I am begining to look for a new set of saucepans to replace my well loved and used cast iron le creuset.
Any thoughts people ?

I'm a big fan of Stella.  Shopping on line should throw up lots of offers on them too.

I'll be interested in the replies too :) I have 33 year-old stainless steel saucepans. There is little wrong with them apart from the handles/lid knobs are starting to go home due to continuous dishwasher use :) I've been looking at hard-anodised Analon, but there are lots of different types and I'm not sure which to get - but there is no rush as they are rather expensive and my old ones will probably last a lot longer :)

same position as you Daisy. I only realised quite how my saucepans were when my microwave went caput  in the week. As I tend to use my microwave for nearly everything veggies etc meat and cakes and puddings I use the oven the kids were completly confused.
Mum how do I cook without a microwave poor little lambs ! 

I am a Prestige fan :)

next question non stick or not ?

Depends on whether or not you want to use a dishwasher to clean them :)

I don't use a dishwasher so could use either but I don't particularly like non stick pans. I find they simply don't last.  I much prefer to invest in a good quality, thick stainless steel pan which I don't seem to have any great difficulties in using or cleaning very easily. 
I do have one small non stick frying pan for jobs that demand it such as pancakes or omelettes but I do find they need replacing far more often, even with hand washing, and therefore not any kind of investment.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I'm a big fan of Stella

So am I.....hic....:-)

I love my copper bottom pans.  I did buy some  Viners pans a year or so ago for some non stick ones and they were rubbish, didn't do the job at all :-(

Dont mind, my current lecreuset dont go in the dishwasher. I want longevity, easy clean , :) I have got non stick frying pans but they really dont last unless I need to buy v v expensive
Just noticed the stella lol

Well, I have a set of copper bottomed wooden handled prestige that I bought about 28 years ago.
Then for the sake of OH insisting we get a dishwasher and therefore dishwasherproof pans I went for stellar.
I still use and prefer the prestige, which I wash by hand (as the d/w is no good for the wooden handles) they look nicer and feel better.

Karen :)

eta;  they are easy cleaned too.

> I much prefer to invest in a good quality, thick stainless steel pan which I don't seem to have any great difficulties in using or cleaning very easily. 

Yes and no :) :) I have 6 stainless steel pans - 3 Prestige (bought by my OH before I met him) and 3 bought by me from the local 'cheap' shop - all 33 years old. There is no difference in the wear - in fact, apart from the handles/knobs, there is little wear :) :) They have been put in a dishwasher for the last 25 years. But, I don't burn things in them - I'm very careful :) :) :) As you say, Stooge, cleaning is a doddle even by hand. If things are a bit stuck on the bottom, I soak overnight and then clean with a non-stick pan scourer and just washing-up liquid. This is why I am very reluctant to replace them :) :)

Sorry about the Stella :)
To be fair if you hand wash any pans they stay looking good for ever.  Dishwashers are the devil :)

> Dishwashers are the devil

Only if you want non-stick pans really (and of course, never put good quality glass in one ) :)

> my current lecreuset dont go in the dishwasher

No - I've a very large Le Creuset frying pan which never sees the dishwasher :)

Le Creuset for large casserole type and flat 'buffet dish'.   I buy frying pans in France and expect to replace every 5 yrs or so - mostly cos someone in our house will use metal utensils!!  For saucepans it has to be Stella - I have a set, plus a few extras, that we had for our wedding 25 years ago and they are still perfect :)

That same person must come to our house too :)

Stella for me too
I have a set that are twenty years old and still perfectly servicable only thing is now the kids have left they are too big for just us two so maybe I will treat myself to a couple of smaller ones after christmas.

your steller ones are they all stainless steel or do they have non stick interiors ?

All stainless they are brilliant to clean if you do burn anything half an hour or so soaking and then they come good as new.

Thank you that has moved them up my list of possibles between le creuset ss and the steller 7000 range ( better price )

Mine are Stellar 1000 and I have 2 each of these sizes plus an extra big one

The only thing you but be careful of is putting salt into cold water (all ss pans).  My mother in law has done this with a couple of mine and I now have spots in the base of them - bloomin' woman!!

didnt know about salt and cold water presumable hot is fine then. Anyhow I dont use salt in cooking so it doesnt matter but doesnt mean to say others might
Thank you 1000 and the 7000 look simliar I think it is to decide what sizes I need

> and of course, never put good quality glass in one

or silver cutlery :)

> That same person must come to our house too :-)

:-D

> or silver cutlery

Stopped using that years ago - too much trouble :) :) :)

> Stopped using that years ago

.........since we let the butler go :-D

> .........since we let the butler go

LOL :) :) :)

Another thing to bear in mind is whether the handles are solid or hollow. I have both and the hollow handles are a pain as they get very hot which does not happen with the solid ones.
Another vote here for stellar had mine for ages and they always wash up well.

I have Le Creuset stainless steel saucepans (as well as cast iron casserole dishes, skillet etc) like these.  I got 4 peice set from Amazon for around £90 which was a steal (about a third of the RRP at the time) and all my casseroles and other Le Creuset stuff have been Amazon bargains.  They used to run promotions on them regularly...might still do but I have everything I need now so don't look any more.

The saucepans are only 3 or 4 years old but get heavy use.  Unlike Daisy, I am not so careful and have burnt stuff to them but they have always cleaned up really easily by hand or in the dishwasher.  I fully expect that they will last a lifetime as they're sturdy and fully stainless steel with solid handles so no knobs to get damaged and fall off.

I also got some Thomas ones recently when Tesco was running an offer on them.  It's too early to say how they'll stand the test of time but so far, they seem to conduct heat well and clean up easily.