Kitchen Hardware: Kirkland Signature Cookware Vs. Calphon Simply Calphon Cookware

A few weeks ago I had a dinner party and while my wine selection was a success, my cooking was not. One of my friends suggested I might want to consider new cookware. When I cook, I prefer to use nonstick cookware. I prefer nonstick cookware because it is easier to clean up and I also use less oil when I cook with nonstick cookware. Of course, using nonstick cookware often means I have to keep a close eye on food as it cooks to ensure it heats and cooks evenly. Also, I am limited to using non-metal utensils to prevent scratching the surface of my cookware.

For years I had used Calphon – Simply Calphon cookware. The eight piece cookware set seemed to work fine, but as the set aged I began to notice a few problems. Calphon – Simply Calphon cookware is made from anodized aluminum. I was told when I bought the set the cookware’s non-stick aluminum treatment “…penetrates below the surface into the pores …” of the metal. My hope was this process would increase the lifespan of my cookware and help the non-stick surfacing last longer.

The non-stick surfacing has held up fine, but something interesting happened the other day when I accidently let one of my pots boil dry. The Calphon – Simply Calphon saucepan was on my gas stove for about 20 minutes when I noticed a strange smell in the air. Rushing over to the stove I discovered the small amount of liquid I had put in the pan to simmer had boiled away. The bottom of the pan was discolored and the rivets seemed to have loosened. When I pulled the pan off the stove, the bottom came completely away. The entire lower surface of the pan detached and molten metal spread across the surface of my stove! What a mess! Not only was the pan ruined but my cooking surface was seriously damaged as well. It was after this episode I decided to see what my options were for new cookware.

A friend of mine uses Kirkland Signature cookware which she purchased at Costco for around $160. She frequently mentioned how much she liked using the items, so I decided to give it a try. I was surprised to find the $160 for the Kirkland Signature cookware included a 14-piece set. Already I had almost doubled my cookware inventory.

The Kirkland Signature cookware seemed more durable than my Calphon – Simply Calphon set had been. The handles were especially comfortable and sturdy. When I cooked with the Kirkland Signature pieces, I noticed more evenness in heating and cooking food (especially meat entrees) than what I had experienced with my Calphon – Simply Calphon set. Like the Calphon – Simply Calphon cookware, the Kirkland Signature line is also made of anodized aluminum. Hopefully, this means the non-stick surfacing of the pieces will be as durable as my previous cookware set.

Since easy clean up is important to me, I was pleased to find the Kirkland Signature cookware cleaned up as easily as the Calphon – Simply Calphon line had. The only drawback is the Kirkland Signature series is not dishwasher safe and dirt does tend to accumulate around the handle rivets.

If you are a cook who is looking for specific pieces, you may be disappointed to learn the Kirkland Signature line is only available in sets. It is not available in open stock. The pieces in the set are basic saucepans, skillets and stockpots. For specialized pieces, you may have to supplement with items from another line. Overall for $150 investment, I fell I got a nice range of high quality pieces – just right for an average cook like me.