2/23/20 – Check out our new category on Knives! Wusthof, Ceramic, Santoku, Chicago Cutlery and more. Anyone in the kitchen, whether you’re a novice or a chef, needs a great set of knives. Take a look at what we have to offer and the great reviews.
Welcome to Kitchen Monster
We review all types of kitchen products. Our purpose is to provide you a variety of information from product reviews and comparisons to recommended picks for you to make an informed decision when buying for your kitchen based on our own experience (we are avid cooks) as well as other professionals around the globe.
Whether your a beginner or a “seasoned chef” there is applicable information to help with your kitchen product quest. And hey, be sure to send in any feedback or questions that you may have, we’d love to hear from you.
We aim to look at every aspect of the kitchen and every budget; from the new home needing to stock everything to the home replacing items or upgrading. We will give specifics of the items available as well as what these mean to you, and what the positive and negative aspects of all of this.
You’ll find charts and comparisons like the one below through the entire site, for example this one featured some of the top stainless steel cookware.
Comparisons
| Product | # of Pieces | Type | Weight (lbs) | Price ($,$$,$$$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 13-Piece Cookware Set | 13 | Stainless Steel | 34 | $$$ |
Cuisinart MCP-12N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set | 12 | Stainless Steel | 22 | $$ |
Emeril Lagasse 14 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set With Copper Core, Induction Compatible, Dishwasher Safe, Silver | 14 | Stainless Steel | 26 | $$ |
Emeril Lagasse 62950 Emeril cookware set, Silver | 12 | Stainless Steel | 25 | $$ |
Duxtop Whole-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Induction Ready Premium Cookware 10-Pc Set | 10 | Stainless Steel | 23 | $$ |
Rachael Ray Stainless Steel II 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange | 10 | Stainless Steel | 20 | $$ |
Making Decisions
Our goal is to provide a wealth of information for everyone, from the dedicated chef to the quick-and-simple cook, for people who enjoy the kitchen and for those to whom it is a chore. We want to show you as much information in one place so you can spend more time enjoying your cooking and less time researching it.
And we are not giving one opinion but giving you real examples of what people have said about these products, to help you find out what you need to know. We will also give you ideas about where these items can be purchased so once you have made up your mind, you can see where to get your choice from.
You’ll find several helpful kitchen videos to help with you product selection.
So let’s get on with the good stuff.
Best Cookware Brands
There is a bewildering array of cookware brands on the market today so what can guide you to the best cookware brands? A lot depends on the requirements the buyer has but if your search is based around the best quality though perhaps not the most economical, then here are a few tips for you.
There are numerous factors to take into consideration when choosing a brand for cookware, or any other kitchen appliances. Cost is always a factor, as well as determining what you need. Therefore, if you need a single item or a new set, then these brands often offer the quality of the product and the ability to buy exactly what you need. There is also the peace of mind that comes from using a brand which has a history of high standards, guarantees to the quality of their products and new innovations which have proven successful.
Cusinart
Cuisinart has been manufacturing the very finest kitchen accessories for over 30 years and are made to the highest standards. The company was founded in 1971 by Carl Sontheimer and quickly became a leading brand across the US and Canada.
They pride themselves on products having long life and to maintain the level of performance as well as being easy to use. Cuisinart has a wide range of highest quality equipment ranging from food preparation accessories such as blenders and food processors to coffee machines and cookware. Their very name has become a by-word for food processors due to the popularity of the brand across the US and the products have been endorsed by the likes of Julia Child and James Beard.
Their products are used by chefs around the world, which shows the standard of the items that they produce. The innovation of design and testing by these professionals means that this cookware brand may not be the cheapest, but has the longevity which will end up paying for itself. Cusinart ranks as some of the best cookware for many home and commercial applications.
Many of the Cuisinart ranges have a wide variety of products within each one, so there is always something for whatever you need. They are dishwasher safe and are not coated, so there is no chance of anything flaking off into food. The company also offer a lifetime warranty for certain defects.
Our Ceramic Picks
| Best High-End Ceramic Cookware | Best Economic Ceramic Cookware | Best Budget Ceramic Cookware |
|---|---|---|
T-Fal
Tefal is a French cookware and appliance manufacturer who uses the name T-Fal in the US. It is based in Rumilly, France and the name comes from the words TEFlon and ALuminium.
T-Fal is known around the world as the inventor of the non-stick frying pan and cookware ranges. They have continued since that original development in 1954 to expand the concept with ventures into electrical appliances and food preparation.
Their aims are simple; they offer up to date items which blend into any kitchen and are simple to use. They aim to make cooking a pleasure and for people to want to use their products. As well as their famous non-stick cookware ranges, they offer a range of stainless steel cookware which offer a combination of bright elegance with durability.
T-Fal also offers a range of anodized cookware which combines the non stick options and their Thermo-Spot heat indicator with hard, dishwasher safe anodized exteriors. These allow use of metal implements with them as the non-stick is scratch resistant.
Calphalon
Calphalon started off life as Commercial Aluminium Cookware Company in 1968 where they first created a process called hard-anodizing. They were then the first company to use this on cookware, initially for the restaurant trade. In 1975, this was opened up to include the public market and a non-stick finish was added to the range.
Calphalon offers a wide selection of cookware, so there is something for every need and style. Their ranges extend from non-stick to stainless steel and enamel cast iron . They aim to supply all kitchens from the home to the professional kitchen.
As well as their cookware ranges, Calphalon also produce electric appliances such as blenders, coffee makers, grills and slow cookers. Their range of bakeware is available as sets or as individual items while the cutlery and tools range also include sets and individual items such as knives.
All-Clad
All-Clad started off life in 1967 as Clad Metals, a metallurgy company which bonded metals for a range of industries. Company founder John Ulam was awarded over 50 patents for his bonded metals and at one stage, was making money – literally. The company had the contract with the US Mint to make dimes, quarters and half dollars. The production of cookware began in 1971 for chefs and avid home cooks.
All-Clad is often seen as one of the best brands across the US due to the high performance of their cookware. The name comes from what is at the heart of the product; a thick, aluminium core clad in stainless steel making them non-reactive. This means the food does cook without taking on any taste from the cooking equipment, no matter how acidic. Also, the aluminium core helps to maintain the temperature to control cooking.
Today, the products are still handcrafted from American steel as they were when the company began from their base in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. And there is the peace of mind of knowing that each item comes with a lifetime warranty.
Our Non-Stick Picks
| Best High-End Non-Stick Cookware | Best Economic Non-Stick Cookware | Best Budget Non-Stick Cookware |
|---|---|---|
Why Pick a Brand?
So if you are replacing a single item or investing in a new range of products, these brands offer their experience and know-how to you with their products. Many of these items are used in professional kitchens, meaning they have been tested to their fullest, and any defect or issue has been uncovered.
While these brands may not offer the lowest prices for cookware on the market, there are also deals to be found with some research once the buyer knows what they require. And the satisfaction that should something go wrong, the manufacturer will be on hand to help solve the problems. There is also an advantage with these brands that they often produce a range of complimentary items which allow the kitchen to work in harmony with itself and is why their products are often known as the best cookware brands available.
| Best High-End Stainless Steel Cookware | Best Economic Stainless Steel Cookware | Best Budget Stainless Steel Cookware |
|---|---|---|
Cookware Choices
When it comes to picking the best cookware, there are huge variations available from economy items to high quality, higher budget products. One of the main things to think of when looking into cookware is the basic element; stainless steel, non-stick or ceramic.
Stainless Steel
So what does this mean? Stainless steel is usually bright and shining silver in color with a variety of materials added to make the product do the best job possible. They also avoid the chance of chemicals leaking into your food from linings such as non-stick. Stainless steel cookware heats the food evenly, but the downside can be that food can stick to them. Also, too much scrubbing or scouring can lead to scratching in the metal. It may also not be suitable if anyone in the house has a nickel allergy.
Non-Stick
With non stick cookware, the inside of the pan is lined with a special non-stick coating which means that cooking can be done with less fat or oil. They are also easier to clean as food sticks far less to them than to stainless steel pans. There are some good options in the price department also. The main downside can be that the non-stick coating can scratch and even flake into food. Usually, manufacturers recommend not using metal implements with them so new utensils may be needed.
Ceramic
Ceramic cookware is made from a natural clay substance which is favoured due to its appearance. It also has good heat conduction across the whole of the pan which means the food cooks evenly. Ceramic cookware contains no chemicals which may leak into food and is easy to clean. Some manufacturers advise to avoid dishwashing, but a simply soft sponge or paper towel can do the job completely. There are no restrictions about what type of utensils can be used with ceramics either.
Advantages
So when it comes to deciding which is suitable for you, then perhaps these overviews can give a flavour of the good points and the bad points of each option and help you decide what is best. It may be a case of looking at what you have in your kitchen that you don’t want to replace so what works best with this, or what you do a lot of in the cooking department as to what would be best fit. Or does anyone have allergies or intolerances which could need to be considered? Hopefully our guide will give you a basic starting point to answering some of these questions and deciding what is the best cookware for you.
More to come…
We also review a wide range of other kitchen items including electrical products such as tea kettles, waffle makers, blenders (including the Ninja), bread machines, panini presses and much, much more. We also look at other products in use around the kitchen such as a meat thermometer, recipes and lot’s of how to guides to help get the most from your new purchases. Our intention is to identify the best kitchen products that meet your need, saving you time and effort.
Please let us know what you think of our site, we’re always looking to improve whatever we can.
