Say goodbye to cheap pots and pans. Upgrading your cookware is as essential as upgrading your cutlery- it makes an immediate and distinct improvement in your cooking techniques and results. Your food will be better- more evenly cooked, unburnt, and not damaged when you try to remove your eggs or pancakes from the pan.
I think we all secretly dream of high-end kitchen supplies, which why I was salivating to get my hands on the Anolon Ultra Clad Three Quart Covered Saucier and the Anolon NonStick 10″ Open Skillet. Anolon is a favorite among professional chefs with their gourmet kitchenware. And as a side note, they are working with UPS to reduce their carbon footprint. So, they get points for being green friendly.
Both pans are smartly made from three layers of metal. Two layers of stainless steel and a middle layer of heat conducting aluminum, which extends up the side of the pans to ensure the best heat distribution. They have a noticeably sleek look, where the outside of the pans are covered by a black nonstick strip, and the comfortable black silicone rubber handles matches nicely. In addition to the outside strip of the skillet, the interior is also coated in a nonstick layer. The pans are oven safe and can handle temperatures up to 400°F/204°C. I found both pans did a great job when it came to the actual cooking and were very easy to wash, especially since they are dishwasher safe. Just be careful with the nonstick parts, as they can scratch if you’re rough with them.
We liked the lids more than most similar cookware- nice handles and good solid fit were key features. And thanks to their unique construction, this line is suitable for all cooktop surfaces and methods- we tried both gas and induction. The saucier, especially, is a pretty unique size and shape, and perfect for making sauces and then throwing in pasta and your meat to simmer and mix.
As far as gourmet pans go Anolon’s prices are fairly average, with the saucier at $70 and the skillet at $71. If you want to upgrade your cookware, Anolon gets our vote.