Looking for a nice set of cookwares~

[minmin001]

My dad wants me to find a nice set of cookwares for my mom. Not knowing much about it I figured I will seek for help here~
After doing a little research I think stainless steel is a good material to go with? I'm thinking about between $200-300 price range, Please help!!!!
Thank you!

 

[movie zombie]

personal opinion: don't buy a set. many times a set has pieces one won't actually use. buying individual pieces allows for her to develop her own "set". stainless is good but not all stainless is created equal. I have a mix of pieces, mostly Calphalon [commercial line], Le Creuset, and two All-Clad stainless pieces. perhaps he could give her a gift certificate to a store and let her pick out her own pieces?

 

[minmin001]

She doesn't know much about cookwares either, that's why I'm helping her to look. But I will ask what pieces she use the most. I just figured most time you get a nice discount for buying a set but you are right about most of them will not get used either.

 

[minmin001]

another silly question. I see most of those stainless steel set is metal all the way. Does that not make the handle hot to touch when cooking?

 

[boerumbiddy]

Many stainless sets have handles that stay cool. Chef's Catalogue has nice sets, often at a discount. I bought Le Creuset enameled cast iron basics for about $200 some years ago, but it is heavy and may not be what your mother wants. I see they have a nice Cuisinart Multiclad set for about $299, which is $371 off. Even heating, excellent reviews that say the quality is comparable to All Clad.
www.chefscatalog.com

 

[manderz]

I would highly suggest making her privy to the gift, and then working together to find something that she will like and get the most use out of. I am working towards getting myself a new set, and just bought my first new pan yesterday. I picked up a Calphalon Tri-ply stir fry pan from TJMaxx. They had an interesting variety of pans to choose from, all sold individually, which is a nice way to be able to check them out, and try a pan or two and see if you like them. Please see the advice I was given, in my thread linked below. There have been some very helpful people around here

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cookware-advice-please.194663/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/cookware-advice-please.194663/[/URL]

ETA: One of the most valuable thins mentioned, IMO, is that Teflon has been banned by the FDA, and must be off the market by 2015. No more non-stick for me!

 

[JulieN]

Stainless is very sticky and if your mom is used to non-stick it can be a hard transition.

For 300, this is pretty much all I need:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP-12N-MultiClad-Stainless-12-Piece/dp/B009JXPS6U/ref=psdc96_t1_B001GD2YRW_B009JXPS6U

http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Unison-Nonstick-10-Inch-Omelette/dp/B004RIY4J4/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1384712711&sr=1-2&keywords=omelette+pans

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L8SK3-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet-10-25-inch/dp/B00006JSUA/ref=zg_bs_3737221_7

I know some older people have arthritis and are picky about their pans and such, so you might want to take her shopping and see what feels good to her.

 

[boerumbiddy]

Great Amazon price for the Multiclad set!