Circulon Contempo Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set

great (changed to 3 stars as handles retain water now)
These are great. Very tough. Induction compatible. Metal utensil safe (thought I wouldn't do that), and dishwasher safe. The base is very thick and I've never better cookware for heat distribution. I was worried that the handles on the lids weren't very big and that my hand would touch the metal parts. It turns out the metal bit that connects the handle to the lid doesn't get hot at all so it's no concern at all.

I have the circulon hard anodized symmetry set as well (Circulon Symmetry Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set, 11-Piece) and that is great as well. I was very curious what the difference was and why this set is cheaper:
1. These have thinner side walls. It makes no difference at all. I have pots that cost more than this set with thin walls.
2. The walls go straight up and down. The other ones were fluted to help pour without spalshing. Both sets perform admirably and honestly the is...
Exceptional Quality and Durability at a Reasonable Price
Good cookware is hard to find - at least at a reasonable price! The 10-piece Circulon Contempo Stainless Steel Nonstick Cookware Set seems to take care of both these requirements at once - it is exceptionally good cookware and it is reasonably priced.

The set includes just about every piece you'll need for the average kitchen. There's a big 8-quart stock pot, an 8.5" French skillet, a 10" French skillet, one- and two-quart sauce pans and a three-quart covered saute pan. The lids are unique and have both a plus and a minus to mention. The plus is that the handles are very tall. They keep your hands away from the heat and splatter - and they look very cool. The minus is that the handles are very tall. I know, the same feature is both a plus and a minus. The minus part is that if you need to stack the lids in such a way as to conserve space, you'll be disappointed. These handle do take up more space than conventional lids. If you have sufficient space, you will love the...
G R E A T ! ! ! For Some Things, Not For Others
These pans are fantastic for boiling pasta and low to medium temperature cooking.

The non stick finish is so good that even when making macaroni the pasta will not stick to the bottom of the pan if unstirred for five minuets. That is impressive.

But, and this is a big BUT, these pans strictly prohibit cooking on high temperatures without liquids.

What does that mean?

It means that you cannot braise meats or use any of the popular ultra fast high temperature cooking methods.

The explanation is valid: no pans have a non-stick coating that can handle this sort of liquid free high temperature cooking. This is a true statement. But Calphalon Professional Series pans come close.

These Circulon pans are great, at what they do. I love the way they boil so evenly. I love the easy clean up. These are great non-stick pans. And, they look good too.

These also have loops for those who hang their pots and pans...
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