Cuisinart 77-10P1 10-Piece Chef's-Classic-Stainless Collection, Cookware Set

I had some older non-stick pans leftover from college, but the non-stick coating was starting to flake off, so it was time for new pans. I really like cooking, so I wanted something that was good quality and would last a long time. Since I was replacing most of my pans, going with a set was the best value for my money. I read lots of reviews about different types of cookware and different brands and finally settled on this set. This is a very good quality set for a great price.As of this review, I have been using this set for 2 months, so I am not able to comment on the long term use of the set. However, everything seems solidly constructed and if properly cared for, I think the set can last a long time. This set had everything that I was looking for. It would be nice if the set included a larger (12") skillet, but I already owned a 12" stainless steel skillet that I bought by itself, so it ended up working out for me.If you are used to other types of cookware, especially non-stick, you have to get used to cooking with lower heat and properly prepping the pan so that things don't stick. Heat the pan first, then add some oil to coat the bottom of the pan, allow the oil to heat up, then add the food. I have cooked a good variety of foods with this set and have had good results. As always, sometimes things get messed up when cooking, but I am going to blame that on the cook and not the pans. I have successfully cooked fish and eggs (although I typically use my cast iron for eggs) in these pans without sticking. For fish, making sure that the pan and oil is hot enough will allow the fish to slide and not stick when you put it in the pan. A light layer of flour on the fish can also help. Contrary to what many people say about leaving the food alone and that it will release from the pan on its own, for fish I move the pan around to keep the fish sliding for the first 10-15 seconds to allow it to develop a crust, then I leave it alone. No sticking (Alton Brown taught me this [...]). On the other hand, for cooking some things, you want some little bits to stick to the pan, and you can accomplish that too.I don't have a dishwasher, so I have only hand washed these pans. I use just dish soap and a sponge most of the time, but every one in a while I use Bar Keeper's Friend to clean them up and help keep them shiny. The pans are all still shiny. You can see some tiny scratches on the bottom when you tilt them the right way in the light, but in no way is the integrity of the pan damaged. If you expect these pans to never get a single scratch and maintain a perfect mirror finish, then take them out of the box, hang them up, and never use them. From use and cleaning, the surface of the pans will get some micro scratches, but these in no way affect how the pans work. To make cleanup easier, run some hot water in the warm pan after cooking to wash out what you can and let it soak for a little if there is anything stuck in the pan. Don't run cold water into a hot pan and let the pan cool a little bit before running water in it, otherwise you could damage the pan by rapidly changing the temperature. Also, don't leave water sitting in the pan for long periods of time. Let it soak for a while if you need to and then clean up the pan. I usually let them air dry for a little, then wipe them down with a towel and hang them back up.The metal lids fit very well with the pans, but because of the way they are shaped, you are not able to cover anything other than the pans (i.e. a plate) like you could with a glass lid. The lids work great for what they were designed for, so I can't fault them for that. Be careful, the lids can get hot if you cover a hot pan with them, so make sure you use a pot holder or towel. Because the lids don't have a lip that lets you hang them, I grabbed some S hooks from the hardware store and hang them by the handle. I'm limited on cabinet space, so I have to hang all of my pans and lids, but I also think it is nice because keeps them from banging into each other.The handles for the pans, on the other hand stay cool enough that you can grab with your bare hand (just don't grab it close to where it connects to the pan). It is always good to be safe and test the handle first before grabbing, just to make sure. I have had times where the handle was too close to another pot on my small stove and did get hot.The last thing I love about these pans is the lip around the edge. Pouring liquids from these is just amazing. The liquid funnels down to a single point, making it easy to control, and there is no dripping or splashing.I highly recommend this set to anyone looking for a good deal on a set of quality pans.

I did a lot of research before I purchased these pans. I've never owned a stainless steel set before. My other pans are either cast iron or non-stick. While researching cookware, this set came up a lot in the top 5 cookware sets to purchase. I have used them every day since I purchased them and love them! It took a bit to adjust to them because they are a little bit different than the pans I've been using. But I took the time to read the care and use instructions, which has made the transition a little easier.For the newbies who are considering their first set, these take a lot less heat than you would used with cast or even non-stick. Also, when you're frying, the food will stick at first...leave it alone. After it browns, it releases on it's own without leaving stuck pieces behind. As for cleaning, I found that the Cuisinart instructions were spot on. They suggest that as soon as you're done using the pan to fill it will hot, soapy water and let it sit for 15 minutes before cleaning. I fried chicken breast the other day, I did exactly as they suggested and the pan washed clean with no scrubbing needed. I've boiled, fried, sauteed and made sauces and so far they've preformed beautifully and they are still just as sparkly as the day I got them. I just make sure I dry them with a clean towel as soon as I'm done washing them and they're staying pristine...so far. Plus, I use propane, the reduced heat needed is definitely going to save me on propane! The only issue I've had is when I made the orange sauce for orange chicken...that took a little more than a 15 minute soak to get all of the sauce off the pan. But I just heated the pan with the soapy water in it and all the sauce residue came up. *Added note: Tonight I fried up chicken breast and after I washed the frying pan, I noticed it had cloudy white stains in the pan. I tried washing it again and the stains were still there. But then I remembered that the Cuisinart instructions had mentioned this and stated that if it occurred to use white vinegar on the stains. So, I whipped out the white vinegar and poured about a tablespoons worth in the pan, wiped it around in the bottom of the pan and rinsed. The stains are gone and the pan still looks new!Also, while the handles are also stainless steel, so far I've not had an issue with the handles getting too hot to handle. The lids sit on the pan beautifully, with no gaps. And the pans only need seconds to preheat. I've got a baker's rack that all the pans sit on with their lids, so there is no need to stack them and possibly scratch them. So, far these have been worth the time and money I've invested.Now as for my experience with Amazon...I purchased these as a birthday gift for myself. I originally ordered them on October 12th and they were shipped on October 13 with the free Super Saving Shipping. On October 24th I still hadn't received them and according to the tracking they'd been sitting in the Cincinnati post office for over a week. I called Amazon and told them about the issue, but because of shipping rules they couldn't help until the 27th. I was a little annoyed, but the 27th was only 4 days away. The very next day I had 2 emails from Amazon in my inbox. The first stated that my package had been returned to Amazon because it was un-deliverable and the second stated that all of my money had been refunded. I was extremely irked. I called Amazon immediately and got an extremely kind and understanding customer service rep. She walked me through repurchasing the cookware and gave me free overnight shipping. Then 5 minutes after getting off the phone, I had an email with an apology from Amazon. They'd also reduced the cost of the cookware & given me a small credit to use toward future purchases. I was so surprised. I was okay with the free overnight shipping, but I was thrilled with the reduced cost & credit. Even though it looks like the screw up was most likely completely postal related, Amazon really stepped up to make sure I walked away happy with my experience. Thank you Amazon for understanding that customer service is sometimes more important than price.

Best product ever! Can't recommend enough. Very well made.

Good product. Only issue was that after one or two uses it had water spots or some type of staining inside at least two pots. Probably just needs polished. Other than that they seem to be very reliable. Doesn't stick if you know how to cook and easy to clean. I'd recommend it for the price👌🏾