Customer Reviews

Farberware 50049 Classic Stainless Steel 15-Piece Cookware Set

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am reviewing this cookware set having owned & used it for ~6 months. At first glance, this set seems to be very well reviewed; however if you read the reviews closely, it will become apparent that many of them are for older versions of Farberware sets (e.g. "I've owned mine for 27 years...", etc. (!)) Such reviews are very helpful in giving us a concept of the quality of Farberware from 1980, but they are unfortunately irrelevant to the quality of this set. I bought this set aware of said discrepancy, but was hoping that quality had been maintained, a good manufacturer in the past probably being a good one now, etc. etc. This was an error. As it has been noted, the pans' bases are not stainless steel, but rather aluminum that is quite far from stainless. The nonstick coating on said pans is beginning to separate from the pan in several small but spreading points (as I only use plastic spatulas/spoons/etc. to cook with, this is not an issue of user error). I have no complaint with the pots, but at the current rate I will require new pans after about one year of ownership. Whether such an investment is wise I leave as an exercise for the reader, but in my opinion it would be better to spend more initial money on a better quality, wholly stainless steel cookware set.

On another note, I would implore Amazon reviewers to refrain from writing nostalgic reviews of archaic versions of current products.

We're happy with our 20-year-old Farberware stainless steel cookware, pre-dating the stainless steel capped base. The interiors are still like new. The lids are shiny and dent-free. The handles are faded, but remain tight with an occasional turn of a screw. We use it everyday.

We are equally pleased with the newer "Classic" pieces, especially with the added weight and improved appearance of the capped bases. We bought the 15-piece set, giving us some redundant pieces but at a better price than buying fewer pieces individually.

We like stainless steel for several reasons: It cooks well. We can use metal utensils. It lasts for decades. It's dishwasher safe without consequence. It looks good. It's heavy enough. It cleans up easily. (For occasional stuck on food, we simply blot out what's loose, add water, and bring to a boil. After a few seconds, the stuck on food wipes off easily.)

There's pricier cookware available, some with aluminum cores that extend up the sides of the pan, some with copper clad bases, some with handles rated to 500 degrees, some made of anodized aluminum, and some so heavy you can use it as part of your fitness program. After years of no-complaints with our Farberware Classic stainless steel, we can't see paying the premium prices for anything else. We don't use our cookware in the oven, so we're okay with our 350-degree handles.

One complaint with the set: The non-stick skillets are 100% ALUMINUM with a PLAIN exterior and NO heavy base cap. Per Farberware's own website (caps added for emphasis): "Aluminum stains easily and reacts with certain foods. A nonstick interior and PORCELAIN OR NONSTICK EXTERIOR prevents staining and food reaction. Nonstick aluminum is dishwasher safe. A PLAIN AUMINUM EXTERIOR may discolor in the dishwasher."

We use stainless steel for most of our cooking, but still prefer non-stick skillets for some things. We'd like the skillets in this set better if they at least had an exterior finish on them.

Follow-up: We gave away the aluminum skillets from this set and bought a set of Cuisinart stainless steel non-stick skillets to use alongside our collection of Farberware stainless steel.

Farberware classic is great -- an inexpensive yet equally functional alternative to the very expensive pots & pans. Note: recently Farberware reduced its quality, in that older Farberware pots & pans had their thick aluminum base completely encased within a stainless steel shell. The newer pots & pans have the aluminum base attached to the bottom, but not encased within a stainless steel bottom. So, their quality is less than it was; most people who "grew up with Farberware" may not realize this. Farberware used to hold the patent on the technique of having the aluminum base CURVE up the side of the pan -- they no longer do this, and are the same as many other manufacturers.

After receiving our new set of pots, both my husband and I have remarked about the nice weight of them and how easily they clean. We love our new pots. We feel we received an excellent set of pots for the money we spent.

This set gets a single star rating because it is the lowest allowed - not because it is THAT good!

I purchased this set from Kohl's and returned it after realizing that the interior bottom of the 4 qt. saucepot was pitting and staining after 3 uses. I began to make soup and the pot seemed to react to boiling some kale - very peculiar for stainless (?) steel cookware. Have never had a problem with my "Made in the USA" Farberware which is why I purchased this set without hesitation. I notice that a couple other reviewers have had the same or similar problems.

Luckily I still have my old pieces and I will try to find the additional sizes that I need either used or new that are made in this country. I am really disgusted that Farberware is now made in China! I understand that companies do this because it labor cheaper, but that doesn't seem to translate into lower consumer prices - go figure! Perhaps if more of us bought US Made whenever possible, we would see some changes and better quality.

We were so impressed with both price and quality of our Farberware 15 piece cooking set, we bought two more sets for our children and their families. Our daughter-in-law recently commented about how easy they are to clean and that it is a much better built pan set than the set given to them on their wedding that cost around $500.00!

Very nice Farberware set and with Amazon's price, you can't go wrong! Nice deep skillets...plenty of pots with lids...stainless bowls are not too large. Very happy with this set!

THE FARBERWARE WAS GREAT. AND THE SERVICE WAS JUST AS GREAT, DOING BUSINESS WITH AMAZON WAS EASY AND I WILL CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS WITH AMAZON.

My family has used Farberware pots for generations - my grandmother would purchase a set for every bride to be. My mother's 30 year old set still looks great. However, the new Farberware no longer has the quality of days gone by. I followed directions exactly and still, from the 1st use of each pot, the (inside) bottoms discolored & have tiny pit marks. The outside of the pots gleam providing you dry them well immediately after washing. I'm sorry to say I won't be buying or recommending Farberware Classic again.

in 1967 we bought a set of farberware pots, our first new pots as newlyweds- 41 yrs later we are replacing the originals, but the originals are being used by a young man setting up his first apartment- these pots took us thru many years of dinners raising a family and that starter set had many extra's added= like roasting pan, chicken fryer, mixing bowls- at 75 yrs old i am enjoying the new set nice and shiny and helping a young man as well