Costco Connection - August 2010

Kirkland Signature 15-piece hard-anodized cookware set.

quality and value remain constant within Costco’s private-label cookware program.

Kirkland Signature cookware has been made by the same manufacturer (now the world’s second largest) since 1994.

;e factory continues to be one of the most advanced in the industry, with attention to detail by proud artisan employees. For example, only 12 handcra;ed and hand-polished handles are made per day per employee, and a single pan takes up to two weeks to make.

Kirkland Signature cookware meets or exceeds the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration, the Cookware Manufacturers Association and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

NSF approval means Kirkland Signature pots and pans will not trap food, can be easily cleaned, are corrosion resistant and do not impart color, odor, taste or harmful contaminants to food. All restaurant cookware must have NSF certification, but few cookware lines sold at traditional retailers, including high-priced gourmet cookware brands, are NSF certi;ed.

COSTCO’S KIRKLAND SIGNATURE 6-quart, enameled cast-iron Dutch oven is a double treat, with a rich red porcelain enamel finish and a $49.99 price tag. (Its 5.5-quart French cousin sells for up to $235 in fancy gourmet shops.)

Cast-iron Dutch ovens are the ultimate slow cooker. They are great for making soups, simmering sauces and braising meats, and easily transition from stovetop to oven (including induction) to table. (The knobs on Kirkland Signature Dutch ovens have been upgraded to stainless steel—oven safe to 500 degrees—unlike the less heat-tolerant, standard black resin knobs.)

But know this: Even the most highly priced porcelain enamel pot may chip over time. This is why Costco includes rim clips for added storage protection.

This special delight arrives at the beginning of October in warehouses and at Costco.com. Squirrel away a couple for holiday gifts.—PV

Kirkland Signature’s limited-edition Dutch treat

TOM CLEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY

straight-sided look, a steamer insert for the new 3-quart saucepan, domed lids with wider and taller easy-grip handles and skillets with higher walls for fewer spills.

Signi;cant material upgrades were also made to the commercial-grade, 15-piece Kirkland Signature hard-anodized nonstick aluminum set.

Costco specs require the most advanced nonstick system available. ;is is why titanium bonding is now built in. It further protects the pans against scratches.

I conducted the fried-egg test to con;rm these superior nonstick properties. With the 8.5-inch skillet heated to medium and no oil added, a sunny-side-up cooked egg released with barely a ;ick of my rubber spatula. ;ere was no residue le; in the pan. ;e egg tasted pure and fantastic.

;e ultra-smooth and bu;ed hard-anodized exterior is far less porous than standard anodized cookware. Handles are hollow-core 18/10 stainless steel with built-in stylish gray, so;-grip, stay-cool silicone (oven-safe to 400 degrees) inserts. Rivets and lids continue their 18/10 stainless steel excellence.

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y

o 8.5-inch skillet heated to medium and no oil sd m . was no residue le; in the pan. ;e egg tasted

IRIDIO PHO TOGRAPH Y

Costco’s latest generation

I’m particularly enamored of the multiple-use stainless steel 4-quart chef’s casserole pot and hard-anodized nonstick 12-inch skillet. Both have dual handles for quick stove-to-table and stovetop-to-oven (up to 400 degrees for hard-anodized and 500 degrees for stainless steel) meals.

;e mirror-polish-;nished, commercial-grade Kirkland Signature 13-piece stainless steel set (including pots, pans, lids, stay-cool handles, non-discoloring rivets and steamer insert) is made of easy-to-maintain 18/10 stainless steel. (Using only 18/10 for all pieces is something many brands don’t do.)

;e weighty ;ve-ply base is composed of two layers of stainless steel, two layers of aluminum and a copper core sandwiched in the middle. It’s also magnetic, making induction cooking possible.

Improvements include a contemporary

The price is right

Erin notes, “Our cookware epitomizes
Costco: high quality at a great value. ;ere’s
simply no question—this cookware, with its
attention to detail and professional-grade mate-
rials, is the best value o;ered at under $200.”
;e 15-piece Kirkland Signature hard-
anodized nonstick features its lowest price
since 2003, at $149.99. Ten-piece sets of com-
parable quality sell for $600. ;e price of the
Kirkland Signature 13-piece stainless steel set
also dropped, from $189.99 to $169.99. Many
similar 10- to 13-piece sets cost up to $499.
Prices are guaranteed only until the end of
January 2011. (If you’re still not sure which set
is right for you, buy both. With prices this low,
you can’t go wrong.)

Compare Kirkland Signature and the competition

Kirkland Signature 6-quart enameled Dutch oven Department store Le Creuset 5.5-quart round French oven Gourmet store Le Creuset 5.5-quart round Dutch oven