New pots/pans for induction cooktop

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I'm planning to ask DH for cookware for a holiday present--cookware that will work with our planned induction cooktop. (I've checked my current cookware--only 1 pot will still work)

I am a pretty basic cook, so most of the sets tend to have the pans I use:

a couple of sauce pans
Fry pans--8, 10, 12
Saute pan with lid
4-6 qt stockpot

I also like the idea of having a matched set with hopes that it's easy to store :-)

I've read through some earlier threads about Allclad--sounds like I have to go try out some actual pans to be sure they fit my hands.

What brands/sets would you recommend I look at? The lowest level Allclad set is $600 and that's probably the top end of the budget for this. (If I were an amazing gifted chef, it'd be different--but I'm not.)

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sushipup1

6 years ago

This is a pretty dead forum. You'll get better responses in the Cooking Forum.

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Comments (10)

Beth
Original Author
6 years ago
One more part to the question--I've always cooked with non-stick pans--how hard is it to switch from that? Or should I look for induction capable non stick pans?
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nightflyer
6 years ago
It's not hard to find nonstick induction capable pans if you look. When looking for pans, you might want to look at Century Life even heating ratings and Century Life how to choose cookware for some info. I found those very useful when I was buying new pans for my induction range.
Beth thanked nightflyer
jwvideo
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I will second nightflyer's recommendation to check out the CenturyLife blogs for info on good stainless pans including All-Clad. For less expensive but still a pretty-good alternative to All Clad, they like Cuisinart Multiclad Pro. Here's the link to their MCP discussion. They also have discussion of comparing and contrasting All-Clad and its alternatives in this link.

It is not particularly hard to switch from non-stick to all stainless pans, but you will need to use more oil or fat in your frying and sauteing. If you like something a more non-stick than stainless steel, you might check out carbon steel frying pans. They work like cast iron but weigh about 1/3 less and season much more easily. Cooks Illustrated had a very enthusiastic write-up in the September-October 2015.and that would be worth reading if you are at all interested.

You do not have to give up non-stick, though. Circulon Premier Pro has a set of exactly the pans that you listed as what you want and it is very reasonably priced.

The Circulon non-stick pans are anodized aluminum with ferro-magnetic plates encapsulated in the bases. The thickish aluminum gives fairly even heat distribution (including up the sides) while the encapsulated base plate makes them induction capable. I've been using my set pretty much daily for six years now on both gas and induction burners. (I have both in my kitchen.) FWIW, the non-stick coating has held up well and I've even run mine through the dishwasher on occasion. The pams have silicon wrapped handles rated as oven-safe up to 400°F although I've had mine over that with no observable ill effects.

Costco carries them in the stores as well as on-line at Costco.com. Costco's regular price for the set is $199 but they are periodically on sale for less. There's one of the sales going on now --- price was $159 when I was at Costco on Tuesday. (Just checked Cotsco.com where the online price is the same.) Amazon also offers them if you are not a Costco member.

Not sure what you meant by a having matched set of pans for ease of storage, but I'll offer these comments about storing and stacking the Circulon set. Because of their non-stick interiors, so you will want some sort of cushioning between the pans you stack. I use a paper towel. The 12" fry pan and large saute pan both have glass lids You can stack them and their glass lids together, but the handles on the glass iids are a little too tall to have them stack and be stable if you add the 8" and 10" fry pan to stack in the bigger pans.

I also have All-Clad pans which I like a lot and for which I offer two comments. First, the deal with the A-C handles is to grab the handles from below with the rounded underside in your palm. Then curl your fingers and thumb up and around the sides of handle into the trough on the top. Some of the the complaints about A-C handles come from folks who ignore the advice about the grip, but there are also folks who find the correct that grip to be uncomfortable for them. It is good to check out A-C pans in person as you plan to do.

Second, I bought all of my A-C pans individually with very large savings as irregulars and seconds from Cookware & More.
Beth thanked jwvideo
westsider40
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I have the circulon from costco and I love them. It is a 13 piece set and is on sale now. I also love my induction.

i believe the retailer selling imperfect all lad is cutlery and more.
Beth thanked westsider40
jwvideo
6 years ago
There is both a Cookware & More here and a Cutlery and More here. Both are worth checking out.

IME, Cookware & More has tended to have lower prices overall on A-C pans, but Cutlery and More may have better deals on particular A-C pieces at particular times. Cookware&More has a sales twice a year in which the A-C irregular prices can be particularly attractive. (FWIW, that's when I've bought my A-C pans.)

Both sites also carry other brands of cookware, too, and may offer good deals. Cutlery & More is sometimes a good place to look for enameled cast iron such as Le Creuset and Staub.

BTW, Staub is a one of the Zwilling brands as are Demeyere (much loved at CenturyLife) and JA Henckels. The various lines of Zwilling and Demeyere pans sometimes overlap. For example, much as GM's Chevrolets and Buicks can overlap, the Demeyere Industry 5 and Zwilling Sensation pans are pretty much the same. ZwillingUSA has a direct-sale site, too, where you can sometimes find particularly good deals on its cookware. The link is here if you want to check it out. For help in sorting out the various and overlapping lines of Demeyere/Zwilling/Henckels pans, the Centurylife.org site also discusses them in several articles which you can find indexed on the site.
Beth thanked jwvideo
westsider40
6 years ago
Jwvideo is correct and I was not. Sorry.
jwvideo
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Nothing to apologize for. Both places are worth checking out and Cutlery and More sometimes has better deals.

Also, I was probably a little too glib above when I said it was easy to switch from non-stick to stainless by using more oil. Actually, there is a little bit of technique which is getting your stainless pan to the right heat before adding the oil. The basics are explained in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB-SCA1reqE

An old restaurant trick I've used also works pretty well. Heat your stainless skillet on medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add some a higher smoke-point \vegetable oil --- canola or avocado, for example. Add enough to coat the bottom interior a millimeter or so. Wait until wisps of smoking start and then shut off the pan. Let it cool down. Pour off any excess oil and use a paper towel to wipe the reamining oil around the base and sides, leaving a glossy sheen which will be a near non-stick surface for eggs, pancakes, etc.
Beth thanked jwvideo
sonni1
6 years ago
I, too, had to buy all new pots and pans for the new induction stove. (but so worth it!) I'm happy with Cuisinart Multiclad Pro. The sets I think are widely available at a discount. I haven't found an inexpensive non stick for the induction. I use those pans sparingly because the nonstick coatings don't seem as durable as the stainless steel..
Beth thanked sonni1
coruscatingsea
6 years ago
I recently had to replace all my old pots and pans for a my new induction stove. I ended up getting this Demeyere 10 piece set and they work pretty well...

New pots/pans for induction cooktop

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Beth
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New pots/pans for induction cooktop

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Beth
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