Background Information for Anolon Nouvelle Copper 3 Qt. Covered Casserole:
We recently received the Anolon Nouvelle Copper 3 quart Covered Casserole for review. This casserole pan can be found on many cookware department pages. This pan is constructed from Hard-Anodized Aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel and is very popular for it’s wonderful heat distribution. This casserole is non-stick and features the restaurant tested Autograph 2 Nonstick Interior.

Visual Impressions:
The first thing noticeable while un-boxing this piece of cookware is the beautiful stainless steel handles and the elegant deep seated stainless steel lid. The stainless additions provide a very eye pleasing accent to the pan. As we proceeded to unwrap we were just as impressed with the look of the rest of the casserole pan. Not only does the the design of this casserole make it look beautiful it also provides for extended functionality.

Design and Construction:
While holding this Anolon cookware in our hands we could instantly feel the high quality of craftsmanship that went into creating this cookware. The casserole feels very sturdy due to the Hard-Anodized construction, flush riveted stainless steel handles and heavy weighted bottom.

This Anolon Casserole features a unique “Double Full Cap Base” that is crafted with heat conductive copper. This base provides a layer of aluminum encapsulated with copper followed by more aluminum and then capped with impact bonded stainless steel. The unique base featured on this casserole makes this piece of cookware very versatile and compatible with most cooking surfaces.

The deep seated stainless steel lid is designed for fitting securely to the pan which helps to lock in flavor and nutrients. The lid features a refined raised handle to offer extra clearance for safer more comfortable lifting.

The stainless steel handles are connected to the body of the pan using rivets so that they will stay secure and not become loose and wobbly. This pan features a new flush riveting style which means the rivets that connect the handles are flush on the interior of the casserole. The flush rivets keep ingredients from getting stuck on the rivets while cooking. While cooking on the stove top the outside edges of the handles get pretty warm but are still touchable, as you move closer to the pan they get very hot and untouchable.

Use and Utensils:
This Anolon pan is compatible with Induction Cooktops, Solid Plate Cooktops, Ceramic Cooktops, Gas Cooktops, Radiant Ring Cooktops and Halogen Cooktops. It is also oven safe up to 500 degrees. The fact that this piece of cookware is compatible with so many cooking surfaces is nice bonus because it means if you upgrade to a different cooktop there will be no need to get a new casserole pan. This pan will most likely work with what ever stovetop technology you choose to go with.

We do not recommend using metal utensils with this pan because scratching its surface will permanently damage the pan. Wooden or Nylon utensils would be our suggestion when cooking with this casserole pan.

How does it Perform?:
To test this casserole pan we chose to cook Cajun Style Cubed Steak With Spiced White Sauce. This recipe allowed us to test how this versatile cookware performed on the stove top and in the oven.

The stove top preparation took place on a ceramic stove top using medium to medium-high heat. Our first step in preparation was to sear the meat using low-high heat however, because of the thickness of the casserole bottom we had to use medium-high heat. The fact that we had to use a higher heat than normal to sear didn’t cause too much of a bother. Due to the size of the pan we were only able to sear one piece of meat at a time but the searing went very well overall and the pan heated very evenly. After searing we made the spiced white sauce by cooking and simmering various ingredients on medium heat. The sauce preparation went very well and the even heat distribution combined with the non-stick interior of the pan made it easy to create a creamy sauce that didn’t stick to the bottom.

When the sauce was ready, we added the meat to the sauce. We then covered the casserole pan with the lid and placed the covered dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes on the middle rack. The pan performed very well in the oven and it took the estimated time to finish cooking this dish in the oven. The high sides of the pan made the size of the pan less hindering when it came to the oven cooking step of the recipe. When placing the dish in the oven to finish, we were able to place six steaks with the sauce in the casserole pan.

Cleaning and Maintenance:
We do not recommend washing this cookware in the dishwasher, harsh chemicals like dishwasher detergents can cause damage to the hard anodized surface. Also, be sure that you do not use oven cleaners, steel wool, harsh detergents or any cleansers containing chlorine bleach in the cleaning of this cookware. To clean up after cooking we simply used some warm water and a paper towel however just a paper towel would probably have done the trick. The flush riveting style makes cleanup a much easier task because food doesn’t get stuck around the rivets while cooking.

For a more in depth look at caring for anodized cookware check out our article on Caring for Anodized Cookware.

Final Thoughts:

If we could complain about anything: (Nothing in this list would keep us from buying this pan)

* We would have to say we may like to see a slightly heavier lid however the lid didn’t cause us any problems while testing.
* The size could hinder you if you are cooking for a larger group of people but you would obviously choose a larger piece of cookware if doing so. This is a great size for a small to medium amount of servings depending on what you are preparing.
* The bottom takes a little longer to heat up and you may have to use a higher temperature setting

What we liked about this pan:

* We were really happy with the Autograph 2 Nonstick interior, it lived up to it’s reputation and performed wonderfully for food release and made cleaning really simple and quick.
* The innovative bottom provided great heat distribution and with the way it’s made there shouldn’t be any worries of warping.
* The wide arrangement of cooking styles you can use combined with the large compatibility with cooking technologies makes this piece of cookware very versatile.
* The construction of this cookware is superb and should allow this cookware to last for many years.
* The pan looks great, it might not be something you want to display like a stainless steel or fully copper item however it is definitely easy on the eyes.

This 3Qt Casserole Pan performed very well and we would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for something in the high medium price range. The versatility of the pan really helps any price justification because it is capable of being used in so many ways on the stove top and in the oven. It is also very nice to have cookware that is compatible with so many cooking surfaces.

Warranty and Care Information:
The Lifetime Limited Warranty guarantees your cookware to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal household use for the lifetime of the cookware. Meyer Corporation promises the original purchaser to replace any defective part or item during the guarantee period. Scratches, stains, discoloration or damage caused by the use of cooking sprays or overheating are not covered by this warranty. Additionally, this warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse, abuse, commercial use or incidental or consequential damages. For warranty replacement be sure to include a short note containing your name, address, daytime phone number and description of the problem you are experiencing along with the defective cookware.

Mailing Address:
Meyer Corporation
Consumer Relations
2005 Meyer Way
Fairfield, CA 94533

Anolon Contact Information:
Anolon Consumer Relations Department: 1-800-388-3872

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Nonstick Cookware Care is essential for the long life of your cookware however mistakes happen and there are times when we need to use different techniques than the one’s we should normally practice. We’ve seen numerous pieces of non-stick cookware over the years that we thought could never come clean but with some patience combined with trial and error we’ve learned some tricks that just might help you with your cookware. Trying to remove burnt, stuck on food from a nonstick pan doesn’t always turn out the way you might hope but in this tough economic time it is definitely worth a shot to try and save a piece of cookware before buying something new.

When dealing with burnt food on a nonstick surface it is important to keep in mind that hopefully underneath this burnt stuck on mess is a non-stick coating still in tact. This hope means that we need to make sure our cleaning methods are still appropriate for a nonstick surface because it won’t do us any good to remove the burnt food if we ruin the surface of the cookware.

Baking Soda Method
1.  Using a nylon or wooden spatula gently try to scrape off any loose pieces of the burnt food.
2.  Rub some baking soda into the burnt food using a nonstick safe scrubbing brush and then fill the pan just above the burnt mess with very warm water and let it soak for an hour.
3.  After soaking for an hour you should see some yellowish brown discoloration. Dump out the water and try to gently scrape off any loosened pieces with a nylon or wooden spatula.
4.  Repeat this 3 to four times. If at this point it seems to be working continue with this method, if not try the next method.

White Vinegar Method (This method can also be tried using lemon juice)
1.  Mix 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Using enough of this mixture to cover the burnt food by about 50%.
2.  Boil this mixture for 2-3 minutes and then dump out the contents
3.  Attempt to gently scrape off any loosened pieces with a nylon or wooden spatula
4.  Repeat this 3 to four times. If at this point it seems to be working continue with this method, if not try the next method.

If these methods don’t work then you can try the commercial cleaner route. There are some good safe commercial cleaners on the market, just be sure they are meant for nonstick cookware. When using these cleaners just follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.

Remember to avoid using any harsher cleaning methods because these methods can cause the nonstick coating on some cookware to peel. The whole idea of trying to save your piece of cookware is so you can use it and if it starts peeling we definitely don’t recommend using it.

Technorati Tags: cleaning burnt nonstick cookware, cleaning cookware, Cookware, non-stick cookware, nonstick cookware

A double boiler is the perfect cookware for delicate cooking. Whether you’re melting cheese, making chocolate sauce for ice cream, making hollandaise sauce for poached eggs or making candy you’ll need a double boiler to do it right.  A double broiler consists of a sauce pan with an insert that is placed on top of the saucepan.  To cook with a double boiler you must fill the bottom saucepan pan with enough water to allow heat to circulate and prevent burning.  Since the double boiler rests above water and the steam from the lower saucepan heats the boiler it makes it easy to gently cook foods without scorching them.  Double boilers come in various sizes as well as styles including stainless steel, copper, aluminum and  porcelain.  There are a couple of ways to buy a double boiler.  Since not everyone needs a double boiler a lot of cookware sets have a double boiler that is sold separately that you can purchase when you are ready for it.  You can also purchase a double boiler set that comes with both a double boiler and a saucepan.  When you purchase the set you still have the option of using the sauce pan without the insert.

We are often asked our stance on buying cheap cookware.  Discount cookware can definitely be tempting, especially when money is tight.  Just like the old adage says “You get what you pay for”.  If you are looking for cookware that will be durable and last for years to come then you more than likely are not going to find those qualities in a cheap piece of cookware.  However, if you are newly independent, low on money or need something in a quick pinch then here are some tips to follow that will help you make the best decisions in considering cheap cookware.

The most important thing to keep in mind when buying cheap cookware is that cheap doesn’t necessarily mean cheaply made cookware.  Often, if you take your time and keep your eyes open you can find cookware sales or discontinued cookware that will enable you to get decent cookware for a cheap price.  Remember, just because a piece of cookware isn’t this years model doesn’t mean it isn’t good cookware.

The Internet is your friend, not only can you find some great cookware deals online but you can also often find reviews or comments concerning the cookware you are considering.  Remember that if you have questions about a particular brand of cookware you can look it up online to see what other people are saying about it.  Make sure to investigate any health concerns, especially when buying non-stick cookware.  There are a lot of controversies surrounding the use of certain chemicals in certain types of non-stick cookwares.  No amount of money saved is worth taking risks on your health.

Answer the questions that you would normally want answered when buying cookware.  How does the weight feel.  How thick are the bottoms?  Does it feel sturdy to the touch?  Are the handles attached with rivets or screws?  When buying cheap or discounted cookware you are always going to have to ask yourself if the price of the cookware makes it worth loosing some of the qualities that you usually look for?

Depending on how long you want the cookware to last or how you are going to use the cookware, sometimes it’s okay to go the cheap cookware route.  Just make sure to put the proper consideration into your decision and you are sure to be happy in the end.

Technorati Tags: Cheap Cookware, Cookware, Cookware Sale, Cookware Sales, Discount Cookware

It seems like everyone has a grandparent or great grandparent that at least has a cast iron skillet.  Cast Iron was definitely a favorite type of cookware for their era.  Cast Iron is quickly becoming one of the favorites of this era as well due to its longevity, unique cooking results and health benefits as apposed to health concerns that are arising with other types of cookware.

When people think about cast iron cookware, lodge is usually the name that comes to mind.  Lodge has been making cast iron cookware for over 112 years and their top of the line is the Signature Series.  The great looking seasoned cast iron cookware is great for frying, searing, sautéing, braising, making stew and even baking.  This series offers stainless steel primary handles on the skillets and grill pans.  The addition of these stainless steel handles as apposed to the traditional cast iron handles not only adds a much more appealing look but the handles will now stay cool to the touch while cooking on the stove top.  Lodge Signature Series cookware is available in the form of skillets, grill pans, dutch ovens and covered casseroles.

Skillets:
Signature Series Skillet –  10″ diameter, 2-1/4″ depth
Signature Series Skillet – 12″ diameter, 2-1/2″ depth

Grill Pan:
Signature Series Grill Pan – 12″ diameter,  2-1/2″ depth

Dutch Ovens:
Signature Series Dutch Oven – 4-1/2 qt., 10″ diameter, 4″ depth
Signature Series Dutch Oven – 7 qt., 12″ diameter, 4″ depth

Covered Casseroles:
Signature Series Casserole – 2-1/2 qt., 12″ diameter, 2-1/2″ depth

Technorati Tags: Cast Iron, Cast Iron Caserole Dish, cast iron cookware, Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Cast Iron Grill Pan, Cast Iron Skillet, Cookware, lodge cast iron cookware, Lodge Cookware, Lodge Signature Series