Investing in a set of saucepans is a big step – it shows commitment to your cookery skills, it demonstrates you’ve finally left your parents’ house and are entering adulthood, and it shows a bit of pride in your kitchen.
But how to choose which set of pots and pans to buy? Should you go for stylish stainless steel that’ll impress your dinner party guests (when we’re eventually allowed to have people around for dinner again), or focus more on practicality with a non-stick set?
£150 might seem like a lot to invest in a set of pans, so we’ve tested this five-piece set from Zwilling to find out if it’s worth the investment.
The pans were used for at least two weeks on a variety of family meals, from spaghetti bolognaise to poached eggs and everything in-between.
First Impressions:
This is a stylish set of pans, no doubt. Stainless steel instantly glows and impresses; this set would look great if you have room in your kitchen to hang them all up. Cooking a large meal and seeing them all together on the hob made me feel like my mum – a proper grown up at last.
The pans are sturdy, due to their heavy bases, which is ideal for serious sauce making and heating cream for delicious puddings.
The Review:
You know how a set of pots and pans work – you cook in them, wash them up, tidy them away – job done. These pans do the job well – they’re a pleasure to use, looking great and transferring heat well.
However, they’re not non-stick, and for me that’s a game-changer. I did find that food would stick, especially sauces or something like bolognaise. This is especially important when you come to washing them up – not so important if you have a good dishwasher, but if you wash up by hand, put aside some extra time. Particularly vital if you’re cooking scrambled eggs.
The main selling point of these pans is the style and look; but beware, they do tarnish quite quickly. I saw heat marks on the bases (inside and out) after just one use.
Are they worth £150?
There’s no denying this is a good set of pans, that will last a long time. They’re made from the best grade of stainless steel – 18/20 – with scratch-resistance surfaces, dishwasher safe, and tight-fitting lids. One upside is the ability to transfer the pans into the oven – rather than some sets that you can only use on the hob – being just made from stainless steel, there’s no worry about putting them in the oven. Details on Amazon weren’t clear but research on the Zwilling website suggests they can go into the oven up to 230 degrees.
However, you can buy a comparative set of pans for a lot less outlay – check out our review of this Amazon Basics set of pans for about £100 cheaper.
Final Opinion:
This is a stylish, well-performing set of pans that will last you a long time. There’s no non-stick coating to be scratched off, no plastic knobs or handles to get damaged, and they look smart (even with heat marks considered). However, if you’re looking for ultimate practicality, perhaps consider a non-stick version – easier to cook with, and definitely easier to wash up. Personally, I’d save a few (or a lot!) of pounds and invest in a cheaper set that’s non-stick.
Includes:
16cm cooking pot with lid
20cm cooking pot with lid
24cm cooking pot with lid
20cm drying pan with lid
16cm saucepan
Features:
Stainless steel
Suitable for hob and oven
Tight-fitting lids
Dishwasher safe
What to read next
Read our full comparison of this Zwilling set versus Amazon Basics pots & pans