So Many Types of Pots! Who Knew? LOL

ohmrs2014 · March 2013

So my FI and I are creating "wishlists", things we want vs. things we need (which is just about everything). We have plenty of time before we need to register, so we aren't rushing into that, but in the process of creating our lists, we discovered that there are so many different kinds of pots. I guess I have my research cut out for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions or personal preferences that you would like to share?

Thanks!

libby2483 · March 2013

We have a red set from Paula Deen that we really like. It came with three frying pans (a large, a small, and one with higher sides), a large pot, and two saucepans (a medium and a small). We also got a matching stockpot.

We used to have a red KitchenAid set, and we really didn't like it because after only a couple of months, the lining started peeling off the top of the pots and pans. We didn't use anything abraisive or put it in the dishwasher, so it seems as though it was just poorly made. We have several other KitchenAid products that we really like, but we weren't impressed with the pots and pans set.

ohmrs2014 · March 2013

I'm just getting into cooking. I know how to cook but I usually tend to eat what everyone else in the house is eating LOL. My mom has Belgique and she swears by them but I'm not really a fan when I do use them.

beardownbchs · March 2013

I have a set of Paula Deen too and I love them. They're the copper bottom ones and they weren't expensive (I think we paid $130 for the set of a big stock pot, 1, 2, & 3 qt. sauce pots and a 6-inch and 8-inch pan, plus we later added a 10-inch pan and a higher sided non-non-stick pan) but we love them. I cook a lot and the only issue that I have with them so far (after 4 years) is that the lids have a knob rather than a handle, but that's personal preference. If you're not super into cooking and don't need an expensive set, I recommend Paula Deen for sure.

efmcc67 · March 2013

My recommendation: get on online membership to Cook'ss Illustrated (about $5/month) and check their equipment reviews. You might not want to register for the best in each category, since some of these are quite spendy, but look for something "recommended" or "highly recommended" that doesn't have a prohibitive price tag. IMHO, do not go with a set. There are two reasons for this: 1) sets usually include several things you don't need, and that money could be better spent on something you actually DO need, and 2) the quality can vary significantly from pot to pot. You're a lot better off registering for an unmatching set, and getting an awesome one of each kind of pot that you'll actually need.

PreDempsey · March 2013

Ditto PP about sets coming with stuff you don't need. We registered for some fun specialty pans but have gotten by just fine with just a large and small skillet, large and small sauce pans, stockpot, and cast iron skillet. Check out the lines of pans that will let you piece together items rather than getting a stuck in a set.

B2Z728 · March 2013

We didn't register for a set, but added pieces that we either wanted to upgrade from we already had, or add new pieces to our cookware. I cook often so I wanted quality items.

We registered for:

Calphalon Stainless Steal TriPly

- 8 quart stock pot

- 5 quart saute pan with lid

- 10" omlette pan

Calphalon Hard Anodized Non-stick 12" omlette pan

12" cast iron skillet

ohmrs2014 · March 2013

Thanks ladies! I think all I really need is about 3 or 4 basic pots so I'm assuming a set would be better. Of course I was some speciality pots, but I'm sure I could find a set that includes what I'm looking for. So glad I have plenty of time before I need to actually register.

hoffse · March 2013

Smaller sets are fine. They are certainly more cost effective. It just depends on what you use. We have a 13 piece set (which counts the lids), and we use every piece at least once a month, some several times a week. While we could get away with not having the saute pan, when we do use it it's because it really does make things easier. Think carefully about what you need, mostly because storing these things are a pain, and you don't want to take up unnecessary space.

I prefer stainless steel for several reasons.

1) If you get a tri-ply version - which has an aluminum or copper core running throughout the entire pan - it is very sensitive to heat, which means you can control temperature very easily.

2) If you spend some time looking, you can find stainless at a really good price point. We got our cuisinart set at Costco for $150. That's dirt cheap for nice pots/pans. Ours are triply and very heavy duty.

3) They will last you at least 10 or 15 years.

4) You can put them in the dishwasher. Our set was so cheap that I run ours through the dishwasher all the time and so far so good.

5) I don't really believe all the hype about teflon, but still - if you can cook in a way that doesn't risk that stuff flaking into your food, why not? I think a couple non-stick skillets are critical for cooking things like eggs and pancakes, but you certainly don't need a non-stick stock pot or sauce pan, and frankly we use our stainless skillets as much or more than our non-stick. We buy very cheap non-stick skillets that we can just throw away as soon as they get scratched (usually every 1-2 years or so). They're basically disposable.

6) Stainless easy to cook with - you let the pans preheat (usually 2-3 min) and then add just a small amount of oil, and stuff slides right off.

7) You don't have to be careful about which tools to use. We prefer stainless tools because they are more heavy duty, they last longer, and they can be run through the dishwasher, but they're terrible for non-stick pots/pans because they will scratch the surface.

GoodLuckBear14 · March 2013

We registered for and received Caphalon Tri-Ply. They work great but we are saving now for All Clad. We cook all the time and really do want the best there is.

For non-stick we have four different sizes of Lodge cast iron.

SCogs18 · March 2013

I have the All Clad 10-piece Stainless Steel D5 set (from Williams-Sonoma). It's not cheap, but what we did was register for pieces and then return them to buy the set with our discount. We also got one 10in non-stick pan for things like eggs. I LOVE my set. They are great quality and since the handles are metal they can go from stove top to oven.

If you need a LARGE non-stick surface I love love love my electric skillet. It's great for scrambled eggs for a large crowd or frying up a bunch of bacon at once (as well as many other things).

So Many Types of Pots! Who Knew? LOL

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