Background Information for Anolon Nouvelle Copper 3 Qt. Covered Casserole:
We recently received the Anolon Nouvelle Copper 3 quart Covered Casserole for review. This casserole pan can be found on many cookware department pages. This pan is constructed from Hard-Anodized Aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel and is very popular for it’s wonderful heat distribution. This casserole is non-stick and features the restaurant tested Autograph 2 Nonstick Interior.

Visual Impressions:
The first thing noticeable while un-boxing this piece of cookware is the beautiful stainless steel handles and the elegant deep seated stainless steel lid. The stainless additions provide a very eye pleasing accent to the pan. As we proceeded to unwrap we were just as impressed with the look of the rest of the casserole pan. Not only does the the design of this casserole make it look beautiful it also provides for extended functionality.

Design and Construction:
While holding this Anolon cookware in our hands we could instantly feel the high quality of craftsmanship that went into creating this cookware. The casserole feels very sturdy due to the Hard-Anodized construction, flush riveted stainless steel handles and heavy weighted bottom.

This Anolon Casserole features a unique “Double Full Cap Base” that is crafted with heat conductive copper. This base provides a layer of aluminum encapsulated with copper followed by more aluminum and then capped with impact bonded stainless steel. The unique base featured on this casserole makes this piece of cookware very versatile and compatible with most cooking surfaces.

The deep seated stainless steel lid is designed for fitting securely to the pan which helps to lock in flavor and nutrients. The lid features a refined raised handle to offer extra clearance for safer more comfortable lifting.

The stainless steel handles are connected to the body of the pan using rivets so that they will stay secure and not become loose and wobbly. This pan features a new flush riveting style which means the rivets that connect the handles are flush on the interior of the casserole. The flush rivets keep ingredients from getting stuck on the rivets while cooking. While cooking on the stove top the outside edges of the handles get pretty warm but are still touchable, as you move closer to the pan they get very hot and untouchable.

Use and Utensils:
This Anolon pan is compatible with Induction Cooktops, Solid Plate Cooktops, Ceramic Cooktops, Gas Cooktops, Radiant Ring Cooktops and Halogen Cooktops. It is also oven safe up to 500 degrees. The fact that this piece of cookware is compatible with so many cooking surfaces is nice bonus because it means if you upgrade to a different cooktop there will be no need to get a new casserole pan. This pan will most likely work with what ever stovetop technology you choose to go with.

We do not recommend using metal utensils with this pan because scratching its surface will permanently damage the pan. Wooden or Nylon utensils would be our suggestion when cooking with this casserole pan.

How does it Perform?:
To test this casserole pan we chose to cook Cajun Style Cubed Steak With Spiced White Sauce. This recipe allowed us to test how this versatile cookware performed on the stove top and in the oven.

The stove top preparation took place on a ceramic stove top using medium to medium-high heat. Our first step in preparation was to sear the meat using low-high heat however, because of the thickness of the casserole bottom we had to use medium-high heat. The fact that we had to use a higher heat than normal to sear didn’t cause too much of a bother. Due to the size of the pan we were only able to sear one piece of meat at a time but the searing went very well overall and the pan heated very evenly. After searing we made the spiced white sauce by cooking and simmering various ingredients on medium heat. The sauce preparation went very well and the even heat distribution combined with the non-stick interior of the pan made it easy to create a creamy sauce that didn’t stick to the bottom.

When the sauce was ready, we added the meat to the sauce. We then covered the casserole pan with the lid and placed the covered dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes on the middle rack. The pan performed very well in the oven and it took the estimated time to finish cooking this dish in the oven. The high sides of the pan made the size of the pan less hindering when it came to the oven cooking step of the recipe. When placing the dish in the oven to finish, we were able to place six steaks with the sauce in the casserole pan.

Cleaning and Maintenance:
We do not recommend washing this cookware in the dishwasher, harsh chemicals like dishwasher detergents can cause damage to the hard anodized surface. Also, be sure that you do not use oven cleaners, steel wool, harsh detergents or any cleansers containing chlorine bleach in the cleaning of this cookware. To clean up after cooking we simply used some warm water and a paper towel however just a paper towel would probably have done the trick. The flush riveting style makes cleanup a much easier task because food doesn’t get stuck around the rivets while cooking.

For a more in depth look at caring for anodized cookware check out our article on Caring for Anodized Cookware.

Final Thoughts:

If we could complain about anything: (Nothing in this list would keep us from buying this pan)

* We would have to say we may like to see a slightly heavier lid however the lid didn’t cause us any problems while testing.
* The size could hinder you if you are cooking for a larger group of people but you would obviously choose a larger piece of cookware if doing so. This is a great size for a small to medium amount of servings depending on what you are preparing.
* The bottom takes a little longer to heat up and you may have to use a higher temperature setting

What we liked about this pan:

* We were really happy with the Autograph 2 Nonstick interior, it lived up to it’s reputation and performed wonderfully for food release and made cleaning really simple and quick.
* The innovative bottom provided great heat distribution and with the way it’s made there shouldn’t be any worries of warping.
* The wide arrangement of cooking styles you can use combined with the large compatibility with cooking technologies makes this piece of cookware very versatile.
* The construction of this cookware is superb and should allow this cookware to last for many years.
* The pan looks great, it might not be something you want to display like a stainless steel or fully copper item however it is definitely easy on the eyes.

This 3Qt Casserole Pan performed very well and we would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for something in the high medium price range. The versatility of the pan really helps any price justification because it is capable of being used in so many ways on the stove top and in the oven. It is also very nice to have cookware that is compatible with so many cooking surfaces.

Warranty and Care Information:
The Lifetime Limited Warranty guarantees your cookware to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal household use for the lifetime of the cookware. Meyer Corporation promises the original purchaser to replace any defective part or item during the guarantee period. Scratches, stains, discoloration or damage caused by the use of cooking sprays or overheating are not covered by this warranty. Additionally, this warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse, abuse, commercial use or incidental or consequential damages. For warranty replacement be sure to include a short note containing your name, address, daytime phone number and description of the problem you are experiencing along with the defective cookware.

Mailing Address:
Meyer Corporation
Consumer Relations
2005 Meyer Way
Fairfield, CA 94533

Anolon Contact Information:
Anolon Consumer Relations Department: 1-800-388-3872

Technorati Tags: Analon, anodized aluminum cookware, Anolon, Autograph 2 Nonstick interior, Casserole Pan, Ceramic Cooktops, Cookware, cookware set, Copper Cookware, Covered Casserole, Double Full Cap Base, Flush Riveted Handles, Gas Cooktops, Halogen Cooktops, hard anodized cookware, induction cooktop, non-stick cookware, nonstick cookware, Nouvelle Copper Cookware, Radiant Ring Cooktops, Solid Plate Cooktops

There are people who still prefer the clean look of pure stainless steel, no matter how many other kinds of beautiful cookware that comes out in the market. For those who want the best in stainless steel cookware when it comes to looks and quality, they should try using this 10-Piece set from the Gourmet Essential collection of KitchenAid.

The set is made up of the best stainless steel (a perfect combination of nickel and chromium) in the world, which makes each piece very durable, with magnificent luster. The high quality of the stainless steel gives each piece a very professional look, perfect for those who want to have handsome-looking cookware hanging from their shelves. The common kitchen owner will feel like a chef when he gets his hands on this beautiful KitchenAid set.

Each set contains the following:

• 1-quart covered saucepan
• 2-quart covered saucepan
• 3-quart covered saucepan
• 8-quart covered stockpot
• 8-inch skillet
• 10-inch skillet

Functionality
First thing we noticed when testing the pots and pans is their weight. Each piece is a bit heavier compared to the usual stainless steel cookware. Though a little on the heavy side, we can still lift each piece easily, which should be a good thing for those with delicate wrists.

Each piece has cool grip handles that has inserts made of silicone rubber. The handles are oven safe up to 400°F. We had no problem holding the handles given the weight of the pots and pans. The weight is actually a good thing because it provides a nice balance when you place the pots and pans on the stove.

Uneven cooking is not a problem with this cookware set. The base of each piece has an aluminum disk fully encapsulated by stainless steel. This ensures that heat is distributed evenly around the pot or pan, with no hot spots that can ruin a portion of the food. The even distribution of heat of these KitchenAid pots and pans are definitely comparable to most non-stick pans, even better some brands, we daresay.

Cleanup
Cleaning each piece in this set is as easy as most non-stick cookware. No need to scour and use abrasive material to scrape off food from the surface; regular dishwashing liquid is enough for the job.

Looks
Honestly, the 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware from KitchenAid looks a little plain compared to other cookware types in the market, but those who prefer the classic stainless steel look shouldn’t have a problem with this set aesthetic-wise. The high polish of the stainless steel gives the set a classic, long-lasting beauty, which is probably a given since each piece is built to last.

Price
You can get the whole set at Amazon for around $125 (originally $245), which is definitely worth it given the sturdiness of each piece. We say this is an affordable cookware set for those who are looking for pots and pans that can stand constant use. If you want to get a durable set without paying the steep price tag of luxury cookware brands, then the KitchenAid Gourmet Essential 10-Piece Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware is one of your best bets.

Technorati Tags: Cookware, KitchenAid, pots and pans, saucepan, silicone rubber, skillet, stainless steel cookware

Description and Features
The set includes the following pieces:

• 1.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 2-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 3-qt. Covered Sauce Pan
• 4.5-qt. Covered Sauce Pot
• 6-qt. Covered Stockpot
• 4.5-qt. Covered Sauté Pan
• 8-in. Skillet
• 10-in. Skillet

The set contains pieces that have Hard-Anodized Construction which makes them durable and able to produce even heating. You will never have problems getting the food out of the pan because of the nonstick interior. Each piece has grippy silicone handles that you can hold comfortably and can withstand up to 400°F of oven heat. You can easily take a look at the food inside the pans through the glass lids.
The Look
Like we said, the cookware set looks so cute it’s tempting to buy it just for the appearance alone. The aluminum pieces come in handsome charcoal gray while the handles come in bright orange or blue, which are Rachael Ray’s signature colors. The glass lids give the set a sleek, clean look.
Usability and Durability
Everyday cooking is totally easy with this cookware set. We can take the pots and pans from the stove top to the oven with no trouble at all. Because of the quality of the aluminum, the food gets cooked evenly, so there is less or minimal chances of burning your dinner. Cooking time is relatively shorter with this set, so that’s another plus. No need to set the stove to high temperature to speed up cooking. Cooking quality is comparable to more expensive copper and steel cookware pieces.
The skillets are a bit smaller than the standard ones though, which can be a disadvantage for those who want to fry food in bigger quantities.  As for the pot sizes, they are big enough for cooking for average households. We noticed that the pots are a little bit heavier compared to the average cookware in the nonstick category, which is alright with us; the pieces will sit well on the stove and will not budge from their places easily.
Perhaps the only disadvantage that we experienced in testing the pots and pans is that the outsides can stain rather easily. We had no problems cleaning the insides of the pots and pans because of the nonstick feature, but it does not hold true for the exterior. Some of the pieces developed some splotches after cooking several times on a flat top stove.

Care and Maintenance
Because of the nonstick material of the insides of the pots and pans, cleanup is very easy. We didn’t have to scrub like mad to get the food bits off the pan. We only needed a soft sponge and a gentle to moderate strength cleanser to clean the pieces.
The Price
The set is a great deal for USD 299.95. We encountered practically no problems with cooking and cleanup is definitely no trouble at all. The price is more than fair for the set’s usability and the fact the pieces look great displayed on the kitchen is a huge plus as well. The Rachael Ray 10-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set can hold its own against pricier cookware sets.

Technorati Tags: hard anodized, nonstick interior, pots and pans, Rachael Ray, silicone

Cookwarebuzz recently spent some time with this mid-priced Saute Pan in our test kitchen. The following is our initial review of this pan. We will publish a follow up review in the future to let you know how the pan holds up over time.

Features/construction
* Aluminum construction featuring a non-stick coating on both the inside and outside of the pan
* Ergonomic stay cool handle that features a thumb hold and is attached by rivets
* Safe for all utensils including metal (we recommend avoiding sharp metal utensils)
* Not suitable for induction cooktops
* Oven safe to 350 degrees F
* Limited Lifetime Warranty

How Does it Feel?
This is a pretty big pan and it feels a little cumbersome but not so bad that we hated using it. For it’s size it is relatively light and the handle has a nice thumb hold that helps provide a good grip and makes it a little easier to use the pan. The pan feels pretty sturdy due to the handle being riveted to the pan which creates a solid connection between the pan and handle.

How Does it Look?
You probably aren’t going to hang this pan in your kitchen for display however it isn’t a bad looking pan. The non-stick coating that covers the inside and outside of this pan help protect against tarnishing that other pans may show after lengthy use. There are aluminum colored grooved rings made in the bottom of this pan that may show some tarnishing or wear over time. The dark color of the coating on the inside allowed us to see oil swirl more easily than a light colored pan.

How does it Heat?
This pan features what T-fal calls a thermo-spot which is designed to notify you when your pan is preheated. The thermo-spot seemed to work however and did turn solid red when it was ready. The pan took an average time to get pre-heated, we weren’t impressed but we didn’t feel hindered waiting for it to heat up either. This pan didn’t heat quite as evenly as we would have hoped for. The aforementioned grooved rings in the bottom of the pan are supposed to make an even heat base but it seemed to get more hot towards the center of the pan. We also found our self cooking on medium-high when preparing dishes that we normally cook on medium. The handle stays pretty cool during cooking, the thumb hold gets a little warm but not scorching hot.

How Does the Non-stick coating perform?
The non-stick coating worked well. We experienced no problems with food sticking and were able to simply wipe the pan clean with a paper towel after use. The non-stick coating on the bottom of the pan held up well and showed no signs of scratching or deterioration, even after sauteing.

Overall Performance
While cooking dishes we were forced to raise the heat level because the pan wasn’t getting as hot as we expected it to in correlation with the heat settings on the stove. We were forced to raise the heat on several dishes that we prepared because it wouldn’t stay hot enough. This pan didn’t brown as fast as other good pans and this can cause meat to become slightly overcooked.

Cleanup/Care
Clean up was as easy as wiping the pan clean with a paper towel. This pan is dishwasher safe however we recommend hand cleaning since it is so easy. This pan doesn’t require seasoning or any extra maintenance of the like.

Final Thoughts/Recommendations
Overall It’s an okay pan. It didn’t react quite as quickly to heat as we like to see however it was able to get the job done in a satisfactory manor. Due to the construction this pan seems like it will last for a reasonable amount of time. For the medium price range this pan performs well enough but it definitely didn’t “WOW” us.

Technorati Tags: aluminum, nonstick cookware, t fal, TeFal

Background Information on GreenPan.

We recently spent some time with this pan in our test kitchen and we liked what we experienced.  Before we get into the details of the review lets cover some background information on this cookware line.  GreenPan cookware is the first completely PTFE-free non-stick cookware that utilizes the revolutionary Thermolon technology.  Thermolon is the first patented ceramic-based non-stick coating that performs at high temperatures without deterioration.  Because PTFE and PFOA are not used in manufacturing there are 60% less CO2 emissions in the application of Thermolon compared to some other non-stick coatings.

Green Pan is Eco-friendly and performs exceptionally well.

Not only is this GreenPan Fry Pan environmentally friendly but it also performs beautifully in the kitchen.  The first thing we noticed is how light although well constructed the pan was.  Although the pan is light it still feels sturdy.  The handle is riveted to the pan which prevents the handle from coming loose and having give to it like a handle that is attached with bolts.

So how well does the pan heat?

The second thing we noticed was how quickly it heats up and how evenly the heat is dispersed.  The first few times you use this pan you probably want to use a lower heat setting until you figure out how it heats up with your stove.  We were able to use medium heat on dishes that we would normally cook on medium-high.  Although the pan heats quickly the end of the handle stays very cool up to about halfway to the pan.

Does the handle get hot when cooking?

One, of very few complaints that we could come up with while using this pan is how hot the half of the handle closest to the pan becomes.  Most newer cookware handles are constructed with a V shape where the handle connects to the pan.  This allows for heat disbursement and helps keep the whole handle cool.  Although the part of the handle closest to the pan gets hot, there is still plenty of room for your hand on the handle, it is just important to keep in mind not to grab the handle close to the pan.  While this is a design flaw, it wouldn’t be a deterrent for us when considering purchasing this product.

The Non-stick coating worked perfectly.

By following some standard rules of cooking with non-stick cookware we had no problems with sticking at all.  When testing the pan, we heated it to medium heat and poured some olive oil in the pan and before placing our meat in the pan we allowed it to sit out for 10-15 minutes.  We did notice that it was a little difficult to see when the olive oil was swirling due to the light color of the non-stick coating but again this wasn’t a major issue and wouldn’t deter us from purchasing this pan.  The non-stick coating made clean up a breeze.  We simply wiped the pan clean with a paper towel after use.
Overall this Pan performed wonderfully.

The dish we prepared was Pork Medallions with Crimini (Baby Portabella) Mushroom Sauce.  The pork came out perfect and was so tender that it virtually melted your mouth.  After cooking we noticed that some of the finish had scratched off the bottom of the pan while using it for sauteing. Scratches became less visible after hand washing but were still noticeable.

Final Thoughts

To recap this pan is nothing extremely fancy.  It is just a good quality,  simple pan that performs beautifully.  As you read in the article we listed a total of three complaints that we found while testing this pan but none of them were enough to keep us from loving every second of cooking with this wonderful piece of cookware.  This is definitely a recommended purchase by the cookwarebuzz team.

Technorati Tags: greenpan, review, thermolon, todd english