To put it mildly, our last set of pots had seen better days. We bought them more than 5 years ago with very little concern about how they were made, what they were made of, etc. And while they were still usable, we knew we’d have to get a new set sooner or later. So when the opportunity arose to review a set of stainless steel pots by Better Homes and Gardens, I jumped at the chance.

While BHG isn’t exactly known for carrying the greenest of products, this particular product is green by default. Why? Well stainless steel is 100% recyclable, and an average stainless steel object is composed of about 60% recycled material.

Our history with stainless steel

However, my husband and I owned a set of stainless steel pots when we first got married, and let’s just say our experience made us cautious about using it again. Stainless steel heats more quickly and evenly than traditional non-stick cookware, so if you’re not careful, it’s pretty easy to burn your food. The problem with our original pots is that they were cheaply made from thin metal, so they burned easily, and the charred food was extremely difficult to clean. Of the original set of 6 pots, only one has stood the test of time. And it’s not in the best condition.

Our experience with the BHG pots

Understandably, we were cautiously optimistic about this new opportunity to cook with stainless steel again.

The first indication that we’d have a drastically different experience with the Better Homes and Gardens 10-Piece Stainless-Steel Set was the weight of these pots. These things have some heft. You probably can’t tell from the photos, but they are very sturdy and well made. In other words, no cheap, thin metal to burn through.

We’ve been cooking with them for a few weeks now, and I can honestly say I love these pots.

As I mentioned before, stainless steel heats much more evenly than other materials, and that holds true here. Making omelets is like child’s play, and the eggs cook beautifully from edge to edge. There is a little sticking, but nothing that a few dabs of butter or a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil can’t fix.

And in case you’re wondering, we have burned a couple things. Not the fault of the pots though. I’d say it’s more because of operator error. We were so used to cooking on higher heat with our nonstick pots that it took some time to adjust to the fact that stainless steel doesn’t require as much heat to do the same job — particularly when you’re working with quality stainless steel.

I am happy to report, though, that even when we burned dishes — including notoriously tough burns like spaghetti sauce — cleanup was surprisingly easy. A little dish liquid and a couple of strokes from a scouring pad was all it took to make the pots look good as new, with no scratching. I couldn’t believe it. I also love the fact that these pots are dishwasher safe, because I fully admit that I hate washing dishes by hand. They’re also oven safe up to 350°F for warming and baking. Gotta love that feature, though we haven’t used it yet.

Overall, we are exceptionally happy with these. The lids fit very snugly and they perform like pots that are much more expensive.

The set includes a covered Dutch oven, 2 covered sauce pans, a covered deep skillet, and 2 smaller skillets — more than enough to cook a meal of several courses. We’re really looking forward to using them to cook Christmas dinner.

Why It’s Green:

• Stainless steel is 100% recyclable.
• Most stainless steel object contains 60% recycled material — approximately 40% from post-consumer products and 60% from manufacturing.

Price: $149 (aff)

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation to share my cookware experience with you. Participation is voluntary and as usual, all opinions are my own.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

A few weeks ago, I wrote up the Starfrit Eco-Chef frying pan for its green qualities on paper. It has all the hallmarks of a great green product, using recycled, sustainable and non-toxic materials in its construction. The folks at Starfrit took notice and sent me one of their pans to review.

Having used lots of non-stick pans over the years, I have to say I am really impressed by this one. The pan has a nice weight, so it doesn’t feel flimsy or like it will become warped after a few uses. It is very sturdy, and larger than I expected at 26 cm. To put the size in perspective, I used it to make homemade french fries a few nights ago. In my regular frying pan, I usually have to cook the fries in 3-4 batches. In the Eco-Chef pan, I was able to finish in just 2 batches.

The Ceram-Eco non-stick surface is very smooth and easy to clean, needing little more than a good rinse to remove any food remnants. The packaging does recommend hand-washing, but I rarely put my good pots in the dishwasher anyway. I’ve been washing it with a soft sponge, and it has held up really well after about 5 uses. What’s great about this surface is that unlike traditional non-stick surfaces which contain potentially toxic chemicals, this coating is made of natural ceramic powder and contains no PTFE or other chemicals. The bamboo handle is also very sturdy. I was a little worried about how it would stand up to getting wet, but there were no problems.

THE VERDICT

I give the Eco-Chef frying pan an A+, both for performance and sustainability. So if you’re trying to eat a healthier, more organic diet, the Eco-Chef pan is an affordable way to carry the greening over to your cookware.

Why It’s Green:

• Body made of 99% recycled aluminum
• Coated with chemical-free ceramic powder
• Handle made of bamboo

Price: $31.55 (aff)

Want to win one?

The folks at Starfrit sent me a second 26cm Eco-Chef pan to give away to one of my readers. You could be cooking in green style before you know it! Simply visit Starfrit, then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite product or products by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
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So that means every participant can receive up to 6 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, to enter. U.S. & Canada mailing addresses only. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

When we think of what makes a product green, typically we are looking for reycycled content, sustainable biodegradable materials, or products that are handmade and Fair Trade. I definitely agree that those qualities are ones to look for in green products. But we also have to consider how long a product will last in assessing its “green-ness”. Will it have to be replaced in a few years? Will it last a lifetime?

As cookware goes, its hard to get any greener than cast iron, and its hard to get any more stylish than Le Creuset.  Their colorful cast iron pots and pans are built to last a lifetime, literally. As such, it won’t come cheap. I distinctly remember my very first time at a LeCreuset store. It was early in my marriage when money was tight. My husband and I ventured into the LC store at a nearby outlet mall. We fell in love with their pieces, but all we could afford was a kettle. It was the best kettle I’ve ever bought and set me up as a Le Creuset fan for life.

The 6-piece set shown above includes a 5.5-quart round French oven, a 2.25-quart saucier pan, a 10.25″ square skillet grill and an 8″ x 11.75″ roaster — a perfect set for a green cook’s kitchen. Even if you can afford only one piece, Le Creuset cookware is of such great quality that its likely you’ll be able to pass it down to your children.

Why It’s Green:

• Cast iron is recyclable and can last forever with proper care

Price: $319.99-494.99 (aff)

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Eco-friendly products are slowly creeping into the kitchen beyond Energy-Star appliances and cabinet and countertop materials. Bialetti offers the Green Planet cookware line, which is produced using recycled aluminum. For the saute pans shown above, available in 2 sizes, 50% recycled aluminum is used, and the handle is made of bamboo, one of my favorite renewable resources. The interior features Teflon® non-stick coatings, so it will perform as well as your favorite cookware.

Price: $19.99-24.99

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The innovative GreenPan from the Martha Stewart Collection uses a nonstick technology called Thermolon™, which promises to offer superior food release and performance at extreme temperatures — up to an amazing 824 degrees. Thermolon is an environmentally-friendly alternative to standard PTFE nonstick surfaces that you find in many pots. You can even put these pots in the oven, and they are very easy to clean. The cooking surface emphasizes great taste and an environmentally friendly future. Limited lifetime warranty.

Price: $19.99-$39.99

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