Cermaic Cook Wear

Frankly, I wouldn't buy any of my cookware at WalMart. No matter how much money you spend there, the pots and pans won't hold up. WalMart does not make good quality cookware, and I won't waste my money there.

I love my cast iron pots and pans, and have found them to be a good investment. I haven't had much problem with metal utensils scratching up my cast iron.

I also like using Le Creuset pots and pans. Yes, they are expensive, but so worth the investment. If you buy anything from this brand, they will last you many, many years. My mom has a Le Creuset pan that has been in her collection for more than 20 years and it's still in great condition and she uses metal utensils.

Good luck in whatever you decide, but I would still advise you to stay away from WalMart.

Cast iron is your BFF is you like to use metal utensils when you cook. Ceramic and teflon both will scratch and pit, but cast iron will last generations if you care for it and keep it properly seasoned. It can be used on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, on the campfire, on the woodstove...it's very versatile and has been my favorite, go-to for cooking for years.

Don't go cheap. Buy the best that you can afford.

I have a great high end set of All Clad stainless and I LOVE it. I realize it is not in your price range.

HOWEVER, I also LOVE my cast iron. You can pick up a few pieces for very reasonable prices. Once you get it seasoned (easy to do) it is great.

I have pieces from both of my Grandmother's that I still use. One brand of cast iron we have is Lodge and it is good.

Use a Bed Bath and Beyond coupon to get a decent set of stainless. Walmart does not have quality products.

I truly think the ONLY material you can ever use metal utensils on is stainless steel. It does scratch everything else. It's just science. Metal is harder than what the teflon and ceramic is made of so it will scratch it over time.

So if you're going to make an investment first of all go buy some nylon or other non scratch type of cooking utensils. I have both kinds. I have Pampered Chef metal and silicone, Walmart brand plastic (non metal) spoons and spatula's, and some from Wolfgang I think, it's some famous chef. Anyway, I keep my utensils in a spinning holder by the stove so I can reach exactly what I need right then. If they're in a drawer I have to stop what I'm doing and I hate digging around for just the one I am wanting to use.

ETA: Go to one of the better stores in Las Vegas and buy a piece at a time if necessary until you get the set. Start out with the pieces you would use daily and then add the others like the roaster and large stock pots.
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Whatever you buy, buy the best you can. If it costs you $300 or more for the cookware fine. Remember you will be using it for the next 10 to 30 years. Just think how many times you will purchase the lower priced item.

I have stainless steel and a cast iron pan or two. Both hold the heat very well and allow me to cook at a lower temp and can be used on any cooking surface.

That would be my two cents.

the other S.

Enamel pots chip and expose the inner metal. The metal ring on the top cannot be cleaned properly and can cause bacteria to grow. If you cook with a lot of acids (tomatoes) you would be better off with the stainless steel.

I've had my ceramic cookware (from Cuisinart) for a year and I think it's decent. As others have said, it does require special care: seasoning every 6 months (which amounts to rubbing vegetable oil along the inside and baking it for an hour, then cooling and wiping out the oil); hand-wash; only plastic or wood utensils; no cooking spray (Pam). Overall I've been pleased with it, but find that any kind of oils/butter used for non-stick purposes (such as for pancakes) leaves a residue that I can only clean off with baking soda, but it is not non-stick enough on its own to not have to use added oil. I do feel better about it than Teflon. I also considered purchasing stainless but was concerned about food sticking. In the end, I made the right choice for me, but agree that a quality set will likely last longer. Perhaps purchase this inexpensive set, decide if it's what you're looking for, then invest in a higher-quality set as you are able?

Metal utensils will scratch it. If I were you, I'd get one pan and try it before you buy a set.

I bought one green pan. It was great at first. You have to season it every 6 months and it's never as good as it was at first. But I feel the need to replace the Teflon, also. I have one 12 inch teflon skillett and might replace it with a ceramic one. I saw a gray one at Walmart, by itself for about $30 bucks. $50 a set, sounds too good to be true.

Mainstays is Wal Mart private label which is why it is so cheap and likely lesser quality. I am not an expert on cookware materials but would definitely start off with something better quality.

That's really inexpensive for a set. I would question the quality. I have a Pampered Chef ceramic 9" sauté pan and I think it cost that much by itself (admittedly, Pampered Chef isn't known for its bargains). I like it, but it's very fragile. No metal utensils, can't go in the dishwasher and has other special care requirements. I probably wouldn't have an entire set of it, but it's good when I need a small, non-stick pan. I refuse to buy Teflon ever again. My larger sauté pan and my griddle are Calphalon (spelling?), which is great for non-stick, but also pricey. I don't use metal utensils on those either. I spend money on the things that need to be non-stick, but have very basic stainless steel pots for all other purposes. They have held up for 20 years.