Please talk to me about pans!

I've got a set of stainless steel, tri-ply pans by Le Crueset. They're a bit on the heavy side, I suppose, but they're the best pans I've ever had, really easy to clean and nothing sticks to them. I have seen some very nice tri-ply in TK Maxx at a very good price.

I had a set of prestige pans for a wedding present in 1974 (with a lifetime guarantee ) which were great but started to look a bit tatty. I still have the pressure cooker my auntie Dot gave us for our wedding - and use it regularly!

Don't know how I've managed for all these years with my cheap and tacky ones...I parboil the potatoes for Sunday roasts in the biggest one and everyone loves my roasties!

£60 isn't that much for a large saucepan that's going to last and cook well.

Ana, the pan I mentioned isn't exactly too heavy to lift. It's the shape of it. It's very good for long slow cooking of stews, curry etc. And my Xmas pud sat in it very nicely. (only got one steamer)

What else would you parboil potatos in for Sunday roast dinner? A small saucepan wouldn't do when the family come.

Who wants to bother with thin cheaps pans that stick easily and the lids don't fit very well? You need good quality to conduct the heat evenly.

I bought my daughter a set of those when she got married. Was looking at them tonight and, yes, they are good as new. Mind you, worth seeing what offers are on on Black Friday .

I bought a set of Stellar stainless steel pans in their James Martin range. (75% off in a sale) They've been really good, still look like new and aren't too heavy. The handles are shaped to be easy to hold as well.

If I need to replace any pans, I go first to Dunelm and if they don't have what I need, I will then have a look at Lakeland. I have a first class non-stick frying pan from Lakeland which can also be put in the oven - great for a tarte tatin.

What's the point in paying so much for pans that are almost too heavy to lift, if they're just going to be used for everyday cooking such as boiling potatoes and veg?

I'd actually be interested to hear replies on this point. Why not buy cheaper ones and replace them as and when needed?

The very large one of the circulon ones is fine if you are going to be ladling the food out. No good for cooking the potatos on Sundays for a family meal. The shape of it means it is too heavy to tip up to strain the water away. I have to resort to my JL plain stainless one for that. (shallower)

HildaW try the Curculon one, if you see it in a sale. It has a stainless steel handle so frittatas etc can be put under the grill to cook the top. X

I bought a set of Judge pans a while ago, I like them because you can strain veggies through the lid which has holes in the side bit, if you know what I mean. One of the knobs on a lid broke, but I took the lid back to the store where I bought them and they replaced it.

I gave my Meyer pans to DGS and they are still going strong after about 30 years; the set of Stellar pans I bought to replace them are in the attic because I don't like the lids - the handles are stainless steel and get hot. DD2 had them in her flat, they are there if she needs them again.

I have a very large, heavy French casserole pot which I can't lift when it has food in it and the oven rack groans when I put it in. It is great for catering for a crowd, but DH has to lift it in and out of the oven.

I too have recently invested in some Meyer Circulon pans......there was a good offer on Amazon and so far so very good.

Le Creuset are now far too heavy for me. I use an ordinary John Lewis frying pan for everyday and buy a cheapish non-stick one every 5 or so years just for eggs and omelettes. I don't care what any body says but non-stick frying pans do not last that long so M&S or basic John Lewis are perfectly acceptable.

We recently got a set of John Lewis tri-ply saucepans. They are quite expensive but they are very good. Le Creuset are good but they're very heavy.

Meyer Curculon, like Jingle. Mine are still going strong after 25 yrs. I sometimes add extras, like omelette pan, if they're on offer. X

There are probably those who would say we would warrant a few missionaries 'up 'ere, but perhaps I could have chosen my analogy better!!!

#obviouslynotinthesameleague

Nearly fifty years ago I bought a set of saucepans from AMC; you can see the same ones here. They cost a fortune and came with a lifetime guarantee. Over the subsequent years of daily use I have had handles and lids replaced regularly, but the pans themselves go on and on.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one, number - mine are either from Asda or Tesco, can't remember which! I'm certainly not going to be paying £50 for one saucepan!

I am an impatient cook Rockgran.

Ceramic saucepans would be good though. Especially for making curry. If as Rockgran says, they don't retain the smell.

I hadn't noticed that, Jings.

The disadvantage of a ceramic frying pan is that it takes ages to heat up.

Meyer Circulon pans are excellent.

My set is a bog standard set from Asda, they`re about 6 years old now, and still going strong. But what I keep on about, and WILL get one of these days, is one of those saucepans with 3 or 4 sections, to save on gas and washing up, mainly the washing up!

I've done the same as you over the years, kitty. Now, I buy one pan at a time, according to what I want them for. I've got Le Creuset for soups and casseroles, Judge for boiling and steaming veg, bog standard but very sturdy stainless steel from Sainsbury's for sauces and gravies, boiling and scrambling eggs, and a Ceracraft omelette pan is great for rostis, pancakes and Spanish omelette (rubbish for sauces or scrambled eggs as whisking can damage the coating). There's a massive stockpot amongst the Sainsbury's pans, with little handles on each side - that's good for jam and Bonfire night chilli.

I wouldn't buy a set of pans for myself nowadays - as soon as I get them home I see something else I'd like