Pans that can take a battering

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Please can anybody recommend some pans that are extremely durable?

My current ones have lasted about 5 years but now the non stick is starting to flake off.

I need to replace saucepans and frying pans, and ideally the whole lot will be non stick. I don't mind paying £££ if they will last for a really long time - I don't want to buy cheaply and then have to replace them again in a year or two. The thing is, they need to stand some abuse as various people cook in my kitchen and I cannot be precious about only using plastic utensils and scourers. The pans need to go in the dishwasher too.

My hob is gas.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

IMO saucepans do not need to be non stick, and stainless will last as long as you do much longer.

Frying pans do need to be nonstick (stainless sticks badly), but bite the bullet and chuck them out when the surface fails. You can extend its life by polishing it with half a drop of cooking oil on kitchen roll, after washing and before putting away.

I wouldn't bother with non stick, apart from perhaps for a milk pan - good quality stainless steel will be better and can be scrubbed clean if necessary. A properly seasoned cast iron frying pan won't get things stuck to it.

On the other hand, I have heard that ceramic non-stick is more durable than teflon - I don't know how true that is.

One way to stop people using the wrong things in pans is to remove the metal utensils.

Agree nonstick is not needed (not even for frying pans, imo)

I have a set of Fissler saucepans which must be at least 20 years old. I've been using them for the last 12 years (they were dh's, from before I met him - would say they got light use at best then ) daily, and there is still years left in them.

I have a couple of Le Creuset casseroles too, for big stews etc (two actual LeC, one a Costco imitation which does the same job), but much as I love them, I wouldn't recommend LeC saucepans as they are too heavy imo for constant use. I never use the couple we have (dh does occasionally).

Go for too qualit stainless steel, and it'll last forever.

Grr. Top quality stainless steel!

Okay, so ditch the non stick sauce pans, we reckon? How do I clean it when if something burns?

It would seem obvious to get rid of metal utensils, but my poor pans get stirred with forks and tablespoons from the cutlery drawer!

Soak it (if you can be bothered) and bung it in the dishwasher is my usual routine! I've not (yet) managed to burn something so badly that the pan cannot be cleaned. I don't normally soak even - just pop it in the dishwasher and hope for the best. Sometimes, t will need a second go in the dishwasher (rare).

Go for it, honestly, you'll never look back.

And I am the biggest culprit for stirring with any old fork/spoon I happen to have to hand. Dh used to shudder lots, but even he has given up now that he can see that there is no long term effect on the saucepans!

Imo, there is no better implement for drawing the slightly cooked egg into the middle of the (nonstick ) frying pan than a fork

We have circulon ones which are going strong after 15 years.

you can clean burnt food off stainless with a green nylon scourer.

Get brushed finish, not mirror which will show scratches and scouring marks.

Feel the weight of a few before you buy. You need a thick base, which is easy to spot, but also look at the wall thickness, which varies. Feel the weight without the lid. The base will have an aluminium thickener, but on better pans it will be encapsulated in matching stainless (or, rarely, copper)

As Christmas approaches, you will see sets of pans at lower prices than individually. Robert Dyas usually has sets on offer, as does Debenhams. If it is a known brand you can buy matching extras (e.g. huge casserole) later. After Christmas the remaining stock clearance will be reduced again.

As you cook on gas, be aware that if turned up too high, the flames will damage plastic handles.

I have had circulon pans for over 15 years, still doing well.

Debenhams have a set at half price atm:

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_331001950960_-1

Brilliant, thanks all for advice.

I have had my decent quality M&S stainless steel pans for 20 years and they are like new.

I've got a brilliant set from procook, really well priced and thick base and sides, come up beautifully in the dishwasher too.

I've had my stainless steel Meyer pans for at least 10 years. They were expensive but still look great and perform brilliantly. I can burn food, leave them to soak and the next day it just lifts off.

Another vote for Circulon and Le Creuset here...

I have greenpan set and love it. Very hard to burn anything they spread the heat so well. Amazing.

If you ever weld burn anything onto a stainless steel pan that won't come off despite scrubbing, etc then use a solution of biological washing powder with some warm water and soak for a while.

I'd say that you need normal stainless steel pans (not non stick) plus non stick frying pans and a deep saute pan.

I have some Jamie Oliver branded tefal stainless steel ones that are about 10 years old and still perfect.

However, the saute pans that the set contained lost their non stick due to being washed in the dishwasher (I Do Not Handwash) so I replaced them with the circulon hard anodised ones and they are DW safe and must be about 5 years old and still like new.