Safe Cookware: Stainless Steel
I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately, on what the safest cookware is. We have a set of non-stick pots and pans, but the Teflon surface has started rusting and flaking off the bottom. I know how unsafe that is, I can’t even imagine the chemicals that my family has been ingesting. The thought of that alone has really been eating at me lately, so I’ve really been on the look out for a good, safe set of pots to purchase. Typically, I would just put one on my birthday or Christmas list and wait to get it as a gift, but really I should not wait on this one.
After checking out lots of products, I have come to realize that, besides cast iron, the next safest cookware to be using is Stainless Steel. But I’ve learned that you can’t just go and find any stainless set. You’ll need to find a set with the numbers “18/10″ on the bottom. (These numbers reference the percentages of chromium and nickel in the alloy.) The pots also need to have an aluminum core for conducting heat effectively. If you find these two things, you know you have a quality product.
I have been on the lookout for a while now, pricing pot and pan sets, but I haven’t been able to find anything good for under $150! Well, today, I finally got my break.
Searching Amazon, I found that they have a Cuisinart 7-Piece Cookware Set
on sale right now for $99 w/ free shipping! Yay!! This particular set normally sells for $260; I don’t know how long it will stay at this price, so I ordered mine this morning. I signed up for the Amazon Prime free trial and got upgraded to free 2 day shipping. (I just have to be sure to cancel the trial before the end of the month.) I can’t wait to get them!!
Now, $100 is a lot of money to us… a lot. But, I really can’t just keep cooking meals for my children, my unborn baby, and my husband on something that I know is not safe. My conscience is killing me. So, I figure it’s an investment that’s worth it. And, this set has excellent ratings.
So, anyways, if you aren’t in any hurry to find a good set of pots to cook on, remember what to be on the look out for: the numbers “18/10″ on the bottom, and an aluminum core.
Hope that helps!!
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I was very lucky. When I entered the workforce, I lived with two other ladies who already has most of the things needed to keep a house running. The only thing they lacked was good cookware, so that was my contribution. Mom encouraged me to get a good stainless set. That was 1986 and guess what pots are still in my household? My husband and two sons are still benefitting from this purchase.
A couple of months ago, I could see that I was going to have extra gumbo and called a neighbor, she said that she’d be happy to help with the extra. It was too hot to transport in a bowl, so I dumped it in one of my pans with specific instructions that I wanted my pan back. About a week later I got my pan back – she confessed that she could cook with that pan. She hadn’t burned anything during my pan’s visit. She laughingly said she wondered what was so special about that pan on the day that I insisted that I wanted my pan back and now she knows!
Enjoy the new cookware and all the memories it will hold!
I had a similar experience to the one your describing. The only difference was the motivation. I was sick and tired of replacing my non-stick pans every 6-12 months! It seemed like the coating was always flaking off and I was fed up with it. So one day while we were at JCPenny’s we found a set of SS pans, which I had never even considered buying before, for 75% off. We got a whole set for $49. Guess what? That was 3 years ago and they are still looking/working great.
Thank you so much for your research and recommendation! I just ordered this set too (Thursday morning, it’s still on sale!). I’m looking forward to replacing my non-stick but flaky cook-ware!
Congrats on getting a deal. I just love amazon.
I came to the same conclusion about my cookware several years ago. I bought a stainless steel set (I’ll have to check the numbers on the bottom), but I was not really happy with it. Instead, I use cast iron and visions glass cookware by corning. It’s hard to get, I’m not sure if they even make it anymore, but you can find it on ebay.
When I moved a couple years ago, I took a friend with me and she picked out my cookware for me. It’s stainless steel, but I don’t see those numbers o the bottom. Maybe I don’t have the right ones?
Don’t berate me for my ignorance, but what is the danger of non-stick pans? We’ve had ours for 2 years and they seem to be in fine shape. Are there specific health issues related to non-stick? Thanks.
Dan-
No, that’s a great question. In short, Teflon, and other non-stick surfaces, have been found to give off toxic fumes when heated to med. temperatures. It’s even more dangerous when the surface begins to flake off, rust, or wear away, causing the chemicals in the product to end up in our food. I’d strongly advise you do an internet search on the subject, there’s a ton of information out there!
Also, with regard to safety, if you read on boxes that non-stick pans come in, it says to keep birds away while using them. That may seem silly, but I guess the fumes from non-stick can kill birds. It did my Aunt’s parrot that she had for 10 years.
If it’s not good for birds, is it such a stretch that the fumes may not be good for humans??
My daughter just got married last december and so we just went through the stainless steel pans purchase. I just wanted to share what she got because they were SO NICE! She bought some waterless cookware called Vapo Seal, stainless, very nice heavy weight!! Here is the link to it:
http://www.discoverwaterlesscooking.com/html/contact.html I think I talked to Andy. I just had a real honest conversation with him, and the prices ended up being less than the webpage. My daughter bought the entire set. she is really happy with it. My hubby bought me the 12 quart stock pot and it is WONDERFUL!! I hope at some point to purchase more of it. I was so pleased with the quality of service, the product and the sales guy, Andy.
for my skillets, I threw out the teflon ones and I just use some Lodge cast iron skillets that I try to keep seasoned up nice. Just some thoughts and my experience, ann from KY
I learned my lesson about cheap non-stick cookware some time ago. It didn’t even last a year. Since then, I will only use cast iron and high quality stainless steel. I have thought about those pots that are porcelin covered cast iron, but are they safe and do they last? I think I will have to investigate that one.
Hi,
I also have a stainless Cuisinart set. They are fantastic! You can really scrub them to get them clean and they are a nice weight. Talk to any Chef and they will tell you stainless is the way to go!
thanks so much for the reply, maybe i will invest in the set as a “push-present” for my wife who is due in a couple of weeks, or is that an insensitive gift (kind of like a vacuum cleaner)?
Dan,
Hey, I would have loved it if my hubby would have bought me this set as a gift! But I enjoy any gift that makes homemaking better and easier!
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