Epicurious Cookware Review

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It’s no secret that the cookware market is rather crowded! When you’re searching for a shiny new cookware set to replace an old set, you’re bound to face a confusing abundance of choice. To help you figure out which is best for you, we’ve singled out one brand to really explore…Epicurious. We will focus mostly on one cookware set, the 11-Piece Cookware Set, but will also let you know what else they make. We’ll chat about materials, durability, special features and safety. Let’s learn about Epicurious Cookware!

About Epicurious

Epicurious is a huge online resource dedicated to recipes and all things related to home cooking. They are part of Conde Nast (gargantuan US media company) and are part of the Food Innovation Group which includes Bon Appetit and Gourmet. Epicurious is a really trusted and established resource when it comes to recipes, but they also sell cookware and home cooking tools…

What do they sell?

Epicurious stocks cookware sets and individual cookware pieces such as skillets and stock pots. Their price range is actually really reasonable considering the quality and design features. Their range isn’t the most extensive out there, but that’s a good thing, as it’s easy to navigate and make a choice. You can find:

• Sets
• Soup pots
• Breakfast sets
• Fryer sets
• Chili pots
• Sauteuse
• “Jumbo Cooker” (a curve-sided chef’s pan with a cover and long handle)
• Frying pan twin sets

For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing mainly on the 11-Piece Cookware Set because it gives us a wide reach across the different items Epicurious sells.

What’s included in the Epicurious Cookware 11-piece Set

• 8qt stockpot
• 4qt Saute pan
• 5qt saucepan
• 5qt saucepan
• 10” fry pan
• 8” fry pan
• Steamer insert

What are the key features?

Curved sides: you’ll notice that the Epicurious cookware pieces have a curved shape as opposed to straight sides. This gives a unique, soft aesthetic and accommodates a vigorous stir with a whisk. Oven safe: All Epicurious cookware items are safe for oven use. They are safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which isn’t as high as other brands, but still more than enough for baking and roasting. This is a very handy feature because it means that you can complete two cooking steps with one piece of cookware. Perhaps you’re making pan-fried chicken and you want to melt some cheese on top to make a “melt”? No worries, just transfer the skillet/pan from the stove to the oven. No need to switch pans. You can also saute veggies and meats in the pan on the stove, then transfer to the oven to slow cook. Suitable for all cooktops: no matter what kind of stove top you have, Epicurious cookware will be compatible. This includes induction stovetops which require a specific kind of cookware in order to function properly. This is great as it means that your cookware can come with you from home to home (if you tend to move around a lot!). Dishwasher safe: Epicurious cookware is dishwasher safe…technically. What I mean by this is that it can safely be washed in the dishwasher short term, but it is safer to hand wash your cookware to preserve it in the long term. I say this for every brand of cookware, especially those which have non-stick coatings. Some dishwashers and dishwasher products can wear away at the nonstick coating over time, and can even cause warping. Stick to hand washing to preserve the integrity of the non-stick surface and the overall construction of the cookware. Cool-touch handles: we love the cool-touch handles on the Epicurious cookware 11-piece set. The long handles, pot lid handles and helper handles are sheathed with a silicone cover. This serves two purposes:

• It keeps your hands protected from heat, and it gives you a sturdy, strong grip when moving heavy, hot pans around the kitchen.
• You won’t need to have a tea towel or mit sitting nearby in order to lift a lid or shift a pot to another stovetop element.

Non stick coating: Epicurious cookware features 3 layers of non-stick coating (see below for more details on where the coating comes from). A reliable non-stick coating means you can forgo oil and fat when cooking, if you are watching your calorie or fat intake. It also means that your wet, sticky foods such as pancakes and eggs can be easily flipped and plated without sticking and burning. What’s more, when food doesn’t stick, there’s nothing for you to soak, scrub and scrape away at during clean up! Limited lifetime warranty: Epicurious provides a limited lifetime warranty on their cookware. This is a great reassurance that you are buying a product which has been made with confidence in its durability. This is a good sign that the brand takes their product seriously and are willing to stand by it, and you. Sturdy, transparent lids: the lids are made of shatter-free glass, with a stainless steel rim. We always appreciate a sturdy, transparent lid. It just makes the cooking experience smoother and easier. Check if your water is boiling without having to lift the lid and release heat. Check if your rice water has evaporated without getting a face full of steam. Aluminum construction: aluminum is a great material for cookware as it attracts and holds heat effectively. Aluminum is also lightweight and durable, lasting a very long time provided the non-stick coating is preserved well (hand wash!).

Can you use high heat for Epicurious cookware

When it comes to the oven, you can use Epicurious cookware up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/177 degrees Celsius. While this is a fair deal lower than the oven guidelines for other cookware brands, it’s still pretty decent. When cooking on the stove, the Epicurious cookware will handle high heat, within reason. Absolutely scorching heat can be damaging to non-stick surfaces over time. Unless you’re searing steaks, you shouldn’t need to use eye-wateringly high heat. Because of the aluminum construction, the cookware will attract and hold heat effectively so you won’t need to crank the heat up as high. An extra tip: when your cookware is still hot from the stove, don’t plunge it into the sink with water just yet. Adding a hot pan to water can cause thermal shock and result in a warped pan.

Is Epicurious cookware dishwasher safe?

Yes, all Epicurious cookware items are safe for the dishwasher. As discussed above, I do recommend that you hand wash all of your cookware pieces when you can. Because of the non-stick coating, the surface should be simple to clean with a dish brush and mild detergent. Give it a quick clean, dry with a tea towel then pop it away. This will preserve space in your dishwasher, and the cookware will be ready to be used again right away (instead of waking up tomorrow to find that the pan you need is dirty, waiting in the dishwasher).

Is the Epicurious cookware oven safe?

Yes, Epicurious cookware is oven safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can the Epicurious cookware be used on an induction cooktop?

Yes! Epicurious cookware is safe for all cooktops: gas, ceramic, smooth, electric coil, and yes…induction.

Is Epicurious cookware safe?

The Epicurious cookware set is made with a non-stick coating. The coating, specifically, is the Eclipse Coating by Whitford Company. Non-stick coatings are notoriously dubious when it comes to safety…at least, they have been so in the past (Teflon). This is due to the presence of unpleasant chemicals PTFE and PFOA. PFOA has since been discontinued as an ingredient in non-stick cookware (by US standards), but PTFE can still be found. PTFE is only dangerous when it is heated to very high levels, or if it flakes off and is ingested. The good news? The nonstick coating used by Epicurious is free from both PFOA and PTFE, a great sign for the safety of the cookware. We also know that the cookware is oven-safe and Metal utensil safe which means that it is sturdy, durable and won’t chip off into your food.

Final thoughts

We give Epicurious cookware two thumbs up. We love the 11-piece cookware set because it contains all of the kitchen essentials any home cook needs, but without clutter-creating extras. The color choices are beautiful, so you can add a touch of style to your kitchen if you like, or stick to classic silver or grey shades. The materials are fantastic: aluminum, stainless steel, shatter-proof glass and a non-stick coating free from PFOA and PTFE. This combo creates a durable, lightweight and functional cookware which conducts heat like a pro. The features, aesthetics and overall construction of Epicurious cookware are mighty impressive considering the low price point. Look no further if you’re after a brand new cookware set which will hold up to time, but won’t shatter your funds.