Emerilware Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware and Open Stock 10 Piece Set

When registering for wedding gifts from Bed Bath and Beyond, I registered for Emerilware Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware and Open Stock because of the Emeril name. I have been a fan of Emeril for a long time, including some of his food items, so I trusted he wouldn't put his name on a bad product. Emeril didn't dissapoint with this line of cookware.

This 10 piece set comes with 6 pots and pans and 4 various sized lids. Every pot and pan is black, coated with a "hard anodized aluminum exterior", has a nonstick cooking surface and has stainless silver handles. One thing some might worry about with products like this is that they will scratch away over time. However I have been using these for over 2 years now and they are still in great shape. We make sure to always use the proper utensils so as not to cause any unnecessary scratching.

The silver handles do get warm depending on how your pot is sitting on the stove. I'm used to using gloves to move a pot off the stove, so it doesn't make much difference to me. One thing I was warned about is that these are heavy, and while they are heavy, it's because they are sturdy and strong. These pots are not going to break easily. It does take two hands to lift a full pot, but that is true of most similar cookware.

The glass lids make it easy to see food while it is cooking and they stay on sturdy as well. I can make sure nothing is burning or about to boil over. The silver handle on the top of the lid DOES get hot. I don't even attempt to grab this anymore without a glove or napkin. It's not unbearably hot for most meals, but if you have something boiling for a long time, this handle does get too hot to handle.

The Pots and Pans: So what different pots and pans do you get?

The 8" frypan is great for omelets and small quick items like that. Eggs cook perfectly in this pan and they don't stick so it's pretty easy to make a nice omelet. The small lid from the set can be used on this pan if needed. The 10" frypan is good for larger things like a whole family's worth of scrambled eggs, or we use it for pierogis. The largest lid from the set can fit on this one when needed.

The 2-quarter saucepan with lid and the 3-quart saucepan with lid are both great for soups, sauces, and the like. They are actually bigger than the small pots that come with some other sets so they can be used for many items.

The 3-quart saute pan with lid is the perfect pan for rice-a-roni, tuna helper, tacos and other items such as that. The straight sides keep in the liquid that is needed for these dishes while the flat large surface allowed your food to get cooked evenly.

Finally, the 6-quart stockpot with lid fits larger meals like pastas for a group and also allows you to do things like boil eggs as well. I've not yet needed a bigger pan then this as I can fit a lot into this large pan.

Cleaning:

The Non-stick surface is easy to clean, as long as you don't overcook your food. Even burned food does come out easier than it does on some of our other pots and pans. Most of the time the pots and pans can be cleaned instantly after emptying and I don't even have to soak them like I do with some of our others. The sprayer on my faucet will wash most of the food off before I even get the scrub brush out.

These pots and pans are actually dishwasher safe but I have never attempted that, partly because they hardly fit in my dishwasher, and partly because I hope they will last longer if I hand wash them with care. The lids can be cleaned in a second with a quick wipe on each side and a rinse.

Overall: I highly recommend Emerilware because after two years of use they still hold up strong and are still looking great. They are easy to clean and the various sizes give you everything you could possibly need for most stove meals. For $200, this is a great set! It still sells as Bed Bath and Beyond today, so it must be good! You don't have to be a chef to enjoy some good cookware. Register for Emerilware for your wedding or go out and buy it for yourself. Enjoy!!