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Saucepans

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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 2:53 pm Post subject: Saucepans

On the flimsy excuse that my saucepans have gone a funny colour in the dishwasher, and because I am having a nice shiny new kitchen, I am going to buy some nice shiny new saucepans to go with it.

What's good, what's not, and what should I get? Don't mind spending good money on good quality, providing it lasts. Easy to clean is paramount!

Stainless steel looks good, and will go with our appliances, but looks like hard work to keep shiny. I have le creuset casseroles, which are great, but think that its too heavy for pans in day to day use (and it's hard to clean). Non stick is far too delicate for me, and ends up looking a mess (and I don't need it)

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 2:59 pm Post subject:
I have stainless steel and they look good as new! If I ever have a little accident I just soak for a few hours in cold water. Great to put in dishwasher too. If you get the type with attatched metal handles this means you can start stuff off on the hob then finish off in the oven!

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 3:05 pm Post subject:

We have an esoteric mix.

A La Cruestet type medium saucepan. great for sauces.

A flimsy cheap non stick little sauce pan, find for the odd thing like boiling an egg.

A heavy old cast iron saucepan which works its way through homemade replacement handles, but is proably the best saucepan we have.

A similar size stainless steel saucepan, not noticed any problems keepign it clean, this is more inclined to stick than the cast iron.

A big stainless steel stock pot, used for wine making etc, again this is bit sticky if used for food.

A cast iron cassorole dish, with some kind of black lining which is showing wear

All told i'd go for La Crueset if you can handle the wieght, or good cast iron real last a lifetime type saucepans.

jema

Silas

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 3:53 pm Post subject:
Cruset are really good. We have spent the past 20 odd years building a collection. The weight is really not a problem, and they are easy to clean if you just let them soak for a while and never use mattalic scourers

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 4:00 pm Post subject:

Silas wrote:

Cruset are really good. We have spent the past 20 odd years building a collection. The weight is really not a problem, and they are easy to clean if you just let them soak for a while and never use mattalic scourers

The weight is not a problem for me, for someone with arthritus though, the weight is an issue. I don't see us getting any of the really big ones for this reason.

jema

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 4:56 pm Post subject:

We've slowly started to replace a non-stick set with stainless steel. So far we've just bought from T***o (it's OK, I stick forks in myself for every item on the receipt

) and they are much easier than I expected, not really sticking much, seem to be staying shiny too. Every few washes I stick them in the dishwasher, and they seem to be standing up well.

Can't bear Le Creuset, literally. Perhaps you get used to it but it's not an investment I'd be prepared to risk. If I were going to replace all of ours tomorrow I'd investigate a good stainless steel set (don't know about the linings and layers...).

Also fancy, one day, some cast iron for grilling etc. But not at the moment.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 4:58 pm Post subject:
Anybody heard of the theory that the lining in non-stick pans, if over heated, gives off fumes toxic to birds? Is that an internet myth? I haven't done any investigation in to it, because I'm really, really lazy.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:00 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Anybody heard of the theory that the lining in non-stick pans, if over heated, gives off fumes toxic to birds? Is that an internet myth? I haven't done any investigation in to it, because I'm really, really lazy.

New one on me.

jema

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:19 pm Post subject:

I know people say le creuset are great, and its fine for casseroles where I'm using two hands, but for every day use when I'm straining veg and stuff I'd like something more lightweight. There is no way I could lift them with one hand if they were full. Has anyone tried Jean Patrique stuff - its advertised in this months GW (page 118) - I've seen them before - you know, 10 peice set, yours for 99.99, save �380 oh and get this knife set worth 187.60 absolutely free (yeah, right!) order now while stocks last, blah, blah, blah.....

But I reckon even a basic set's going to cost around a hundred, so is it worth the risk? I reckon if they're selling it for 99 quid, then its wrth 99 quid, and I don't beleive a word of the rest of it.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:34 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Anybody heard of the theory that the lining in non-stick pans, if over heated, gives off fumes toxic to birds?

From the makers of Teflon, https://www.teflon.com/ :

"Fumes generated from any type of cookware, not just non-stick, can adversely affect pet birds under negligent cooking conditions. With unusually sensitive respiratory systems, birds can also be injured by many other kinds of household fumes, including aerosol sprays, burning butter or oils, and cleaning solvents. Therefore, bird owners need to take precautions to protect pet birds from cooking fumes by keeping birds out of the kitchen; observing good cooking practices in accordance with cookware manufacturers' recommendations, never allowing cookware to overheat, and keeping cooking areas well-ventilated at all times."

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:35 pm Post subject:
I think we will soon replace all our non-stick pans. A quick search about Teflon comes up with some worrying details.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:40 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

I think we will soon replace all our non-stick pans. A quick search about Teflon comes up with some worrying details.

Have not done the web search myself, but how do the risks compare to second hand smoke, asbestos dust, mdf fumes, and any of the other real and semi mythological risks there are?

jema

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 5:42 pm Post subject:
Looking at the details on the BBC site it seems the be the chemicals used to make the stuff. A good reason not to buy more.

Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 05, 05 6:20 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

This appeared in the press in relation to ironing board covers too - thsoe grey coloured ones; they contain Teflon, apparently. Wouldn't put my food or budgie near Teflon.

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