40 Something Reviews

by Viki

Anolon 12-inch, 5-quart saute pan

When the non-stick coating of my current skillet started to wear down, it gave me the perfect excuse to buy this Anolon sauté pan. It’s something that had been on my wish list for a long time. I had never used the Anolon brand before, but I liked the look and feel of their Advanced line of cookware.

After doing an online price comparison, I decided to order from Amazon.com (they had the best price and the best deal with free shipping) and put it to the test.

Pros

I’ve had this sauté pan for 5 months now, and I use it on average 3 – 5 times a week. The non-stick coating is holding up great and is a breeze to wipe clean – both inside and out. While all my other cookware (of a different brand) has permanent brown burn marks and scratches on the outside of the pan, my Anolon pan is still without a single blemish. I find it remarkable that it has retained its beauty through heavy use.

What I particularly love about this pan is its flat bottom with 90-degree angle sides and the hard anodized material the pan is made of. These features allow the heat to distribute evenly across the bottom of the pan. That means everything cooks evenly whether it is in the center of the pan or the outside edge…and nothing sticks to it.

I’ve found this pan to be extremely versatile. I use it as a skillet and frying pan in addition to a sauté pan. The large bottom and deep sides allow me to cook extra large batches…a convenience I greatly appreciate. As a 40-something mom, I often find myself cooking for a crowd or making an extra batch to freeze for later. I’ve used it to make sloppy joes, spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp scampi, pancakes, fried eggs and bacon and even soup. It can truly be called an all-purpose pan.

The handles of the pan have a comfortable grip to them and they stay cool on the hot stove. This particular pan comes with an additional helper handle on the opposite side of the long handle, which provides extra lifting power. The heavy-duty glass cover is included in the purchase price of the pan (I’ve noticed that some brands charge extra for the matching cover while other brands don’t even have a cover). It fits snuggly and allows you to monitor your cooking progress without losing heat.

I am so impressed with this pan. All my future cookware purchases will be from the Anolon Advanced line.

Cons

This is not only a large pan, but it’s a heavy pan. I find it comfortable to use, but some people might have trouble handling it. Also, if you have large hands, you might need to use extra caution when using the helper handle so that your fingers don’t come into contact with the metal that is located outside the rubber grip.

Tips

If you are in the market for several new cookware items, then consider purchasing one of the Anolon Advanced sets. There is a 10-piece set and a 12-piece set, both which will save you a considerable amount of money over buying the pieces individually. This pan comes with the 12-piece set. A similar pan of a slightly smaller size comes with the 10-piece set.

This pan heats up faster and better than other brands I’ve used. Therefore, if you are used to using medium heat, start out using medium-low heat with this pan. Also, be sure to read the care instructions. Don’t use non-stick spray in the pan or wash it in the dishwasher. You’ll also want to use nylon utensils (or non-metal utensils) with it to prevent scratching or damaging the non-stick coating.

Recommended: Yes

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