I Tried All the Kitchenware at Quince

I tried a couple of stainless-steel cookware pieces (specifically the ten-inch skillet and the three-quart sauté pan that come in this larger set), and they were by far my least favorite of the kitchen products from Quince. They boast a five-ply build, but as I’ve recently learned,that doesn’t necessarily indicate quality. It’s certainly not the case here. From first use, they cooked food unevenly, had issues with sticking, and (though you can polish all stainless-steel cookware withBar Keeper’s Friendor something similar) showed discoloration faster than the myriad of other stainlesspotsandpansfrom various brands at a range of price points I’ve tested extensively.

Quince’s German-style knives don’t quite do it for me. They are, admittedly, cheaper than basically every option I’ve tested and liked over the years — but here it seems like price does correlate with quality. All three had sharp edges right out of the box (though to be fair, it takes a few months of regular use before most knives start to noticeably dull, and I’ve only used these sporadically). They’re fine to grip. But the real flaw comes in their weight and balance. They’re super heavy in the hand, which makes them uncomfortable to wield, especially for quick-cutting tasks like dicing onions or chopping herbs.

Unfortunately, I don’t find the brand’s Japanese-style knives much better. They’re not as heavy, but the issue of balance remains, though in an opposite way: When cutting, it feels like most of the weight is in the blade, which makes them inelegant to use. This is especially true with the chef’s knife. I’m also not a fan of the serrated utility knife. It never felt natural to reach for it while cooking. Though different, I own a six-inch serrated knife by Material Kitchen that I reach for all the time to cut bread and pastries, chop chocolate, and more, and this one, which is longer and more unwieldy, just doesn’t work as well for any of those tasks. At the end of the day, knives are an area I’d recommend investing in a bit more.

This electric pepper grinder leaves much to be desired. I don’t love the design, though I recognize that’s subjective. But the functionality for sure makes it a no-go. It requires six AAA batteries to work — fine, if a bit much. The canister holds an annoyingly small volume of peppercorns (and Quince even tells you to only fill to 75 percent to ensure it works properly). If you cook a lot, you’d be refilling this thing constantly (it’s also not the easiest or most intuitive to twist the top part on and off). Even when following those directions, mine got jammed twice over the few days I was testing it out. And while you can technically adjust grind size, my grinds didn’t produce consistent results and shifted between uses.

While this set is made by Italian company Sambonet, whose various flatware designs you can find everywhere from Bloomingdale’s to Bergdorf Goodman, this particular one is exclusive to Quince. Overall, I think it’s a good buy for the price, especially if you’re lacking dedicated serving utensils and want to buy a complete set. The pieces look quite nice, with a high-quality shine, and feel substantial in the hand. The ladle and cake server are my favorites, as I wish the two spoons and two forks were a bit bigger. They’re fine, but as it stands, they feel almost like oversize dinner flatware — meaning too small for anything other than side dishes.

I have a large collection ofkitchen utensils, many of them wooden. I stuck these four pieces in mycrockand simply waited to see how often I instinctively gravitated toward them. Honestly, I find that to be the best indicator of how much I like something. I was surprised that I did, indeed, grab them a fair amount. They feel solid and well made, they’re comfortable to hold, and each one has a nice shape. My most-used utensil (the longer spoon) has just started to look thirsty after about four months, which can be fixed with aquick oiling. At the end of the day, if you can swing it, I prefer to buy single cooking tools and curate a collection. I like how that gives a slightly more eclectic look since they live out in the open, and I also think it’s helpful to pick and choose some of the more interesting and special ones out there (like aflat spatulaor a right- or left-handed spoon). However, like the serving set above, if you’re looking for an all-in-one or affordability is top of mind, I think this is a great bet.

This kettle looks nice, especially for the price. It boiled my water just as quickly as some other largestovetop modelsI’ve tried. Like All-Clad’s much more expensive kettle (which I wrote about in that piece), I don’t love that this one is so shiny and reflective and picks up splatters from stovetop cooking easily. And (though this doesn’t personally bother me) you should know that the handle gets hot to the touch, so you need akitchen towelor pot holder to pick it up and pour. But otherwise, it works well. The whistle is strong, the lid doesn’t suction in too hard (a problem I’ve had with other kettles), the flap on the pour spout opens and closes easily, and the handle is at a comfortable angle to hold and tip from.

This is a “like” with a couple of caveats. The main appeal is that the set is truly cheap. If you’re moving into a new kitchen, buying a lot of pieces from scratch, and really want to save money where you can, you can absolutely get by with thesemeasuring cupsandspoons. Or else if you’re someone who rarely bakes and doesn’t cook a ton, but wants some pieces on hand just in case, you’ll also be fine with these. They feel weighty, which is a plus. However, I don’t find the handles especially comfortable to hold, and the sizes of the spoons in particular are a bit limited (I prefer a five- or seven-piece set). The shape isn’t ideal for dipping into spice jars, which is another feature I would personally seek out and pay a bit more for.

This is a well-built French press that’s made entirely of stainless steel (yes, even the plunger). The classic glass-and-plasticBodumis $10 more expensive and, quite frankly, not as nice. Here, the stainless feels quality. It’s also not quite as shiny as the kettle and doesn’t live on the stove, so splatter is less of a concern. The lid is easy to remove but feels snug when on. The plunge mechanism is smooth. The press is insulated, so it keeps coffee warm. And I particularly like the spout, which is wide and pours smoothly.

I’ve had Quince’s ceramic nonstick frying pan now for a little over a year. I use it near-daily, and, considering that, it’s in fantastic shape. It’s important to note that all nonstick coatings, whethertraditionalorceramic, are not meant to last forever — so this is one category where no matter what, you’d be wise to balance price with performance. Unlikestainless-steel skilletsor enameled cast-ironDutch ovens, a nonstick skillet isn’t a lifetime investment, so unless money truly is no object, splurging on the most expensive model isn’t necessarily the wisest decision. I’ve extensively tested many ceramic nonstick pans, and though I love certain pricier ones, this is the only budget version I’ve found that is truly just as good.

This wooden salad bowl is probably my very favorite item from the Quince kitchen department. I’ve owned the smallest 12-inch for a couple of years now (the longest I’ve been using any of their kitchen stuff) and pull it out multiple times a week when cooking for my household of two, though it can easily hold more if I’m hosting a couple additional people. It’s still in perfect shape with the occasionaloilingif it starts to dry out at all. Wooden salad bowls are often surprisingly pricey — but I think this one looks much more expensive than it is. It’s a bit shallow and wide-mouthed, which is aesthetically chic and also makes it easy to toss whatever lettuce is inside. It’s sturdy and carved from a single piece of wood, which means it won’t crack or separate over time, unlike cheap versions where pieces of wood are glued together.