CARE FOR YOUR NON-STICK COOKWARE:

Most non-stick cookware take a little extra care to keep them non-stick for a longer time. Names such as Calphalon and perhaps Analon and Circulon come with life time or very long warranties on their non-stick surfaces. Ultrex comes with a 55 year warranty. If you are able to get that much use out of your pan, I'd say you more than got your moneys worth. A lot of people may assume non-stick is non-stick, but that's simply not true. Do some research and ask around. Not all non-stick surfaces are the same. T-Fal is not the same as Calphalon, and isn't backed up by the same warranty. They don't all require the same care, and don't all last as long. Some of the older non-sticks actually released a chemical residue when used, and those should be avoided. I will try to get the exact name of those non-sticks if I can. They also do not all come on the same quality pan. The non-stick surface isn't the only thing you pay for. It is important you get something made of very durable materials. Ultrex is made on 18/10 stainless steel and it doesn't get much better than that. Calphalon has a hard anodized material, which is very durable, with a commercial non-stick surface inside. Calphalon also has several different grades of non-stick cookware. Almost a line to match any budget. After deciding what you're willing to pay for you also need to decide how much work you're willing to do to keep up your investment.

WHY NONSTICK? Why not? I wouldn't consider buying a skillet, griddle, fry pan, saute pan, or grill pan that wasn't. In fact, the only thing I'd buy without a non-stick surface is something I intended to cook using water inside it all the time (ie a pot). I have NEVER been sorry I bought non-stick cookware, but several times more than glad. Things that may bake on to a regular stainless steel or hard anodized surface can just flake off a nonstick surface. If taken care of properly, buying nonstick cookware should never be a decision you will ever regret.

CALPHALON | ULTREX | OTHER

Calphalon Commercial Non-stick: this is NOT a dishwasher safe surface, and they tell you that. Dishwasher detergent tends to be far too abrasive for most non-stick surfaces. There are also some special considerations when cleaning and cooking with your Calphalon Commercial Non-Stick.

• Not dishwasher safe-ALWAYS hand wash
• Do not use steel wool EVER (Scotch brite is not appropriate either- read the label of the scrubber to see what it says, many will caution you against use on such surfaces as non-stick if they are not safe).
• Use DOBIE or similar products for any necessary scrubbing
• SOAKING can do wonders for food stuck on
• ALWAYS clean the pan before cooking again. It is easier than you think to cook remnants on so that they do not come off without a lot of work or possible damage to the pan.
• DO NOT USE abrasive cleaners
  • A good one is Dawn (great grease cutter, and gentle)
• DO NOT USE metal or sharp utensils (I believe this voids the warranty)
  • Calphalon offers a variety of black nylon or plastic (not sure which) utensils safe for non-stick surfaces.
• DO NOT EVER use on any heat setting over medium (pots with water or liquid may be an exception, doesn't specify in the directions).
• IT IS NOT NECESSARY to use non-stick cooking spray and this may actually reverse the affect of the non-stick surface, making it necessary to grease the pan every time you cook (so I've read). The whole point to a non-stick surface is so that you won't have to use that stuff! (I use margarine on my pans, and it has had no adverse affects)
• BE CAREFUL to not scratch the non-stick surface by any other means, such as stacking things on top of the pan that may rub against it and scratch it. Scratches in the surface may cause things to start to stick
• CALPHALON IS GUARANTEED FOR LIFE! (At least commercial non-stick is, and you pay for the life time warranty, TRUST me!) So take good care of it, follow the directions on the pamphlet (which should say pretty much what I said above) to the last T and if anything ever happens to the pan and it doesn't work as it should any more, call CALPHALON and they SHOULD fix it for you. I cannot make any promises or claims as to whether or not Calphalon will honor the warranty for you. Special circumstances will always apply, and if they feel that the pan has been misused, abused, and neglected they probably won't honor it. I don't believe its a transferrable warranty either, but that's up to them, NOT ME to decide. Contact calphalon for more info.

RELATED SITES

• CALPHALON HOME PAGE
• Calphalon Product Catalog
• Cleaning Calphalon FAQs
• Cooking with Calphalon FAQs
• About Calphalon Non-stick Cookware
• About Calphalon Hard Anodized Cookware
• Calphalon Warranty FAQs

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Ultrex Cookware

What I know about ultrex only comes from what I've seen them say on TV. They are a more inexpensive cookware that can take the abuse, cooks well, and looks nice. It is not as premium as Calphalon Commercial Non-stick, but don't get me wrong-it's good stuff. There are several reasons why many people may like them BETTER. Price is one, and amount of abuse they can take is another. Calphalon takes pretty good abuse, is premium cookware, and not to mention very practical and functional. Ultrex is good, too, however. Although, I cannot attest to its durability as well as I have not used it for as long a time.

Caring for and all about your Ultrex Non-Stick cookware (Please see pamphlet-if included-to be extra sure)

• ULTREX is DISHWASHER SAFE, so they say. However, I still handwash.
• ULTREX is SAFE TO SCRUB, as they say, but I still use DOBIE as it is KNOWN to be safe with non-stick surfaces.
• Some ULTREX pans are oven safe up to 350 and can transfer from stove to oven to table top easily.
• ULTREX is supposed to be durable against metal utensils, although I always recommend nylon, plastic, or wooden to be safe. What they do on TV may not necessarily be covered in warranty ;-)
• ULTREX is made of high grade material, including 18/10 stainless steel.
• IT IS NOT NECESSARY to use non-stick cooking oils, and they may recommend against it.
• ULTREX IS GUARANTEED for 55 years. See included info for details. Misuse, abuse, and neglect may be reasons for voiding warranty.

RELATED SITES

• BUY Ultrex at HSN.com (only place I know that sells it right now)
• Ultrex pan (similar to mine) The one pictured is a chicken fryer. Mine is a 12" multipurpose pan. It looks almost identical to the one in the picture, but it has grill lines on the bottom and also came with a fry basket and metal tongs. It was $39.95 on special when it was purchased. I LOVE IT!

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OTHER NONSTICK COOKWARE:

You can buy non-stick cookware for almost nothing, now a days, but sometimes you get what you pay for. If you can't afford Calphalon Commercial Non-stick, and can't find Ultrex here are some other names, catering to a smaller budget, that I recommend you look for (still probably more expensive than the grocery store brand) that I feel you will get your money's worth out of. Check them out:

• Circulon- still not cheap, but very effective. Some people take a little getting used to the little ridges, but I think they aid in the non-stick surface somehow as they have NEVER failed on me. I'm not crazy about the styling myself, but to each their own.
• Anolon- no personal experience with this name, but recommended to me as a cheaper alternative to Calphalon. Not much, by any means, cheaper. Check out their product line for the budget range they can cover.
• Calphalon Kitchen Essentials- a very affordable line by Calphalon offered at Target. Calphalon offers a HUGE variety of lines ranging from lower price range, to top of the line. Don't be scared by the name, check them out! A reputation you can count on for sure.

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