Anolon Nouvelle Copper is one of the newest cookware product lines from Anolon. Featuring anodized aluminum up the side walls and a copper double base cap where the copper is surrounded by aluminum and protected by a magnetic stainless steel bottom. Anolon Nouvelle copper features the DuPont Autograph 2 nonstick interior and their new rivet caps offers a nearly flush surface on the inside. Nouvelle copper is suitable for all stove tops including induction. It is oven safe to 500 degrees and backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

My review is based on cooking with the 3-qt Anolon Nouvelle Copper Nonstick Covered All-Purpose Pan seen above right. In the weeks I have had this piece, I cooked a variety of items with it. I will be describing 2 of the dishes I made.

First, I made braised country pork ribs with sauerkraut. I got the ribs off to a good start by sauteing them on medium high heat with a little olive oil. Once they were browned nicely on both sides, I added the sauerkraut, a half cup of chicken stock, lowered the heat to low, and covered it. I let it cook on low for about an hour and a half. When I uncovered the dish, the pork was fork tender, and the sauerkraut got a unique mild flavor from the initial saute high heat and then the low heat braise with chicken stock. The dish turned out fantastic. I was surprised how well the pork browned, and attribute that to the copper in the base. The lid fits very well and was able to seal in the moisture as it cooked.

The second dish I'll describe is a hot Italian sausage rice casserole. I water cooked the hot Italian sausage in another skillet while I braised a diced onion and pepper in the Anolon Nouvelle copper casserole dish. With a little vegetable stock added to the veggies, I let it braise for about 45 minutes. I drained the sausage and broke it up into finer pieces. I then added 2 cups of vegetable stock to the Anolon casserole dish and raised the heat to medium high, covering it. Once it reached a near boil in only about 4 minutes I added 1 3/4 cups of Rice Select Royal Blend rice. After a half hour I introduced the sausage, frozen peas, and frozed corn. After another half hour I added salt and pepper to taste and 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter. This is a great 1 pot meal, easy to make, and wonderfully filling for work week lunches.

In both instances, I was very impressed in how easy it was to clean-up the Anolon Nouvelle Copper casserole dish, despite it not being dishwasher safe. In cooking these and other dishes, I really liked how well it responded to fluctuating heat during the cooking processes of saute, braise, boiling, etc. I found it to be very easy to use and produced excellent meals. The copper in the base clearly made a difference when using high heat cooking methods. Here's my summary:

The cons:

1. It is not dishwasher safe.
2. The side handles are pretty close to the cookware. When I tried to hold it with one hand when full of food so I can pour it into a strainer or scoop out contents, I found my knuckles touching the hot anodized aluminum sides. 
3. The lid handle, raised rather high I would assume to be decorative, which it is, did get hot also for some of my long braising.

The good:

1. I really liked how well it responded to varying heat used during the cooking process. It adjusts well and quickly.
2. Although not dishwasher safe, it does clean-up easily by hand.
3. The Autograph 2 nonstick surface is very good, even at higher heat levels.
4. The nearly flush rivets on the inside do help prevent food from hiding around the edges, making it more sanitary and better looking.
5. VERY flat bottom is wonderful to use on my flat top stove. It lays perfectly flat.
6.  The anodized aluminum walls surround food, like my rice dish, with an even heat that makes the cooking faster and more even.
7. Specifically for this piece, it is a perfect size for 1-2 people, or for side dishes for larger families.
8. Also for this piece, the high side walls reduced the saute splatter making stove clean-up easier.

Yes, I like the Anolon Nouvelle Copper cookware line. They have another winner on their hands. Anolon is well known for making sturdy long lasting cookware. The Anolon Nouvelle Copper joins those ranks and because of the copper in the base, becomes a real joy to use for those who love to cook. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. To see the great prices on Anolon Nouvelle Copper product line at Cooking.com, click this or any of the links above.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 August 2011 19:35