Circulon Elite Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set, 10 Piece, Charcoal

I spent a great deal of time researching pots and pans with three things in mind: I have a ceramic cook top, I wanted something mid-range expensive and I wanted to avoid teflon if possible.Trying to find out if pans are okay for a ceramic cook top is very difficult; some say they are but most don't mention it one way or the other. After reading up on the different types of teflon, and deciding to spend mid-range bucks on cookware (I wanted a skillet and a 3 quart pan, too), I went with the higher quality teflon used in the Circulon Elite.I have had no problems with this cookware chipping or flaking and I use at least 3 pans on a daily basis. I spent a lot of money and I take care of them carefully. I wash them by hand, I don't use non-stick spray (I brush a little canola oil with a silicon brush - much cheaper than nonstick sprays anyway), I seldom use the highest heat, and I put paper towels between the ones I have to stack in storage. Cooking on a ceramic cook top is different than cooking on electric or gas which has also encouraged me to be gentler on these pans. Also, I don't use metal utensils - I have plenty of the other and I don't see a benefit. The 10" saute' gets the most abuse (higher temperatures and lots of browning) and it is still in like new condition.The pans cook very evenly; even after a year of daily use. It might have something to do with the cooktop, but whenever I'm boiling water, I'm amazed at how even they heat!They wash very well, including the outside bottom. I think because the inside surface is made to handle metal spoons, etc.,(used gently) it takes a little more cleaning effort than your typical smooth teflon pan, but "little" is the operative word here. I'm wondering if the "clay" bottom that another reviewer mentioned is just residue left from not cleaning it well enough - I have noticed that it can look clean when it is wet but if I didn't clean it well enough, it isn't shiny and there is a kind of white dull film on the bottom in the places I missed.The reason they get 4 stars instead of 5: 1) The smallest sauce pan is badly balanced. It's okay on the stove top, but when I remove it to a trivet I have to be careful how I set it down or it tips toward the handle. 2) This set should have a three-quart pan. I tried to do without it for about 6 months, but I broke down and bought it. If you are replacing another set, keep your 3 quart. I couldn't because my old set wasn't right for ceramic cook tops.I also bought the square skillet and the 5.5 quart dutch oven. The skillet is excellent; the dutch oven doesn't have the rubber handles or lid handle - fortunately one of the other lids fits on dutch oven, so I don't always have to remember the hot pad!Bottom line for me is that if you aren't willing to wait a little longer for your pans to heat up and wash them by hand, buy a cheap non-stick set and replace them more often.

We purchased a 14 piece Circulon commercial set at Costco about five years ago. A couple of the sauce pans that get used daily are wearing out due to our abuse not the product. We felt it was time to replace the set. We examined many sets online and in the store. We loved our old Circulon set so that was top on our list. Two things that was a must was glass lids and heat proof handles which became our biggest challenge. The lids and handles is what solidified our choice to purchase Circulon a second time. This set is great, we are really happy with the choice. The set looks awesome, the cookware is solid and well balanced. It is thicker than our commercial set and I am sure will last us for many years too come.The issue that almost killed our purchase is that the set does not include a 3 quart saucepan. The 3 quart saucepan is our most used and abused piece and for this set it is sold separate for $70. We temparararily solved this issue with a Circulon Total 3.5 quart sauce pot on sale for $29.99 at a local dept store and used a lid from our old set to replace the metal lid that came with it. Not a perfect match but solved our problem for now. and we saved $50. As long as Circulon offers heavy duty cookware at a good price with clear lids and heat proof handles we will probably stay loyal to the product.Prologue: It has been two months with the set and it is awesome. We still have not picked up the 3 quart (Haven't found it on sale for the right price). But we did find the 12" deep skillet with lid for $39.95 & the 11" griddle for $29.95 at a local discount home store. The 12" deep skillet is actually a must (the 10" that comes with the set is just too small for everyday use). The skillet is designed so well that without the lid it is rounded enough inside to be a 12" skillet or wok substitute. So you will want some extra pieces but the set is worth it.

I’ve had this set for over 7 years, I truly don’t understand the negative reviews. Granted, I’ve never put them in the dishwasher (aside from the lids), and have always used wooden or silicone utensils on them. They still are non stick, and look the same as the day I bought them.

My daughter had these and so when it came time for me to buy new ones I purchased these here and they are wonderful. I have had them now for 2 1/2 years and there is no chipping or problems of any kind. I know that we are not getting any unhealthy material in our food. My daughter got hers at Macys and the price was more expensive than what I paid here on Amazon. I must add one thing: DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER! they say that but my daughter did it anyway and hers do not look nearly as nice as mine. She had them about 1-2 years longer than I but she and I are both sure it was the dishwashing that has sort of ruined them. It is not a hardship for me to hand wash them to keep them nice. I also bought some of the padded shelf liner to line my drawers and I had some left so I cut squares to put between the pots and pans stacked in my drawer. I don't know how much this has helped but it makes me feel better. I hope if you purchase this you will love them as much as I do!