Salter Megastone Pan Set Review: this value cookware has everything needed to level up your kitchen
From its griddle pan to its wok, I was impressed with nearly everything it had to offer
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Our rating: 8/10
We like:
- Fantastic variety of pans
- Great value for money
- Impressive non-stick
We don’t like:
- Not oven safe
- Not as weighty as some might like
- Only comes with a 10 year guarantee
What is the Salter Megastone Pan Set?
You might be familiar with Salter’s kitchen and bathroom scales – they’re actually the world’s oldest household scales brand. However, it has since expanded into all things appliances, cookware, air fryers and more. One of its bestselling and most highly rated ranges is the Megastone line of products.
I recently put the Megastone 8-Piece Pan Set to the test to see how it fared cooking a range of dishes and recipes and it quickly cemented itself as the best value for money when I put together my round-up of the best pan sets. But is it the right option for you and your family? And can an eight piece set at under £125 really compete with more expensive options like HexClad?
Consisting of three saucepans (with accompanying lids), three frying pans, a grill or griddle pan, plus a wok (with lid), this is easily one of the most comprehensive pan sets that you’ll find on the market, especially when you consider the price. And with a four-layer PFOA-free non-stick coating, you shouldn’t have to worry about scratching or staining.
So, whether you are just getting into cooking, have moved into a new home and are starting your cookware collection from scratch or are looking to take your cooking to the next level, there should be everything that you could possibly need to do with this set. Here’s everything you need to know…
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How we test pan sets
Over the past few months, I’ve put quite a few pan sets to the test and the primary thing that I assessed was the variety of types, sizes and overall cooking area in each one. I also considered their weight and whether this impacted how effectively I could use them, the types of hobs they worked on and the oven temperatures they could withstand.
Next, I surveyed the materials used for the pans, any lids and the overall cooking surface. Plus I assessed how easy it was to clean everything afterwards.
As part of my testing, I cooked a range of foods, from a simple fried egg to a stir fry, sizzling chicken, steak and a chilli, meaning I could see how the pans coped at different temperatures and when sautéing, grilling, frying, roasting and more.
Selection and variety: 10/10
It’s not all that surprising to see pan sets with upwards of eight, ten or more components, but as you might expect, the costs soon add up. There are also some other brands, such as HexClad, that class the lids as part of that number. So, its seven-piece set actually only includes four pans and three lids. If you were to do the same with the Salter Megastone 8-Piece Pan Set, you actually get twelve pieces in total, making this even better value for money than you might expect at first glance.
The sheer variety of pans means you’ll be able to grill, roast, fry, stir-fry, steam, simmer, poach, sauté and more, making it great for a range of cooks, from novices to more experienced home chefs. And when you take into consideration that, based on the full RRP of £124.99, this works out at about £15 a pan (not including the lids) which is pretty hard to beat in terms of the value.
Flexibility: 7/10
Even though the pans work on all hob types, including electric, gas and induction, which is definitely a plus, they aren’t oven safe. This means that you can’t transfer a dish from the hob over into an oven to continue cooking, which is rather frustrating. Although, if you don’t necessarily cook any recipes or meals like this, then it’s not too much of a deal breaker. It just depends on your preferences.
While they don’t have a designated temperature limit like oven-safe pans do, I still tested them at lower and higher heats to see if this would affect the non-stick material and I was happy to note no visible or olfactory reactions.
Weight: 8/10
Overall, I found these pans lightweight and incredibly easy to lift, especially when compared to other sets. As they don’t have a real weightiness to them, this might not suit those who prefer a heftier feel to their cookware. But I was happy with how simple this made manoeuvring them around the kitchen, whether when removing them from my kitchen drawers, storing them away, or using them on the hob – even with any added weight from ingredients.
Both the wok and grill pan weren’t that heavy either and not once did I feel like I needed to use two hands to pick them up, which has been an issue with other larger pans that I’ve tried in the past. This made shaking and flipping everything from a stir fry to burger patties much more comfortable on my wrist and hand.
Cleaning: 8/10
When it’s time to clean the pans, you can either wash them by hand with warm, soapy water or put them in the dishwasher. Personally, I always prefer to wash my cookware in the sink to protect the non-stick coating. And I was pleased with how easy they were to clean, even when I had let certain ingredients sit for a bit longer or tested them by letting food char a little. In fact, in most cases a quick wipe with a clean cloth or some kitchen towel had the pans looking brand new. Sometimes, just the wooden spoon or a silicone utensil loosened the remaining food, too.
The lids also cleaned up well, with a streak-free finish. Compared to the likes of stainless steel cookware, which I always find a bit tougher to clean since it doesn’t have the same non-stick capabilities, the entire Salter set made clean-up quick and easy.
Durability: 8/10
Each of the pans is made from what Salter calls its Megastone material, a combination of four layers of PFOA free materials designed with abrasion, scratch and corrosion resistance in mind, as well as an “ultra-non-stick topcoat”. And I can certainly attest to that. Nothing that I cooked over the course of testing stuck to the cooking surface. All of the different sizes and iterations of pans worked just as well at lower heat and high heat when grilling and charring.
Salter suggests that you can safely use metal utensils, such as tongs, spatulas and spoons, which is typically not possible on non-stick surfaces. This made them comparable to the much more expensive HexClad cookware range, which offers a similar untraditional approach. However, it’s still worth practising some caution to avoid doing any significant damage to the coating. For added peace of mind, they also come with a 10 year guarantee.
Technical specifications
While Salter’s Megastone 8-Piece Pan Set is easily one of the best value for money buys on the market at the moment, my overall top pan set pick was the HexClad Cookware Set. But at almost £300 more – for fewer pieces – how do the two ultimately compare?
Telegraph verdict: 8/10
If you’re looking for an affordable but complete set of pans with which to make a wide range of dishes and meals, the Salter Megastone 8-Piece Pan Set is a great choice. Ideal for those starting out or who want a set of matching pans to set them up for success in the kitchen, their only real negative is that you can’t use them in the oven, so they won’t be the best choice for those looking to do that.
With an RRP of £124.99, they are some of the best value for money pans I’ve found. But you may be able to find them even cheaper during the likes of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – particularly on Amazon – if you’re able to hold out until then.
FAQs
Are Salter Megastone pans safe?
If you’re wondering whether or not non-stick pans such as the Salter Megastone ones are safe to use, their coating is PFOA-free – the types of ‘forever chemicals’ that you’ll be looking to avoid when purchasing cookware.
What is the Megastone coating?
According to Emma Hilton, Salter’s Senior Product Developer, “Megastone is our longest lasting non-stick coating and has become our best-selling Salter cookware range. We have developed and elevated the Megastone coating over several years and have enhanced the coating performance from five times tougher than the standard non-stick to 20 times tougher.” Some of its key features include abrasion and corrosion resistance and the fact that it’s safe to use in conjunction with metal utensils.
What is the difference between Marblestone and Megastone?
In addition to their Megastone collection, Salter also has a Marblestone line of pots, pans and trays. The main difference between the two is that “Megastone is more durable compared to the Marblestone coating,” Emma explains. This is because “the Marblestone coating is a one layer coating, whereas the Megastone has two layers and is able to withstand higher cooking temperatures and extended use.”
So, if you routinely cook at higher temperatures, it might be worthwhile investing in the Megastone pans instead of the Marblestone alternatives.
What is the guarantee on Salter Megastone?
The entire Megastone range, including this pan set, has a 10 year guarantee.