Review on T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick 17-Piece Cookware Set in Black by Victoria Flores

Write a review of this cookware set. As it is in use I intend to come back to this review with updates. I ordered this set after googling what is the best cookware set for 2019 - I wanted something for our gas range. I think this is something to consider when making a purchasing decision. An example is a gas stove - if the setting is high and your cookware has some sort of enamel coating and the flame spreads down the sides of the pot/pan - the coating will discolour after a while. .I looked at the Top 10, Top 5, I went to Reviews, Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports to name just two of the few and surprisingly (to me at least) T-Fal was the set that kept coming up. as one of the best. I've always thought of T-Fal as one of those starter cookware sets that someone can buy when they move into their first apartment and start their own business - it's inexpensive - it's a set for someone learning to cook. and therefore does not need anything "higher". Anyone who has/had such thoughts should perhaps put them aside, at least with this set. When I unpacked everything, my first impression was that they looked very nice. The set is lightweight - the handles are riveted, in a silicone sleeve and can withstand oven temperatures up to 400 degrees. The lids are made of heavy tempered glass, each with a small ventilation hole, and the handles are also covered in silicone. The design of the lid handles seems to allow for the use of thumbtacks as there is plenty of room between the jar and the handle itself. All of the lids in my set fit their respective pots/pans perfectly - no creases or bent edges. Pots and pans are dishwasher safe (mine won't see the inside of the dishwasher), and this particular set can use metal utensils (I personally don't plan to). It comes with a steamer that's designed to sit on top of a large pot (not a Dutch oven). When you're done steaming, grab a pair of oven mitts and remove the insert by the handles - no hassle, no fuss. This is a much better option than the foldable steamer I currently use. Care instructions are included with the set. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Why you might ask? This set replaces the Calphalon set, and yes, Calphalon was/is highly rated as well. But why replace? Because I stupidly didn't read the manual. I knew Calfalon had to be hand washed (at least the set I own) but what I didn't know was what heat does to pans. If you read the instructions for T-Fal, and since it's aluminum, it says something about the effect of using low to medium heat (because aluminum conducts heat very well). You see...I didn't know this about anodized aluminum and I ended up singing the coating of every pot and pan base in my Calphalon set - right down to the bare aluminum and of course this compromised the non-stick finish on the inside. Therefore, please read and follow the instructions. One more thing before I wrap this up. While doing my "research" I came across this video of the owner showing an empty T-Fal pot not lying flat on her stovetop. It looks like the handle was heavy enough to knock the pan over. She said it was a problem - and I think it might be if you put something in the pot while cooking. I understand, but I placed the empty pot on the stove, centered over the burner, and it stood up just fine - although I will say my stove grate is different than the stove in the video - it also sits flat on the countertop. Above. Maybe that should be taken into account? So first impressions are that the set is good quality, looks good and I look forward to testing this set. UPDATE: As of December 4th, 2019 to say that the T-Fal set worked very well, it is very easy to cook with this set. I usually keep the burner on medium when I want something to boil and it doesn't take long. Pots and pans conduct heat very well and hardly ever burn. I can usually wash off all the leftovers with hot running water pretty well. I'm fairly good at using wooden or silicone utensils when cooking, although I've used metal spoons for stirring on occasion and there are no stains in the pots/pans. I'm not the kind of cook skilled enough to move the pan and briefly tip the contents into the air (my chill factor isn't that high), so I "roll" the bottom of the pot/pan over the cast iron grille. didn't happen, so I can't say what would have happened to this set if I had. If I were to venture a guess I'd say there would most likely be some scratches on the underside as cast iron is probably superior to aluminum. Overall I am very happy with this purchase and the performance of this kitchen set.