Cook's Illustrated updated their nonstick recommendations:

Highly recommended:
T-FAL PROFESSIONAL NON-STICK FRY PAN, 12.5 INCHES - $32 on Amazon currently
"this pan had the slickest, most durable nonstick coating, releasing perfectly throughout testing."

All-Clad at $160, though it comes with a lifetime guarantee

Recommended with reservations
TRAMONTINA NONSTICK 12-INCH SAUTÉ PAN

An initial test was how many eggs they could cook before the non-stick began sticking with a new pan:
T-FAL - 76 eggs, but possibly more because they stopped here.

All-Clad - 34 eggs

Tramontina - 9 eggs

Regards,

Hi- Kohl's has that tfal pan for sale too. For those people who get $10 off coupons for Kohls in the mail, you can use one of those when you purchase this pan, assuming that your local Kohl's store has it in stock. I believe the 8" pans are $24.95 there, and so $14.95 with the coupon, and the 12.5" pans are $32.95 minus the coupon. I am pretty sure I have seen these pans at the Kohl's in Lincolnwood Center. I have a scan pan, which I loved when I bought it about 4 years ago, but it is not very nonstick anymore, even though it is supposed to have a limited lifetime guarantee. I might stop in Kohl's and get one of the 8" ones. I use my 8" one all the time since I only cook for myself. I just used it this morning to make some scrambled eggs. Hope this helps, Nancy

Cathy2 wrote:Cook's Illustrated updated their nonstick recommendations:

Highly recommended:
T-FAL PROFESSIONAL NON-STICK FRY PAN, 12.5 INCHES - $32 on Amazon currently
"this pan had the slickest, most durable nonstick coating, releasing perfectly throughout testing."

All-Clad at $160, though it comes with a lifetime guarantee

Recommended with reservations
TRAMONTINA NONSTICK 12-INCH SAUTÉ PAN

An initial test was how many eggs they could cook before the non-stick began sticking with a new pan:
T-FAL - 76 eggs, but possibly more because they stopped here.

All-Clad - 34 eggs

Tramontina - 9 eggs

Regards,

Interesting ... I have a 10" All-Clad nonstick pan that I bought 10+ years ago specifically to make Pommes Anna, and I used it this morning to make a Spanish Tortilla. It is still working great. I would love to have a 12" All-Clad nonstick, but it's just not in the budget these days. I can't recall how much the 10" cost back then, but the quality is most assuredly worth the price, IMHO.

It's important to understand why the All-Clad is $160 and the T-FAL is $32: Stainless steel. The T-FAL, along with nearly all inexpensive pans, whether non-stick or not, are made of aluminum. Aluminum is inexpensive and has very good thermal properties. It's the poor person's copper.

Stainless steel, by contrast, is really expensive and has really bad thermal properties. For example, your flatware is probably made of stainless steel. Try sticking a spoon in a cup of really hot soup. The handle of the spoon doesn't really get hot; only the part touching the soup does. That's a great feature in a spoon. It's not so great for a pan, though. Imagine if the only place your pan was hot was directly where the flame hit, while the edges of the pan were cooler!

For this reason, pans aren't made with 100% stainless steel. Instead, they have an interior layer of aluminum or copper. So you get the thermal properties of aluminum plus the looks of stainless steel. But, wait, there's more: aluminum reacts with acid, which can impart an off flavor to acidic food (like tomatoes). So by putting the aluminum inside of stainless steel, you don't need to worry about the pan reacting with food.

This isn't a knock on stainless cookware. I have a bunch of All-Clad cookware that I love. These pans will probably last decades.

But I don't think All-Clad's non-stick pan is worth the money. Here's why: the downfall of a non-stick pan is that eventually the non-stick surface will start to chip or peel. And you want to replace the pan when this happens. Chipping, scratching, and peeling are inevitable, whether it is a $30 T-FAL or $160 All-Clad. Perhaps the non-stick coating on the All-Clad is better than the coating on the T-FAL and will last longer. I have no idea, but I doubt it will last four times longer. Frankly, all it is one accidental scratch with a utensil to ruin the non-stick surface.

So, really, what you're paying for with the All-Clad is that the bottom of All-Clad is stainless and the bottom of the T-FAL is aluminum. This doesn't affect the cooking performance (especially because you are usually cooking things in a non-stick pan that cook quickly -- if anything, the all aluminum pan might be better).

I really like my Vollrath aluminum non-stick pans. I bought them at Northwestern Cutlery for about $35, about 8 years ago. Best of all, when they start to peel, I won't feel bad about tossing them and buying another one.

Nice summary D72. I look at my non-stick pans as supplies rather than equipment. The best value for money--for me--has been KitchenAide's 8" and 12" Essentials skillets. I can easily get 18months--2yrs out of them, and if you buy them on sale at, e.g., Target, you can get both for under $50. They're good, heavy, sturdy pans.

Geo

Darren72 wrote:
So, really, what you're paying for with the All-Clad is that the bottom of All-Clad is stainless and the bottom of the T-FAL is aluminum.

Well, that and All-Clad's lifetime guarantee which, if it covers wear and tear on the non-stick finish, is certainly a consideration.

Pie-love wrote:Has anyone tried the pour spouts for the square milk jugs:

http://www.squarejug.com/

I just ordered a pair, so will report back...

Jen

I was reminded of this post as I spilled milk from a Costco jug this morning. Report?

Marmish wrote:

Pie-love wrote:Has anyone tried the pour spouts for the square milk jugs:

http://www.squarejug.com/

I just ordered a pair, so will report back...

Jen

I was reminded of this post as I spilled milk from a Costco jug this morning. Report?

The pour spouts are much better than using the jug without-- my husband has even quit complaining. They're not perfect-- sometimes they screw on so that the pouring spot is a bit off to the side. Color me satisfied, though!

Cheers, Jen

Pie-love wrote:

Marmish wrote:

Pie-love wrote:Has anyone tried the pour spouts for the square milk jugs:

http://www.squarejug.com/

I just ordered a pair, so will report back...

Jen

I was reminded of this post as I spilled milk from a Costco jug this morning. Report?

The pour spouts are much better than using the jug without-- my husband has even quit complaining. They're not perfect-- sometimes they screw on so that the pouring spot is a bit off to the side. Color me satisfied, though!

Cheers, Jen

Thanks for the follow up. If my husband will stop complaining, count me in!

stevez wrote:

Darren72 wrote:
So, really, what you're paying for with the All-Clad is that the bottom of All-Clad is stainless and the bottom of the T-FAL is aluminum.

Well, that and All-Clad's lifetime guarantee which, if it covers wear and tear on the non-stick finish, is certainly a consideration.

All-Clad's Website wrote:From the date of purchase, All-Clad guarantees to repair or replace any item found defective in material, construction or workmanship under normal use and following care instructions. This excludes damage from misuse or abuse. Minor imperfections and slight color variations are normal. All-Clad non-stick coating is also lifetime guaranteed.

(Emphasis mine)

They go on to say:

The following will invalidate your All-Clad Warranty:
• Using All-Clad on high heat for an extended period of time. Leaving cookware empty on a heated burner for a long time may cause the metals to separate and cause irrevocable damage.
• Washing your non-stick All-Clad in the dishwasher.
• Using metal utensils on any All-Clad non-stick surface.
• Using scouring pads, steel wool, abrasive cleansers, bleach.

The thing is that non-stick surfaces lose their non-stickiness over time. This is normal and not defect in workmanship. So I'm not sure how easy it is to get a replacement. Plus, if you are like me, you inevitably accumulate small cracks and scratches in the non-stick coating, which would make it more likely likely that they'd deny the claim. In any case, scouring the internet, I see examples of people getting new non-stick pans replaced and examples of people who got denied.

Hi- When I was at the Evanston farmers market this last Saturday, I bought a half gallon of tart cherry/ apple cider from Seedlings, and it is not my all time favorite. While I was there, I asked if they were pressing cider for costco this fall, and the gentleman told me that they are supplying costco with cider. I know when they did this two years ago, Costco was selling the cider for $5 a gallon which is a good deal. I paid $5 for the half gallon I bought Saturday.

I was in Whole Foods this afternoon too, and I noticed they were selling gallons of honeycrisp apple cider from Grampa's Cider Mill, which is located right down the road from my sister's farm. I have never tried it. It just sounds like it would be too sweet for me. I believe they were charging either $7.99 or $8.99 a gallon for it. Hope this helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Hi- When I was at the Evanston farmers market this last Saturday, I bought a half gallon of tart cherry/ apple cider from Seedlings, and it is not my all time favorite. While I was there, I asked if they were pressing cider for costco this fall, and the gentleman told me that they are supplying costco with cider. I know when they did this two years ago, Costco was selling the cider for $5 a gallon which is a good deal. I paid $5 for the half gallon I bought Saturday.

I was in Whole Foods this afternoon too, and I noticed they were selling gallons of honeycrisp apple cider from Grampa's Cider Mill, which is located right down the road from my sister's farm. I have never tried it. It just sounds like it would be too sweet for me. I believe they were charging either $7.99 or $8.99 a gallon for it. Hope this helps, Nancy

Yup, I saw Seedling cider at the Clybourn Costco last week. I think it was $4.69-- definitely a bargain.

Jen

Pie-love wrote:

NFriday wrote:Hi- When I was at the Evanston farmers market this last Saturday, I bought a half gallon of tart cherry/ apple cider from Seedlings, and it is not my all time favorite. While I was there, I asked if they were pressing cider for costco this fall, and the gentleman told me that they are supplying costco with cider. I know when they did this two years ago, Costco was selling the cider for $5 a gallon which is a good deal. I paid $5 for the half gallon I bought Saturday.

I was in Whole Foods this afternoon too, and I noticed they were selling gallons of honeycrisp apple cider from Grampa's Cider Mill, which is located right down the road from my sister's farm. I have never tried it. It just sounds like it would be too sweet for me. I believe they were charging either $7.99 or $8.99 a gallon for it. Hope this helps, Nancy

Yup, I saw Seedling cider at the Clybourn Costco last week. I think it was $4.69-- definitely a bargain.

Jen

Heading to Costco in 5,4,3.....

Skunked ! No cider at Clybourn tonight.

It's there--or it was last Friday and a ton of it--it was in the cold section with the milk...

boudreaulicious wrote:It's there--or it was last Friday and a ton of it--it was in the cold section with the milk...

Nope. I looked there. Zero. Just Milk and eggs in there tonight.

pairs4life wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:It's there--or it was last Friday and a ton of it--it was in the cold section with the milk...

Nope. I looked there. Zero. Just Milk and eggs in there tonight.

Wow--bummer-- I knew I was going out of town for most of this week so didn't pick up any but was hoping to later this week when I get back. Hope they restock!

Kruger's cider at the Lake Zurich Costco

Just wanted to pile on the love for their rotisserie chicken: $5 for eight servings.
Day 1: Served two: Most of one breast sliced (and one wing), served with Caesar salad
Day 2: Served two: Most of the other breast chopped and stirred into a quick salsa cooked down with homegrown tomato, garlic, cumin, served with homemade tomatillo salsa, cheese, tortillas
Day 3: Served two, with an equivalent amount left over for lunch the next day: About 12 oz chicken pulled from the thighs and remaining breast; carcass, remaining wing, and gelatine from bottom of container used to enhance canned stock to make thom kha gai
Day 4: Served one: leg meat shredded, served with noodles, tahini, chiles, scallions, ginger and snow peas

JoelF wrote:Just wanted to pile on the love for their rotisserie chicken: $5 for eight servings.
Day 1: Served two: Most of one breast sliced (and one wing), served with Caesar salad
Day 2: Served two: Most of the other breast chopped and stirred into a quick salsa cooked down with homegrown tomato, garlic, cumin, served with homemade tomatillo salsa, cheese, tortillas
Day 3: Served two, with an equivalent amount left over for lunch the next day: About 12 oz chicken pulled from the thighs and remaining breast; carcass, remaining wing, and gelatine from bottom of container used to enhance canned stock to make thom kha gai
Day 4: Served one: leg meat shredded, served with noodles, tahini, chiles, scallions, ginger and snow peas

Aren't you tired of chicken by then?

pairs4life wrote:Skunked ! No cider at Clybourn tonight.

Dang, I'm sorry-- for you and for me, because I wanted to stop by and get some more today!
Any more cider spottings?

Cheers, Jen

At Mettawa Costco, they had Harris Cider today.

Regards,

None this morning in the milk area at Clybourn. Are we sure it's in the dairy section and not in one of the other cold cases?

It was definitely there (in the dairy room) and, according to reliable sources, it is definitely no longer. No idea why. Maybe someone could ask the folks at Klug for an update if they see 'em.

Mount prospect had Hays cider, and chanterelles for $8.99/lb

Hi- All Seedlings had at the Evanston market today were half gallons of cider that they were charging $5 for.

Cathy2 wrote:At Mettawa Costco, they had Harris Cider today.

Dairy section at this store.

Does anybody know when Costco makes their big bag of mussels available at their seafood thing? I assumed it was Friday and went over to the Lake Zurich Costco and there was no mussels or clams at the unmanned seafood kiosk. There was a bag of shrimp laying on the counter there which I touched to see if it was cold (it was). I stood around looking forlorn and then continued my shopping. when I came back the bag of shrimp was gone but there still was nobody manning the stand. I finally went over to the chicken counter and asked about the stand. They said "did you knock on the window?" I said that no, That's why I'm asking you. They went next door into the meat area and all the guys that were standing in the back immediately disappeared. Nobody came out so I gave up. I went to another Costco and the same thing happened. I complained and they said they would look into it. Just yesterday (Tuesday) I went back to the LZ Costco and they had Mussels with the date circled for the 10th. I'm just wondering when they actually put the mussels out. I really want to buy them, but they seem not to be interested in selling them when they are fresh.

Hi,

I visit Mettawa often, I have seen mussels in the refrigerator bin with the other fish on Mondays after their weekend seafood roadshow.

Since you are repeating this effort and coming up dry, I would call in advance to talk to the meat manager. If you don't get satisfaction there, then talk to the store's general manager.

I will likely be at Costco tomorrow, I will ask around. (I visit once or twice a week for retail exercise.)

Regards,