by KitchenAid KCH1S10KD Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set – Black Diamond
@ Enjoy the long-lasting durability of Hard Anodized nonstick cookware. This sturdy set includes: 8″ Skillet; 10″ Skillet; 1.5-Quart Saucepan with Lid; 3.0-Quart Saucepan with Lid; 3.5-Quart Saute Pan with Lid; 8.0-Quart Stockpot with Lid.
- Dishwasher Durable with Nonstick Colorfast Finish
- 3-Layer Nonstick Interior
- Induction Capable
- 4.5 mm Hardened Aluminum
- Riveted Stainless Steel Handle(s)
List Price: $ 299.99
Price: $ 99.99
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KitchenAid Cookware
* KitchenAid KCH1S10KD Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set – Black Diamond
KitchenAid KCH1S10KD Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set – Black Diamond
KitchenAid Cookware
KitchenAid Cookware
Kitchen Aid vs. Simply Calphalon after a week with both.,
First thing I noticed was that the Simply Calphalon were slightly smaller. Especially the Saute pan. The Kitchen Aid set is dishwasher safe, Calphalon is not. For better or worse (as you’ll read better in this case) the Kitchen Aid are heavier. The Calphalon are double-coated nonstick, the Kitchen Aid are triple-coated. Packaging for KA says oven safe to 350 degrees and Cal. says 400. Amazon says 500 for KA vs 400 for Cal. Both are Hard Anodized aluminum. If you have an induction cooktop only KA is compatable.
What is Hard Anodized and does it matter? Hard Anodized pans are naturally nonstick, and completely chemical-free. These pans are made with an aluminum base, which essentially gets submerged in a sulfuric acid bath that has low electrical charges running through it. As it cools, it causes the pans exterior to anodize. A hard anodized pan is extremely strong, has a long lifespan, and because it is virtually non-porous, it resists sticking. Add a few layers of non-stick coating and you have a great, relatively cheap (cost wise), pan.
So what are meaningful differences? The Calphalon set is 3.2mm thick and the Kitchen Aid is 4.5mm thick. Meaning (all else being equal) the Kitchen Aid is more thermally conductive and durable. And my non-scientific tests show this. The KA heats up far quicker, stays at temp longer and cooks more evenly. It’s not even close. Boiling water took about 1:30 less time in the KA and eggs cooked over medium heat in far less time. I had to lower the heat on everything I tested with the KA set. It conducted heat far better that my old Cuisinart or the Simply Calphalon. The difference in thickness also accounts for the difference in weight.
Calphalon double-coated and KA has a triple-coated non-stick coating. The name is pretty explanatory but does it really matter? Yes and no. Right out of the box there is no noticible difference. However, in 4-5 years there should be a difference. Kitchen Aid’s triple-coating should last longer and look better. We’ll wait and see.
The Kitchen Aid is dishwasher safe the Simply Calphalon is not. Truthfully, I don’t care what the manufacture says if you want you cookware to last don’t put it in the dishwasher. With the non-stick coating it takes little effort to clean these so it’s not worth it. Also, don’t use metal instruments and never use cooking spray. Buy silicon utensils and a oil mister. The utensils are cheap and a mister lasts forever and is less expensive than 2 cans of Pam.
Real world cooking experience. After spending a week with each I gave the Calphalon to my son who recently moved out. They are nice pans and should take most of his abuse but they do not compare with the Kitchen Aid pans. Cooking is quicker, food cooks more evenly and they look great. The deep black finish and flat tops are a stark change from the grey, domed cookware you usually see. I did find that the handles of the Calphalon set were more comfortable. The bottom of the Cal. handles were all silicon and only a small portion of the KA were silicon. Neither handle became hot.
Are they a professional set, no. But my restaurants cook 300+ meals a day with people who don’t care if the pans lasts to the next shift. So why pay double or triple the price? The Kitchen Aid set is slightly more than the Simply Calphalon but the they are worth the difference. So, for a mid-priced set of cookware, I don’t think you’ll find a better value than the Kitchen Aid.
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|(A reviewer for the original finish version of this pan was disappointed that it wasn’t even bigger,
Even though the the largest burner on my stove top covers a fraction of the bottom of the pan, I get surprisingly even heat by warming up the pan slowly for 10 minutes or so before use. I had no problem cooking up more than 2 pounds of potatoes as home fries this way; they came out a beautiful golden brown and the surface was very nonstick. I also use this pan on a large propane burner outdoors where teflon fears to tread.
The preseasoning is very convenient. There were a few tiny imperfections in the seasoning around the rim, but I just lightly cleaned and coated the pan with oil before using the first time, and the usual maintenance is taking care of the rest.
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