For professional chefs and beginning home cooks alike, one common element is the difference between culinary success and a kitchen nightmare: cookware. The cookware you choose can make or break every dish that you send out of your kitchen. If you are a beginning home cook or a chef on a budget, Blue Diamond cookware has high-quality options to help you cook like a master.
Stocking your kitchen from the ground up is easy with the Blue Diamond Cookware Diamond-Infused 10-Piece Set. It’s a great choice for home cooks who are just getting set up.
What to know before you buy Blue Diamond cookware
Materials
Blue Diamond cookware wraps an aluminum pan in a high-quality Thermolon coating infused with thousands of quartz-like diamonds that create a hard, durable surface that is designed to last. This material results in good conductivity for even, consistent heating.
Maintenance
As with most nonstick pans, Blue Diamond cookware does best when it is hand-washed after each use. In fact, washing your pans in the dishwasher can break down the nonstick coating and cause it to lose its slipperiness over time.
Wait for the pans to cool before washing in hot water with mild detergent. Dry completely before storing your pans. They can be nested inside each other, but take care not to bang sharp metal edges into the nonstick surface.
Cooking style
If you are starting off with just one or two pieces of Blue Diamond cookware, take your cooking style into consideration. If you are fond of slow braises and rich stews, start off with a Dutch oven or large stock pot. Saturday-morning pancake chef? Grab a couple of frying pans and make some omelets while you’re at it.
Blue Diamond cookware features
Oven safe
A major drawback of nonstick cookware is that it is not generally oven safe at high temperatures or under broilers. Blue Diamond cookware is one of the few brands that offers nonstick performance and safety in the oven and under the broiler up to 600 degrees.
Keep in mind that lids for Blue Diamond cookware are only oven safe to 350 degrees.
Free from chemicals
The diamond-infused nonstick ceramic coating of Blue Diamond cookware is free from chemicals that might leach into food. This means no PTFE, lead, cadmium or PFOA. The absence of these chemicals is what allows cooks to utilize high temperatures without worry.
Superior heat conduction
Blue Diamond cookware’s superior diamond-infused non-stick ceramic coating is more durable and conducts heat better than other traditional non-stick coating. This makes creating culinary masterpieces even easier.
Solid construction
Blue Diamond cookware is known for solid construction. This includes precision-riveted handles and well-designed glass lids that also have handles riveted on. Attention to detail and a commitment to creating a high-quality product means that your Blue Diamond cookware will typically last twice as long as other nonstick cookware brands.
Blue Diamond cookware cost
Blue Diamond’s durable, high-performance cookware is some of the most affordable on the market today. Purchase a couple of frying pans for just under $40, or outfit your entire kitchen for less than $250.
Blue Diamond cookware FAQ
How do you get good results with Blue Diamond?
A. One thing that professional chefs understand very clearly is that your pans need to be used correctly in order to function as they should. The same holds true for Blue Diamond cookware.
For best results and maximum nonstick performance, try these following tips:
Use a burner size that matches the bottom of the pan.
If you are cooking on a gas stove, do not allow the flame to lap the side of the pan.
Bring refrigerated food to room temperature before cooking.
Add a small amount of butter or oil to the pan and allow to heat up.
Add food to the pan and do not move it until it’s ready to be flipped.
Over time, all nonstick cookware will naturally lose its nonstick properties. Because Blue Diamond cookware does not use chemicals in its coating, you can continue to use it as a coated ceramic pan.
Does Blue Diamond make cookware for bakers?
A. Yes. Blue Diamond carries a full line of bakeware including muffin tins, loaf pans, layer cake pans, baking sheets and much more.
Which Blue Diamond cookware should I get?
Best of the best Blue Diamond cookware
Blue Diamond Cookware Diamond-Infused 10-Piece Set: available at Amazon and Kohl’s
Our take: This 10-piece set is the most affordable way to stock your kitchen with Blue Diamond cookware.
What we like: This complete set of kitchen cookware contains frying pans, a saute pan with cover, stock pot and saucepan. A nylon spatula and ladle are also included. Clear glass lids allow you to see what’s cooking, and riveted metal handles are secure and easy to work with.
What we dislike: You will need a glove for hot handles, and these pans do not work on induction cooktops.
Best bang for your buck Blue Diamond cookware
Blue Diamond Cookware Frying Pan Set: available at Amazon and Kohl’s
Our take: These two frying pans can cover a lot of ground in the kitchen.
What we like: The set of two frying pans features one 11-inch pan and one 9-inch pan. They feature the same high-quality, high-performance nonstick coating of all Blue Diamond cookware, easily releasing everything from delicate crepes to sturdy grilled cheese.
What we dislike: The 11-inch size might be too big for smaller kitchens. The metal handles get hot on the stove.
Honorable mention Blue Diamond cookware
Blue Diamond Cookware Dutch Oven, 5 1/2 Quarts: available at Amazon
Our take: If you need a hefty, well-built Dutch oven, this 5 1/2-quart piece will do the trick.
What we like: The domed top allows you to fit an entire chicken or large roast for slow cooking in this Dutch oven. It’s lighter than enameled cast iron, making it easier to maneuver in and out of the oven.
What we dislike: The lid is only oven safe to 350 degrees. This is best for slow cooking at low temperatures.
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Suzannah Kolbeck is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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