Where do you buy your pots, pans, and utensils?

The charity shops here are actually a wealth of wonderful kitchengoods.  I have picked up amazing things like a very sturdy preserving pan for £2, a vintage cocktail shaker for £2, champagne buckets (I think they were nicked from a restaurant, tbh) for a pound, etc.

I've also had good luck on Amazon for pots and pans, particularly Chasseur brand.  I got a great cast iron skillet for £19.

The rest is a mix of John Lewis, Lakeland, some pound shop scores, IKEA and gifts from Williams-Sonoma.

Hmmmm - those are here somewhere because someone bought me one shortly after I moved here, plus I have my grandma's too!  (I don't have the potholder thingies on the handle.)  It's Lodge Cast Iron (made in America - heee!):



I don't know where (what shop) she bought mine, but she didn't get it online.  Hmmmm.

I'm not a Le Creuset fan because I'd be forever worried about scratching up or marring the enamel bits.  I want something that'll take a beating and last 100 years or more!  

Oh WOW! You can get three different sizes for £40!!!! That's awesome! I'd love to have the mini for baking corn bread. It somehow just tastes better when baked in cast iron (probably just because it reminds me of my great grandma) and then I can use the bigger ones for meat and veg and other stuff. Awesome! I may have to get the credit card out now. Thanks! 

So as far as getting speed peelers, cheese graters (bought one from our local little shop, but its already all rusty after a year) and small things like that, you guys think TK Maxx (I just think of that as a clothing shop) or John Lewis? Or do you just order the stuff online somewhere?

http://www.pots-and-pans.co.uk/acatalog/Le_Creuset_Special_Offers.html

some le Creuset bargains here

TK Maxx has quite a bit of housewares stuff too - I buy kitchenware and bedding there from time to time! 

http://www.pots-and-pans.co.uk/acatalog/Le_Creuset_Special_Offers.html

some le Creuset bargains here

Those look nice, but a bit out of my price range, still. I think I better stick with the Lodge ones. So, I haven't really done much cooking with cast iron, though. Do things stick to them (I have heard about seasoning the pans, so if you do that, does that keep things from sticking?) Can you put them in the dishwasher, or is it best to just rinse them and wipe them out like a wok? I just hate how the non-stick pans always seem to start peeling and get scratched up so easily (yeah, I know about using the plastic utensils, but I don't like to use them very much, and when DH does cook something, he never remembers what I told him about not using the metal utensils.)

So as far as getting speed peelers, cheese graters (bought one from our local little shop, but its already all rusty after a year) and small things like that, you guys think TK Maxx (I just think of that as a clothing shop) or John Lewis? Or do you just order the stuff online somewhere?

Lakeland. Definitely.

I'd like a nice heavy cast iron skillet that can go from hob to oven. I've only seen a few in the Argos catalogue - Le Creuset, I believe - and they were so friggin expensive! Has anyone seen any in another shop anywhere?

I got a Calphalon one from Debenhams during one of their sales that I love love love. Too bad it's still in the UK and I'm in the US.

Those look nice, but a bit out of my price range, still. I think I better stick with the Lodge ones. So, I haven't really done much cooking with cast iron, though. Do things stick to them (I have heard about seasoning the pans, so if you do that, does that keep things from sticking?) Can you put them in the dishwasher, or is it best to just rinse them and wipe them out like a wok?

Oh God no!  Don't put your cast iron in the dishwasher!  :\\\'(

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=12795.msg222314#msg222314

Yeah, sometimes stuff sticks, but it will do less so the more they are seasoned.

I got a Calphalon one from Debenhams during one of their sales that I love love love. Too bad it's still in the UK and I'm in the US.

OMG I love Calphalon! They have an awesome replacement policy! I have 2 giant round griddles that I broght overw ith me 10 years ago. Love them!

Oh God no!  Don't put your cast iron in the dishwasher!  :\\\'(

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=12795.msg222314#msg222314

Yeah, sometimes stuff sticks, but it will do less so the more they are seasoned.

WOW!!! Thanks so much for finding that link... I just learned so much from you! 
Yes, that beautiful, crispy golden outside of the cornbread is my heart's desire (the way you described with heating the oil in the pan is how my old granny used to do it!) I think I will definitely purchase that set of pans this afternoon. You rock!!!! 
I think they will be soooo much better, as I am beginning to loathe non-stick skillets.
Maybe I could get one of those nice Le Creuset casserole dishes for Christmas, though. 

I got my cast iron casserole from John Lewis.  It is their own brand.

It is a boring, boring and ugly grey, but it cost me 25.00 for a 27 cm oval, which was so cheap. 

I suppose I can live without it being pretty, although sometimes I really wish it were pretty.

Luckily, I bought a Williams and Sonoma casserole cookbook at work the week before and I have used it for 4 recipes already. 

Hooray! 

I can't wait until my new cast iron skillets get here!  Maybe later this week. Then I need some new saucepans and casserole dishes. I'm so greedy! 

Most of my kitchen stuff is in storage back in the US because we initally rented a fully furnished flat, so I went hunting for Calphalon to compliment what I have at home and found that it's no longer carried in the UK!  I'm guessing this is recent.  BOOO.  I ended up getting a set of pots and pans at John Lewis (it was their own brand hard anodized cookware) during their last big sale -- ended up with all of the pieces for more than 50% off ticket price.   

I've got a Le Creuset crepe pan, but it sticks like CRAZY! I do love it, though.  It's so pretty and heavy that I feel like I'm doing something more substantial than making pancakes.   

I know it's not the first place you'd think of - but amazon.co.uk has some great kitchen stuff.  Before we bought our car here, it was also great because it was delivered right to us!