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Pros
full set, added grip on handles, lug handle on largest pan, oven safe to 200C
Cons
sometimes slow to respond to changes in temperature

What is the Lakeland stainless steel 5-piece pan set like to cook with?

These pans have a heavy base, so they stay in place when you’re cooking. The handles are comfortable and a good length. The silicone covers offer extra grip as well as heat protection. There are also some hanging holes in the handles for easy storage.

The non-stick coating on the milk pan and frying pan is very good; on all of our tests, the food slid out with total ease. We’d recommend washing the frying pan more thoroughly than usual before first use as we noticed a distinct hot plastic smell when cooking with it for the first time.

For ease, the pans are all dishwasher-safe, though Lakeland recommend hand-washing. On all tests, it was easy to remove any cooking residue with a quick wipe of a soapy cloth.

Results

We filled the largest saucepan and brought it to a boil for our pasta. The water came to a steady rolling boil quickly and it was clear to see that the pan was boiling evenly. After adding the pasta and popping the lid on top, the pan did not boil over and bubbled away gently for the full 10 minutes cooking time.

We cooked scrambled eggs in the smallest saucepan and did so with ease. The pan is gently curved at the base, this allowed us to reach right into the corners to ensure all of the egg was fully incorporated. We did find, however, that the eggs became slightly overcooked as the pan heats up quickly and continues to do so even when the desired temperature has been reached.

The milk pan was used to cook porridge. First, we brought the milk to a gentle boil then added in our oats. This cooked in a steady and controlled manner, producing soft and hearty bowl of porridge. As expected, some milk stuck to the pan, but a short soak soon loosened it up.

Caramelised onions were cooked in the medium pan. We cooked them on a low heat to allow them to soften slowly. The pan did a fantastic job and nothing stuck.

We tested out the non-stick frying pan too. It’s only 24cm wide, so it may not be suited to larger families, but the non-stick coating was effective. We cooked an omelette and American pancakes in the pan. Both dishes were cooked through, but the outside was a little patchy.

Conclusion

This stainless steel set from Lakeland is a brilliant set that kits you out with the essentials. It’s ideal for students or if you’re stocking your own new home. Although the pans aren’t non-stick, very little stuck to them when we were cooking. The pans don’t have the largest capacity, nor does the frying pan, so we’d recommend the set to one or two people.

Specifications

Size of pans: 14cm milkpan, 16, 18 and 20cm saucepans, 24cm frying pan
Non-stick coating: yes milk pan and frying pan, no saucepans
Material: Stainless steel
Induction compatible: yes
Oven safe: yes to 200C

Saucepan recipes

Top 10 store cupboard pasta ideas
Cheese sauce
Vegan chilli
Chicken madras
Spiced carrot and lentil soup
Homemade custard
Vanilla panna cotta

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