Anolon Nouvelle Copper A Cookware Dream Or Disaster?

Anolon Nouvelle Copper is a popular range within Anolon’s portfolio of cookware products; and is recognized as an excellent investment for the kitchen.

Nouvelle Copper is a range that leads in performance, cooking ease, and functionality. It’s reasonably priced too compared to some other cookware brands.

But is it BETTER THAN it’s pricier competitors?

Keep on reading to find out.

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Cookware Review

What Is Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel?

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel is one of several product ranges that Anolon cookware makes.

Copper Stainless Steel Base

The main feature in the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel range is the copper base. Since copper is one of the best conductors of heat, it's a desirable feature.

Pots and pans in the Nouvelle Copper range have a full layer of copper on the base enclosed between two layers of aluminum, which is then protected, for longevity, with an 'induction capable stainless steel encapsulator.'

The rest of the pan's construction is either stainless steel or hard-anodized stainless steel. And there are also options for non-stick or plain stainless steel to suit your cooking preferences.

Additional features of the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel range are: 

Excellent Performance

The copper base, long-lasting non-stick features, flush rivets, and construction materials make this a pan that can perform. It is capable of warming up quickly and producing an even heat, which will make cooking a breeze.

Versatile

All products in the Anolon Nouvelle Copper range are induction, dishwasher, and oven safe (up to 500 degrees).

Anolon Nouvelle Cookware Features

Flush, Dual-Riveted Handles

The duel rivets provide strength and endurance, and the flush rivets make it easier to clean.

Deep Seated Stainless Steel Lids

Lids in the Nouvelle Copper range seal in moisture and heat.

Lifetime Limited warranty

You'll need to take care of your pans according to the manufacturer's instructions to take advantage of the warranty.

So … where are these cooking wonders made?

Where Is Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Cookware Made?

Anolon Logo

Meyer Corporation, US manufactures and distributes Anolon products. Cookware manufacturing for Meyer Corporation occurs in the USA, Italy, Thailand, and China.

There’s a trick to using cookware like Anolon Nouvelle copper - especially to make it last, here’s the details: 

Anolon Nouvelle Copper: How To Use

Using Anolon Nouvelle Copper is very simple. However, it does require some care and attention. If you adjust your cooking and cleaning habits to meet the needs of your cookware, you'll find it is easy to maintain and lasts forever.

Understand that while these pans are dishwasher safe, dishwashing always seems to reduce the look and quality of most cookware over time. If you wish to preserve your Anolon pots and pans, try to limit the amount of dishwasher use. 

  • Never leave the pans standing in water for a long period.
  • Don't put cold water into a hot pan; it can cause warping.
  • Avoid using abrasive cleaners and scourers on your cookware - there's a tip coming up on how to remove stubborn dried on food gently.
  • Cook on lower heat settings. These pans don't require as much heat. High heats will mark, warp, or damage most pots and pans. High heat can also cause your non-stick coating to stick!
  • Avoid aerosol cooking sprays. According to Analon, "Cooking spray burns at lower temperatures and can burn into the non-stick coating, causing a build-up of the spray. This will cause sticking and damage to the non-stick coating and sometimes give the product a "rusty" appearance."

What makes the non-stick coating so special, we hear you cry, well,we’re glad you asked, that’s coming up next.

What Kind Of Non-Stick Coating Does Anolon Nouvelle Copper Have?

Anolon claims their non-stick is ‘the world's first hard-anodized’ revolutionary non-stick cookware that doesn’t flake or scratch.

Their specific blend of non-stick is ‘sapphire-reinforced,’ and all cookware is triple coated, which Anolon claims lasts 16 times longer than their traditional non-stick counterparts and 80 times longer than ceramic coatings.

They also assure you that their pans will NEVER leach silicone oils into your food. 

Anolon Nouvelle Non-Stick Coating

Pans in this cookware range have a non-stick coating on the inside and outside of the pan. This all-over coating makes it much easier to clean the pans inside and out. 

But is Anolon as good as All Clad?

Anolon Vs All Clad

A huge question, when it comes to Anolon, is; Anolon vs. All-Clad - which is better? It’s easy to see why both brands seem to be of high quality, but Anolon’s price range is much less than All-Clad’s.

If you’re in the market for the best cookware out there, it makes sense that you’d want to determine which is the better option for you. After all, it’s disappointing when you spend too little on something you should have spent more on. But it’s even worse when you spend too much on something you could have got for less.

We’ve got you, here’s the difference between Anolon vs. All-Clad:

Heat Distribution

Anolon uses its copper disc base to distribute heat, and it’s one of their highlighted features. This means that the bottom of the pan has a thicker piece of metal than the rest of the structure, which can be bottom-heavy sometimes but is also an excellent way to maintain excellent cooking performance while reducing the cost of manufacturing.

All-Clad, on the other hand, clad heat distribution metals like copper into the whole structure of the pans, which means that the pan will heat up along the sides as well as on the base leading to even better control and distribution of heat.

The weight of the pot won’t necessarily be lighter, but it will be more evenly distributed, too - like the heat. The clad design is a better option, but it’s also much more expensive.

Design

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set, 11 Piece, Dark Gray

Anolon

All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set 10 Piece, Induction Compatible, Oven Broiler Safe 600F, Kitchen Cooking Set w/ Fry Pans, Saucepans, Saute Pans, Stockpot, Lids, Pots and Pans, Silver

All Clad

The shape of your pots and pans influences the performance, specifically affecting the way liquid evaporates. The evaporation of liquid determines how easily and efficiently you can cook.

Anolon’s design is a good design for the evaporation process but doesn’t have a rolled lip to aid pouring. It does have wide pans, though, which allows you to sear more food in one batch than you perhaps could with a different design.

The design of All-Clad cookware is perfection. They have a rolled lip, and the low angled sides allow the liquid to evaporate and aids easy turning of food. 

Handles

Handles may not necessarily be your first consideration when purchasing cookware. Still, if you’re familiar with stay-cool handles and then buy a cookware set without that feature, you’ll probably burn a few fingers.

Poorly designed handles can cause little friction points in our cooking experience that we dislike, but didn’t consider during the buying phase.

Anolon’s handles are comfortable, ergonomic, and the design prevents some heat transfer, though, in some Anolon cookware reviews, some reviewers did say that they felt the handles do get too hot occasionally.

All-Clad’s handles are not their best-loved feature. Some handles are not solid; instead, they have a u-shape, and the edges of this ’U’ can be sharp and will hurt your hands after some use. Stainless steel is the primary material that features in All-Clad’s handles, and they do stay cool. 

Overview

Overall, for design and performance, All-Clad is the better pan, but it’s important to remember it’s in a different league. It’s the Gucci of cookware, whereas Anolon is a mid-to-high-end brand.

The compromises Anolon makes in their cookware are fair and offers better performance than the average pan. Whereas All-Clad is one or two levels up on the material quality, design, and performance, but the price reflects that.

With both Anolon and All-Clad, you get the same level of performance and cooking ease for the price.

If you’re looking for the best of the best - All-Clad is the option you should take, check out this article on All-Clad cookware to learn more.

But if your budget or cooking needs don’t stretch that far, Anolon is an excellent option to consider, especially the Anolon Nouvelle Copper range.

Narrowing down the manufacturer and range might be one thing, but which Anolon pots and pans are the best? We’ve listed a few of our recommended products below.

Which Are The Best Anolon Pots and Pans?

Like many great cookware brands out there, Anolon has a comprehensive product portfolio, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, their reputation for quality means that you can't go wrong with all Anolon cookware.

Here are our favorite pieces from the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel Range:

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set, 11 Piece, Dark Gray

There's nothing worse than buying one pan, and then realizing you wish you bought more, and THEN realizing you could have bought more for a much more economical price.

Cookware sets are always of great value, mainly because the overall cost is usually much less expensive than paying for each item. And this set is no different.

It comes in a beautiful dark gray color and looks so stunning. You'll want to keep staring at them. This set has all of the features you'd expect from the Anolon Nouvelle copper stainless steel range - shown earlier on in this article.

This set includes:

  • 1.5 - Quart saucepan, with lid
  • 3 - Quart saucepan, with lid
  • 3 - Quart sauté with lid and helper handle
  • 8 - Quart stockpot, with lid
  • 8.5-inch skillet
  • 12 Inch Skillet with lid

To add to your cookware set or to test the waters first, this frying pan set is also a great buy:

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan Set / Fry Pan Set / Hard Anodized Skillet Set - 8 Inch and 10 Inch, Gray

These frying pans are the same as the cookware set highlighted above, down to the color. The set includes:

  • 8" Fry Pan
  • 10" Fry Pan

If you're more of a saucepan person, then you'll love this large saucepan from the same range – it matches the cookware set listed above. But don't take our word for it; Analon customer reviews claim that this pot is the perfect size and weight:

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauce Pan/Saucepan with Straining and Lid, 3.5 Quart, Gray
  • 3.5- quart
  • Gray
  • Hard anodized
  • Non-stick

Knowing that non-stick is not everybody's preferred choice, this ten-piece cookware in the same range but without the non-stick coating is going to be perfect for you:

Anolon Nouvelle Stainless Steel Cookware Pots and Pans Set, 10 Piece

The structure and design are the same as the non-stick cookware presented; it's just not non-stick and will require seasoning before use. 

The set includes:

  • 1.25-quart saucepan, with Lid
  • 2.5-quart saucepan, with Lid
  • 6.5-quart stockpot with Lid
  • 8-Inch frying pan
  • 10.5-Inch frying pan
  • 3-quart sauté pan with Lid

Decided on what products to buy from the range? Now you'll need to learn more about how to cook with and care for your new pots and pans. Doing so will maintain the longevity of the pans and the warranty.

Talking of the warranty - here’s how to stay within its boundaries ...

How To Use Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set.

Using an Anolon cookware set is easy, that's the point. However, there are a few considerations you should make before first use:

  • Before use: Wash and dry your Anolon pots and pans before first use to remove all of the manufacturing dirt and coatings. 
  • During use: Don't use spray oils. They can dissolve too quickly and damage the nonstick surface, and also go lightly with heat. And while we're talking about oil, it's important to remember to heat your oil until it's hot but not smoking.

    With pans like Anolon pots and pans, you don't need so much heat, and too much heat can damage any pan - except for cast iron. 
  • Cleaning up: You'll also need to take care when cleaning up, the instructions for how to clean your pans are further on in this article. But some simple rules to bear in mind are:
  1. 1
    Don't leave your pan to soak in water — it damages the nonstick coating.
  2. 2
    Avoid putting very cold water into a hot pan — it can warp the pan.

How To Cook With The Anolon Nouvelle Copper Skillet

Cooking with the Anolon skillet is very similar to cooking with all other Analon pots and pans. They don’t require high heat and require careful cleaning after use.

If you are familiar with using cast iron skillets, it’s important to remember that the Anolon skillet cannot withstand the temperatures that cast iron skillets can, because the nonstick coating changes the composition of the food you cook. 

Cook With Anolon Skillet

You will also find that you cannot sear and brown foods in an Anolon skillet as well as you can with a cast iron pan, again, it’s because of the nonstick coating. But the Anolon skillet is easier to use and maintain. Perhaps this is why it’s the preferred choice for many. 

How To Clean Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel

Cleaning your Anolon pots and pans is easy if you take appropriate care of your cookware while you are cooking with them.

What to Avoid doing

Ideally, you should take care not to use high heats, and to avoid using cooking sprays. These practices can damage the nonstick coating and the look of your pans. Not to mention that when you use high heat, you are at risk of burning your food, making it harder to clean!

Cleaning your Pans

Now we have that out of the way you should clean your Analon pots and pans with warm soapy water. You should also wash them after every use.

Don’t allow any food residue to build up because it will affect the performance of the pan and make it more difficult to clean.

Use mild dishwashing soap and a cloth – or soft side of a scouring pad.

How to Clean Stubborn Food Particles

If your pans have food stuck to them, boil one part vinegar with two parts water on medium heat for 5-10 minutes. This will dislodge the food and protect your nonstick surface.

Finally, Anolon cookware sets are all dishwasher safe. However, before you put your new pans into your dishwasher, it’s worth remembering that dishwashing will reduce the longevity and appearance of the pans over time. This is especially important - we noticed several Anolon cookware reviews where excessive dishwashing appears to be the root of their problems.

Conclusion

Anolon pans are great quality; that’s for sure, and the ‘Nouvelle Copper’ range is no exception. Sure it’s not quite as exceptional as some of its pricer competitors, like All-Clad.

But if you’re not in the market for the best of the best and you want long-lasting, high-performance cookware without breaking your bank, this range might be the perfect solution for you. 

About the author 

Jesse Spitzer

Jesse is a father of two and an aspiring chef. He has worked in the kitchen for over 7 years. He loves cooking and is passionate about finding ways to cook easier and more efficient. When he's not in the kitchen, Jesse can be found on on the golf course, reading a productivity book or sipping a glass of nice pinot.

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