If you're on the fence...
If you're on the fence...just buy it. My set arrived undamaged, although the box was a bit dinged up, everything inside was flawless and missing nothing, the manufacturer really does a great job at packing so much into the box, considering how big the box is. So, before purchasing I kept wondering if a budget set really was the way to go, but since I never owned a SS pan before I figured even if it didn't work out, well it's not a significant amount of money to lose. Man, I was blown away by the beauty and craftsmanship of this set! I was also worried that the handles would be hollow and maybe not be durable (they seem solid), but they actually stay relatively cool to the touch and are comfortable when handling the set. I'm not sure about the thickness of the SS, but I'm not too sure that it's anything to be concerned with regarding this set, as it is all working so well. Every piece has a nice weight to it...not too heavy and not too light.Just some advice...if you're anything like me and watched a lot of YouTube videos on SS usage...forget all of it, for this set, anyway. The videos pretty much all will say to heat your pan(s) until you get the "mercury effect" with water. Forget that right now. The Mueller instructions say otherwise and they are correct (for this set). I followed the Mueller instructions by washing everything, then seasoning the pans with oil on low heat for 1-2 minutes, let the pans cool, then wash again and hand-dry completely. Then when you're ready to use them you add oil/fat to a COLD pan, heat for 1-2 minutes on low-med heat, then add the food. I have already cooked fried eggs, scrambled eggs, home-fried potatoes, boiled pasta, made pasta sauce. Heck, I even made a crab leg boil in the 8 qt stock pot. By following the instructions I have not been able to get anything to stick to this set. Low-medium heat and cold oil/fat are key to making this set work better than any toxic "non-stick" item on the market.I'm also still a huge fan of cast iron, I think with proper care and usage this set will also last a lifetime. Please read the included instructions, the manufacturer wants you to be pleased with your purchase and know how to successfully use it.One key thing to note here is that this set is only oven-safe to 360 degrees F without the glass lid and 250 degrees F with the glass lid, this is not an issue for me, but may be for some individual needs.