Pan vs Pan

So last year I wanted to buy a really really really good frying pan. 

We had some not so good ones in the early years of our kitchen.

Not so good meaning that when it came time to cleaning those dumb pans one of us had to scrape and scratch them clean. 

And then they didn't really get clean.

And then they didn't cook very well.

And my cooking was not living in the days of it's glory back then.

My cooking was bleh.

And well, we settled on those pans because they sort of did the job for the time being.

And while sometimes this is ok to do... 

If you plan to make homemade meals, a good pan is an absolute must.

It doesn't matter if you are camping in the middle of the desert.

Or cooking for the president.

If you are going to cook a decent meal, regardless of the circumstances, a quality pan is essential.

The great part is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

So this is why I "invested" (I realize I say this word A LOT! But that's just what quality kitchen tools are: investments)

So I bought two pan sets and spent a year testing them out...

(And I know, these are non-stick pans. Not the best in the whole world. Cast iron is the best. I know. I know. But for everyday wear and tear non-stick is what I use)

The Face Off:

Pan 1: Tefal Enjoy Frying Pan Set 

Cost: €25

This is a great pan for frying omelets, stir fry, pancakes, sautéing. 

It's very smooth and you really don't need to use a lot of oil to keep it from sticking. 

Pan 2: The Calphalon Unison Sear and Slide Set with Lid

Cost: €96

This pan set has been a good and bad 'investment'.

The searing pan is excellent. In fact, I bought this set on ebay for  half of the price so it was worth it just for that one pan alone. 

It cooks pork tenderloin, salmon filet, steaks and chicken breast beautifully and it has worked exceptionally well as a frying pan for, well, deep frying things like southern fried chicken.
(I know, deep frying is not healthy but sometimes we crave a little soul food)

The 'slide' pan however has left me frustrated. 

Nothing slides. 

I had to use a lot of oil in order to keep things from sticking and even then, things stick and develop a crusty layer on the bottom.

Also, I have only used silicone spatulas on the surface, not even a wooden spoon, and only the soft side of a sponge while cleaning and there are small scratches on the cooking surface.

And then I store the pans with felt liners between them so that they don't scratch.
I can only assume that this pan is an annoying flunky.
It does not slide.

And then when I contacted customer service they were not very helpful.

Conclusion:

More expensive (or name brand) does not always mean better quality.

Lesson learned.

While I love the searing pan and lid from Calphalon, I am going to have to say that the Tefal Enjoy frying pan set was the better investment in non-stick cookware.

I still use the 'slide' Calphalon pan from time to time but prefer the Tefal over it.

It's easier to clean, true to its claim and was 1/4 of the original price.