What cooking pots to buy?

SidewinderINC · 10-01-2008, 16:56

Ok, I know there's plenty of cooking guru's on this forum which is great

I'm in the market to buy a couple of pots for my new flat and I want to buy some quality ones that'll cook well, retain heat, not burn etc.
I'm using an electric hob for now (grumble grumble) but will hopefully be back to gas in a year.

I'll only need 2 nice sized probably as I've got 3 triangular pots that I can do small amounts of stuff in.

Not sure what sort of budget I'm looking at as I've no idea what's good and what's not

Can anyone help me out

Cheers

Muban · 10-01-2008, 21:48

I can't recommend le creuset pots and Pans enough. I now have 5 Pans, 1 oval casserole, 1 terrine, 1 shallow buffet casserole and 1 frying pan. I've had them 15 years and they are still like new. I also have recently bought a large heavy bottomed stainless steel stock pot, but that's because I am mad on making soupd and chutneys.

If you do go for le creuset, bargains can be had by buying sets rather than individually.

EDIT: *Works out price of what she would have to spend to replace it all* *faints*

OOO they do doufeus now too! But not in my colour

Mark · 10-01-2008, 21:50

Just be prepared for some weightlifting if they're anything like the Le Creuset I've had experience of.

Muban · 10-01-2008, 22:03

They are heavy yes

. But they retain heat very well so you don't need to use excessive amounts of heat. The casseroles are very attractive too so are good if you want to just take them to the table and serve from there (staying hot too so keeping the food warm).

Mark · 10-01-2008, 22:09

It's the oval casserole I'm thinking of, and yes, I agree they're good. Look after them and they'll serve you well for many years.

Flibster · 10-01-2008, 22:28

The cast iron pans are usually really cheap at car boot sales....
People buy them, then find them too heavy to use.

Means cheap pans for me.

lostkat · 10-01-2008, 23:01

My Mum's had one of her cast iron Le Creuset casseroles for 25 years and it's still brilliant. I have a couple of bits, but I've also bought a cast iron Le Creuset style casserole from Ikea at a fraction of the cost of the real McCoy. It seems good enough to cook in. Probably won't last as long, but maybe I'll be able to afford some of the proper stuff when it wears out

If you're going for something Stainless Steel, make sure it's got a really thick base... but I assume you know that already? Right now is the perfect time to go out cookware shopping because of all the sales. I picked up a brilliant pan set a couple of years ago for 1/4 what it was supposed to be.

Grandad · 10-01-2008, 23:26

we have some Tefal Jamie Oliver ones , they wear well , clean easy and handles stay cool , big frying pan is superb

Mark · 11-01-2008, 02:25

Aye, some people may slate Tefal stuff but that's what I've got and I've had no trouble.

The Le Creuset I was referring to was my mum's, and I suspect it's also a few decades old, though I've lost track of time there.

lostkat · 11-01-2008, 07:05

I honestly can't say that I've ever heard anything bad about Tefal

OK, so professional chefs don't use it, but that doesn't mean it's bad quality. I always thought Tefal did pretty good quality, affordable stuff. You really can get too snobby with this sort of stuff. I was reading Good Food the other day and it mentioned that Jamie Oliver had a new cast iron cookware range out with Tefal. It actually looks really nice and cheaper than the Le Creuset stuff too. Only prob is it's the wrong colours for my kitchen. I also have Tefal scales, coffe/sugar/tea pots and a few other bits from one of their retro ranges.

10-01-2008, 16:56	#1
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	What cooking pots to buy? Ok, I know there's plenty of cooking guru's on this forum which is great I'm in the market to buy a couple of pots for my new flat and I want to buy some quality ones that'll cook well, retain heat, not burn etc. I'm using an electric hob for now (grumble grumble) but will hopefully be back to gas in a year. I'll only need 2 nice sized probably as I've got 3 triangular pots that I can do small amounts of stuff in. Not sure what sort of budget I'm looking at as I've no idea what's good and what's not Can anyone help me out Cheers __________________ No Sig.

10-01-2008, 21:48	#2
Muban Shoes, Boobs & Corsets Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The fastest town in Scotland Posts: 1,882	I can't recommend le creuset pots and Pans enough. I now have 5 Pans, 1 oval casserole, 1 terrine, 1 shallow buffet casserole and 1 frying pan. I've had them 15 years and they are still like new. I also have recently bought a large heavy bottomed stainless steel stock pot, but that's because I am mad on making soupd and chutneys. If you do go for le creuset, bargains can be had by buying sets rather than individually. EDIT: Works out price of what she would have to spend to replace it all faints OOO they do doufeus now too! But not in my colour __________________ well, not to put a too fine point to it, he was discovered.. in the lounge Last edited by Muban; 10-01-2008 at 21:52.

10-01-2008, 22:03	#4
Muban Shoes, Boobs & Corsets Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The fastest town in Scotland Posts: 1,882	They are heavy yes . But they retain heat very well so you don't need to use excessive amounts of heat. The casseroles are very attractive too so are good if you want to just take them to the table and serve from there (staying hot too so keeping the food warm). __________________ well, not to put a too fine point to it, he was discovered.. in the lounge

10-01-2008, 22:28	#6
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	The cast iron pans are usually really cheap at car boot sales.... People buy them, then find them too heavy to use. Means cheap pans for me. __________________

10-01-2008, 23:01	#7
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	My Mum's had one of her cast iron Le Creuset casseroles for 25 years and it's still brilliant. I have a couple of bits, but I've also bought a cast iron Le Creuset style casserole from Ikea at a fraction of the cost of the real McCoy. It seems good enough to cook in. Probably won't last as long, but maybe I'll be able to afford some of the proper stuff when it wears out If you're going for something Stainless Steel, make sure it's got a really thick base... but I assume you know that already? Right now is the perfect time to go out cookware shopping because of all the sales. I picked up a brilliant pan set a couple of years ago for 1/4 what it was supposed to be. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

10-01-2008, 21:50	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Just be prepared for some weightlifting if they're anything like the Le Creuset I've had experience of.

10-01-2008, 22:09	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	It's the oval casserole I'm thinking of, and yes, I agree they're good. Look after them and they'll serve you well for many years.

10-01-2008, 23:26	#8
Grandad Old Git Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,016	we have some Tefal Jamie Oliver ones , they wear well , clean easy and handles stay cool , big frying pan is superb

11-01-2008, 02:25	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Aye, some people may slate Tefal stuff but that's what I've got and I've had no trouble. The Le Creuset I was referring to was my mum's, and I suspect it's also a few decades old, though I've lost track of time there. Last edited by Mark; 11-01-2008 at 10:46. Reason: Added important word

11-01-2008, 07:05	#10
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	I honestly can't say that I've ever heard anything bad about Tefal OK, so professional chefs don't use it, but that doesn't mean it's bad quality. I always thought Tefal did pretty good quality, affordable stuff. You really can get too snobby with this sort of stuff. I was reading Good Food the other day and it mentioned that Jamie Oliver had a new cast iron cookware range out with Tefal. It actually looks really nice and cheaper than the Le Creuset stuff too. Only prob is it's the wrong colours for my kitchen. I also have Tefal scales, coffe/sugar/tea pots and a few other bits from one of their retro ranges. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?