet Essentials line of cookware features brushed stainless-steel construction for exceptional strength and lasting good looks. The bases include an aluminum core, fully encapsulated by stainless steel, for fast, even heat distribution with no hot spots. Even more, a nonstick coating on the cookware's interior surface allows for lower-fat cooking (less butter or oil required) and helps ensure effortless food release and quick cleanup. The included stainless-steel lids help trap in heat, moisture, and nutrients, while oversized, dual-riveted, stainless-steel handles--on the pots, pans, and lids--come encased in soft silicone for a secure, comfortable, stay-cool grip. Plus, the long handles offer a hanging hole for convenient storage when not in use. The cookware cleans up easily by hand and carries a limited lifetime warranty.
What's in the Box 1-1/2-quart lidded saucepan 2-quart lidded saucepan 3-quart lidded saucepan 8-quart lidded stockpot 8-inch nonstick skillet 10-inch nonstick skillet 11-inch lidded everything pan 3-quart lidded saute with helper handle
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