Author Topic: Mustachian Cookware purchases?  (Read 33102 times)

sol

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #100 on: January 06, 2016, 01:58:04 PM »
I just checked all my pots and pans.  Every single one of my modern pots and pans bows up in the middle. 

I also went and checked, and every one of my pots and pans is perfectly flat on the bottom.  Some tri-ply steel and some cast iron.

I think a bowed up middle would make them really hard to cook in.  Oil wouldn't coat.  Eggs would slide around. Pancakes would be a disaster.  Probably doesn't matter for just boiling water, I suppose.

jeromedawg

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #101 on: January 06, 2016, 02:17:03 PM »
I just checked all my pots and pans.  Every single one of my modern pots and pans bows up in the middle. 

I also went and checked, and every one of my pots and pans is perfectly flat on the bottom.  Some tri-ply steel and some cast iron.

I think a bowed up middle would make them really hard to cook in.  Oil wouldn't coat.  Eggs would slide around. Pancakes would be a disaster.  Probably doesn't matter for just boiling water, I suppose.

Are you checking for levelness on the underside of the pots/pans or are you checking on the inside-bottom of the pan? I haven't checked the inside-bottoms yet but the underside is definitely slightly concave... still, I've had no issues (at least so far) with cooking stuff; granted, I haven't used the pans a ton. But I did make pancakes in them :) they were sort of a mess to clean up though - I added blueberries, bananas and pearl sugar to the pancakes, which probably caused them to burn (I think I was supposed to probably wipe the pan and add more oil before batch #2 as well)

CmFtns

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #102 on: January 06, 2016, 02:49:57 PM »
I just checked all my pots and pans.  Every single one of my modern pots and pans bows up in the middle. 

I also went and checked, and every one of my pots and pans is perfectly flat on the bottom.  Some tri-ply steel and some cast iron.

I think a bowed up middle would make them really hard to cook in.  Oil wouldn't coat.  Eggs would slide around. Pancakes would be a disaster.  Probably doesn't matter for just boiling water, I suppose.

It is a very minor curve as you can see from the picture I posted back on page 2 so to me there's not a problem of things sliding around or oil coating the bottom but more of a concern that heat wont transfer well to the center area on a flat electric convection surface
« Last Edit: January 06, 2016, 02:55:01 PM by comfyfutons »

SunshineAZ

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #103 on: January 06, 2016, 03:02:06 PM »
Another vote for Revereware.  I too inherited a small set of stainless Revereware from the 40s and I always loved it, but when I started cooking more, I discovered that I needed more/different sizes than I had, so I researched buying a new set and learned that the newer sets were poor quality.  I ended up finding the additional pieces that I needed on ebay. (The best is pre-1968.)  They aren't super cheap, but they stand the test of time and everything matches.  :)  Additionally, I have a 6qt enameled Lodge Dutch Oven, and a DeBuyer's carbon steel skillet, which I can barely lift, but it seers meat and sautes veggies like a champ. 

jeromedawg

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #104 on: January 06, 2016, 03:08:53 PM »
Another vote for Revereware.  I too inherited a small set of stainless Revereware from the 40s and I always loved it, but when I started cooking more, I discovered that I needed more/different sizes than I had, so I researched buying a new set and learned that the newer sets were poor quality.  I ended up finding the additional pieces that I needed on ebay. (The best is pre-1968.)  They aren't super cheap, but they stand the test of time and everything matches.  :)  Additionally, I have a 6qt enameled Lodge Dutch Oven, and a DeBuyer's carbon steel skillet, which I can barely lift, but it seers meat and sautes veggies like a champ.

I seem to recall my parents having some Reverewear (I just remember the copper bottom, stainless steel, and black handles). I'm not sure where they got it from but I remember them being used quite a bit. Now that I have a new set of the SS cookware, I feel much more complete :) I haven't even used all the pieces yet... I think I probably would have by now if it weren't for that darned Instant Pot :)

Jack

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #105 on: January 06, 2016, 03:15:45 PM »
I buy kitchen stuff based on the recommendations of Alton Brown (in his book "Gear for Your Kitchen") and America's Test Kitchen. Aside from that, I have a bunch of hand-me-down low-quality pots from my mom (the big one is fine for boiling pasta; the small one kind of sucks for making French sauces and will be replaced with an All-clad saucepan eventually). I also have a $40 Chinese enameled dutch oven -- I balked at the price of a Le Creuset or a Staub -- that I'm skeptical about, but the finish hasn't flaked yet.

jeromedawg

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #106 on: January 06, 2016, 03:36:06 PM »
I buy kitchen stuff based on the recommendations of Alton Brown (in his book "Gear for Your Kitchen") and America's Test Kitchen. Aside from that, I have a bunch of hand-me-down low-quality pots from my mom (the big one is fine for boiling pasta; the small one kind of sucks for making French sauces and will be replaced with an All-clad saucepan eventually). I also have a $40 Chinese enameled dutch oven -- I balked at the price of a Le Creuset or a Staub -- that I'm skeptical about, but the finish hasn't flaked yet.

I got a Food Network enameled cast iron dutch oven from Kohls (this was recommended by ATK I think) and it's not bad. It has chipped in several places but I think it's due to my parents (namely my dad) abusing the thing. We also have a Le Creuset "doufeu" that we got from an LC outlet store (this one is enameled glass) and it's still in as good as shape as it was when we bought it. IMHO the LC is noticeably higher quality than the Food Network dutch oven and likely many other 'cheaper' counterparts. I'm sure YMMV though... I don't think I'd ever pay full price for an LC (at most, I'd spend my money at the outlet store).

BlueHouse

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #107 on: January 08, 2016, 12:56:10 PM »
I have had the same set of visionsware since I was in college.  Yep, it's the original Amber color from the late 1980s.  I have about 16 pieces of it and I hate it.  Sure it works fine, but it's heavy as hell.  In the past 10 years, I'm sure I've only used one of the pots, and that only a handful of times.  Now, I don't cook much to begin with, and when I do, my preference in order is:  microwave, crockpot, rice cooker, oven.  I really don't like stovetop cooking. 

So for Christmas, I decided to replace all of my Visionsware with ONE POT that could do everything.  I sent my family on a search for the perfect pot.  Oh boy, did they find it!  a 4 quart soup pot with steamer from Tools of the Trade.  I'm getting rid of every other pot and pan that I own and just keeping this one.  On top of that, the steamer can double as a colander!



Have you looked into the Instant Pot? It's another one-pot-stop-shop type of deal and can cook a ton of stuff pretty quickly. Got one not long after BF from Amazon for around $70 and I really like it.
Wish I had known before I bought a rice cooker and slow cooker.  thanks for the tip.  May have to wait another 10-15 years until one of those other ones breaks

jeromedawg

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Re: Mustachian Cookware purchases?
« Reply #108 on: January 08, 2016, 01:05:22 PM »
I have had the same set of visionsware since I was in college.  Yep, it's the original Amber color from the late 1980s.  I have about 16 pieces of it and I hate it.  Sure it works fine, but it's heavy as hell.  In the past 10 years, I'm sure I've only used one of the pots, and that only a handful of times.  Now, I don't cook much to begin with, and when I do, my preference in order is:  microwave, crockpot, rice cooker, oven.  I really don't like stovetop cooking. 

So for Christmas, I decided to replace all of my Visionsware with ONE POT that could do everything.  I sent my family on a search for the perfect pot.  Oh boy, did they find it!  a 4 quart soup pot with steamer from Tools of the Trade.  I'm getting rid of every other pot and pan that I own and just keeping this one.  On top of that, the steamer can double as a colander!



Have you looked into the Instant Pot? It's another one-pot-stop-shop type of deal and can cook a ton of stuff pretty quickly. Got one not long after BF from Amazon for around $70 and I really like it.
Wish I had known before I bought a rice cooker and slow cooker.  thanks for the tip.  May have to wait another 10-15 years until one of those other ones breaks

lol, or if there's another crazy good deal on the IP. Then just sell/donate/give away your slow cooker at least (you still may want a rice cooker). That reminds me, I still want to look for a manual rice cooker so I can build a DIY sous vide :)