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Monday, July 7th
T-fal began way back in 1954 by Marc Gregoire when he decided to try coating his wife's pans to see what would happen. The results surprised him and two years later he started the T-fal business to produce non-stick frying pans. He is said to be the first creator of non-stick cookware and started a revolution of ways to make cooking easier. The company has been in endless pursuit of new innovations ever since and, interestingly enough, also ended up inventing the first cordless iron.
5-layer technology
T-fal boasts that their cookware is 10x more resistant than other non-stick cookware sets because of their platinum 5-layer technology. It consists of an aluminum base, then 2 resistant layers, thermo-spot, and finally a non-stick finish layer. Aside from their non-stick line, T-fal also says they sell hard anodized cookware, ceramic, and stainless steel. We like that this company tries to cater to so many material options since people's preferences vary widely.
Major website issues
One thing about shopping online from T-fal that we don't love is their website. Everything is weirdly organized and getting a straightforward list of their cookware sets is like navigating a maze. Individual pots and pans are mixed in with sets, but everything is supposed to be separated by what materials things are made of. When we click "stainless steel” we're taken to a list of non-stick pans. In fact, regardless of how we try to narrow our search, we end up on the same page of 69 products. T-fal needs some serious back-end work to get their site functioning smoothly.
Small selection
From what we are able to find on T-fal's site, all their cookware comes either in black, gray, or red. When you click on a product you're interested in, you'll find that no price is listed. That's because T-fal doesn't even sell directly from their own website. Most pots and pans have a link saying that you can buy them from other retailers. One of their smallest sets is a black 2-piece fry pan set and their biggest one is a gray 20-piece set. Overall, there isn't a huge selection here and it appears the company is majorly downsizing their inventory from what it once was.
No return policy, but a lifetime guarantee
Since you can't buy T-fal products from the brand itself, they don't have a return policy listed on their website. If you decide to purchase their products elsewhere, the return policy would be directly through the retailer. However, there is a lifetime guarantee listed on T-fal's website saying that if your cookware needs replacing or repairs because of defective material, construction, or workmanship under normal use, you can contact their customer service department or website to get it taken care of.
Unimpressive ratings
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives T-fal a "C” rating, which we aren't very surprised or impressed by. T-fal does have customer ratings on their products, but most of them are from a few years ago. There are also very few reviews on each item, so we can't say they are extremely helpful. On top of this, most of them are average ratings at best, so it doesn't seem like T-fal makes the most top-of-the line products.
Skip T-fal
There are so many great options for buying cookware sets that we don't see why T-fal should be considered a top choice. You'll have to go out of your way to find a retailer who sells what you want from them and we don't gather that the cookware is high quality anyway. T-fal has earned the lowest ranking on our list.
Whether you're moving out on your own for the first time and need your own kitchen supplies, or you've run your cookware into the ground and are ready for a refresh, there are plenty of options online. When it comes down to it, though, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration when you buy a cookware set.
You'll want to think about the look and style, how many pieces it comes with, the price, the sizes, and especially the material it's made out of. With new technology and ways of cooking, there are a surprising amount of materials you can choose from when you're buying cookware. Non-stick cookware is popular because it makes it much less messy to cook high protein-containing foods like eggs, meat, and cheese.
You often don't need to use a non-stick spray and the cleanup is easy-peasy. However, as new knowledge is coming to light about health concerns from teflon coatings on non-stick pans and their inability to handle extremely high temperatures, people are looking for alternative types of cookware like stainless steel. There are lots of pros and cons with all types, so it's good to explore your options.
Most cookware sets come with anywhere between 3 and 12 pieces, so depending on how avid of a home chef you are, you can find a set that fits your needs. For most people, you'll at least want to find a good saucepan, skillet, and stockpot. If you're cooking for a big family or like to make multiple dishes at once, you'll likely be looking for a few saucepans and skillets in different sizes with lids for some or all of the pans. Buying cookware in a set rather than individually saves you money and also ensures that all your cookware matches (for your perfect kitchen TikTok!).
Browsing cookware sets online gives you the ability to compare the prices of similar items between brands, read customer reviews, and see all your options without having to go store-to-store. We also recommend taking the following things into consideration when you're buying cookware sets online:
Being able to easily cook food is important, so getting new cookware is exciting and refreshing. There is a wide variety of cookware sets available online today. Some are so pretty you'll want to leave them out as a decoration. We hope this information from our experts at Top Consumer Reviews helps you find exactly what you're looking for, so that you can get to work on your next delicious cuisine creation.
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