Cuisinart Cookware

When you hear the name Cuisinart, you might not automatically think cookware. In fact, the first thing that comes to mind is a blender, food processor, or other type of useful kitchen gadget. So you might be surprised to learn that Cuisinart has been making quality cookware for decades.

Cuisinart's motto is: “Turning the Art of Great Cooking into an American Lifestyle.” Chefs like Julia Child and James Beard helped to make Cuisinart a household name and the company continues the tradition by staying true to their motto. You’ll find that Cuisinart has cookware that meets just about any culinary need in the home or the restaurant.

One of Cuisinart’s best-selling lines of cookware is their Cuisinar Advantage Nonstick Aluminum. This line is available in either black or red, and looks great in any kitchen. Most pieces in this set come with tempered glass lids that fit tight to the rim.

The most important feature of this particular line from Cuisinart is the Resilience non-stick interior. The surface has great food release and is durable enough to withstand abuse from utensils, and can even go into the dishwasher. They also have a lifetime warranty. The disadvantage to this line is that they are only oven safe to 350 degrees.

Cuisinart’s CastLite Non-Stick Cast Iron line of cookware is limited to only a few pieces: fry pans, chef pans, dutch ovens, grill pans, and stir fry pans. The porcelain enameled exterior comes in either a rich red or a deep blue, and the Dupont Platinum nonstick coating ensures that all the food that you brown, sear, or sauté doesn’t stick to the surface.

Cuisinart CastLite Cast Iron have riveted stainless steel handles that stay cool to the touch and help to support the weightier pieces. They are dishwasher safe and come with Cuisinart’s lifetime warranty, so you can cook knowing that you can rely on their products to get the job done right.

Cuisinart’s Chef's Classic Stainless set of cookware is made of stainless steel. Each piece is shined to a mirror-like finish (or available in red) and has an aluminum base that ensures that heat distributes evenly and spreads quickly to all sections of the cooking surface. The cooking surface itself is stainless steel, so it doesn’t react to foods of any type. Also, the rims are tapered so that liquids poor freely and without any drips.

Chef’s Classic pieces come with glass lids that are designed to lock in flavor. They are oven and broiler safe up to 550 degrees and are also dishwasher safe. Finally, pieces in this set come with Cuisinart’s lifetime warranty.

One of the great things about Cuisinart’s Contour Stainless Cookware Set is that it is designed for both professionals and those that want professional grade, yet affordable, cookware in their homes. This set features a stainless steel cooking surface and an encapsulated aluminum bottom that transfers heat quickly and evenly. The tapered rim makes for drip-free pouring, and the belly-shape of the larger pieces give this set a look of elegance that is tough to find in other brands in the same price range.

Keeping with the tradition of the other lines that Cuisinart produces, the Contour Stainless pieces come with tempered glass lids with stainless rims that help to keep in moisture and flavor. The stainless steel handles stay cool while the pan is on the hob, while the pieces themselves are oven and broiler safe to 500 degrees. They are both freezer and dishwasher safe as well.

If you’re looking for quality nonstick cookware at a low price, Cuisinart’s Contour Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware ranks near the top for all the features you could want. The aluminum core is sandwiched between a layer of hard anodized aluminum and a nonstick cooking surface that has superior food release and durability. And these pieces have a unique belly shape that gives them a distinguished appearance.

Cuisinart’s Contour Hard Anodized pieces are especially nice as nonstick because they are oven and broiler safe to 500 degrees. They are also freezer safe, and the stainless steel handles are riveted to the pan for a safe, secure, and cool hold any time. They come with Cuisinart’s lifetime warranty; however, they are NOT dishwasher safe.

Cuisinart’s Dishwasher Safe Hard-Anodized Nonstick has a similar look to its other nonstick lines, however, this set’s nonstick surface is made with ArmorGuard technology. Esentially, each pan has a pure aluminum core. This core is encased by a Eterna nonstick interior surface and a hard-anodized aluminum exterior. The exterior is then lined with AmorGuard, a protective layer that gives the pans an extra layer of protection. According to Cuisinart, the Eterna nonstick surface used for these pieces is the world’s longest lasting on the market today. It is even safe to use with metal utensils.

These pans are, as the name says, dishwasher safe. They are also oven safe to 500 degrees. The stay-cool handles, glass lids with stainless steel rims, and lifetime warranty make this set one to top just about anyone’s shopping list.

The Elements line is Cuisinart's version of ceramic nonstick cookware. The red exterior, black handles, and white interior make these pieces an eye-catching choice for someone who likes a little extra color in their kitchen. Not only that, but because these pieces are ceramic nonstick, they are made completely PTFE and PFOA free, so there are no harsh or toxic chemicals involved in the manufacture or released when cooking.

While not as durable as other types of nonstick, Cuisinart’s Elements pieces are oven safe up to 350 degrees. The handles are made of silicone, so they will always stay cool to the touch. They are considered dishwasher safe, but we would recommend that you wash them with mild soaps and non-abrasive cloths or pads to preserve the ceramic surface.

Perhaps the most celebrated of all of Cuisinart’s cookware, the French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless line is truly world class in both looks and performance. Each piece is polished to mirror-bright finish and has an elegant handle that is a wonder to hold. Each piece has an aluminum core that is completely surrounded with stainless steel. This gives quick and even heating throughout the entire pan. And because the bottoms are stainless steel, they are induction-ready.

French Classic pieces are made in France and are designed to adhere to the highest of standards. They are oven safe to a full 500 degrees and are completely dishwasher safe. While there is no question about the quality and performance of these pieces, there are a couple of drawbacks. The rims aren’t lipped, so you don’t get drip-free pouring, and your choices of pieces and sizes are limited when compared to the same style of pans made by higher-end companies, such as All-Clad and Calphalon. Otherwise, this is a beautiful set of cookware.

The GreenGourmet line of cookware is Cuisinart’s entry into the eco-friendly movement. These pieces are crafted of hard-anodized aluminum. They are coated with a completely PTFE and PFOA-free ceramic nonstick surface that is also petroleum-free. Furthermore, the coating is applied at a lower temperature than other coatings, which also conserves energy.

Even the handles on the GreenGourmet pieces are greener than other brands. The stainless steel is constructed of 70% recycled materials. Cuisinart takes this initiative a step further by ensuring all packaging is made of 100% recycled materials and printed in soy-based inks. And if you are concerned about performance, Cuisinart’s GreenGourmet pieces are oven safe to 400 degrees.