Calphalon Tri-Ply Copper 10-Pc. Cookware Set

We cook a lot at home and were concerned about using non stick cookware every day. Even though we were using Calphalon non stick cookware, we've seen and heard enough warnings about the potential danger. And we like the look of stainless steel for our kitchen as well. If you are considering the same there are several things you need to know. First, don't throw or give away your non stick cookware if it's still in good shape. There are going to be times where you may want to use it again because cooking with stainless steel is an entirely different process and unfortunately one that requires much more time and effort on your part. How? Well let's start with oil. You are going to need to cook with some type of oil in order for food not to stick, as much as possible to the cookware surface. Oh some will still stick and stain, but using a quality oil will help minimize this. I have found through research (there are a ton of youtube videos on how to cook with stainless steel) that extra virgin coconut oil works very well. It will in some cases infuse a bit of coconut flavor into your food. However it holds up well under moderate to high heat and apparently has some significant health benefits. I'm Italian and Olive Oil is my go-to choice when cooking, however, I'm finding that it's the most difficult when it comes to clean up time and often leaves a gluey type of residue that is almost impossible to remove. Which brings me to my second point... the cleaning and staining. In most cases, you will need to soak your cookware after use and after it cools in warm soapy water, sometimes for several hours in order to be able to thoroughly clean it. And even so, there will be times where you will end up with stains that just won't come out. Calphalon recommends you use Bar Keepers Friend. I was about to return this set because of the staining when I ordered some and it really does work well. If you ask me Calphalon should include it with your purchase. One big warning though, Bar Keepers Friend will etch or permanently damage your granite or even formica counter tops so be very careful using it as even a splash with enough cleaner in it on your counter tops will cause damage. As far as the quality of the cookware itself, it seems well built and should last a long time. The challenges you will face using it are not so much a result of the quality of the product but just the nature of using it. So again if you are skilled in using stainless steel cookware, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. If not, just be prepared to spend more time prepping, cooking and and cleaning up than you would with non stick cookware.