topic Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end? in Kitchen

Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

kittymom56 — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:37:07 GMT

I bought a set of them several years ago. Both frying pans and a saucepan have bit the dust and I never checked into the lifetime warranty.

I had also purchased open stock items and particularly liked the everytday pans with the double handles and lids.

I have had one of thee replaced under the lifetime warranty, that one has already lost it's non stick and the smaller of the 2 is also no longer nonstick.

I also had a griddle replaced, that one so far is holding up.

I know that they no longer offer those everyday pans, and I just am not sure it's worth it to even call and see what they would offer in their places. I'm just not sure that the quality is what it's all hyped up to be.

Anyone else have the same issues?

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

BalletBabe — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:41:56 GMT

@kittymom56 I have had bad experience with them. I will not purchase again.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

CinNC — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:50:20 GMT

I have never bought a full set of cookware - I was given one by my mother when I was married years ago.

Have purchased several items on sale at QVC which I have loved ....a few less expensive items at TJMaxx and Ross. Then I bought my first really good, pricey pan at Sur La Table at holiday time..a ScanPan everyday pan. The quality has blown me away compared to the other items I've had. But I'm so frugal it remains to be seen if I will buy more.

It depends on your cooking style, etc....whether to want to keep on with the Cooks Essentials.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Azcowgirl — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:56:01 GMT

Mine bit the dust also.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

giddy up — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 01:23:18 GMT

Have you researched Curtis Stone's Durapan on HSN? Rave reviews, you should check it out.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Abrowneyegirl — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 01:28:01 GMT

I have an OLD set of Cooks Essentials hard anodized cookware set- it is 15+ years old. It is still going strong!! I would buy the set again if they still made it. I think back then Calphalon made their cookware.

I cook A LOT, meals from scratch 5-6 days a week, plus breakfast and lunch. I do NOT ever put them in the dishwasher as per the instructions, but I do use metal utensils and the finish has NEVER flaked or peeled.

I miss this type of quality. Every pan I buy to add to my collection has to be thrown out inside of 1 year!! I do not mind spending a lot of money on pots and pans because I use them daily- but when the handles get loose or the finish deteriorates I get annoyed.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

homedecor1 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 03:29:05 GMT

@kittymom56

based on the set I just ordered to replace my 10+ year old SS Cooks Essentials & Technique HA set (mix matched due to tossing pieces), I'd say NO (ordered K43633 clearance) quality not the same - very thin.

im going towards Caphalon Simply in open stock pieces - yes, more expensive buying pieces (I pick them up at Home Goods, Marshalls & Ross) but I don't need a set anymore.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

momtochloe — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:07:55 GMT

Another vote for Curtis Stone's pans. They are the best pans I have purchased in a very long time.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

wagirl — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:20:25 GMT

i have many ce stainless non stick that are doing ok. however i am getting rid of it due to the non stick that gives off those chemicals. some are scratched up that i don't use. i have 2 skillets from curtis stone that are the best. wanted his latest ts from sunday.but not in my budget at the moment. i need sance pans more than anymore fry pans.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Fressa — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:43:02 GMT

I've had good luck with all of my CE cookware. My favorite set was the "belly" pots with the strainier lids. I had that set for years and years. Now, it seems difficult to find that type of lid. I recently started to clear out my pots & pans and scale down what I had. I like the CE and/or RR oval pot set, RR 3qt pot, MCM 4th burner pot (2) and a small collection of small pots/skillets for one. I like the Anelon brand but it's pricey. I think I may scale back even further using BBB coupons and purchasing just a few of these.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

software — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 18:52:00 GMT

I need new pans. It won't be CE. I inherited my mom's pans, I don't like them.

I'm curious about the Thermo-spot or red dot T-fal which is what they use on Cooks Country.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

chickenbutt — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 18:59:02 GMT

I'll just say that I'm glad the ones I have were from a number of years ago. They made good quality at that time. I cannot speak to what they are selling now except that they don't look as quality as the older ones.

One of the best lines they came out with, after the 18/10 stainless tri-ply base ones, was the Technique Hard Anodized II line. Those were top quality. Then it didn't take long to dumb down the quality. I guess the people they are appealing to won't wash a pan and won't pay for quality, and they had to go with cheaper, thinner stuff AND tell people to put them in the dishwasher. ugh (PS: nonstick is not dishwasher safe)

Now it's either the dumbed down hard anodized or the hardcoat enamel aluminum (cheapest quality you can buy), and nothing of quality in their in-house brand anymore. It's a shame that cheap sells before quality, but there you have it.

One line of HA that I have liked is the Unison line of Calphalon. All-Clad is also an outstanding brand.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

151949 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 20:22:04 GMT

@software This fall we threw away all our cooks essentials - hated them and I bought the green ceramic pans from Greenlife. They are fabulous - ceramic nonstick instead of teflon, cook nice and even, can put in the oven because the stay cool handles are silicone and I throw them in the Dishwasher - no problems and they come out perfectly clean. They are pretty too -mint green outside and ivory interior. We got them for our camp first - got them at Walmart then when we got them for here we went with Amazon. YEP, they are so good we bought them twice.

C.E.Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

ULY — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:33:23 GMT

The C.E. set I purchased two years ago for right around $70.00 works perfectly and it easily release an egg, pancake or other delicate things w/o the need to butter up the pan. Coincidentally enough this set replaced a hodge podge of Greenpans from Target which were purchased for the high heat durability. A week after owning them I couldn't make an egg w/o a pat of butter. Unacceptable.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Mothertrucker — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 23:19:26 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl wrote:
I have an OLD set of Cooks Essentials hard anodized cookware set- it is 15+ years old. It is still going strong!! I would buy the set again if they still made it. I think back then Calphalon made their cookware.
I cook A LOT, meals from scratch 5-6 days a week, plus breakfast and lunch. I do NOT ever put them in the dishwasher as per the instructions, but I do use metal utensils and the finish has NEVER flaked or peeled.
I miss this type of quality. Every pan I buy to add to my collection has to be thrown out inside of 1 year!! I do not mind spending a lot of money on pots and pans because I use them daily- but when the handles get loose or the finish deteriorates I get annoyed.

I have that same set and they have held up really well...not colorful, or fancy...but real workhorses...

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Mominohio — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 01:06:26 GMT

I purchased a number of different sets and pieces of CE but well over a decade ago.

Every single piece has failed over time. At first, I got them warranted, but I had to pay to ship them back, and when they sent replacements, they didn't have the same sets anymore that I had purchased, so my nice sets of matching pans was then a mix matched mess.

I had some stainless steel sets, some enamel and some bakeware (which was actually better than the cookware), but never had their hard anodized.

I decided it wasn't worth it , and since then, I simply throw away what CE I have left when it is beyond safe to use, and have moved on to Calphalon skillets from TJ maxx, and gone back to my vintage Revere Ware and Farberware.

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

kittymom56 — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 17:16:12 GMT

Thank you all for your replies to my post. Have pretty made up my mind to get rid of these pans once and forever.

I did check out the 'curtis stone pans, they only have a year warranty on the set I looked at, I know that there are pans available in retail that have better warranties. Time to do some shopping I guess!

Again, I appreciate all of your feedback, it was very helpful

Re: Are Cooks Essential Pans worth it in the long end?

Eileen in Virginia — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 03:09:52 GMT

@CinNC wrote:
I have never bought a full set of cookware - I was given one by my mother when I was married years ago.

Have purchased several items on sale at QVC which I have loved ....a few less expensive items at TJMaxx and Ross. Then I bought my first really good, pricey pan at Sur La Table at holiday time..a ScanPan everyday pan. The quality has blown me away compared to the other items I've had. But I'm so frugal it remains to be seen if I will buy more.

It depends on your cooking style, etc....whether to want to keep on with the Cooks Essentials.

I've got some old CE hard anodized that are still going strong. I have had to replace some of my lighter weight CE's and have started replacing them with ScanPan from Sur La Table. They're pricey, but are holding up pretty well (I use them almost everyday). I try to wait for a sale or other promotion before I buy them.