Kitchen question- What are the best knives and pots/pans and why?

Looking for advice from those who can really give it...the wives

Also, what did you 'forget' to register for that you wish you had?

THANKS GIRLS

I love Farberware cookware. My mom still has hers & they are still in great shape, all these years later.

As for knives, I like Henckels alot. We registered for the block set & individual knives as well, my DH cooks mostly and he chose the knives to best suit his needs.

I really didn't forget to register for anything. Maybe another pair or 2 of sheets to match my new bedding set (I got 2 new pair at my shower but want more) but otherwise, nothing I can think of.

We got our pots at Costco. We got them thinking they would 'do' until we could afford a more expensive set. But they are excellent. We have been using them for years and they are like brand new. We got a big set for a few hundred bucks and have never looked back.

We didnt register at a store that sold everything...but if we had registered at one of those giant stores, I would have registered for a set of really good knives.

For knives you can't go wrong with Wusthof or Henckles.

For cookware, I had originally registered for the Calphalon non stick cookware but I ended up changing and registering for the All Clad Stainless Steel cookware set. I have heard from many people (including chef's) that stainless steel is the best for cooking.

We have all-clad for pots & pans. Not sure what kind of knives we have. It's been so long, I forgot what we registered for.

I second Henckels!

These are my pots and pans...we totally slurged!

Copper is the best conducter, but you don't have to get copper on the outside (that's more for decor), you can buy a pot/pan with copper inside, on the bottom where the heat will be conducted best.

We got ours from Williams-Sonoma:


Mauviel Copper 8-Piece Cookware Set

Our heavyweight copper cookware is unsurpassed in its ability to transfer and distribute heat fast and evenly. Each piece is constructed from thick copper and lined with 18/10 stainless steel, which won't react with acidic foods. The brass handles are riveted, and flared rims facilitate pouring. These pots and pans are made by Mauviel, a French company renowned for fine copperware. The set includes the most frequently used pieces: 10' omelet pan, 2-qt. covered saucepan, 2-qt. covered chef's pan, 3-qt. sauté pan and 6 1/2-qt. covered Dutch oven. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

We registered for Calpahon 10 pc set, hard anoized. It was never purchased from our Macy's registry so we ended up getting a similar yet cheaper set but also Calpahon at Bed Bath & Beyond.

We researched it in Consumer Reports as it's rated #1 for pots and pans. We wanted something durable, reliable and long lasting, a set as we entertain and cook a lot. DH is the chef in our marriage and a good one too!

I love love LOVE the Anolon pots I got at Crate and Barrel. The professional set. Nothing sticks to them ever...need no oil, butter....pam..nuthin'! And they heat so evenly, and it would take 2 hours of overcooking to burn anything in them..

I have Sabatier knives that I got at my shower, they are a good starter set, but I'd prefer a good set of Wusthof! I have one Wusthof Japanese carving knife that is fantastic!

We got the Calphalon stainless steel 10 piece set with the glass lids. They are made extremely well, but I haven't used them yet...

We also got the Wustof-Trident knife set from Williams-Sonoma. It was pricey and we didn't think we'd get it, but my cousins all chipped in and got it for us!! They are EXTREMELY sharp. I'm almost afraid of them!!!!

I think we have anolon...it sounds familiar...lol...

our knives are henckles...something about that German steel ...

We went with the Calphalon Non-Stick w/glass lids set as well and love it! I think either Calphalon or All-Clad are the best. I prefer Non-Stick because they are easier to clean, however you can only cook with wood or plastic utensils and you can NOT put them in the dishwasher because you would ruin the Non-Stick surface.

We also have Henkels knives, again either Henkels or Wustoff are the best.

Happy Registering!

I have Farberware cookware, and LOVE it.
In terms of knives. I think you cant go wrong with either Henckles or Wustof. I did read something saying that the metal in Wustoff is better than Henkles. I have to find it.

Kitchen Aid SS pots & pans - they're awesome

Sabatier knives - the only problem is they sometimes need sharpening (unlike some of the others with a diamond edge - Henkels I think).

Cutlery
Who: Wustoff
Why: Henckles is largely a marketing company while Wustoff is one of the last great knife companies. Henckles scinters their knives which is essentailly a fancy form of welding and a cheaper method of producing a knife. Wustoff is one of the last manufacturers in the world producing a one piece hot drop forged knife where the blade, bolster and tang are produced from a single bilet of steel. The forging process imparts desirable physical properties to the metal and produces a superior blade.

Cookware
Who: AllClad
Why: The best manufacturing technique for producing top quality cookware is using a clad body. A clad body uses up to 7 sandwhiched layers of aluminum, steel and sometimes copper to produce the optimum heat transfer while addressing both durability concerns and aesthetic concerns. The core is almost always aluminum which is the absolute best conductor of heat. Aluminum does not create 'hot spots' like steel and copper can. The problem with aluminim is durability. Generally the other two layers are steel, copper or anodized aluminum depending on the finish the customer desires both inside and outside the cookware.

I would LOVE the cooper pots but with an electric stove I will not get the real benefit of them. But I love them!!!!

I have Henkels (the higher-end ones) and they are great. What a difference from cuting with a cheap knife.

I have faberware pots, some calphon, some tel-fal and a vision pot or two. Love the faberware, cleans great too. But cooper is my true dream.

I have Henkels knives (Excellent) and Calphalon POts. I HATE THEM,. the specific ones we got are VERY HEAVY and the handles get very hot.

We have a full set of Henkels knives. I love them and never have any problems. They were given as a gift, so we never really had a say nor did we have to register for them.

For pots and pans, we have such an assortment. I had a great set of T-fal ones from when I lived on my own, and hubby had a set of copper bottomed ones. So we have both and didn't really want to register for more.

However, after reading all your posts, I am dying to get a new set of pots and pans....

I tried out both Wustoff knives and Henckel knives, and I just didn't like the feel of the Wustoff's in my hands....I don't know, like it was unnatural feeling.

THat's why I went with theh Henckel's.

All-Clad is terrible. Did you know that selling alluminum cookware is banned in many countries in Europe. Aluminum has a close link to alzhemeires. 100 % Stainless Steel cookware is the way to go. Either Fabreware or Royal Prestige.

Royal Prestige



ets: sorry for intruding on the NW board