Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was reluctant to get a stainless set because of the reviews of those who found it easy to stain their pans -- a fear reinforced by the pamphlet that came with the set warning of possible pitting from salt and discoloration from too high heat! And, sure enough, on about the third or fourth use, my wife cooked up some salty canned soup and one of the sauce pans looked like an oil slick with blue and pink hues that would not wash off. So, I hit the Internet and learned about Barkeeper's Friend (which I ordered) and vinegar. While I was waiting for the BarKeeper's Friend, I put some white vinegar in the sauce pan with some water. Almost instantly, the pan -- which seemed cosmetically damaged beyond repair -- was looking as good as new. I did heat the water, but I believe the stains were gone as soon as I added the vinegar to the pans. The pamphlet writer evidently didn't know the vinegar trick!! Cook with less heat and wait until the water is hot before adding salt -- the combination will ensure that the pans continue to look new after repeated use. Lower heat and the use of the covers (there's a reason for having them -- and you won't even get a false scare. Barkeeper's Friend -- a less abrasive version of a cleansing powder -- works well to remove minor stains from both the inside and the outside of the pans with no scrubbing required beyond that you can do with a sponge. But, it's not about the pan's looks -- even though it was great to find that the looks can readily be maintained. It's about the even heating. There are no hot spots. The reason you're paying extra for these pans is that their heat distribution is simply excellent, something you may never have experienced with cheaper sets. If you haven't experienced cooking with even heat, you don't miss it. But, once you do, you'll never want to go back. I'm happy with the set and delighted that the complaints encountered about stainless steel picking up stains are misguided. Yes, with too high heat, with salt being added to cold water, or with some canned soups, the pans may appear damaged and will not respond to just anything. But, the vinegar trick is totally effective with discolored pans and the Bartender's Helper dispatches little black marks that may show up with ease. Finally, if food gets burnt on to the pan, throw some water into the pan and bring it to a boil. The food can be easily scraped loose with a plastic spatula and Barkeeper's Friend will dispatch dispatch any relatively stubborn spots. With reasonable care, the good looks of the pans can be retained indefinitely. And, should there be some staining that I haven't encountered, the pans will continue to do their jobs well anyway. It's stainless steel. Nothing will leach from the pans into your system. Teflon isn't necessary. Warm the pans before adding food, and the food doesn't stick with a little cooking spray or oil to help things along.