By introducing the first nonstick cookware made from hard anodized aluminum, Circulon revolutionized the cookware industry in a way. Pure aluminum is not sturdy for a rigorous typical kitchen. By treating the material, it becomes stronger and more durable.
Together with the coating developed by Dupont, these pieces of cookware have been accepted by the public for their high quality nature. Produced under the Meyer Corporation, Circulon is part of a host of other top quality cookware such as Anolon and SilverStone.
One of the masterpiece cookware sets from Meyer Corporation is the Circulon premier professional 13-piece hard anodized cookware set. Although am not sure what the term “Professional” means as used in this name, I will set out the facts about this cookware. You can then decide if it’s the right nonstick fit for you.
Circulon Premier Professional 13-Piece Hard anodized Cookware Set Review
What’s contained in the Set?
Although this cookware is labelled as professional, I am often puzzled at what that could mean. What am sure of is that since this set is of high quality, it is used by professional chefs on a regular routine. However, I still wouldn’t expect the pans on a commercial-grade kitchen. Because of the composition of the set, it is best suited for a consumer kitchen accessories.
The set contains 13 kitchen accessories, but not all of them are saucepans and pots. You get a 1, 2, and 3 quart straining saucepans with their covers. Also included is an 8 quart stockpot with lid, 5 quart sauté with cover, 8.5, 10, and 12 inch French skillets. All these are made from the same high quality hard anodized aluminum, with a classy bronze finish.
- Hard Anodized Aluminum
Hard anodized means the surface of the pure aluminum is treated in a chemical bath to make it more durable. Basically the anodization process refers to the chemical process that created an oxide layer on the surface of aluminum. Aluminum oxide is an inert compound which is also non-porous, thus preventing both food sticking and reacting with the surface.
The chemical process yields a material that is as hard as stainless steel, without the bulkiness of the latter. This is the main reason why these cookware sets are easy to handle. Moreover, aluminum is a better conductor of heat that stainless steel, hence requiring less cooking time desired of a modern hectic work schedule.
Hard anodized aluminum is the perfect material for nonstick cookware if you ask me. The material is cheap and durable, which is a win-win situation for home owners. In truth, it will eventually get scuffed up at which point you will have to replace the cookware. Each cookware type has their usage-by date anyway.
- Encapsulated Base
While hard anodized aluminum is an excellent material, it has one major flaw. It is non-ferrous and as such doesn’t work on an induction stovetop which requires a magnetic material to work. Fortunately, the base of the pots and pans in this set have a 3-ply construction which includes an aluminum and stainless steel layers.
In this way, Circulon works around the flaw, allowing the usage of these sets on any cooktop ranging from gas, electric, ceramic, to halogen. By sidestepping the completion and challenges of a great material, Circulon allows you to enjoy the convenience and fast heating capabilities of an induction cooktop range.
- Total Food Release System
The total food release system is a unique invention by Circulon. It is a hi-low type of tech used in the cookware to make the cooking surface exceptionally nonstick. In this setup, the cooking surface consists of raised circular grooves which imparts an extra ordinary food release characteristic. At no point does the food particles lie directly on the flat cooking surface.
DuPont manufactures the nonstick coating spread on every pot and pan in this package. Plus, the nonstick coating is applied in 3 layers, adding to the rigidity of the coating to wear. This does not mean you use any metallic utensils on the cookware if you want it to stay for long before starting to flake and wear off.
Luckily for you, you get two utensils made from nylon as part of the 13 pieces. These work perfectly with nonstick coating.
- Soft Grip Handles and Glass Lids
When you are a regular in the kitchen, then you should appreciate how useful handles are. A pot full of steaming food is difficult to handle, more so if it has flimsy handles. The Circulon premier professional 13-piece hard anodized cookware set has pots and pans fitted with big and comfy handles.
The handles have a stainless steel core to handle the weight of the pans. These are then double riveted onto the walls of the pots. But handling exposed stainless steel handles is difficult with traces of oily fumes. So, the handles are covered with silicone to give them better grip for a comfortable handling.
We all love lids made out of tempered glass. They look classy and convenient owing to the fact that they are transparent. So, you can always see the food as it is cooking, in addition, the glass lids auspiciously compliment the bronze exterior of these cookware pieces. It’s their low temperature tolerance that’s a problem. Plus, they need careful handling so as not to drop.
- Oven and Dishwasher Safe
The beauty about these cookware pieces is that you can transfer them from the stovetop to the oven for baking or finishing up of the cooking process. A temperature limit of 4000F is provided. This temperature range should be decent enough for most of your baking needs. Whereas the pieces are dishwasher safe because of the triple coated layer, it is not often a good idea to over-rely on the dishwasher. Washing by hand (which is easy because of the top notch food release) is the best care routine.
Conclusion
The Circulon Premier Professional 13-piece hard anodized cookware set is an affordable cooking convenience. It is an inexpensive option for nonsticks which lasts you a couple of years before being replaced. Better yet, the set is covered under a Circulon warranty, enabling you to get the best out of your pots and pans. It is this warranty that you should carefully go through and take note of the careful wording in the event the nonstick coating fails for one reason or another.
