Kitchen pans recommendation

[Goostacean]

Possibly not quite the right topic, but following on from the “ideal kitchen” thread... I’m looking to replace my full set of pans. Any recommendations please?

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MNHQ

Interesting comments on stainless steel. I’d not considered it. Doesn’t food stick?

Will look into the brands mentioned, many thanks!

Circulon definitely for sauté pans or anything that will stick. Often seem to have offers on at Debenhams
Just for boiling veg, I don't use my circulon - got a couple of ordinary pans from tkmaxx as circulon seems so thick/heavy that takes time to come to the boil

I have a mixture of stainless and non stick.

Pasta, gnocchi, veg, potatoes, soup - none of those things need non stick.

Cheese sauce, creamy sauces, frying things. Those I would use non stick for. For me it being dishwasher safe was paranount.

I bought a set of Stellar stainless steel pans 23 years ago on the advice of the head chef at the restaurant I worked at at the time.

They seemed pretty expensive when I bought them, but they've been used daily for all my cooking ever since and I expect to use them for years yet. This makes them seem like a huge bargain in retrospect!

I agree you need a mixture. I have:

one Stellar non stick pan, used for general frying
4 stainless steel in varying sizes, used for boiling veg, pasta
2 Le Creuset casserole dishes, can’t beat them for one pot cooking
cast iron pans for searing and griddling meat

As regards brands - one of the most important things is that the pans feel comfortable for you. So do try in a shop before you buy. Don’t assume what others love will work for you. My mum has some beautiful pans but I hate them as they have very long handles and the weight is all wrong. But she loves them. Do try yours out!

Interesting comments on stainless steel. I’d not considered it. Doesn’t food stick?

It doesn't stick in my Stellar SS saucepans, no. I've also got a matching frying pan which I rarely use. When I have used it, I did manage to stick stuff to it (I use the bare minimum of oil, so that might have been a factor). I use a stone-coated non-stick frying pan now. The saucepans are really bulletproof though.

Great thread good timing thanks OP. I realised at the weekend I need new stove top to oven pans.

My stellar saucepans are really old and still perfect. And used and abused daily! Would recommend

I’ve got a full set of circulon but they have started to go after 4 years (we had to bin a couple already ). We’ve been replacing with Ikea and I actually think they are lasting better. So I’m buying Ikea from now on (fraction of the price of circulon).

Just going a bit off tangent, but how do you manage to cook things like scrambled egg in a stainless steel saucepan without it welding itself to the pan. I cook it in a non stick pan at home and the residue just lifts off, at work they have stainless steel pans and however I've tried cooking it (low temp/high temp/lots of fat/ just a bit of fat) I always end up having to soak the pan and scrub it hard. Same with porridge. Any tips would be welcome!

Cast iron pans- my mother's are at least 50 years old, and work perfectly. Non-stick, easy to clean, cook evenly, easy to care for, and cheap to buy.

how do you manage to cook things like scrambled egg in a stainless steel saucepan without it welding itself to the pan

I use my stone non-stick frying pan for scrambled egg. I didn't have a problem with porridge in the SS saucepans though. I just used a metal spoon to keep it moving. Nowadays I cook my porridge in the microwave. Much easier and no pan to wash up afterwards :)

I have Stellar stainless steel pans, and they are really good.
Stellar
Used to have a full set of Revereware stainless stell pans but they got left behind in out move 5 years ago and I miss them so much

God I'd never use stainless steel - too much elbow grease!! I've got a set of Le Creuset non stick pans (3 in the set), which I treated myself to a few years ago. The only thing I'd say is that they are very heavy, but the build seems incredible. I was also tempted by the Jamie Oliver for Tefal range.

My mother always taught me that frying pans don't last too long so not to spend much on them - I always buy Tefal and they're not bad - maybe 10 years' wear? I don't fry much anyway.

God I'd never use stainless steel - too much elbow grease

Um, nope. Not true (at least not with the decent ones, like Stellar).

My best pans are stainless steel by Eva Trio, a Danish company. I also have Mauviel copper pans, but they are supposed to be washed by hand.

I can only assume the folk who have so much trouble with things sticking on stainless steel are burning their food!

After a soak if you've burnt something like porridge it comes straight off, but a bit of Astonish will soon have a pan looking like new.

I like fissler , beka and stellar. Viners are good too. Fissler is usually reasonably priced in tkmaxx and homesense.

The Pyrex pro range also.

We got Tefal Ingenio for the Motorhome for space saving as handles come off.
Now thinking of getting another set for the house. Main benefit is being able to use on the hob and in the oven (with handle off)

I have two Le Creuset non stick frying pans - so good so far!

General pans are John Lewis stainless steel for induction hobs. Faultless. Non stick milk pan from John Lewis and Jamie Oliver larger non stick with lid. All have been excellent for 8 years.

I’ve got Stellar stainless steel pans over 20 years old and going strong. But they’ve been overtaken by Tefal Ingenio - love the versatility