Choosing The Right Brand Of Cookware

by Lisa

Le Creuset Forged Hard-Anodized Frying Pan, $90 at Amazon.com

Choosing the right cookware can be difficult. Do you go for the high end brand with the equally high price tag, or do you choose a more affordable set, taking a potential risk on quality?

On the high end of the range, you’ll find brands like Le Creuset . Le Creuset has been making high end cookware for close to ninety years and is known for its great craftsmanship. They have a line of forged hard-anodized frying pans that are extremely durable and non-stick. They are dishwasher safe and come with a 10 year warranty. You can expect to pay anywhere from $49.95 – $150 per pan.

On the other hand there are less expensive brands like Emerilware . Emerilware is the line from chef Emeril Lagasse , and is sold at stores like Cooking.com . You can get a hard-anodized frying pan from the Emerilware line for as little as $19.99. These pans are scratch resistant and have ergnomic handles, and are also are non-stick. However, they are not dish washer safe. They do however come with a lifetime warranty, which Le Creuset does not.

From doing research online, there is not as much anecdotal information to support the quality of the Emerilware line, but it’s also much newer to the market then Le Creuset so not as well known. Other than the difference in the machine wash vs. hand wash and the info I found on heat threshold (Le Creuset is oven safe to 500 degrees, Emerilware to 450) I’d say that it would be worth taking a shot on the lower priced line if you are looking to save money. Sure, with Le Creuset you know you are getting something high quality, but that doesn’t mean that with less pricy lines you aren’t, and you can sure afford a lot more ingredients when you buy the cheaper pan!