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Post by garrett on Jun 30, 2012 9:45:41 GMT -5
corning farber? any idears reviews?
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Jun 30, 2012 10:53:42 GMT -5
Garage sale?
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Post by lieblingxdasxkraut on Jun 30, 2012 13:29:07 GMT -5
I personally love my adonized there not the cheapest unless you're very clever and even then 30 bucks for our first but you get what you pay for
Buy a cheap knife and you have a piece of metal that won't do it's job buy a nice knife and you have a precision made refined edge blade that may last a couple generations with proper care --the same goes with our pots and pans and I personally prefer professional line stuff to boot
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Post by camochef on Jun 30, 2012 16:40:07 GMT -5
Garrett, This really depends on your style of cooking and what your gonna be doing with them. I personally love enameled cast iron. Le Creuset and Staub are probably the two most desired brands but they are very expensive. While I have some of both, and I love them, I also find Techniques, Lodge, Kitchen-aid, Tramontina and many other brands just as good and a whole lot cheaper. Then too, Hard Anodized is great for cooking in too. There too, I have many brands but I find Techniques to be as good as or better than the more expensive brands. Stainless Steel is also very good as long as it has aluminum or copper sandwiched in between the stainless steel to conduct heat. My first full set of Stainless Steel was Chef's Signature from the now defunct Shop at Home network. Great set and I use them constantly, but I also have Stainless Steel pieces from "Cucina" by Techniques that perform very well. I also find "Flame" pieces by Emile Henry and Techniques much to my liking as they can be used in the microwave, in the oven, on the stovetop or even on the BBQ. I like silicone for in the microwave and in the oven, but it cannot be used on the stovetop or grill or with any kind of flame or sharp object. So with many choices, including things like Emeril Ware, Wolfgang Puck's own brands, Cook's Essentials, Techniques, and others on HSN, QVC, and other shopping networks, I can only recommend spending some time researching and reading customer reviews before laying down your hard earned cash . I recently bought a couple of 6 quart enameled cast iron Dutch Ovens from Better Homes and Gardens at Wal-Mart for less than $30.00 each. My Kitchen-Aid Dutch Oven was around $125.00, the same size 6 quart from Lodge was less than $60.00 but from LeCreuset it would cost about $360.00 or more. Staub not much less. As long as the lid fits well, they all perform about the same. but I could buy 12 of the Better Homes Dutch oven for the price of one Le Creuset!!! Enjoy! Camo
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Post by lieblingxdasxkraut on Jun 30, 2012 20:01:49 GMT -5
The first adonized had to be oven safe feel nice be dishwasher safe and had a lot to fill and it exceeded at that! It was reg 80 I think after *everything* it was like 27 ish to my mom a kitchen aide after x-mas sale so I suppourt looking at what you do and being clever lol we can do about everything with it too it seems and we love it so much we eventually upgraded our whole set to adonized
It does occasionally need an oil treatment to help the non-stick but that's simple enough put oil in heat mix about then let sit/cool empty and clean the pan before use
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Post by garrett on Jul 1, 2012 8:54:40 GMT -5
thanks ya'lls. i'll try and hit some store and garage sales.
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Post by camochef on Jul 1, 2012 10:20:25 GMT -5
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Jul 1, 2012 10:53:13 GMT -5
Cast iron skillets can't be beat. Don't be discouraged by a little rust they can be wire brushed and reseasoned. A cast iron dutch oven is good also. Don't buy any of those glass Visions pots, they burn stuff like crazy.
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Post by lieblingxdasxkraut on Jul 1, 2012 13:49:00 GMT -5
We actually have a cast iron Dutch oven and uncle has some cast iron that he rarely uses --with Teflon as soon as it starts wearing down and you can see the metal it's not good and needs to be tossed its bad shit to get into you're system just use google
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Post by camochef on Jul 1, 2012 16:05:07 GMT -5
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Post by garrett on Jul 7, 2012 9:44:29 GMT -5
thanks camo will do.
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Post by annclaire on Jul 16, 2012 13:06:51 GMT -5
Red,
Did you get some cookware? I am also looking to replace my 18 year old cook set LOL I not only use it past it's life-time, I use it until it gives up the ghost ;D
Another thing to consider is what type of stove you have ... electric or gas? I prefer heavier weight for cooking over a gas flame.
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Post by catgrass on Jul 18, 2012 9:45:33 GMT -5
Gulfcoastguy-did you know that you can also just "burn" the cast iron pots to get the rust and crud off and then re-season? I just put one in a camp fire we had going and let it burn with the fire. Next day took it out, rinsed, paper-toweled dry, and re-seasoned. Worked great!
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Jul 18, 2012 12:20:04 GMT -5
My Grandmother used to just throw them in the fire place.
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Post by garrett on Jul 20, 2012 10:11:20 GMT -5
they won't crack from the heat?
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Post by catgrass on Jul 20, 2012 14:30:07 GMT -5
Not if they're cast iron-and we're not talking a rip-roaring blaze (ha-ha). Just a nice fire.
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Jul 20, 2012 14:54:34 GMT -5
You just let the fire burn out so that they cool gradually.
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Post by nightmist on Jul 21, 2012 21:11:25 GMT -5
I was brought up to burn in cast iron when it is new. Gets anything off that might have got on it or been put on it before you got ahold of it off, and allegedly makes it easier to season.
Then again I had never in my life owned any new cast iron until recently when someone gave me a brand new Lodge chicken fryer. My DH would not let me burn it in, I was slightly traumatized by that...
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Post by circumspice on Nov 30, 2012 15:51:44 GMT -5
Cast iron skillets can't be beat. Don't be discouraged by a little rust they can be wire brushed and reseasoned. A cast iron dutch oven is good also. Don't buy any of those glass Visions pots, they burn stuff like crazy. LOL! My mom had a large set of the Visions cookware, in all 3 of the available colors. I have to agree with you, I hated them, couldn't cook worth a darn with them myself. But my mom could cook up a storm with em. She loved all her glass cookware. She did almost all of her baking in Pyrex. The only exceptions were she baked cornbread in cast iron skillets & bread in high carbon steel bread pans. She couldn't cook in stainless steel or aluminum cookware. She ruined every aluminum pot & pan she ever owned by cooking acidic food in them. I like aluminum cookware & cast iron cookware the best. I have a large set of aluminum pots & pans that were made by Leyse. (They got bought out by another company) I bought all the pieces I have off the clearance rack at Wally-World back in the 80s. I got a large set for virtually nothing. I also have a huge 4 or 5 quart stainless steel sauce pan that I use to make chili, beans or soup. It's maybe 40 or 50 years old, solid steel, doesn't have the encapsulated bottom. It's the best sauce pan that I own, in my opinion. I can see that pan lasting 3 or 4 generations easily. Most of the cookware I own are hand-me-downs from the last 2 or 3 generations in my family.
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Nov 30, 2012 23:25:53 GMT -5
Yeah I have one of those cast iron chicken fryers. The lid is actually a shallow skillet and I use it to fry eggs. I also have my greatgrandmothers (and I'm 52) cast iron corn bread stick pan.
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Post by marielouise on Dec 1, 2012 10:33:18 GMT -5
Haaaaa Gulfie, I also have Grams corn bread stick pan and it was old when she acquired it. Actually I have 2 , Jim found one in a pile of metal junk at one of the places he worked at years ago. a friend of mine has a chuck wagon fry pan thats over 3 foot across, it hangs on their wall. I don't think I could even lift that dang thing much less cook with it... I have one of the visions pots left --- someone gifted me a set of the dang things and I never did like them .
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Post by circumspice on Apr 5, 2013 13:55:05 GMT -5
Another great place to look for good quality cookware is thrift stores. I have seen really high quality, upscale cookware in thrift stores, at really low prices. You can check the well known thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, etc. Or you can check your small, local thrift stores. Also, some churches have annual rummage sales. I've snagged some real bargains in all of the above mentioned places.
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Post by circumspice on Jun 7, 2016 6:56:50 GMT -5
Don't overlook shopping at closeout stores & thrift stores...
Recently, I found a 15" paella pan at Tuesday Morning. It had been dropped & one side of the pan was bent. I took it to the manager & she authorized a 40% price reduction. I was able to easily straighten out the bent part & now you can't tell it was ever damaged.
At Goodwill I found a HUGE stainless steel stock pot for $6. I'm guessing that it's a 16 quart stock pot since I haven't measured the capacity yet. I plan to use it for sterilizing canning jars. If I could find a lid for it I could use it for water bath canning.
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Post by nightmist on Jun 7, 2016 10:18:11 GMT -5
Hey has anybody read up on teflon lately? Apparently it actually _is_ bad for you. I have never like the stuff anyway, to fussy. When I am cooking I want to focus on my cooking, not on avoiding damaging the lining of the pan. Those stupid plastic or coated utensils made just for non-stick pans don't last worth a darn either. Even the silicon coated whisk my DH got to use in his blasted non-stick saucepan cracked and peeled after a few months. He should have known better. You make up a roux and you have to stir or whisk with vigour. That plastic stuff just does not cut it.
And hey! Check it out! I got me a Revere ware saucepan at Aunt Sal's for a dollar! Old, good steel, copper bottom, with the lid, about 1 and 1/2 quart I would guess. At the Humane Society thrift store I found the real treasure though. For 50 cents I got me a Sheffield chef's knife. You may gawp in wonder for a moment. Finished gawping? OK, this sweetheart is about a 10 inch chefs knife, carbon steel full tang, wood handle. It needed some TLC, a little straightening which DH handled no problem, a little sanding and seasoning of the wood, and voila! it is once again an awesome sharp topnotch knife. You go to buy a vintage knife like this in a shop and it would cost you over $100. To quote a TV chef, "I am right proud I finded that".
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Post by circumspice on Jun 8, 2016 7:38:07 GMT -5
Ok... I just gotta brag too!
I found a 2 quart Revere ware whistling tea kettle at Goodwill for 99 cents! Hefty, solid stainless steel with a copper bottom. The reason it was so cheap was because the previous owner had never, ever cleaned it out. It had probably a 1/4" thick layer of lime build up on the inside & the copper bottom was burned black... I filled it to the top with white vinegar & let it sit for a few days to dissolve the lime build up. Then I scrubbed & polished the copper bottom. It looked brand new by the time I finished cleaning it.
At the same Goodwill store I found a humongous, super heavy glass canister for 4 bucks. It's shaped somewhat like a giant garlic pod, made out of 1/4" thick green glass & has a huge 4" cork stopper. It holds a 10 pound bag of rice. I keep it on the counter because it's so big & heavy. A couple of months later, at a different thrift store, I found a baby version of that canister. I think I paid $1 for it. Same shape & green glass but it has a glass & wire bail lid with a silicone seal. It holds 1 pound of wild rice. I keep it on the counter next to its big buddy.
As for knives, I got a great bargain at my little local thrift store. I got a Forge Craft 7" high carbon steel cleaver for 25 cents! Score! It's not a high dollar, hoity-toity cleaver... But it's kind of a 'cult classic'... They're no longer made & people search for them at garage sales & flea markets because they use them to make custom knives... It's a heavy, full tang, high carbon steel, old fashioned cleaver. I got it for so cheap because it was rusted. But I could see that it was only a light surface rust. I bought it, took it home, cleaned it up, sharpened it & put it to use. It ain't pretty but it does the job it was made to do. That cleaver will last 2-3 generations if properly used & cared for.
If I buy it, I use it...
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Jun 8, 2016 10:28:19 GMT -5
Locally Marshals is a pretty good source for discounted name brand cookware. They sell close outs from retail stores.
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Post by circumspice on Jun 8, 2016 20:16:32 GMT -5
Another good close out store is Ross. Most people think they sell only clothing, but that's wrong. I've found everything from gift baskets of food to luggage to housewares to bath & body stuff. (in addition to the clothing) You never know what you'll find at a Ross store. I like the kitchen gadgets they always have.
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Post by nightmist on Jun 8, 2016 22:54:03 GMT -5
We had a Mr Salvage here in town, until they moved to out by the mall. That is where DH found me a silicone Demarle caterer's madeline pan for $1. He couldn't resist a madeline pan that makes 40 at a go. I asked him do they have any more like this? He said just some plain flat ones that are kind of yellow and red. My heart went THUMP! Silpat sheets, great big ones! I sent him back for them but they were gone in the time it took him to walk home and get sent back. He found all manner of cooking oddments down there. He kept finding wonderful things, coming home to ask me about them and then finding them gone when he went back for them. He did bring home a snow cone machine with a monster package of the paper cones, and a cotton candy machine with it's paper cones. I am just happy that they are small ones and not amusement park sized. My mantra in times of such stress is "At least it is not Easter grass." Though I have to say that having access to the cotton candy machine has provided some nifty spun sugar presentation for holiday specialties and children's parties.
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Post by circumspice on Jun 9, 2016 5:08:48 GMT -5
I'd go broke if there were a salvage store like that anywhere near me!!!
I'm totally envious!!!
In your case, I'd make sure that DH had a cell phone with him whenever he went there. Then he could consult with you while he was there... Yes?
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Post by nightmist on Jun 11, 2016 8:30:20 GMT -5
I'd go broke if there were a salvage store like that anywhere near me!!! I'm totally envious!!! In your case, I'd make sure that DH had a cell phone with him whenever he went there. Then he could consult with you while he was there... Yes? Believe it or not, we do not do cell phones. I find my land line annoying enough, I do not want one in my pocket everywhere I go! Besides if DH found a barred rock hen at the thrift store and wanted to know what I thought, he would describe it as 'There is this thing that moves, it is black and white with a little red on it, I think there are some feathers, it is maybe a foot or so tall and almost as long but not that wide.' Then I would be wondering if it is a pull toy, some stupid novelty thingie, a weird clock, or what. Besides the man is addicted to thrift shops and clearance sales. It is always and adventure when he goes shopping. I imagine that since I did not kill him when he brought home all that Easter grass that time, I can put up with darn near any of his shopping crazy. I at least have him trained to keep a sharp eye for textile tools. Though he has yet to learn that sometimes a cheap tool is worse than no tool. You would have thought that after the Tiny Serger incident he would have got a clue, but there you go.
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