Do you have durable, long lasting kitchen equipment. Please come and tell me about it.

[BerthaBlythe]

Not just gadgets, but pots, pans, cutlery etc too.

I’ve massively decluttered my kitchen and I’m newly aware that I was buying cheaply and buying multiples of things. I have a suspicion that if I could exorcise my spirit of cheapness, and buy better quality things as they are needed, it might be a saving in the long run for me, and probably the environment as well.

I’m particularly interested in woks, and saucepans right now (for induction).

And for my own contribution I have a Porsche knife that I was gifted by a chef, that is just a perfect weight and is a single piece of steel so it can’t break. It’s easy to sharpen and there’s nowhere for crud to build up. Still perfect after 20 years of daily use.

And the slightly cheaper garlic rocker that does a far better job than the two garlic crushers I’ve snapped so far. It’s also far easier to clean.

Please tell me what has lasted the distance for you (particularly if you’re a bit heavy handed or clumsy), and what you think is worth spending a bit extra on.

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This thread is quite old now, but we’ve recently refreshed both our best wok and best saucepan guides with plenty of high-quality products recommended by Mumsnetters. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

I’m a little bit in love with my Turbo peeler - genuinely worth the extra cost.

And we’ve recently replaced our Tefal non-stick wok with a fab new lidded mega wok from Starfrit’s The Rock collection. Not the cheapest at £35 but so solid and much better than the usual non-stick options. I saw that Costco were doing a full set of pans from that range for £100 and was sorely tempted - the not cheap GreenPan full set we received as a wedding gift a few years ago are crap!

This is the wok: www.costco.co.uk/Home-Kitchen/Kitchen-Dining/Starfrit-The-Rock-32cm-Wok-with-Glass-Lid/p/60451

My Mother's Kenwood Chef. Over fifty years old and still going strong.

We’ve had our IKEA 365 saucepans for years, they work on all kinds of hob (we had gas, now got induction) and really last. Bonus is that they’re not v expensive!

I’ve just bought the hob to oven pan to add to our set, and will soon add this 10l pot as our stock pots don’t work on induction.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/ikea-365-pot-with-lid-stainless-steel-40484270/

I imagine the non-stick options are rubbish, though, but not tried them.

If anyone has good induction non-stick pans I’d like to hear - ours started off ok, then have warped so they don’t work properly any more.

For pots and pans, we have John Lewis stainless steel ones from the 'classic' range. We've acquired them over the years, but the oldest, the frying pan is over 20 years old, and still in excellent condition despite almost daily use. A non-stick one is less 'sticky' but I've never had one keep its surface for more than about 3 years. All the pans work on induction, and have fairly heavy bases, so heat evenly.

Our (inherited) Kenwood chef burned out after 45 years, so not bad going!

Le Creuset. My large pot is over 30 years old, gets used at least two or three times a week and will probably outlive me.

I still have and use the cake tins my mother baked my christening cake in, and I'm nearer 60 than 50.

The little jug we use for lemon juice on pancakes is at least 100 years old.

I use a Tupperware box for my packed lunches, purchased in the early 70s.

My kitchen is like a living museum!

Le Creuset - cast iron casseroles and stainless steel saucepan

Magimix

Pyrex jug

Churchill Hotelware plates and Duralex glasses are close to indestructible.

Poli Dri tea towels - my oldest ones have been in regular use for over 30 years

My wooden stiring spatula have lasted 32 years... They cost 30p each.
I also have a stainless steel frying pan that my mum bought about 50 years ago I the equivalent of the Aldi aisle of doom. She thinks she lost it when we moved from Oz..... I may have needed it for uni. I have yet to confess to my larceny.

low cost doesn't always mean it is rubbish.

Le creuset 3 ply stainless steel pans - have lasted 12 years so far so good.

My "ready steady cook" cheapass stainless steel saucepans are still going strong 20+ years later

My 15quid stainless steel basic Amazon steamer looks as good as new, despite 5-10 years of almost daily use. All my veg end up in it and sling it in the dishwasher after!

I'm not sure that you wanted to hear that some of the most durable bits were proportionately cheap!!

I love the idea of a garlic rocker!!

I love my mini kitchen aid blender. Also my stick blender-it's quite basic but does the job.

Liked my lemon squeezer but broke it recently after 15+ years so need to buy another

My Swan microwave that I’ve had 17 years just keeps on going, it’s a bit bulky compared to modern more streamlined ones but it does the job. Also my Swan steamer pan is 20 years old and as good as new.

My Bosch standmixer / food processor has done 8 years of almost daily use. You can buy spares for literally all the parts online, so I've been able to replace those that I dropped / DC broke.

I have a few cast iron, non enamelled saucepans. They are a bit more of a faff than non stick / the enamelled ones, as you have to bake an oil coating on. However, this makes them indestructible - if stuff burns on, you can get a metal scouring pad on it, you just have to retreat afterwards. They are also the only pans I've found I can properly brown meat on on my induction hob. With them being cast iron they get a lot hotter on the same setting than a non stick saucepan would, and you can put them in the oven if required. I have a cheap non stick frying pan for things where non stick is crucial like omelettes.

I have a stainless steel steamer which I've had for about 20 years. Used almost every day.

I also have some 15yo non stick sauce pans that I have barely used, and some 3yo non stick regularly used frying pans. When the non stick goes I'll replace them all with stainless steel. Stickier, but longer lasting. The non stick coating is manufactured in a pretty toxic way so I'm trying to avoid that in future.

Also, the ever popular Kenwood chef, mine is 14 years old, my mum's is 45 years old. Both still going strong.

Just remembered that our "new" frying pan is a John Lewis one, 32 years old. I have no idea how old the "old" one is.

I have a forty year old Kenwood Gourmet which works as well as it did when new.
I have my grandmothers rolling pin which is over 100 years old and doubles as a hammer :)

I’m making lots of notes. I love hearing about the things that didn’t cost a lot - I think I need to get better at assessing quality though.

@BettyfromBristol I suspect I would love your kitchen.

My dm has le creuset pots from the 60s and 70s. I may have to skip her funeral to get in first and claim them when the time comes.

And reccomenedations for a decent tin opener I'm all ears. I so rarely use one. But went to use mine this week and it was horrible and stiff to use.

@BerthaBlythe Crushed garlic is a game changer!!

We've just changed the kitchen and had a clear out. Escaping the cull were:
Ikea cheese grater (over 20 years old)
Global knives
1970s Tupperware
Alessi lemon squeezer (wedding gift!)
My mother swears by Ikea frying pans.

Mid and top range IKEA kitchen stuff is very good, in my opinion - avoid the cheap stuff, as far as I can tell it's exclusively produced for and bought by students. I second the recommendation for their frying pans, and would also add recommendations for the garlic press, potato ricer and silicone spatulas.

Global knives 100%. They sharpen well and go in the dishwasher, what's not to love?

I also really rate Pyrex baking trays. No warping or scratching - I pop them in the oven while it's warming up so they're hot to put the food on and they're brilliant. Ocado often have offers on them.

@Yarnivore

Le Creuset - cast iron casseroles and stainless steel saucepan

Magimix

Pyrex jug

Churchill Hotelware plates and Duralex glasses are close to indestructible.

Poli Dri tea towels - my oldest ones have been in regular use for over 30 years

Are these like the ones you can buy in Tesco??

Or a more superior brand

Just another vote for Le Creuset!

Separately, this thread has made me realise that I'm guiltily biding my time until I can get my hands on my mum's 1970s Tupperware pie keeper

My Stellar saucepans and casseroles, they are stainless steel (not sure if that's any good for induction?) and are 20-25 years old, still going strong, fantastic saucepans and I would replace like for like if any of them ever wear out

A Prestige rotary whisk from my mother in law's house, must be from the 1960s, really sturdy

Old Pyrex casseroles/bowls in various sizes, mostly from charity shops but at least one of mine was rescued from a skip...my oldest one also came from my MIL and is from the late 1950s, she used it loads and I do too

18yo dualit classic toaster and magimic processor - though the switch in the latter is held together by electrical tape as it broke last year and we couldn't find a replacement. Meantime, we replaced an ejement in the toaster a couple of months ago - they're really made to last.

20-25yo Denby tableware. Some of it has been damaged in the dishwasher in recent years, though. Turns out the most expensive Finish is bloody harsh.