“They have fully clad tri-ply Cuisinart and Calphalon for $20-40.”
Check out TJ Maxx online. They have fully clad tri-ply Cuisinart and Calphalon for $20-40. They are the best value in terms of longevity/price. Avoid the stuff with a disc on the bottom, they are not BIFL. If you want a matching set of the same brand and series, check back every few weeks and build out your set. Avoid anything with a celebrity chef endorsement. Aim for "classic tri-ply". unethical LPT... Order $100 for free shipping on TJ Maxx, even if you only want a $20 pan. Return the rest to the store, unopened. Cheap and unethical. Personally, I feel matching sets are all very pretty, but limiting. A mixture of materials - stainless saucepans, stainless sauté pan, 10" cast iron skillet, carbon steel omelette pan is a good start. Curate your cookware. - Tri-ply saucepan and sauté - TJ Maxx - Lodge skillet - Amazon, Target or a hardware store - Small Carbon steel - track the prices on Amazon, with camelcamelcamel. Do not buy at full price. They will be discounted. Don't be scared of buying from Amazon warehouse. People often return them if they have a scratch or slight rust, which easily cleans off. The French stuff (Matfer, mineral b) is better than Lodge's carbon steel.