T-Fal Initiatives Total Nonstick 2-Piece Saute Set, Grey
by T-Fal
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: T-FalBrand: T-Fal
Release Date: 2006-02-01
Model: A105S262
Color: Grey
Product features:
- Ergonomically designed handles
- Dishwasher safe
- Resist non-stick interior
- Non-Stick Interior and Exterior
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of T-Fal Initiatives Total Nonstick 2-Piece Saute Set, Grey
Customer Review: Passes the Grilled Cheese Sandwich Test, and My Genius Cook of Wife Likes Them Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Since I married someone who chose to be a full-time housewife, I no longer cook except for my own lunch on the weekends and the occassional lucky day when I have the house all to myself. Gone are the days when I would clean my home thoroughly 'once per girlfriend,' and woo women and impress friends with any one of the few dishes I was really good at. (Tip for you bachelor's: you should be able to make three fairly complex dishes really well; this is more important than having a nice car).
But I never had frying pans which functioned so well as these. I would guess that to get pans that work as well--durability, craftspersonship, and overall impress-factor aside--I would have to pay at least three times what I paid for these T-Fal Initiatives pans.
MADE IN ?????: Big issue with most people on T-Fal is where their made: Made in France vs. Made in China is a significant difference. The Initiatives line with the red dot in the middle seems to be entirely made in France. The base of the pan is Made in France, the handle is Made in France. If any part of these pans is made in China, I would have to guess it were the connecting hardware such as the rivets. Other T-Fal pans may be mostly made in China, but the Initiatives are not. This is quality cookware, nothing coming loose from the get-go and the coatings are perfectly done.
The RED DOT: This makes the pans idiot proof. I used to heat up a pan a bit and spatter some water on it to see if it was thoroughly heated--and it never really would be on the first item I put in there, which for today's review will be two sides of a grilled cheese sandwich. The red dot works exactly as advertised--once the lines disappear, you're ready to cook, and it gets to this even heated state quickly regardless of how low a flame you're using. So when I cook the first side of the sandwich in X amount of time, I don't end up burning the other side because the pan has gotten much hotter in the meantime.
BUTTER OR OIL FOR FLAVOR, NOT TO PREVENT STICKING: I no longer have to use more butter or oil than I would like for flavor just to keep whatever I'm cooking from burning. I'll give this the no-butter fried egg test next, but so far even the cheese from my sacred sandwiches which may have gone overboard doesn't burn or stick to the pan, its edges, or the outside. Even after heavy initial use, the pan also does not show any signs of charring on the outside.
OVERALL QUALITY: These are not heavy pans, as more expensive ones are bound to be, yet the material is fairly thick and durable. The coatings inside and out will also withstand scratching better than anything else you've likely used. Even just looking these pans over gives you the impression of a quality item that you might have spent much more on.
The only parts that I would say was where they must have saved some coin on production is the handles, but these are quite adaquate--and at this price they certainly will last long enough to be worth it to go out and pay about the same for replacements if they ever due suffer from too much wear and tear.
PRICE: What a deal! I paid $20 something dollars for these but wouldn't have been suprised to see them go for twice that or more had the handles been better, and even then it seems like they really adhere to a high production standard. I can only guess that they're able to sell cookware of this quality at this price due to volume of sales.
BOTTOM LINE: While I'm happy with the purchase I made without consulting my wife, who does 99% of the cooking, she only complained about me buying them until she actually used them. After that, not another peep about it except to ask for more Initiatives cookware of other types. She's really picky about this sort of thing, so I have to say these have met a very high standard and at an increadibly low price for quality.
My grilled cheese sandwiches have never been more evenly cooked, and my wife seems to be happy with the purchase--though good luck getting her to admit it.
Description of T-Fal Initiatives Total Nonstick 2-Piece Saute Set, Grey
Initiatives by T-Fal features Nonstick inside and out for easy cleaning which allows this 2-Piece Saute Set, 9 Inch and 11 Inch Sautes, to permit healthful, low-fat cooking. Ergonomic, phenolic handles stay cool on the stovetop and are oven-safe to 350 degreesAll Pans
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