In this Complete Guide to Curtis Stone Cookware, we will be looking at who Curtis Stone is, how he became a successful tv celebrity chef, and whether or not his cookware is as notable as his career. Let’s see what Chef Curtis Stone has to offer.

Who is Curtis Stone?

Curtis Stone was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975. He worked at several restaurants in Australia till he decided to take cooking more seriously. When he made this decision at the young age of 18, he moved to London to work at one of London’s most famous hotels, the Savoy Hotel.

From there, he moved on to Cafe Royal to cook under the world-famous Marco Pierre White. Under White’s tutelage, he became the head chef of White’s Quo Vadis. While working at Quo Vadis, Chef Stone was part of a book on the finest chefs of London when a tv agent took notice of him. They asked him to make appearances on a few daytime British tv shows.

Chef Stone made his television break when he was asked to host the show Surfing the Menu. The show was located in his homeland of Australia and was co-hosted with Ben O’Donoghue.

The success of this show allowed Stone to make the jump from chef to tv chef. 

Over the next decade or so, Curtis made many guest appearances on television. Some of the more noteworthy are Today, Biggest Loser, Martha (Martha Stuart), Rachael Ray, and Conan (Conan O’Brien).

The show that made him most famous was on TLC called Take Home Chef, which first aired in 2006 and was a huge success. He went on to host many other shows, including Top Chef Masters. Another career-boosting television appearance was his participation as a contestant on The Apprentice season 3.

After spending many years out of kitchens, in 2014, Stone opened his first restaurant called Maude in Beverly Hills, named after his grandmother. In 2019, Maude was awarded a Michelin star. 

In 2016, Stone opened a second restaurant with his brother Luke, named Gwen, in Hollywood after their other grandmother. Gwen is centered around a high-end butcher shop that works directly with ranchers and purveyors of quality meats. Gwen also produces top-of-the-line charcuterie and sausages.

Stone has done many other things with his impressive career. He has published six cookbooks and partnered with United Airlines to design their in-flight meals. He also opened two seabound restaurants on the Carnival Cruise ships Ruby Princess, and Emerald Princess called Share. Partnered with big chain grocery stores to create meals under $10 and worked with several charities that help feed the hungry.

What is Curtis Stone Cookware?

After spending decades in professional and domestic kitchens, Curtis Stone started to see the challenges that everyday home cooks were facing. These challenges inspired him to design his range of kitchenware and, more importantly to us, his line of cookware.

Home cooks now have access to tools created by one of the most popular minds in the culinary world. Not only does Curtis Stone Cookware perform well, but it’s also eye-catching and stylish at the same time.

Construction

Curtis Stone offers many cookware pieces and fun kitchenware gadgets, but his most popular products are the Dura-Pans. These are ultra nonstick cookware pieces that come in an attractive speckled finish on the cooking surface.

The cooking surface is made from five layers of titanium nonstick finish, which means it’s a level above many other run-of-the-mill nonstick brands. They claim that you can use a metal spatula, but it’s not recommended. All nonstick eventually wears out, and metal utensils will make that happen quickly.

All Curtis Stone Cookware sets are made from forged aluminum, have dual riveted stainless steel handles, and come with a stainless steel disc base. The steel base means that all pieces are induction compatible so that you can cook with any heat source. 

Most of the pieces come with buffet-style handles, which look fantastic for storage. The issue is that they are too close to the pan’s body, and they absorb a lot of heat, so be careful when you grab the handles. Use an oven mitt or towel.

All lids are made from tempered clear glass and are oven safe up to 400 degrees.

Performance

Since all the Curtis Stone Cookware pieces are made from forged aluminum with a steel base, heat transfers quickly and evenly, allowing you to sear food with little effort.

The Dura-Pan nonstick cooking surface performs like you would expect it to, exceptionally well. Chef Stone claims that his cookware lasts four times longer than other similar brands because of the added layers of nonstick.

The pans and lids are dishwasher safe, but it is recommended to hand wash. Hand washing will prolong the life of the nonstick material. Since it’s nonstick, though, most of the time, you can just wipe it out with a paper towel, and it’s good to go.

What Does Curtis Stone Cookware Offer?

Curtis Stone Cookware offers some fantastic sets from the Dura-Pan collection. Each one is designed with you, the home cook, in mind. When food is easier to cook, it means you have better meals. The sets are user friends and stylish at the same time. 

I had hoped that Curtis Stone Cookware would have more options available, but what he offers is of high quality. I wouldn’t say that these sets could cover every cooking situation, but it comes close. If you are looking to round out your home cookware collection with smart-looking restaurant-worthy pieces, these sets are for you.

What Is The Best Curtis Stone Cookware Set?

Curtis Stone 17-piece Dura-Pan Nonstick Nesting Cookware Set 

The 17- piece cookware set is made from forged aluminum with a stainless steel disc as the base and reinforced rims. The stainless steel bottom means that it’s induction burner compatible so that you can cook on any heat source available. 

The Dura-Pan cooking surface means that it’s metal utensil safe, but I still wouldn’t risk it. Even if it’s safe, you’ll scratch off the nonstick coating much quicker than wood or silicone ever would. It also says it’s dishwasher safe, but it’s best to wash it by hand to prolong the nonstick layers. 

It’s oven-safe up to 450 degrees, though the tempered glass lids are only safe up to 400 degrees. The lids are vented and clear so you can see your food as it cooks while also letting excess pressure and steam escape.

All pieces come with buffet-style handles, which means that they are overly large, making them easy to maneuver. The lids are interchangeable so long as the diameter is the same, and because of their design, they stack easily, saving you space during storage.

People report wanting a traditional long handle on the frying pans because the buffet style gets hot, making it challenging to slide food out one-handed.

“I really like these pots, they seem to cook well& love the non stick but buyer beware of the pot handles. They get very hot,I had to purchase the silicone handle covers which work well but overall made my set of pots more costly. I feel Curtis Stone should have included the silicone handle covers in the set.” -mykitkats GA

“These are the best cookware. They are easy to clean and a great value. My only advice is to get the silicone handle holders as the handles get very hot & it is hard to move the cookware without them.” -Janine

Curtis Stone Dura-Pan Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set

Like the 17-piece set, the 11-piece set comes with the Dura-Pan cooking surface meaning the food doesn’t stick, and clean up is super easy. 

The 11-piece set may be a better option for those looking for the long handles that you find on traditional saute pans, though this set only offers one saute/frying pan. This same pan comes with a steamer insert and aluminum lid so you can steam any recipe that calls for it.

All pieces are made from forged aluminum, stainless steel disc base (induction compatible), and reinforced rims. They are oven safe up to 450 degrees, the lids are oven safe up to 400 degrees, and all are dishwasher safe.

This set is excellent for people who want durability and nonstick qualities from Dura-Pan but are looking for a broader range of uses. Unlike the 17-piece set, this comes with an oval roasting pan, a square grill, and a steamer insert.

Even though the long-handled pieces are designed to disperse heat, it’s still advised to use a towel or oven mitt, especially when going into the oven. While they are dishwasher safe, hand washing is advised to prolong the life of the nonstick coating. The Dura-Pan finish means you can use metal utensils, but it is not recommended.

“Purchased as a gift after my frirnd picked them out. The handles a VERY LONG on these and this set was a substitute set for an item from Curtis Stone thats not been in stock anymore. I haven’t heard anything else about this set except for the long handles.” -Spirit95188

“I love Curtis Stone’s products. I have found them to be very much as they are advertised. Food really does not stick. Great starter set because you get three sauce pans, one frying pan with steamer, nice grill pan, and the “fish” pan is wonderful, though I do not make whole fish but clearly can be used for many other meals. For me it is perfect for mixed veggies or one pan dishes. A lid would have been wonderful. Only complaint is all his products are on the higher price range in my opinion.” -Layneide

Curtis Stone Dura-Pan 5-Quart 4-Piece Nonstick Set

This is a pretty cool set and not something I see very often. It can perform as a fryer, baking dish, steamer, stockpot, and wok.  That’s a lot of function out of a four-piece set, and the more jobs a tool can perform, the more of an asset it will be to you.

It’s built like all other Dura-Pan pieces with forged aluminum and a stainless steel base. The fry basket and steamer tray are made from stainless steel. The nonstick means easy cleanup, and when used as a wok, food doesn’t stick. Just BE CAREFUL when frying something. That much hot oil can be dangerous, so be sure to read up on techniques before enjoying fried food. 

“Non stick , good for so many meals.

Don’t plunge it into it cold water, when it’s too hot. As with any pan, it will crack. Don’t broil, as the instructions say, under 450 degrees. Don’t heat it up without anything in it. (Do that with cast iron)

Really, a few common sense things and you have a wonderful wok.”  -Patti Tortora Amazon Customer

“Great nonstick surface, domed lid, even heating, and a size to accommodate most meals at a fraction of the retail cost. The basket and steam rack are handy. Use it on convection or conventional surfaces.

Would make a good shower or housewarming gift.” – Home in the OC

Which Curtis Stone Cookware Set Is Best For Me?

When choosing a new cookware set, it’s essential to look at what’s missing from your current cookware collection.

Pay attention to when you’re cooking and when you find yourself wishing you have a piece of cookware, write it down, and over the course of a couple of weeks, you’ll start to see what sort of set you need to purchase.

Look at your list and look to see which set fills in the gaps of your current collection. No set will be a perfect match, but you might end up cooking a new recipe you love because of a new piece of cookware you bought that you thought you didn’t need.

Alternative Options if Curtis Stone Cookware isn’t a good fit.

If you aren’t connecting with any of the Curtis Stone Cookware sets, look into these options as great alternatives. Take the time to look closely at each set, so you don’t miss the perfect match for you. 

 T-Fal Cookware is an excellent option for those who need a more budget-friendly set of cookware with all the essentials.

We rounded up the best 5 frying pans available and did a breakdown of each one. See which one is best for you.

Do you like nonstick cookware but are worried about the health risks? Check out our review of Greenlife Cookware and its health-conscious benefits.

Last update on 2021-05-29 / This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API