POTS AND PANS

Never mind the backstory (which actually was out of old time comedy), but our teflon lined "making oatmeal" pot has been burned out, so off we went looking at Walmart for a replacement. The only one that filled the bill was a 4 cup pot for which they want $280 pesos!!
Is it just me, or is that exorbitant? We didn't buy it.
Any suggestions about where to buy a quality cooking pot......not a whole set........in Lakeside?

I had to bring pots down from Canada, where at WalMart they are, as you know, pretty inexpensive. These are stainless with copper-clad bottoms covered in (I think) aluminum.

For years nothing was available here except in sets, and poorly designed sets at that. Then WalMart started carrying a Teflon-type brand in several sizes, which work for most things, but cannot be counted on if you "make a mistake". Trouble with WalMart, as usual, you never know what kind of inventory they will have at any given time.

Currently in Guadalajara, Mega is selling a pretty good brand name "with points" kind of thing, but I do not remember the variety of sizes. I know that Sears and Liverpool have really, really expensive sets and rarely stand-alones.

But one more potential place is Gabriela at the so-called "discount" Farmacia Expres. She sells an odd selection of very good quality utensils and some pots and pans.

With the Fiestas on, there are a few people that carry an incredible amount of stuff, two of them right on the careterra in Ajijic. Last year, I needed a glass lid for one of my pots, and ended up buying a Teflon "wok" from one of them, just to get the lid. I paid 240 pesos and was happy to get the damn lid.

There's that store in Chapala on the main drag just up from the plaza; sometimes he has individual items like that. And finally, near the "customer service" (term used loosely) desk in WalMart, I think there still is a display of some company's high-end pots and pans. But they look pricey.

Believe it or not.......

I have been looking for a good quality stock pot for a while. Haven't been willing to drive to Guadalajara (yet), just looking locally. Lots of cheap, lightweight junk available. No thanks. Today I took a stroll through the itinerant vendors that are set up during the always remarkable San Andres Fiesta. On Marcos Castellanos, just south of the carretera on the west side of the street, there is a guy with a lot of kitchen stuff. He has all the junk too, but he also had a set of pots stacked up, in the back, toward the left. They looked a bit more serious. Had black handles, if I recall. All sizes. I asked to look at one. It was NICE. He said, "Commercial grade". And I said, "yep". Wasn't cheap at 850 pesos, but that was a 15 liter pot. And that may have been his "opening price". Wasn't willing to buy it or negotiate today, but I may go back. Don't know if he has non-stick stuff or not. Worth a shot anyway. Good luck.

In Guadalajara on Ave La Paz (a few blocks off Calzada Independicia) is a
many stores that supply restaurants.

Thanks, all. Where is the discount Farmacia Express, por favor?

Farmacia Express is in San Antonio/Riberas, on the carretera, southside, in between the OXXO and Hole in One. (Closer to OXXO, part of that strip, I think?)

At the Monday tianguis in Chapala is a guy who sells lots of big pots, if anyone is looking for those. I bought a fantastic aluminum pot, absolutely huge, for spaghetti sauces and soups, for maybe 750 pesos two years ago. Really good quality. But I also find for stocks and liquids, the typical Mexican porcelain coated blue/speckled pots are great (the kind of stuff our camping tins and mugs were made of in the "olden days").

Rosa Venus wrote:Farmacia Express is in San Antonio/Riberas, on the carretera, southside, in between the OXXO and Hole in One. (Closer to OXXO, part of that strip, I think?)

Thanks. We'll try that before resorting to a trip to Guadalajara.

HelperGuy wrote:At the Monday tianguis in Chapala is a guy who sells lots of big pots, if anyone is looking for those. I bought a fantastic aluminum pot, absolutely huge, for spaghetti sauces and soups, for maybe 750 pesos two years ago. Really good quality. But I also find for stocks and liquids, the typical Mexican porcelain coated blue/speckled pots are great (the kind of stuff our camping tins and mugs were made of in the "olden days").

Those speckled ones are just great for making candles as well. Just sayin'.

So, what, you drill a hole in the bottom, put a string in the hole, fill with hot wax and when it cools turn the pot over to light up?

Helper Guy:

You chose the right profession! Good thing you didn't decide to become a candlemaker.

HelperGuy wrote:So, what, you drill a hole in the bottom, put a string in the hole, fill with hot wax and when it cools turn the pot over to light up?

Did I ever tell you how cheap I was? I hate wasting perfectly good candles.

I melt old candles in the speckled blue pot, sometimes the color combos are unusual.

The using my handy dandy wick spool, I wind a bit around a bamboo skewer. Attach a wick holder, metal to the bottom and drop it into a metal candle mold sprayed with pam.

I then pour the melted candle remnants into the mold, sit around and watch it solidify. Very good meditating activity. Then presto in a matter of mere hours out comes a brand new baby candle.

Sometimes they are quite large.

The porcelain coated steel pots and pans are known as acero vitrificado or perhaps more commonly as peltre and would work fine for oatmeal.

Thanks, all who have responded. We're still using the burned pot, and the oatmeal tasted fine...........so maybe we'll just put the whole thing off till the next trip to the Big City.
Maybe I'm cheap, but paying over $800 pesos for a little one quart pot seems like madness. #$% Walmart, anyway.

My spouse is picky picky about his oaties; has to have a pot that holds the heat after he turns off the burner according to his "special" method.........and who am I to blow against the wind?

gringal wrote:Thanks, all who have responded. We're still using the burned pot, and the oatmeal tasted fine...........so maybe we'll just put the whole thing off till the next trip to the Big City.
Maybe I'm cheap, but paying over $800 pesos for a little one quart pot seems like madness. #$% Walmart, anyway.

My spouse is picky picky about his oaties; has to have a pot that holds the heat after he turns off the burner according to his "special" method.........and who am I to blow against the wind?

It IS madness. It would be cheaper at Liverpool. I don't bother chasing around or going to Wally World for their crappy pans, I look once in Costco, then go to Liverpool for QUALITY and the widest selection.

I bought a huge 13 inch quality T FAL hard coated teflon pan in Liverpool for 420 pesos several years ago. It was priced no higher than Wally World.

I'd agree with John here. Alternatively Seis suggested those speckled porcelain ones. I do think they'd work really well and cost a fraction of a trip to Guadalajara.

Costco has a 5 qt casserole pot for $680 pesos, i think it was. A certain someone is getting one for their birthday. Stainless steel bottom that won't warp. There's a thin layer of copper somewhere in the middle, not enough for polishing, i don't think, but keeps the heat in. Great for making broths or frying...multi-purpose. I haven't had very good luck finding individual stainless steel pots apart from a set. I like the thick bottoms and not a fan of teflon. I choose cast iron for non stick.

El Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool or Fabricas de Francias are the places to look. What i really like about Fabricas and Liverpool is they're the same store, often give up to 20% back in electronic $$. Make a purchase at full price but put that 20% back on another item the same visit...it's great!

I saw a meat thermometer at Liverpool the other day for 380 pesos,price NoB 5 bucks.

viajero wrote:I saw a meat thermometer at Liverpool the other day for 380 pesos,price NoB 5 bucks.

Probably wouldn't be much price difference in SL, but at least Liverpool carries quality.

Have a question, what type of pan did your parents use when they cooked your Oatmeal? can't remember what my Mother used to cook my four brothers and myself Oatmeal, but was good nevertheless.

It hardly matters, Little Italy. Any old pan will work, and my dear departed mom was such a bad cook that I remember the oatmeal as kind of watery and hard to choke down. Even with butter in the middle and brown sugar.

A Scottish friend told my husband the magic method and even though I'm no fan of oatmeal, it's pretty good that way, especially with dried blueberries or cranberries. Gotta use the slow cooking oats; not the instant kind.
Betsy's way: same amount of water as oatmeal; add salt and toss in blueberries; bring to full rolling boil; add oats; bring back to boil, put the lid on and shut off the heat. Wait 20 minutes.

You are so right about "any old pan will work" as with any cooking. It's the cook not the pan.

gringal wrote:It hardly matters, Little Italy. Any old pan will work, and my dear departed mom was such a bad cook that I remember the oatmeal as kind of watery and hard to choke down. Even with butter in the middle and brown sugar.

A Scottish friend told my husband the magic method and even though I'm no fan of oatmeal, it's pretty good that way, especially with dried blueberries or cranberries. Gotta use the slow cooking oats; not the instant kind.
Betsy's way: same amount of water as oatmeal; add salt and toss in blueberries; bring to full rolling boil; add oats; bring back to boil, put the lid on and shut off the heat. Wait 20 minutes.

Ohhh yes butter and brown sugar. There is no other way.

I am with John on this one. I love T Fal/Tefal. I started buying it when we lived in Singapore and have used it around the world. It doesn't look special, but the French know how to make pots and pans.