Cuisinart has always been a popular brand in our book. Their 12-piece stainless steel set provides a smooth surface for food and is the perfect beginner’s set.
Cuisinart
You’ll notice Cuisinart by their fondness for the silvery, metallic finish to their products (maybe that’s just me). In any case, Cuisinart is a trusted brand in my opinion and this 12-piece set is further evidence their exemplary list of products.
The set totals out to just over $200, which seems like a lot. However, once you understand just what comes in the set, you’ll be more inclined to take a closer look.
What’s in the Set?
The Cuisnart stainless steel set includes 7 primary pieces and 5 covers. The covers sit beneath the edges of the pots and pans in order to be drip free and keep as much heat retained as possible.
- 1.5qt Saucepan plus cover
- 3qt Saucepan plus cover
- 3.5qt Saute Pan plus helper handle and cover
- 8qt Stockpot plus cover
- 8″ Skillet
- 10″ Skillet
- 20cm Steamer Insert plus cover
It’s not every day you see a steamer included in a cookware set. Considering the fact that this set is cheaper than smaller sets on the market without steamers, it’s a big addition that sometimes escapes your eye. A steamer gives you a different way to cook vegetables and meats (among other foods) than just placing the pan on a stove.
Stainless steel materials are notoriously easy to clean and the silver color makes it easy to spot smudges that may have escaped your dishwasher.
Materials
This set is often referred to as “triple ply” which refers to the triple layer of metal in each piece. The exterior is stainless steel for durability and extended life. The middle is heat conductive aluminum so your foods get the right setting without burning or undercooking. Finally, the interior is also stainless steel for easy movement of foods. You won’t have to be digging at the edges in order to get the last bits of food off.
For those with induction stoves, you’ll be happy to note that you can use this set without an interface plate. On the other hand, stainless steel doesn’t have the greatest heat conductivity in the cooking world. If you plan on making drastic changes to temperature in the middle of cooking, be prepared for it to take a while.
My Take
If you’re new to stainless steel cookware, the one major tradeoff is that you won’t be getting naturally nonstick cookware. Of course, you can use nonstick spray and appropriate seasoning, but for some people, it just isn’t the same.
I own both stainless steel and nonstick cook, so it’s not a huge hassle for me cooking wise. Stainless steel cleans up just as nicely as any other cooking material and that silvery finish is among the nicest looking in the cooking world.
On another note, since you won’t have to be worrying about the nonstick feature, you can stick the pots and pans in the oven up to 550°. Rarely is a time that I go above 500, but with all the cookware available in this 12-piece set, I’m thinking that time may be closer than I think.
Does this Cuisinart set catch your eye? Click here to buy it now!