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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program OK, I am a bachelor, I live alone with the cat. OTOH, I am actually a fair hand in the kitchen. However, my pots and pans are a collection of thriftshop bargains and hand-me-downs, no two of which match, and several of which aren't in very good shape.
So, when I had a chance to get this cool new cookware set from the famed KitchenAid folks, I jumped on it.
And, I am glad I did. This is a pretty "cool" set (and "cool" has a double-meaning here). Each piece is well crafted and solid. No thin cheapo stuff here.
You get two saucepans, a stockpot and a sauté panall with good solid glass covers with the neatest silicon rubber seals I have seen. And, two fry pans.
The glass covers allow you to watch your food, while sealing in the heat and steam when needed. They also don't rattle.
They also come with a silicon rubber pad under the heavy handle. This means that a heavy pot doesn't cut into your hand when lifting, it decreases fatigue. It also protected my hand from getting burnt when I forgot the potholderNICE! That's the other "cool" part.
(Still, one should always use hand protection anyway. "Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.").
They also clean up just fine, just about as well as "non-stick". Just a spritz of oil spray and they were spotless with little effort. I even "torture tested" one, leaving stuff overnite and it still cleaned up spotless.
Now, in this paean of praise, I do want to say one thingI still like my old inherited cast iron frypan (It's older than I am!). I think it does a better job even than these stainless steel & aluminum marvels for certain fry jobs, like steaks (And I do like a good steak!). But of course, seasoning and maintaining good cast iron is a long term process, and not for everyone. However, for me, for this set, I would have preferred one more saucepan and one less frypan.
Gorgeous set, perfect for as a giftwedding, housewarming or that bachelor you may know.
I have dropped off all my old stuff to the Salvation Army folks.... except my cast iron, of course!
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We were really excited to get this set.
Unpacking them, we thought these will be great to use:
The handles are sturdy and easy to grip
The handles have hard-rubber like material underneath that make them easy to grab and not so hot
The steel is brilliant and the finishing fantastic
The thickness of the metal makes them feel high class and very sturdy
The problem...
We were cooking some vegetables and put the lid on the skillet. Not an uncommon thing to do, but when we checked the pot, the lid was stuck!
It wasn't that easy to work with when the pan was so hot, so we let it cool thinking that the pan and the lid would come unstuck. Nope.
Big problem, we were going out of town the next day. So not only did we not have the food we cooked, we had to put the pan in the fridge to try to work on it when we got back from our trip.
This was not a good way to get going with the set.
Even when the pan was completely cooled, we couldn't get the lid off. We tried running it under cold water, hot water, we were pulling very hard to try to get the lid off, and no go.
Finally after getting back from our trip, we were able to fit the edge of a spoon between the rubber part of the lid and the pan and pry the lid off.
Whew. We'd be careful to not let that happen again...right?
Well, it happened again with one of the pots and the lid. The lid got stuck and wouldn't come off and we were trying to watch for to prevent it from happening!
The trick to getting the pans and lids unstuck, in case it happens to you, is to get the edge of a sturdy spoon, and to place it at the rubber part of the lid just over the handle of the pot, then you can use the pot's handle for leverage to pop the top off.
It wouldn't be such a big deal, but these are very nice cookware pieces. You'd think that this sort of thing would have been tested for.
So if lids suctioned to their pans is something you don't mind, go for. If not, get ready to pump some iron, er, steel.
Best Deals for KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I couldn't be more pleased with this cook set. As I continue to use it I will update this review. There are a couple other sets out there that are close competition so I wanted to be clear on what makes this set different for me. I'm a single guy who doesn't always cook daily, but is not afraid to tackle "advanced" cooking techniques and real homemade from scratch food when I get the urge. I want to give a complete review so you understand what kind of cooking I do and how I use the cookware to best understand if it may fit your needs.
My background with cookware:
I'm normally a Farberware and T-Fal user, not the cheapest, not the most expensive and I've been eyeing upgrading my essential cookware for some time. Specifically-as my cooking skills advance I could use pans that can also go in the oven-which my current T Fal and Farberware cannot. Doing dicing in the pan is a no-go on the nonstick surfaces (I've ruined some, knowing I shouldn't do it, but needing to), so the French skillets in stainless in this kit was very welcomed.
What you get:
The description is accurate on "what & how many", but I wanted to outline the experience. From opening the box I was struck by the beauty of this cookware-very visually appealing, and could easily be displayed in your kitchen. If you have no option than to hang pans, these look really really nice. It's all very thick and durable, but at the same time does not feel too heavy at all. The weight seems just right, and well balanced from side to side. Even from sight, a pan on pan comparison left me ready to donate my old cookware for this set. Of course I didn't, and will continue to use th new set to see how well I like it.
The aluminum disc in the bottom of the pans is really a step up from what I'm used to (I attached a picture)-quite thick, and does do a great job of even heating. The handles and lids have silicone rubber seals and grips, which not only looks but feels premium and keeps the lid from "rattling" during heavy boils. Looking back, the T-Fal and Farberware were quite basic with hard plastic handles and lid handles that couldn't go in the oven. I guess you don't know what you're missing until you've experienced better!
The handles are extremely comfortable to use (picture attached), and I hadn't realized how this would make a difference over what I am using currently. The curve evenly distributes the weight of the pan across the whole palm of your hand as you grip it, as opposed to my current T-Fal which puts most of the weight at one end of your hand due to the straight through construction. With a straight handle you pick your shoulder up in the air so your hand accommodates the handle, instead of the handle accommodating to you. Very appreciated and easily overlooked feature.
The sauce pan and stock pan are wide topped to make it easy for in-pan whisking, as well as quicker reductions. I believe the kit calls this "windsor shape" which I wasn't familiar with.
Cleanup has been great so far, and as a kit you can fit every piece in a standard sized dishwasher in one washing (picture attached). I always say the real test of a pan is how well it cleans up when something gets a bit burnt on, or potatoes fog up the bottom of a stock pot. Neither has happened to me yet, so I'll have to report back in after that happens.
Comparison to other close matched 10 piece kits Amazon sells:
The Cuisinart 77 kit is 10 piece also, and can go 150 degrees higher in the oven, but does not have silicone grips or lid seals and windsor leans.
The Farberware Classic set is similar 10 piece, and is essentially what I own. The non stick pans scrape easily, handles are hard and can only oven to 350 degrees. Pans are thinner and lids rattle.
The Cuisinart Chef kit is well rated, but doesn't have premium handles, as deep of a frying pan, or rattle free lids.
The Rachel Ray kit is really nice, but hand washing is recommended. Major bummer in my book.
Warranty & Value:
The warranty with this kit is similar to others-to your door replacement first year, and send in for a similar replacement for life. A normal expectation with premium cookware. An interesting bit of research I did-the instruction and warranty envelope said "Thank you for purchasing Meyer Gourmet Cookware". Meyer Manufacturing makes Anolon brand cookware, which, if you compare, would yield this to be the best value Anolon cookware set available!
In summary, I've been pleased with the set and some premium features it includes over my existing collection of cookware. It looks nice, cooks well and cleans up well. It would make a great kit for the aspiring cook, for your first set of cookware if the price is ok for you, as a gift, or for someone who really needs to replace several items in your cookware collection. Of course if you're a professional chef, you'll probably prefer to build your cookware set piece by piece, but if you're in the market for a really nice set, I couldn't recommend any other options more than this one.
*I've attached several photos that have additional comments beyond the review.
Update 1: After some use, two new discoveries: The large stock pot and the skillets use the same size lids, so that's one less "trial" you have to do when reaching for one plus a lid. On the downside, the "tops" of the metal handles don't stay as cool as I want, and actually can get pretty hot. The normal grip of a lid is around the handle, so you have to learn to lift with the flat part of your hand and not grip around it. I disliked this feature enough that I docked it a star, down to 4 stars.
Update 2: Some more weeks in, I've had some food stick and it washed right away... no stains, no problems. Still just as pleased as I was originally. After update 1 above, I've mad just a tiny adjustment to how I grab the lids, and it's proven no problem again at all. I've left the review at 4 stars instead of 5 because I'd suggest a design modification for the handle style but other than that I'm still far more pleased with this kit than the Farberware stuff I had before.
Honest reviews on KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is a good solid product and a good value for what you get. Over the past year I have evaluated a lot of cookware and used pots and pans from 3 new cookware sets. Good cookware is a big investment. While this set is reasonable, it will be worth it for some people to invest a little more on an alternative.
PROS:
++ Good value for a stainless steel set
++ Variety of pots allow you to prepare many types of meals
++ Glass lids allow you to monitor your food without slowing down the cooking
++ Handle grips are cushioned to add some comfort when moving skillets or pots
++ Skillets have high walls for splatter or for turning omelets
++ Riveted handles provide greater strength and durability than the screws used in many entry level sets
++ Saucepans are functional
++ Awesome oversized stock pot is great for stews and soups
++ Non-stick surface heats up quickly and cleans easily, though clad performs better
++ Warrantee allows for free replacement within the first year
++ After the first year, you have to send in the cookware at your own expense if it fails
CONS:
-Does not specify the grade of stainless steel, which means it's likely not 18/10
-Thick aluminum core bases add a lot of weight
-For a little more, an entry level clad set offers much more in terms of quality and features
-Alternatives have metal lids instead of silicone ringed glass (could be a positive if you like this feature)
-Skillets are on the smaller side, limiting functionality
-While functional, saucepans are on the smaller side as well
-Pan walls are on the thin side
-Touted as "dishwasher safe," but the fine-print states dishwasher use voids the warrantee
-Many other warrantee limitations, so read carefully before first use
-Also touted as "oven-safe" though I advise against this (low heat rating, handle grips, etc.)
PERFORMANCE VS PRODUCT CLAIMS
Only a quick clean-up was required before the initial use. I found that cleaning up the pots and pans took longer after each use than my clad cookware. But the pans all heated up evenly, if a little slowly. One other note about this product is that despite the product description, plan to clean every piece by hand if you don't want to void your warrantee. While the set is technically "dishwasher safe," the fine-print on the included pamphlet states in no uncertain terms that they are not responsible for damage caused by dishwashers.
The skillets worked well, though the 8.5 inch skillet is a little small for my use. Even the 10 inch is about the smallest I would ideally use. An ideal set would include one 10 inch skillet and one 12 inch. The 8 inch is good for preparing single portions at a time, and is certainly good enough for omelets or small portions of pan seared meats. But I try to make as many meals using single pans, which is why I would tend towards larger skillets. Just one note: the product description includes the claim that these are perfect for making crepes. If anybody has the skill to make a decent crepe in a skillet, I bow down to you.
The large stock pot is really the nicest pot in this set. It's normal for sets to include slightly smaller stock pots, and the added size means this will be immediately useful as an addition to my many different pots. It's not oversized, but this is a great size for stews and soups.
THE ALTERNATIVES
This set is aluminum core cookware, which is why there are thick disks at the base of each piece. That helps them to heat evenly, but it also adds a lot of weight.
There are many advantages to a fully clad set such as the Cuisinart MCP-12 MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set I've been using over the past 6 months. Clad cookware heats up much quicker, has a higher temperature threshold, and is lighter to use. It's also a little bit easier to clean, though that distinction only shows up over long term use. The Cuisinart 77-10 Chef's Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set or Cuisinart 77-17 Chef's Classic Stainless 17-Piece Cookware Set are also worth consideration, though I don't own that version.
Also, there is bound to be some concern about leaching from the silicone rings on the glass tops. I am not super concerned about that, as this material has come a long way. There is tons of silicone bake-ware that has to withstand much higher temperatures than this set. Still, Kitchen Aid has a number of similar sets that have metal rimmed glass or stainless steel lids. The KitchenAid Gourmet Distinctions Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set, KitchenAid 75826 Gourmet Essentials 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set and KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set all deserve consideration. I would definitely review them if that is an issue for you.
CONCLUSION
If you are looking for a gift for a housewarming or a young graduate getting their first apartment, this has to be high on the list of sets to be considered. But if you are looking for yourself and this is your first foray into stainless steel cookware, you may want to evaluate your options. Paying a little more now can help you avoid having to buy another set in the future. The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro is my favorite.
Happy shopping.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
I didn't buy this set on amazon. As others have noted, the lids can stick due to the formation of a vacuum. A reviewer even had a lid shatter, but another counters that it only happens if a pot lid is used on a frying pan. NOT SO! If cooking pasta in any of the pans with a lid, the water can foam up. To avoid a boil-over, I took the pan off the stove and it instantly cooled forming a vacuum preventing the lid from being removed! I pryed the lid off with a screwdriver and placed the lid on the counter and instantly the lid is vacuum-locked onto the counter! Yikes! Not only is this super annoying, it can be dangerous. The distracted cook could pull hard causing a spill of hot liquid.
Update Partial Solution:
I love the set otherwise and would give it 5 stars, but this is a major issue. Kitchen-Aid could have a steam hole in the lid as does T-Fal. If you are handy, there is a homemade solution to modify the rubber lid edge. The rubber is easily cut with a razor, but this will leave an ugly cut mark. Instead, take a wood dowel and wrap with 150 grit sandpaper.
1. Prevent lid from sticking to the counter. Observe where the lid contacts the counter top. Abrade a small section removing about 1/16 inch. Check by placing the lid on the counter to see if there is now a small opening to allow air in. The result is invisible.
2. Prevent the lid from sticking to the pan. Observe where the lid touches the pan edge. Using the sandpaper abrade a small depression in the rubber at that point. This a little more awkward, but can be done with patience. The result is almost invisible.
3. Although the same process can be used to prevent the lids from sticking to the frying pans, a larger cut is necessary which will be easily visible. Or just remember to not use the lids there.
