An Australian cooking fanatic said splashing more than $1,000 on “premium” cookware was one of the biggest kitchen mistakes he’s made — and he ended up replacing it with affordable pans from IKEA.
Sydney cook Kosta Xirodimas told Yahoo Lifestyle he ditched his IKEA cookware for an expensive Baccarat set, convinced the higher price tag would mean better performance.
“We bought a place, and I was so excited to spend money on new things for it,” Kosta said.
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“I spent $900 for a nine-piece set and then maybe $150 for an additional pot on sale —what a waste.”
Consumer group CHOICE recently found some IKEA cookware performed just as well — and in some cases better — than products costing hundreds more.
Within a few days of using the luxe, but weighty, kitchenware, Kosta agreed.
“They were too heavy when I was scrubbing them. They looked pretty, but I’ve chipped the stone with one,” he revealed.
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Kosta ended up going back to IKEA to restock after 'wasting' a pretty penny on expensive kitchenware.
(Supplied)He promptly went back to IKEA and spent a fraction of the price buying everything he needed for his kitchen from the 365+ stainless steel range.
“I have a couple of pots and two frying pans,” he said.
“They’re easier to clean, and when you heat them up properly, they don’t stick.”
He now has a 28cm frying pan, a 5L pot, and a sautee pan that cost $25 each.
Should I buy cookware from IKEA?
CHOICE looked into what was on offer at IKEA to see what was worth spending money on and what was worth skipping.
The company’s cookware range fell into that former category
“IKEA might not be the first place you’d think of to buy a good frypan or Dutch oven, but maybe it should be,” the consumer group said, adding that some pots and pans “really impressed” their kitchen experts.
This nine-piece IKEA set is only $99.
“A cheapo non-stick frypan from the Swedish shop outscored pans from fancy brands that cost hundreds of dollars more, and a $99 IKEA cast-iron Dutch oven only just missed out on being recommended by our experts by one percentage point.”
In a separate test, CHOICE put dozens of pots and pans costing $14 to $500 to the test and found, once again, that price wasn’t indicative of quality.
Four of the lowest-rated saucepans were $200 or more.
CHOICE explained that the more expensive cookware will typically have thicker bases, oven-safe handles, and may be dishwasher safe - but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a better-cooked dish.
“It is possible to get great performance without cooking your credit card,” it said.
Popular chef raves about IKEA cookware
Earlier this year, RecipeTin Eats author Nagi Maehashi praised her $29 Hemkomst 28cm pan and called it the perfect "all-rounder" for basic cooking needs.
She stopped buying $300 pans years ago after discovering how good IKEA’s were.
" does the job just as well , lasts just as long, and is a fraction of the price," she said.
RecipeTin Eats' Nagi Maehashi praised IKEA's non-stick cookware and said their some of her most-used items in the kitchen.
"Works well on induction. Oven-proof. Steep sides for max flat base searing area. My most-used pan."
Philip Johnson, chef and owner of E’cco Bistro, also told Good Food he initially copped suspicion in his kitchen when he brought in his Hemkomst pan.
"One of the chefs asked where I got it and I said, 'IKEA'," he said.
"You could see he was thinking, 'That won’t last'. Six months later, he was still using it."
What cookware can you buy at IKEA?
IKEA’s 365+ stainless steel range was designed to be easy-to-use cookware that could be utilised every day.
There’s a 28cm frying pan for just $25, and many shoppers have praised it for being “sturdy” and the “perfect size.”
There’s also a non-stick version of the same size for just $19.
There’s a 2L saucepan for $15, and a 1L version for just $12. You can also get a nine-piece set, which is five pots and four lids, for $99.
“Lots of people say they’d never have thought of going to IKEA,” Kosta told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“The pans that I bought in January still look brand new, and the ones I got in 2020 do too.”
IKEA has other cookware outside the 365+ range, including $39 cast iron pans and $9 pots.
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