For a lot of things you buy, you can safely select the cheapest option and you'll be alright in the long run. Sometimes you may want to splurge, but usually you can go the economical route and you'll be just fine.
With cookware, if you're an avid cook, the reverse is usually true. If you use your cookware every day and use high heat techniques such as blackening and broiling, you need to investigate commercial cookware vendors that sell quality cookware. This quality cookware
This cookware can cost a lot more than the cheap stuff at Wal-Mart.
Individual pots and pans from commercial cookware vendors can easily top $100, especially if it is copper cookware. But investing in commercial quality cookware can save you money in the long run because it lasts for decades while at the same time performing better.
You don't have to go nuts, but you should find quality commercial cookware will save you money in the long run. Brands such as WearEver cookware and Magnalite Professional Cookware GHC from commercial cookware vendors fit this middle ground of durability and quality without the extreme prices. WearEver skillets and pots are used heavily in the restaurant industry and for good reason. They perform well with an even heat and clean up quickly and with little fuss. You can use abrasive cleansers on the stainless steel versions of WearEver cookware with no problems.
If you want a very large stock pot for soups or boiling seafood, WearEver cookware makes great pots that stand up to high heat without warping. You can use whatever kind of brush you want to clean them out when you're done.
And the best part is the cooking performance of this cookware from commercial cookware vendors will be far better than what you're used to. You won't have to babysit your pan to prevent scorching. The cookware will retain heat long after it is off the fire keeping your food warm. And you will be able to do delicate simmering and melting with no problems.
If you like tea, you might check out Iwachu cookware which is Japanese cast iron cookware. Iwachu makes a number of teapots that perform well and will last for decades. Each piece is hand made by a Japanese craftsman who spends 15 years as an apprentice before he can be considered a craftsman. 30 to 40 years go by before he is considered a master craftsman overseeing the other's work.
Iwachu cookware has been making cookware for over 100 years, and some of the pieces go through a 68 step process before they are ready for use. In some cases, if properly maintained, Iwachu cookware will last a lifetime.
Just think if you didn't have to replace your warped or peeling cookware every year or two. If you had high quality commercial cookware from commercial cookware vendors that lasts for decades, you'd save money and enhance your cooking with quality equipment. And your guests will thank you for that perfect sear you put on your blackened fish or the even texture in your omelets.