Review of Circulon Symmetry Hard Anodized Nonstick 12" Covered Essentials Pan

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List Price: $130.00
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We purchased the Symmetry eleven piece cookware set plus this piece to replace our old mismatched cookware that we have had for years. I can only say that we are not only pleased with the quality of Symmetry but also how well it preforms. The cookware is thick hard anodised aluminum, which is actually harder than steel and conducts heat much better. Thicker means better heat distribution and no "hot spots". The non stick is a three layer coating called Autograph 2, it is one of the newest and best available. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher or simply wiped clean, which is what we do. The coating is tough enough that metal utensils can be used--we still use non scratch as most of ours were used on the older pieces of cookware.

Stir fry is a favorite of ours so this pan gets used a lot. Have found that we do not need the high heat as much as in the older pan, and that because of the thick construction the heat is more even from the bottom and up the sides. I need to also mention that sometimes we use a portable induction burner and all of the Symmetry pieces work fine including the Stir Fry pan.

The glass lid makes this piece useful for a lot more than stir fry--have a small rack that fits in the bottom of the pan that makes it great for steaming. This piece is a wonderful addition to the set and one that gets used a lot in our kitchen.

Just an afterthought: Fried eggs in the eight inch pan, no oil, no spray etc. they slid out onto the plate with no help--the best non-stick ever!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is a good pan, that would be rated higher, except that I've had a few anolon pans around the same price range, and those are better quality pans. Explanations below:

Pros:

Ample room for family cooking (4 6 people)

Rubber handle stays cool to touch

Comes with a lid to help keep heat in and cook faster

Good quality and solid feel.

Looks good

Neutral:

Lighter than my Anolon professional pans. (can be good or bad depending on your preference. I like the heavier ones myself)

Cons:

Teflon coating has a texture circular lines / indentations. I'm doubt the usefulness of them, but despite the nonstick coating, it takes more effort to clean the food on this, specially if you cook sticky stirr frys or you burn your food a little at the bottom. My other smooth teflon pans clean out very easily, the little pattern on this one makes it harder.

Does not have the same quality construction of Anolon series pans. (not just weight, but finishing, glass quality of the lid, the handle, etc).

Overall I give this pan 3.5 stars. If I hadn't used the anolon professional series before, I'd probably give this pan 4 4.5 stars. But given that there are better ones at the same price range, it loses a star.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This stainless steel bottom pan will work on any kind of stove top including induction and work well it does. Food heats nice and evenly when I use this on my induction stove. The pan's non-stick interior has a fine durable quality and cleans up easily. I've only had this pan a little while, but I'm expecting to get many years of good use out of it along with the other similarly manufactured Circulon pans I own. The size of the pan is conveniently large enough for preparing a variety of different sized meals without being too large to be convenient to use or clean up afterwards. The shape makes it good for saute, stir fry, simmering and general frying. The lid is nice and sturdy as well and fits snugly. This is an excellent product.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program PROS

-Hard-anodized (heavy gauge, impact bonded) aluminum, which means the pan heats quickly and evenly

-Can use on any cooktop, including induction

-Oven safe to 400 degrees, which we use in melting cheese and finishing omelettes

-Circulon durability is legendary, and that includes the Symmetry line

-The Symmetry series has a gentle flaring and stylish handles, and they are as attractive as you can get if you want something that looks handsome (form AND function)

-Stainless + silicone handles feel very comfortable and the silicone sufficiently protects hands from the heat

-They say the raised circles on the inside of the pan reduce surface abrasion and you can really notice it when cooking pancakes and eggs and using your spatula

-Safe with metal utensils

-Tempered glass lids

-A joy to clean with non-stick surface inside and out (DuPont Autograph 3-layer nonstick) in my house the person who didn't make dinner washes the dishes, and since my husband is such a good cook, I'm usually the pot cleaner. I don't even mind when he's using our Symmetry set.

-This Stir Fry pan is a nice addition to our set (my husband makes a lot of stir frys and I love not having to clean stuck-on tofu) and it does so much more. It especially caramelizes onions beautifically.

CONS

I just have nothing bad to say about the Symmetry set! We're very serious about our cookware and love our Symmetry set.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program You can't expect the world from this product, but you can enjoy a great deal. It is lightweight, balanced and sturdy. Although labelled a stir-fry pan, it is much more versatile than that. Because of the secure, flat bottom, it is ideal for omelets, pasta sauces, frozen-dinners-in-a-bag and more. My husband turned an egg over with a flip of his wrist. Please note the sides are quite curved, so you probably won't be browning pork chops in it, but you can do practically everything else. The ergonomic design of the handle, tight fitting see-through lid and oven compatibility are plusses.

Do read the directions. It isn't meant to be used with non-stick spray. If you want to use oil, you should apply it with a paper towel. This is, after all, a non-stick pan. Use moderate to low cooking temperatures or you may warp it. Instead of scrubbing and scratching it to clean, the instructions say to boil a mixture of vinegar and water. Finishing a frittata or omlet in the oven is great, but again, you may warp it if you put it under the broiler.

As with all products, carefully following directions is the key to optimum usage. This is a well-designed, versatile pan that I am happy to add to my kitchen. My one quibble with it is that it is called a stir fry pan, but shouldn't be used at high heat as most stir fry dishes call for.