Customer Reviews

Swiss Diamond Cast-Aluminum Nonstick 8-Inch Fry Pan with Lid

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Over the years, my wife and I have tried all sorts of cookware. We have a good set of Calphalon stainless-steel cookware, but we've never mastered the art of cooking sticky dishes such as eggs without a non-stick pan. We've tried every type of non-stick pan we've encountered. Some are non-stick for a short time only before the surface gets mucked up. Our best Teflon pans, such as those by Calphalon, seem to remain non-stick for a very long time with careful cleaning, but recently we've learned that when heated, Teflon (PFOA) cookware outgases chemicals that are definitely not good for you. (An advisory committee has recommended that the EPA classify PFOA as a possible carcinogen.)

Swiss Diamond is PFOA-free and fantastically non-stick. We've used our two skillets extensively to cook eggs and to brown meat, and they look and work like new. Nothing sticks. Omelets are easy to prepare. Cleanup is a breeze. The lids have vents that can be opened or closed, a useful feature. The manufacturer says you can use metal utensils, but we've stuck with plastic, so I can't say how they'll hold up to contact with metal. I can't recommend Swiss Diamond cookware too highly. It is the stuff I've been looking for for decades.

We searched locally for an 8 inch frying pan with a lid. It didn't seem to us that we were trying to find anything obscure - yet, after looking in store after store, I finally decided to try Amazon. I was pleased to find both this one, as well as a more expensive one by Caphalon. I hemmed and hawed over whether I should get the more expensive pan, since I was was more familiar with the Caphalon name, but ultimately I bought this Swiss Diamond pan.

If you are indecisive like me, FEAR NOT. This pan is terrific and exceptionally well made. It's heavy - not at all flimsy. It feels just as well made as Magnalite or Caphalon. It very much resembles cast iron in the way it feels, too. For a small pan, it's surprisingly thick and heavy. The handle is solid and it cooks food beautifully. I highly recommend this item.

I heard about Swiss Diamond over on the food forum & was in need of a small nonstick "egg" pan.

The person loved their s.d. so much that I thought I'd give one a try. I guess I've had it about 3 months & use it every day. It browns food well, cooks evenly, & is a breeze to clean.

I have a big drawer full of All-Clad....which I love.....but a little nonstick pan like this DOES have it's uses in my kitchen.

I have to admit that I've been treating my new baby carefully even tho they say you don't have to. We'll see how it lasts over the long haul.

I'm thinking about getting the whole set. It's about the same price as a pan & a half of the All-Clad.

PS. I often read criticism about the use of n.s. cookware but I've noticed most cooks I've seen on tv use them for certain things.......including Julia Child & Jacques Pepin.

EDIT May 2010

I have been using this dandy little pan at least twice a day for over 9 months & still love it. I haven't experienced any flaking or chipping of the non-stick material but I don't use metal with it & hand wash. The clean-up is every easy.

Simply the best fry cookware...period! Cooking is fast, even, and nothing sticks. Clean-up is a breeze. Well made, great handle, see thru vent control lid is wonderful. Well worth the price. You will be pleased.

I've wasted money and risked my health buying inexpensive teflon frying pans - now that I've discovered Swiss Diamond pans, I can say never again!

Scramble eggs? rinse with water and scrape w/ silicone spatula!

Unless dish is very oily, just use hot water.

Frying eggs? Three eggs nickel size drop of oil Two eggs, dime size.

Buy the pan with the lid, you won't be sorry. To have the perfect tools for the pan, get a silicone spoon spatula. Treat yourself to an assortment of silicone spatulas, scrapers and spoon spatulas - (look for one piece handle-blades - no gunk inside blade)

I have been looking for non-stick frying pans that utilize cast aluminum. If you've ever cooked with cast aluminum, you'll agree with me that it's the only way to cook. On top of that, it's difficult to find frying pans with glass lids and plastic handles. Other items I've looked at expect you to cover the pan with a dinner plate while holding the handle with an oven mitt.

I was in heaven when I found these and am in heaven when I'm cooking. No burnt food. No weird hotspots. No sticking. No burnt hands when pouring out grease. And no peeling teflon. Then I found out about the lifetime warranty.

Need I say more???

Hands down the absolute best cookware Ive ever tried, and I LOVE to cook!

Ok so the debate about teflon getting hot and gassing off is scary. Swiss Diamond says they dont have the same problem as everyone else with the diamond coating, who really knows. The good news is that the diamonds really do work.

They say they transfer heat better...oh ya. I have to cook with lower heat, so for me that pretty much lessens the hot teflon scare.

The top of the skillet is just as hot as the bottom so the claim about heat transfer is true. Its amazing! They have the coating on the outside as well, I presume to transfer the heat quickly and uniformly.

They say diamonds are slick... for sure. I can fry and egg with no oil, well allmost none, and come out sunny side up without breaking.

Its thick, and cast. Pretty heavy, but thats a good thing for us. Its ok because the handle fits your hand. The vent is a great idea, and why anyone would make a lid you cant see thru doesnt get my hard earned buck!

I am sold on German power tools, and use nothing else but German or Japaneese tools. ( no that does not incude Chinese)

Now Im sold on Swiss cookware. I will still never use a metal utensil even if they say its ok, because I dont want down time for a new skillet!

I love this thing and would highly recomend it!

I find myself planning dinner on what I can cook in my new tool!!!

You will fall in love the minute you take it out of the box and hold it in your hand. Its so well made it just feels good, and you know it was worth every penny because its the last one you will have to buy!!

I have been cooking for over 40 years. I have tried many nonstick pans, and this is by far the best! When I was in the market for a new omelette pan last year, the salesperson at our favorite cooking supply store recommended Swiss Diamond. The price caused some hesitation, especially since the coating of the pans of the past had the tendency of flaking off. We have only been using this for one year, but it is used almost every day for 2 - 4 omelettes at a time (plus the assorted small sauteing tasks). It still looks brand new. Even my usually non-observant kids (26 & 21 - who have a bad habit of heavily using metal utensils and regularly burn things)have gushed over it. I also have the 11 inch fry pan. Great heat transfer, even cooking, crisps things wonderfully, a breeze to clean. I love this line and plan to get more.

Cutting through all the crap...

- The non-stick surface works very well, omellettes are a breeze with this

- The "diamond" marketing campaign appears to have been very effective, when it reality the non-stick surface is no different from Teflon, which is just a Dupont registered brand name for PTFE's. PTFE/Teflon is not a cause for concern up to 400F (some say up to 480F). I also have no reason to believe the surface is any more resilient to scratches, and if this gets scratched, be prepared to toss it out.

It's great for the few things I want non-stick for (like omellettes), but would I buy a whole set, and use it as everyday cookware? Absolutely not. I try to cook on cast iron when I can, then stainless steal, and then non-stick as a last resort.

VERY VERY VERY HAPPY WITH ALL THE SWISS DIAMOND PRODUCTS... ONLY COOKWARE I WILL PURCHASE........