Stainless steel has long been the pan material of choice for professional chefs and now it can be yours too from as little as £11.99 with Lidl's shiny new cookware range.
Available in stores from Sunday the 12th of April, the range consists of frying pans and larger stockpots, all of which are non-toxic in their construction, which means they're free from traditional non-stick coatings.
As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I've had the lucky job of testing the best cookware over the last few years and I think stainless steel is a great pick for those who are serious about levelling up their cooking, but I haven't seen this type of cookware available quite so cheaply.
For our guide to the best frying pans and saucepan sets, we've tried picks from Made In, Le Creuset and many other high-end picks – here's how Lidl's alternatives shape up alongside them.
Suitable for all hob types and dishwasher safe, this stainless steel pan is oven safe up to 250°C and can be yours for less than £15.
Our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue recently tried Made In's stainless steel cookware set in her review – she called the set 'pricey, but it's an investment in reliably sturdy cookware that’s well made and should last a lifetime'
Helen also put this Le Creuset set to the test recently and I had the chance to try out the brand's frying pan too – the quality of every piece is really something to behold.
This range from Lidl consists of four pans, a stainless steel sieve set and a range of food containers in the same material.
If you're in the market for a frying pan, the smallest and most affordable offering is the Premium Stainless Steel Frying Pan 24cm, which will set you back £12.99. If you're cooking in bigger batches, then there's a 28cm version too for just £2 more.
Onto the stockpots, which are available in a 2.5 litre or 5 litre size and come with glass lids. They also have litre markings on the inside as well as pouring rims to make draining the contents much easier. The larger pot is available for £16.99 while the smaller is £11.99.
The base thickness of the stockpots is 6mm, and as with the frying pans, they are compatible with any type of hob and the pieces are also dishwasher safe.
In general, one of the biggest benefits of stainless steel cookware is its resilience, with the material offering a sturdiness that can survive even the hottest of temperatures. But its not without its learning curve, especially if you're used to using pans with non-stick coatings.
The advice from our expert reviewer Helen McCue is to use all of the resources you can to get clued up before you use your stainless steel pans for the first time – whether that's via YouTube or your favourite cookbook.
If you're wondering about the difference between Lidl's stainless steel pans and Le Creuset's and Made In's (as well as the relative RRPs), the distinction is in the amount of stainless steel you're getting for your spend.
Take Le Creuset's 3-ply frying pan, for example. Not only does it have a stainless steel core throughout its base but within its entire construction, including in the sides. Lidl's by comparison only has an encapsulated base of stainless steel, where the heat will mostly gather.
Given the price difference between the two, that difference in quality is to be expected – and that's not to say that Lidl's version can't do a solid job in your kitchen when used correctly. Unless you're frying ultra delicate foods, the difference might not be too obvious to your eye.
Also in the range over at Lidl is stainless steel food containers, the perfect pairing if you're going pick up those bargain pans. You can pick up a set of them for just £6.99 – a total bargain – with the huge added bonus of the lunchboxes being microwave safe (without their lids on).
I'm about to try one of Black&Blum's meal prep sets (available from £29.95) to see if it's worth making the swap to the stainless steel material over glass containers (which I love, but which can be seriously annoying to lug around).
Once I left behind plastic containers for non-toxic options, there was no going back for me, so if you're looking for a budget way to make a change, then Lidl's set might be worth a look in.
If it's non-toxic kitchenware you're after, these affordable picks could be the place to make a start!
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