Stocking up on pots and pans for the holidays

Consumer Reports

The average American will use seven pots and pans to prepare their holiday meals, according to the Holiday Cookaware Omnibus Study conducted by DuPont Teflon. That's good to know if you're stocking up on new cookware ahead of the holiday blitz. Also good to know? Which brands and models fared best in Consumer Reports' latest tests of more than 30 non-stick and uncoated cookware sets.

Our testers subjected the cookware to a battery of tough tests. To measure frying pan cooking evenness, for example, they whipped up batch after batch of pancakes. Handle comfort, meanwhile, was measured by a panel of sensory experts trained to assess the size and shape of the handle. Based on these and other tests, we identifiedfour non-stick sets and two uncoated ones that should pass muster in your kitchen. They're from Anolon, Calpholon, EarthPan, Scanpan, Star Frit, and Swiss Diamond. Be sure to check the specific model numbers since some manufacturers also had models that missed our recommended list due to one or more deficiencies.

All recommended cookware sets have between 8 and 11 pieces, meaning they'll have no trouble accommodating the busy holiday meal. Just make sure you choose the right cookware for your range. Flat-bottomed cookware is essential for a smoothtop range, while stainless steel is the best option if you have an induction range.

In the Cookaware survey, 78 percent of respondents said they planned to use non-stick cookware when preparing their holiday meals. Maybe that's because three of four agree that cleaning pots and pans is the worst part of hosting a holiday meal. And then there's the 10 percent who said they'd rather scour pots then spend time with their family.


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