I replaced all my old cookware with Calaphon a few years ago. My son got a set when he got married and I decided to treat myself and I'm glad I did. The cookware cooks evenly and at lower temperatures than my other cookware. I prefer the stainless steel because it doesn't scratch no matter what utensils you use. Doesn't Stick I don't have a problem with sticking as long as I add oil to the pan. It can even be the spray kind. Heat Distribution The heat distribution is very even. If you use too high a heat you can burn food on the pan and it can be very hard to get off. I don't have to cook meat much higher than medium high. Ease of Handling The pans are sturdy but not too heavy. Sometimes I do need to use pot holders on the handles if I am boiling potatoes where the handles get hot. I usually don't need the pot holders with the skillets. Ease of Cleaning The Calphalon set is easy to clean. If I do have food cooked on I use non scratch cleaning pads to remove the food. If too high a heat is used in the skillets the residue from the food can be hard to remove. Design The design of the pots is great. I love the glass lids. Some of the lids fit more than one pot. The bottom of the pans fit flat on the burner for even heat distribution. Durability The stainless steel in the pots appears to be heavy enough to last. The handles are holding up well.

quiltylady

USA

What a great cookware set. I was very surprised at the durability this steel cookware offered. Though, if you have never owned a steel cookware set before you should be aware of a few things. It heats faster than other sets so be careful what temp you set your stove at because things will burn more easily, especially oil. You should also make sure to soak the cookware directly after using it, otherwise it becomes harder to clean. Other than those minor things, this cookware is great. It meets my needs for my small family. I have never owned stainless steel pots and pans before so my results are from e newbie.

DevonneQuincy

USA

So before I got married, I went to the store and registered. I registered for everything including cookware. I actually had registered for Caphalon Hard Anodized cookware and nonstick surfaces. My cousins and aunt decided that the stainless steal would be better. Honestly, I prefer stainless but because of price I registered for the cheaper cookware. I LOVE my stainless cookware. At first it was hard getting used to cooking with it and stuff sticking to the bottom if the pot. In fact, I still get the occasionally noodle or piece of rice stick to the bottom. But I have had these pots and lids for almost ten years and they are as good as new. You don't have to worry about stirring the pot with the wrong, non-scratch, utensils. As I have replaced my non-stick pans twice now, the stainless steal pots are holding up great. I have cooked on a gas stove with them also and they still worked great. I would recommend these pots and any pots and pans from Caphalon.

DaynaMarshall

Hillsboro, TX

My husband recently bought me these pans and at first I was skeptical thinking that everything would stick to the pans. That's exactly what happened until I learned how to use the pans. The trick with stainless steel is to allow the pan to heat up before you put oil/butter etc in the pans. The taste of food is so much better when using these stainless steel pans. Even an egg had a remarkably better taste! The handles do not get hot at all. The pans themselves aren't too terribly heavy. They are pretty easy to clean as long as you don't burn something onto the pan. In that case it takes a bit of scrubbing. The handles on the lids do get hot however. You will need to use a pot holder to remove it. There are a variety of pans in the set. I absolutely love my calphalon stainless steel set and will never go back to exclusive non-stick pans ever again! They are well worth the money too. Look at it as an investment in eating great food! 

kkireinaa

Tinley Park, IL

When we adopted our first parrot, we started to phase the non-stick pots and pans out of our kitchen because they have been known to kill pet birds when heated to a high temperature.  We didn't have a lot of money available at the time, so my husband chose the line of pots/pans that Calphalon produced exclusively for Target: Kitchen Essentials. The *Calphalon Stainless Steel Cookware Set* includes 12 pieces: 1, 2, and 4 quart sauce pans, 3 quart deep frying pan, 8 quart stock pot and strainer, 8, 10, and 12 inch omelet/sautee pans, and lids for the 2 and 4 quart pot, the deep frying pan, and the stock pot.  Yes, that adds up to 13 pieces.  We got the 8" pan as a bonus item in the set. I've been using this *Calphalon 12 Piece Kitchen Essentials Stainless Steel Cookware Set* for a few years now and I still really like it.  I can cook all of the complicated dishes and meals that I want to without worrying about killing my parrots with the gases produced when non-stick pots/pans are heated to very high temperatures.  The company states that these items should be hand-washed for best performance, but they are dishwasher safe and I've been cleaning them that way for 3 years now with no complaints.  If you want a set of stainless steel pots/pans (not non-stick) and you are on a budget, check out Calphalon's more affordable line of *Kitchen Essentials Cookware* that is sold in Target.  We've been using ours for years now and we completely love it!

njchicaa

New Jersey, NJ