Christmas Essentials: Saucepans and Roasters
Andrew Bluett-Duncan
Director
Andrew discusses Christmas Day staples: Saucepans and Roasters
This week I’m either catching you thinking about what needs replacing in your cookware armoury, or I’m reminding you that there’s only this weekend and next before Christmas. Oh, and I forgot to tell you in my last newsletter that the shops are opening (10am-4pm) the last three Sundays before Christmas, of which there are now two left!
As we have a broadish selection of products that might solve your culinary needs and desires, then allow me to tempt you down the route of replacing saucepans where either the nonstick has worn out, or that burn food for a past time and are a bit frustrating to use. Because, as you know if you read this email regularly, I’m no great fan of nonstick for the majority of cooking scenarios*. When it comes to burning food, none of the saucepans that we sell (even the cheapest Tala set) will burn your food if the appropriate amount of heat is used. But if you must have nonstick saucepans, we have ranges of them that you can see here Le Creuset Non stick Saucepans, here Greenpan Non stick Saucepans and here joseph Joseph Non stick Saucepans, .
So, today I’m concentrating on a couple of basic saucepan sets and a selection of roasters that may or may not be suitable for your needs
Tala 3 Piece Saucepan set £99
This is a set of 3 basic, but good enough, stainless steel saucepans from my friend Nick Squire at Dayes . He sent me a text last time I talked about his (excellent) Tala Performance bakeware. He seemed a little unnerved that I had been unequivocal in eulogising about his products (he obviously thought this uncharacteristic) and, that I’d not mentioned his ghastly taste in cars (BMW X5). In replying to him that Saturday morning, I said that I’d evidently been feeling a little out of sorts and promised to make up for it in the future. Well the day has arrived, and I’m going to be telling you exactly what I think of not one, but two of his products**.
So, first up for discussion is the Tala three piece saucepan set, at £99, that comprises a 16cm, an 18cm and a 20cm saucepan. They have a slightly shallower body than many, pressed stainless steel handles that stay cool under most circumstances and a glass lid. The important area of any pan is its base, as that is what spreads the heat. And, if this happens fast and evenly, then you will significantly reduce the chances of burning say a bechamel sauce. With its 3mm base, the pan has the minimum thickness required to that job. It’s not generous, but it’s adequate. Would I want to be doing a white sauce in this every day of the week… probably not (at the lower price point, the GreenPan milk pan would be better for that) but I think this set is just excellent value for your money at £99.00
For this a weekend use code TALA89 to get £10 off, bringing it to £89.00
*In my experience saucepans simply don’t need nonstick unless I’m doing scrambled eggs! This “limited” experience of course may say something about my level of cooking…I don’t know …
Ignorance is bliss.
**If you find yourself completely lost in the thread of this conversation, it simply means that you haven’t been reading these emails for long enough "to get it” . So let me apologise to you, and suggest you just carry on reading. You would otherwise need to do some catching up on old emails here, to understand what on earth goes through my mind, and what my poor hapless friend has to put up with.
Dexam Supreme 3 Piece Saucepan set £216.00
The Supreme range is a somewhat more serious bit of kit at a somewhat more serious price. It has heavier everything. Gauge of metal, gauge of aluminium base, deeper sides than the Tala and beautiful almost sculpted cast stainless steel handles that will stay cool for ever and a day. Casting stainless steel makes for an even worse conductor of heat than sheet stainless, which in a handle, is just the ticket.
So, yes, a good middle market pan with a decent thickness base, for heat spread and the only daft bit of design is that they drill a couple of 2.0mm holes in the lid (to stop it rattling). Obviously, they’re living in the last century when everyone boiled the hell out of their veg. I wouldn’t dream of doing that now…… nor I’m sure would you. Unlike the Tala, this three piece saucepan set is part of a much larger range of pans, including, unusually, 12cm, 14cm and 22cm saucepans, frying pans and chefs pans.
We are currently offering 20% off this range as a whole, which means the saucepan set comes down to £172.80. But for this weekend use code SUPREME 24 or just tell us who you are if shopping in Reigate or Cobham to get it for £149.
Roasting Dishes
Now for a couple of roasters that maybe you should NOT be using this Christmas, namely Le Creuset’s Nonstick Roasters and Tala’s Nonstick Roasters. Both of these products are fine if used as they were intended, IN THE OVEN, and only the oven! They should NEVER be used on the hob. If you like to finish off your roasting on the top or make gravy, then neither of these (or any other brands steel nonsticks***) will take the higher temperatures that hob top cooking involves.
If you want your roaster to withstand hob top cooking, then I’ve a couple of choices for you below.
Tala Enamel Roaster
As you may have gathered when I wrote about it a few months ago, this is a family favourite in our household. Virtually indestructible, the enamel (molten glass) surface is very hardwearing, they will happily go in the oven, the freezer, and the dishwasher. If you prefer to wash them up by hand, this is a doddle if you’ve soaked them briefly before hand, and they spread the heat pretty well. Almost nothing to criticise, but as they are discontinued we are selling them off at half price, and they are a bit of a bargain. Sizes vary and so do the discounted prices, from £29.50 to £37.50. Brilliant product.
Mermaid Roasters
Mermaid anodised roasters are another firm family favourite . We’ve had ours for 30 odd years, and although some of them are looking a bit like it now, they are nonetheless still working as well as the day we brought them home. The hard anodised surface is about 40% harder than stainless steel. They are NOT dishwasher proof at all, so you need to wash by hand. Like the Tala, an initial soak will really help get things clean in a trice. But should you have burnt something on really badly then don’t hesitate to use a metal scraper or wire wool on them****. Made of aluminium, they spread the heat fast and evenly. Another brilliant product.
*** a really heavy gauge aluminium is the exception like these from Le Creuset.
****Don’t though cut with a sharp knife because you will do two things. Firstly, you may cut through the anodising And, secondly, you’ll blunt the blade.
Well, that’s it again for this week. Other than to wish you a pleasant and peaceful weekend. Earlier today this dropped into my inbox which resonated with me, so I’ll leave the last five words to Simon Sinek.
“Effective communication, starts with listening.”
Warm regards,
Andrew
Andrew Bluett-Duncan
Director
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