New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Pots and Pans

post #1 of 6
2/15/11 at 4:11am
Thread Starter 

I'm in dire need of new pots and pans.  Currently I have a mix of a 15 year old set of Meyer cookware that are getting rather tired and some Johnson-Rose pots that I have gotten from the restaurant supply shop.  

I was at Costco a couple of weeks ago and I noticed that their own brand of cookware is very good. The pots and pans are nice and heavy (just they way I like them) with thick  bottoms.  They  looked better to me than the Lagostina pots that were selling for $50 more for the set.  (likely the name had something to do with that as the pots weren't that great I thought)

Has anyone here had experience with Kirkland (costco)  brand pots and pans?

As much as I'd love to buy All Clad it is just not in the budget, especially if we want to go to NYC at the end of the summer.

I'm seriously considering the costco pots and there is a trip there in my near future so any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance!

OK ... where am I going?.. and WHY am I in this handbasket??
Reply

Featured Stories on ChefTalk.com

Follow ChefTalk on Pinterest!
A clinical look at how a restaurant runs
When Cooks Cook for Themselves
post #2 of 6
2/15/11 at 6:30am

Look at country of origin. If it's Brazil, it's probably re-badged Tramontina.. Tramontina makes very good disk based cookware and trip ply as well.

 

I like disk bottomed pots. Good performance and cost. I wouldn't throw out any tri clad pot though. I prefer tri ply skillets. Disk bases are still good, just the sides tend to overheat and scorch which can damage a sauce from fond.  Saucepans, I'm kind of torn on. Probably starting to lean towards tri ply there as well though I don't own many in that style yet.

 

Walmart has some deals on Tramontina online. http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&Find.x=0&Find.y=0&Find=Find&ta=1&search_query=tramontina%2010-piece The top one is all tri ply. The middle appears to be disk bottom. The bottom is non-stick aluminum.

 

Lastly, if you're looking at Induction, I've had better luck in compatibility with the disk based Tramontina though I have one tri ply skillet of theirs that works too.

 

Take a good strong magnet with you and stick it on the Kirkland's bases at Costco and see how well it sticks.

more than taste fine
me eat it all the time
Reply
post #3 of 6
2/16/11 at 4:34pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks, Phatch!  I'd have never thought to take a magnet with me and test out the bases.  The first set of Tramontinas from walmart is what I am looking for.  I want to see them in person first but if walmart is the best price I'll order them online.

OK ... where am I going?.. and WHY am I in this handbasket??
Reply
post #4 of 6
2/16/11 at 4:51pm

In their stores, Walmat has gone to a tri ply clad Better Homes and Garden brand. It's made in Brazil so I think it's rebadged Tramontina  but that's just a guess. It's not magnetic enough for induction in the few I tested. Looked well made though.

 

When they had the Tramontina in their stories, it was visually as well built as the All Clad I've seen and gets good scores in Cook's Illustrated testing. Reports are inconsistent on it's induction compatibility. More nos than yeses in what I've read on-line. I don't know why I typed Convection in my first respoonse. I meant induction. I'll edit that.

 

Good luck, let us know what you get and give us a review in the reviews section.

more than taste fine
me eat it all the time
Reply
post #5 of 6
2/17/11 at 8:12am

I've had to replace almost all my pots and pans since going to induction last summer.  I've become enamored of Le Creuset's tri-ply line.  They heat evenly and clean up very well.  Price is intermediate between Tramontina and All-Clad, but performance is better than either, IMHO.  I think anyone who is investing in pots today should make sure they're induction-compatible.

Reply
post #6 of 6
2/17/11 at 2:24pm
Thread Starter 

I have noticed a difference in the products that Walmart carries in Canada as  opposed to what the US stores carry, so I'm thinking to get my hands on a set of Tramontinas, I am going to have to go to either The Bay (very similar to JC Penney's) or Sears in order to see what they are like.  In any case the magnet will becoming with  me.  (oh and if you see or hear  in the news of a crazy lady who set off a bunch of shopping mall alarms in Canada while buying cookware.. uhm that will be me...chef.gif)

 

Thanks for the info on LeCrueset.. I will definitely look at those as well. 

 

I have been looking at cookware for a while and I did see the Gordon Ramsay line and while they seem like decent pans I think they are overpriced based on whose name is on the box.  Same goes for the Rachael Ray line.. ok pots but overpriced for what they are. 

 

I will definitely keep you guys posted as to what I decide and Phatch I will write a review for sure. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK ... where am I going?.. and WHY am I in this handbasket??
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cooking Equipment Reviews

Featured Stories on ChefTalk.com

Follow ChefTalk on Pinterest!
A clinical look at how a restaurant runs
When Cooks Cook for Themselves