Mirro 7-Pc. Cookware Set - Great Gift Idea (Mother's Day Write-Off)
Written: May 09 '04 (Updated May 24 '04)
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Pros: Nonstick, inexpensive, makes a nice gift.
Cons: Not high quality, but not bad for the price.
The Bottom Line: These are inexpensive pans, and though they are not high quality, they should last quite a while if properly cared for. Makes a nice gift. Please see updates at bottom
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| kelly60's Full Review: Mirro 7-Pc. Cookware Set |
One of the gifts I got for Mother's Day this year was the Mirro 7-Pc. Cookware Set. I helped my younger boys pick this out from a clearance sale at Walmart, where it had been discounted to only $7 for the 7 piece set of pans. This box also contained 2 bonus utensils, although these don't come with every pan set.
Inside the box was a paper with directions for proper care of these pans, along with the following items.
10" Fry Pan
1 Quart Sauce Pan
2 Quart Sauce Pan
5 Quart Dutch Oven
3 lids, one for each of the sauce pans, plus one that fits both the frying pan and the dutch oven.
Packed in mine were also a plastic serving spoon and spatula, although as I mentioned earlier, these do not come with this pan set except in specially marked boxes.
The pans are made by Mirro, makers of America's best selling cookware. They are made of lightweight aluminum, for quick heating. This also means that they will never rust. Each pan has a nonstick coating to help prevent your food from sticking to your pans. You should always use caution with nonstick pans, using only utensils designed for use in this type of pans. As with all nonstick pans, sharp objects or metal utensils should never be used on these pans. Plastic, rubber, wooden, or similar utensils should be used instead to avoid damaging the nonstick surface.
Although I have used these pans very little so far, they seemed to heat quickly and evenly during the use they have gotten so far. Mirro recommends conditioning the pans the first time you use them. To do this, you just wipe them down with a little shortening or cooking oil before using them. This only needs to be done the first time you use them though.
Mirro recommends that you do not use medium-high or high heat when browning or frying foods to prevent warping, staining, scorching, burning and damage to the nonstick surface. They state that low to medium heat is recommended, with the exception of using high heat to bring water to a boil. I have not had to adjust my cooking techniques to these pans though, because I generally do not fry foods on high heat anyway.
In addition to stovetop cooking with these pans, their black plastic handles are oven safe to 350 degrees. Just don't put them under the broiler, or preheat the oven while the pan is in it. During preheating the temperature may exceed 350 degrees.
You should also avoid drastic temperature changes with these pans. It could cause warping if you take the hot pan from the stove and placing it on a cold surface. Since you will want to keep your pans in good shape as long as possible, you should allow them to cool before placing them on a cold surface or immersing them in cool water.
Cleanup was easy as well, just wash in hot soapy water before using and after every use. If something does happen to get stuck onto these pans, you can use a non-abrasive pad or nylon mesh puff to scrub it loose. Never use any product that is not recommended for nonstick surfaces.
Although they are dishwasher safe, it is recommended that you hand was them because the exterior finish can be dulled by long term exposure to concentrated dishwashing detergents. These detergents may also reduce the effectiveness of the nonstick coatings on your pans. Hand washing these items can help to increase the life of your pans.
The Mirro 7-Pc. Cookware Set is warranted for one year against defects in workmanship or materials. If any of the pans become defective within the warranty period, they will replace it free of charge once it is returned to the company. You will need to pay postage to send it to them, but they will pay the return postage. Of course the warranty does not cover damage to the product resulting from misuse, accidents, or alteration of the product. It also doesn't cover discoloration or damage to the nonstick surface caused by misuse, warping, burning, scratching, staining, etc. You should send any defective items back to the company along with a note explaining the problem. Returned items should be sent to:
Mirro/Wearever Consumer Returns
2893 West Fair Avenue
Lancaster, OH 43130
These pans are easy to find at most department stores, hardware stores, and supermarkets. Mine came from Walmart, but I have seen them at many other stores as well. They come packaged in a nice box, easy for gift giving. I think they make a nice gift for new homeowners, college students, or even as an extra set of pans for anyone.
I do want to leave you with a few words of caution however. These pans, like any nonstick pans can emit fumes if left unattended and extremely overheated. These fumes can be deadly to birds. It is best to keep your birds away from the kitchen and always provide good ventilation for your birds.
This review is part of the Mother's Day Write-Off hosted by Dionne25.
UPDATE 5/24/04
I've been using these pans regularly for a couple of weeks now, and my Mom's have had about 5-6 years of regular use. I often help her with dinner when we visit, so I have used her pans quite a bit.
With proper care, her pans have held up nicely to regular use. I think the trick is to not use the dishwasher to clean them. I know that many people throw them in with the rest of the dishes, but this will ruin the non-stick surface after a while.
How to Care for and Maintain Non-Stick Cookware.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 7 on sale
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kelly60
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Member: Kelly
Location: Northern Michigan, USA
Reviews written: 364
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