at under $200 out there in the categories colander/steamer insert and high-domed
offered. Where else can you find this combi- stainless steel lids. Particularly nice for cooks
nation of attention to detail and beauty, the who fry or sauté on high heat are the thicker-
strength of superior stainless and the excep- gauge aluminum skillets included in the set.
tional heat conductivity of a five-ply alu- The exterior surfaces have been polished for
minum and copper core? These pans will last scratch resistance and are far less porous
forever.” (Pat’s note: Monthly production is than standard anodized cookware.
limited, so buy this set when you see it.) I walked (make that crawled) away from
the International Housewares Show feeling
Aluminum: versatile, affordable more confident than ever with Costco’s excep-
For more casual cooks, or those with tional housewares program. Rest assured, no
families where seconds on the stove are typi- stone is left unturned in the company’s quest
cal, the most common cookware material, for top-of-the-line cookware offered at excep-aluminum, maybeideal. tional values and bearing the Kirkland
Aluminum is noted for being slower to Signature name. The term “going the extra
heat and cool off. Of all the aluminum pans on mile” has never sounded so accurate! IC
the market, hard-anodized, nonstick aluminum
cookware is the most durable. Hard
anodization is an electrochemical process
that greatly strengthens aluminum. If a
nonstick coating is added, hard-anodized
aluminum becomes three times more
durable than plain nonstick aluminum.
Dear Pat ... what a
great value!
Dear Pat,
For Christmas my sweet husband decided to secretly purchase “the best set
of pots and pans he could find” and ended
up purchasing a 10-piece copper set. It
was quite an investment, and I was totally
surprised and very pleased to finally have
some quality cookware.
However, we were soon sadly disappointed, so I returned them and purchased
the Kirkland Signature 13-piece stainless
steel set.
The Costco set far surpasses the quality
of anything else I’ve ever seen! At just
under $200 it’s such an incredible value
that I’ve told several of my friends. The
unique curvy style is unmatchable, and the
heavy quality of the pans is just awesome!
This has definitely confirmed to me that
Costco doesn’t put their name on anything
that’s less than the best, and that the
Kirkland Signature “house brand” is the
one to trust!
Thank you, Costco, for making wise
decisions for members.
Seriously cooking,
Brijet Miller
Nokesville, Virginia
(member at the Manassas Costco)
Costco cooks the competition
If you’re a fan of aluminum cookware,
Costco’s Kirkland Signature 15-piece
anodized set is an excellent choice. The hard-anodized, professional-quality pots and pans
feature an ultra-smooth exterior and cast
18/10 stainless steel handles, and a nonstick
surface that is scratch resistant, nonporous
and nonreactive. With its advanced multiple reinforced nonstick technology from
DuPont™, the set offers a superior nonstick
surface with outstanding releasability (no
more prying chicken off the bottom of the
pan) and ease of cleaning.
Kirkland Signature hard- Leading brand-name
Features anodized nonstick set commercial nonstick set
Pan exterior • Ultra-smooth, hard-anodized • Hard-anodized
Pan interior •Nonstick (DuPont Technology) •Nonstick (generic)
Warranty • Lifetime • Limited lifetime
Oven-safe • To 550°F • To 450°F
Lids • Stainless steel • Tempered glass
Set count •
15 pieces •
12 pieces
Price per set • $149.99 • $804.00*
If purchased separately • $1,235.00
* Price based on an online survey taken in February 2003.
The 15-piece set features all the key
pieces of an expanded cookware set—and
some Costco “extras”: a stainless steel pasta
Do you have a question for The Connection’s Buying Smart reporter, Pat Volchok? Contact her at:
buyingsmart@costco.com
