I have had the privilege of being raised in a family of professional chefs. As a result, I enjoy everything that comes along with cooking. I find both rewarding and relaxing, seeing all your ingredients turn out into a meal that explodes with flavor.
Even the greatest chefs around can’t resist the allure of buying a great piece of Cuisinart dishwasher safe cookware set at an affordable price. One of those sets is the Cuisinart hard-anodized 11 pc cookware set with its quality of construction and versatility?
First. a set made from hard-anodized aluminum and dishwasher safe is a rare combination for a nonstick cookware set. Secondly, the reason it is a set from Cuisinart, one of the best manufacturers in the business of cookware sets.
I have prepared a review on this amazing set that you should find helpful if you have been looking around for an affordable high-quality set.
CUISINART HARD ANODIZED 11 Piece COOKWARE SET REVIEWS
What’s Contained in the Package?
As indicated, the set comprises 11 pieces in total. However, that may be a little misleading, since out of the 11, 4 of them are lids, and one is a pasta insert. Just keep that in mind if you decided to buy this set.
Still, you get the following:
- 1 quart saucepan
- 2.5 quart saucepan
- 3 quart saucepan
- 6 quart sauce pot
- 8 inch skillet
- 10 inch skillet
- Pasta Insert for the 6 quart sauce pot
All of these have their covers in the package. The glass lids fit tightly onto the saucepans, preventing nutrients, texture, and flavors from escaping as you cook.
- Eterna Nonstick Coating
Nonstick cookware has received a lot of scrutiny over the past couple of years because of the potential presence of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) in the wetting agents used to make PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). PFOA present is destroyed during the curing process of the nonstick coating. It is a mandatory process that all the coatings pass through.
Because of public outcry, manufacturers have shifted to new materials such as Eterna in the coatings. This new material is devoid of PFOA and as such has not received any negative publicity.
Eterna is a unique technology used by Cuisinart in this cookware set. The technology uses fluoropolymer composites and has several benefits such as a long-lasting coating when tested under the Dry-Egg test. It is also a better performer in the LGA Shaker Tests and Tiger Paw tests.
For extra durability, the coating is thicker by between 25 and 37 microns. It is compatible with all metallic surfaces and can be applied on stainless steel and aluminum.
How To Clean Cuisinart Hard Anodized Cookware
The Cuisinart Hard anodized 11 pc cookware set features Eterna coating on the cooking surface. As a result, foods easily release and it lasts a long time. Make sure and only use wooden, plastic, and nylon utensils to extend its life. You may have to train your family to avoid using metallic utensils on them but it is worth it.
Even without oil, food still slides off the surface from day one through years of use. Just remember not to cook at high temperatures as some of the foods will stick on the surface. In addition, don’t leave the food on the burner for extended periods of time. The nonstick surface also makes for easy cleanup afterward using a dish rag or mild abrasive sponge.
Aluminum Construction
The Cuisinart hard anodized 11 piece cookware set is made from hard-anodized aluminum. By chemically treating the pure aluminum, a protecting layer forms on the exterior surface of the cookware pieces. The anodized part forms part of the 3-layer construction where the outer layers are protective, then the core is pure aluminum, and then the inner layer is the Eterna nonstick coating.
The construction allows for several benefits:
- Even heat distribution.
- The outer layer forms a feature which Cuisinart calls ArmourGuard technology (a rich protective layer for superior pan durability).
Because of the excellent heat transfer, it may take you some time to get accustomed to cooking with an aluminum pan. I burned a few things my first week using this set.
Glass Lids and Ergonomic Build
Everything about this Cuisinart set is meant to make your cooking life easier. First, the saucepans each have a glass lid for keeping the nutrients in the food. Also, the tight-fitting lids pressurize the cooking, meaning food gets ready faster. Since they are made from glass, you can conveniently check the progress of the cooking without having to lift the lids.
When you want to add/mix ingredients the easy grip and wide handles on the glass lids come in handy and for test tasting the food. Another ergonomic feature is the contoured handles on the pans and pot. These stay cool on heated stovetops so you can remove the pot from the heat source without burning your hands.
Additional side grip handles ensure balanced handling of the cookware. However, these handles introduce some drawbacks to the set. Even though it promises that they are stay-cool, these handles still get hot. As you cook for extended periods of time, you will want to use an oven mitt or a towel as the handles will get hot.
CONCLUSION
A combination of impressive heat transfer and durable nonstick cooking surface makes the Cuisinart hard-anodized 11-pc cookware set a great buy for beginner and professional chefs. The glass lids are resilient, the outer layer is hardy, and there is no need for the constant stirring of food with even heat distribution.
Although Cuisinart states that the pans are usable with cooking sprays is shouldn’t be necessary. The set is advertised as dishwasher safe. But since I am paranoid, I haven’t tried that out. I prefer to clean them by hand. Plus, food residues come off easy when scrubbed.
