Cookware: Reviews

Many professional chefs and other serious cooks swear by All-Clad Stainless Cookware, even though it's expensive. All-Clad's heavy aluminum core is sandwiched between a stainless-steel cooking surface and an exterior… expandlayer of magnetic stainless steel. This combination ensures uniform heat distribution and retention, meaning food won't scorch and the pan's temperature recovers quickly when ingredients are added. The aluminum core extends up the sides of the pan to the rim, which makes All-Clad stainless-steel cookware a good choice for use with gas ranges, where flames can lick the sides of cookware. All-Clad also has generous cooking areas and stay-cool handles. It's safe to use in an oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's dishwasher-safe. All-Clad's biggest drawback is its price tag, but many owners say it's worth it. collapse

In comparison testing, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless cookware receives mostly high scores for performance and value. It's also a favorite of owners posting comments on Amazon.com and Macys.com, who say this Cuisinart… expandcookware heats evenly and is comfortable to use. A fully encapsulated aluminum disk is built into the base of this cookware, making this set less expensive than All-Clad, which carries its aluminum core up the sides of the pans. Although the Cuisinart cookware has riveted, stay-cool handles like more expensive brands, some owners say they aren't as sturdy. This stainless-steel cookware is oven-safe to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is dishwasher-safe. collapse

Although it's expensive for nonstick cookware, Anolon Advanced Cookware gets very good reviews in professional tests and from users. Comparison tests give it high marks for its even heating and ease of cleaning, while… expandusers at Macys.com and Amazon.com praise its nonstick surface. Anolon Advanced also appears to be more durable than other nonstick cookware. A common problem with nonstick cookware in general is that the nonstick coating begins to wear off relatively quickly, but we found few such complaints about this brand. Users' biggest gripe about these pans is that, like most nonstick cookware, they can't be put in a dishwasher. collapse

The problem with nonstick cookware is that the coating will wear off. For this reason, some experts say nonstick shouldn't be considered "lifetime" cookware like stainless steel. For those who would rather not invest a… expandlot of money in pans with a limited lifetime, Rachael Ray Hard-Anodized Cookware is a reasonably priced brand that gets high ratings from users. Owners at Amazon.com and Cooking.com say these pans heat quickly and evenly, and the nonstick coating does a good job and is easy to clean. However, we did find some complaints about durability -- not just for the coating, but also for the rest of the pan. Problems include worn-off finishes, warped pan bottoms and rust on lids. Still, most users say they are happy with this nonstick cookware. collapse

Consumers who wish to avoid the questionable chemicals found in traditional nonstick coatings such as Teflon might consider Scanpan Classic, a PFOA- and PTFE-free nonstick cookware that gets excellent scores in… expandprofessional reviews. The cast aluminum cookware has an eco-friendly nonstick coating made from a ceramic-titanium blend. Testers say its cooking performance, durability and ease of cleanup are all very good to excellent. However, its quality comes at a high price, and not all users are convinced it's justified. Although this nonstick cookware comes with a limited lifetime warranty, some users report trouble getting their defective pans replaced. Still, users note that the nonstick coating works well and is easy to clean. And unlike most nonstick cookware, Scanpan is dishwasher-safe. collapse