are lighter weight stainless cookware possible?

Question

My very old Farberware has served me well over the years. I am in the market for new cookware. Stainless steel, as I don't trust non stick. DH doesn't trust 'Made in China'. Can I purchase cookware made in this country or another, just not China, that is lighter in weight, good quality, or is that impossible? I found ScanPans, and Man pans, Regal Ware, All Clad, but the Tri ply is very heavy with IMO- uncomfortable steel handles. Even the newer Farberware Classic was much heavier than the older pieces. Unfortunately I have an electric stove and too many ply-s make for a pan/pot that cooks too quickly even when set to low or warm. Any thoughts? I need bread crumbs to find my way out of this internet jungle. TIA! ~Nancy

Answer

I like Cuisinart Multi Clad pro as pothead suggested. It was my runner-up and I ended up buying All-Clad SS but I am still impressed by the quality. However, as far as I know Multi Clad Pro is made in China, which Nancy might not like. 

It is kind of difficult to come up with a good reccomendation in lighter weight SS NOT made in china because those are the main products these days made mostly in China. 

Nancy, maybe what you can do is to buy try-ply but with a small helper handle to support. I think AC d5 has those even for 3qt saucepan. the handle of d5 is much improved than the traditional SS line, too. Also, you might like a suateuse pan or a casserole pan with two small handles rather than a fry-pan or saute pan with a longr handle (and a helper handle). 

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-d5-stainless-steel-sauce-pan/?pkey=cckwallssd%7Cckwallssdsau

Answer

If you want stainless steel cookware and made in USA, then you may pretty much narrow down to All-Clad. Scanpans are made of PTFE (Teflon), same chemical you claim to want to avoid. Manpan. Not so sure, but it is not too forecoming. Anyway, it is an aluminum based cookware, not stainless steel.

I don't think "too many plys will make a pan/pot cooks too quickly." If anything more slowly....

Answer

If the most important factors for you are light (i.e., thin) and SS, why not vintage Revereware?

I also urge you to rethink your statement that "too many ply-s make for a pan/pot that cooks too quickly..." If by "too many plies" you mean thicker/heavier, I think it's the other way around--you are going to be scorching and getting hot spots in very light/thin SS.

Answer

I have yet to do the legwork but keep us posted.
The SS pieces for my mother is definitely getting too heavy as she get's older.....
I think I may end up going Target or Walmart and just find something lightweight....

Not the ideal but as you get older, those pans sure feel like they are getting heavier...

Answer

I bought a set of Sitram Profiserie a few years ago that sounds like a good match for what you want. The set was made in France and was a great value at the time. Today's prices seem to have gone up significantly.

Make sure you like the handles first. Lightweight with a bad handle won't work well. A little heavier with a great handle will feel lighter. I'm sure All-Clad cooks nice but, their handles are uncomfortable in my hand. :-(

I can understand the anti-China slant with a lot of things but, affordable good quality cookware is mainly made in China today. There are a few lines from Spain and Brazil that compete with quality and price from China but, you don't have a lot to choose from. Chinese products can be pretty good quality if you will pay for it but, bottom dollar Wal-Mart purchases will always be low quality. The good news is that Wal-Mart is starting to carry a little more variety to compete with Target so, they have some better offerings to choose from today.

I would suggest going to a place like Bed, Bath, and Beyond to handle various cookware options. Find the HANDLES that fit YOUR HAND first. Then please reconsider super thin scorching pans versus a simple disc bottom or "Tri-Ply" option.

You can also purchase the $20 "Try Me" pans and see if they work for you prior to spending more money on a full set.

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