American Kitchen 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set - Worth the Price and good versatility

After years of cooking with my cast iron(which I love)and flimsy non-stick pot/pans(which I hated),and hand me down mismatched piece(which I also hated lol) I finally decided to treat myself to a new complete set. I had no idea what to purchase. There are so many choices out there;non-stick,hard anodized,stainless steel,cooper,etc. I searched the web for facts,preferences,recommendations,and reviews. I looked&looked for months. Finally I decided I wanted to give stainless steel a try. I happened across this American Kitchen set. It seemed to have everything I was looking for. The fact that it's made in America was a huge plus. After a few weeks of procrastinating(I wasn't sure I wanted to spend $199 on a set)I decided to take the plunge. I found this set,new&unused,on another site. I got it for $100 with free shipping! I figured if it didn't hold up I'd only be out a few dollars. I was pleased from the moment I unpacked the pieces. They are very attractive. I love the brushed exterior on the pieces. The satin exterior looks very professional and doesn't show scratches as easily as I imagine a mirror finish would. The next thing that grabbed me was the weight of the pieces. They have a nice heft to them without being too heavy to handle. I had heard horror stories about any and everything sticking to stainless steel. Not having a dishwasher I was prepared to spend hours soaking and scrubbing my pans. Having used cast iron for the majority of my cooking it took me a couple of times to remember to use a lower heat setting on my gas stove top with this set. The first time cooked chicken was a complete disaster. It stuck like crazy. After following the directions included(which I should have read in the first place)and following advice about preheating the pieces for about three minutes THEN adding oil and letting that heat for an additional two minutes I didn't have a problem the next time I tried cooking something. Nothing stuck to the pieces with the stainless steel interior. I love the fact that I can use a lower heat when cooking. They all retain heat very nicely. I've cooked chili,soups,and sauces in the stock pot and find the leftovers are still warm when I go back for seconds(sometimes as long as an hour later). I love being able to make an omelette (without using any oil or butter) and have it slide right out of the pan!
Other pluses to buying this set(aside from quality&being made in the USA)is customer support. I've emailed with questions and received a response in 24 hrs or less! The warranty is great too.
I do recommend,as others have said,you invest in Bar Keeper's Friend to keep the pans/pots looking their very best. I've noticed some spotting when making pasta and such. Nothing too bad. Nothing that affects the use of the pieces but if you don't like spot/discolorations(I have some "Monk-isms" about things like that)a light sprinkling of BK'sF takes the spots right out. I've had the set since August and all the pieces look like new. Two other things about maitenance. First every two-three months you should 'season' the non-stick skillets with a little cooking oil. Add a tsp or two and use a soft paper towel to wipe. Second,I've heard some say they use non-stick spray in their pots/pans. From what I've read&been told that's not a good idea with any stainless steel pieces. That apparently causes a build up over time which damages the interior .

I recommend this set to anyone looking for dependable quality cookware. It's a wonderful starter set and makes me enjoy cooking all the more! I've heard people say that cooking with a good set makes all the difference. I never believed that until I bought this cookware. Since purchasing this I find that I look foward to getting in the kithcen.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the American Kitchen set. I love mine and am looking forward to having it for years to come. I'll be buying more pieces! 

Product Features

• Set includes 1- and 3-quart saucepans (each with lid); 3-quart saute pan with lid; 6-quart stockpot with lid; 8- and 10-inch nonstick skillets
• Biodegradable Eco-Satin nonstick finish made without PFOA, perfectly releases your food from the pan
• Professional grade stainless steel pan that's permanently bonded to a thick, pure aluminum disk
• Stay-cool stainless steel handles
• Oven safe up to 500 degrees F; hand wash only; limited lifetime warranty

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Green your kitchen as you enjoy effortless nonstick cooking with this 10-piece set of stainless steel cookware from American Kitchen, which features two nonstick skillets with American Kitchen's exclusive biodegradable Eco-Satin nonstick surface. This set includes 1- and 3-quart saucepans (each with lids), one 3-quart saute pan with lid, one 6-quart stockpot with lid, one 8-inch nonstick skillet, and one 10-inch nonstick skillet.

The cookware features a professional grade stainless steel pan that's permanently bonded to a thick, pure aluminum disk, and the skillets are lined with the innovative, biodegradable Eco-Satin nonstick finish in place of a standard PFOA nonstick surface (a chemical pollutant that is emitted during the production of traditional nonstick cookware). And you'll be able to reduce your carbon footprint as the pots and pans in this set are made in the U.S. at Regal Ware's West Bend, Wisconsin facility.

The skillets are safe to use on any cooking surface--including induction cooktops--and are oven-save up to 500 degrees F. They also feature stay-cool stainless steel handles. Avoid using metal utensils and abrasive cleaners or brushes on the nonstick skillets; hand washing is recommended. This cookset is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The packaging is made from 70 percent recycled materials and is 100 percent recyclable.

What's in the Box
1-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saute pan with lid, 6-quart stockpot with lid, 8-inch nonstick skillet, and 10-inch nonstick skillet