My new favorite cookware!
We used non-stick cookware for years before we ditched it for stainless steel & cast iron because of health concerns.We've not been entirely thrilled with stainless steel - I suppose it's better for your health, but the cleanup is awful - stuff sticks to it like crazy and I'm constantly either madly scrubbing it, or putting it back on the stove with water to boil off whatever food got cooked onto it before trying to clean it with soapy water. Cast iron is awesome in certain situations, like searing steak, but I've also found it a challenge to maintain so I don't strip the "seasoning" off of it.I've heard and read great things about ceramic non-stick cookware, but until having an opportunity to try this set, I just wasn't willing to take the leap.Let me tell you - I absolutely love this 9 piece ceramic cookware set - it does not disappoint!- It is cleverly designed - perfect for smaller kitchens with less storage space. There is one universal handle that clips easily onto each piece, the lid for the saucepan has an elevated lip so the handle still fits while securely covering the pot- The nonstick surface heats quickly and evenly, and was perfectly stick-resistant, even with scrambled eggs (see pic), which I have found stick to absolutely everything and are a huge mess to clean up! The eggs slid off like magic, & once the pan was cool, a quick wash in warm water with mild dish soap got it squeaky clean. So awesome!One important note - though the set comes with basic instructions, there is no mention of whether or not you should add cooking oil to the pan. I looked it up, and the internet consensus is that using a bit of butter or oil (though not spray oil) will not only make the non-stick surface work better, but it will also protect and preserve the non-stick surface by keeping it oiled. Kind of seems like an important point to miss in the directions, so I thought I'd mention it here...- I love the thoughtful inclusion of the 2 sturdy fabric storage protectors... I usually use paper towels to protect my non-stick cookware when it's stacked in the cabinet, but they don't do a great job protecting the surface, they slide all over the place, and eventually fall to the back of the cabinet, which is super annoying. So having these cute and sturdy pan protectors to stack everything neatly is a huge bonus.- Along the same lines, I love that 2 handy silicone utensils are included with the set, so that you can use everything right out of the box! Honestly, if I didn't have non-scratch utensils on hand and got this set, I can see myself using the wrong kind of utensil in my enthusiasm to try out the set, potentially scratching the set right out of the box. I can't imagine I'm the only person who would do that, so it's awesome that utensils are included right in the package.- That said, while the spatula is perfect, the ladle is kind of comically large for the small saucepan included in this set. It appears that some sets include a larger pot, in that case the ladle makes sense. Still, it is nice to have on hand.- This set is a great value - really reasonable for what you get, plus other cookware that I have seen in stores are so much more expensive!- The blue and white color scheme is so cheerful - it brightens my kitchen and makes me smile! All of my other cookware has always been gray and black, that is fine, but I was pleasantly surprised how much joy the color of this set brings me- This set would make a great housewarming gift, and it's also perfect for college students who are living in small, dorm-sized apartmentsMy only wish is that lids were provided for the saute pans - the lids from my stainless steel set do work with these standard size pans, but if you're starting out and this is your first set, it's a shame that the lids for each piece aren't included.Overall, I can't recommend this set highly enough - totally love it!