There are two types of home chefs: those who prefer to cook with nonstick cookware and those who prefer stainless steel. There are no other types. And, you have to choose one or the other. I mostly use nonstick cookware, but nothing beats stainless steel when you want to brown meat or maintain a nice low simmer without scorching. For help with stainless-steel cooking, I tested out the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel 10-piece Cookware Set. Below, I will cover which pieces are included, how it performed in my tests, and who should consider buying it.
See the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Cookware Set on Amazon
Calphalon Premier Cookware Set Overview
Several features make the Calphalon Cookware Set special. Most importantly, each pot and pan features three layers of metal throughout: two layers of stainless steel sandwiching an aluminum core. The set is also designed to be easy to store. Half of the set is eight inches in diameter. The other half is ten inches. Pieces of the same size can stack on top of each other to save space. Calphalon backs this set with a full lifetime warranty.
Despite the “10-piece” part of the name, there are actually only six pieces, including four lids. They are (in my order of most used to least):
- 6-quart stockpot (with lid) – I use this mainly for soups, chili, chicken stocks, pasta, and browning meat.
- 3.5-quart saucepan (with lid) – I used this the other night to make pasta sauce from scratch. I also find it helpful for boiling water for pasta. I’m perpetually carb-loading.
- 8-inch frying pan – Although I don’t recommend it, I used this frying pan regularly for frying eggs and sausage in the morning. If you do fry eggs, use plenty of oil or butter.
- 10-inch fry pan – Bacon!
- 2.5-quart saucepan (with lid) – Our teenager uses this for making ramen noodles. He’s practicing for college.
- 3-quart saucepan (with lid) – I’ve had several cookware sets with pans shaped like this. It’s too small for heavy-duty work and too oddly shaped for other tasks. I’ve used it for Alfredo sauces.
What We Liked about the Cookware Set
There are three main PROS I found with Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel 10-piece Cookware Set:
- The set stacks and stores easily.
- Everything is oven-safe to 450 degrees.
- Three of the lids have long, stay-cool handles.
- They’ve survived six years of heavy use with no wear and/or tear.
As I mentioned in a previous section, it’s easy to stack and store the cookware. This is a must-have if you live in a small space in New York City or, like me, have a collection of cookware sets in various materials that you don’t want to clutter your home. Another cool feature is that you can mix and match the lids. So, each of the 8” lids works with each of the 8” pots and pans. The same goes for the 10” lids.
I appreciate that every piece is oven-safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This is useful when you want to brown something, then finish up the cooking process in the oven. For example, I utilized the 6-quart stockpot like a Dutch oven for braising a roast. I browned the hunk of meat in the stockpot. Then, I added some red wine and vegetables, put the lid on, and tossed the whole thing in the oven to cook until the meat was tender. The results were delectable.
Most lids have a top handle. But, Calphalon doesn’t believe in following conventions. The company put its lid handles on the sides. Three of the lids have long handles. I like that these stay cool, which helps drain water or juices from the pot or pan when you’re too lazy to use a colander. I also like that none of the lids have vent holes, which are common on most lids. This makes the saucepans ideal for cooking rice on the stove.
I’ve used this set for six years now, and there are no signs of damage. Each piece still looks great and functions perfectly well.
What We Didn’t Like
There are three main CONS I found with the Calphalon Cookware Set:
- There’s a learning curve.
- Stainless steel is not for absent-minded chefs.
- It was missing two essential pieces.
If you aren’t familiar with stainless steel cookware, it may take a little while for you to get the hang of it. For example, you need to use more oil to keep food from sticking and burning. Frying eggs presents a challenge. But, the set performs well for simmering just about anything: soups, sauces, etc. When browning meat, the cookware produces good fond. To see how evenly the 10” frying pan heated food, I sprinkled flour on it and cranked the stove to medium. Within minutes, I witnessed the flour browning evenly.
If you regularly forget you’re cooking, stainless steel may not be right for you. I live in a house full of people diagnosed with ADHD. They start boiling water for ramen and forget about it until I come home and wonder what the smell is. This will permanently stain the stainless steel.
To me, a 12-inch frying pan is an essential part of anyone’s kitchen. This set does not have a 12-inch frying pan. I’d recommend picking up a good cast-iron pan to fill this role. I use the Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 11-3/4-Inch Skillet and am happy with it. I also want a stockpot that can fit a turkey carcass. The six-quart pot included in this set is just too small. I have to rely on the 16-quart behemoth that I got at the local supermarket.
Who Should Buy the Calphalon Cookware Set?
Overall, I think the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel 10-piece Cookware Set is great. All the experts recommend the three layers of metal this set has. And, I find myself reaching for the pots and pans when the situation calls for a long simmer or good browning. But, at my core, I’m still a nonstick guy. Because of this, I would recommend this set to people who are already on Team Stainless Steel, are looking to up their culinary game, or who want a cookware set that will last them until they shuffle off this mortal coil.
See the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Cookware Set on Amazon
