Please talk to me about pans!

All that hitchhiking in your youth, eh Nellie

I could not manage heavy pans at all well. Older women's thumb joint problems.

Do you get a lot of missionary's round your way, Greyduster? (Wonders what sort of dark doings might be afoot in whatever part of the world it is! )

I agree with stick to what you know. Judge have always been a reliable brand. I had to replace all my pans recently as we put an induction hob in our new kitchen (big mistake!). I gave away a set of Stellar pans, plus extra ones, as they weren't compatible (charity shop bit my hand off!) and bought a new set of Stellar which were. If they last me as long as the others I'll be more than pleased (although I might be dead by then or at least too gaga to know one end of a saucepan from the other!). I added a lidded sauté pan from Sainsburys which is also very good. I actually got three free pans with the hob, two of which are ridiculously small with silly handles, and one so large you could boil a missionary in it!

That is interesting rockgran. I was looking at the huge selection of ceramic pans in TK Maxx the other day, and couldn't make up my mind. Also there wasn't a frying pan with a lid, which I like as an egg will cook a little on top if covered. I rarely fry food apart from the odd egg, using spray oil, so am wondering whether it is worth spending the money.

They are totally non stick. You can fry without oil - even eggs and pancakes. They clean very easily - you can't burn stuff onto them. It just wipes off. They are not a "chemical" non stick so they are not harmful. Some people say the non stick wears off but I haven't found that. I've just made a curry in my big pan (with lid) and it doesn't retain the smell. I got mine off the Ideal World channel but they are widely available I think.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the ceramic one rock?

I love my new ceramic frying/saute pans. I think they are Ceracraft. I had some Le Creuset years ago but they are just too heavy for comfort. I'm thinking of replacing my bog standard saucepans with ceramic pans as the lids have metal handles and I'm always burning myself. It would be nice to have a matching set.

My present lot have got short handles and they do get hot very quickly so I would think twice about those. I have to make sure that I have a thick towel to hand. I agree that they are less likely to be knocked over in passing.

If you've been happy with the Judge ones, stick with them. My largest frying/sauteeing pan is a Judge, good thick bottom and well fitting lid, will last a good few more years yet.

I think they are a good mid-price range brand, and offer good value for money on the whole.