Welcome to "Prof" Pots own personal page.  The Professor is holding office hours right now, and will answer all your questions about The Professional Cookware Place, our products, and how we are here to help you, our customer.

Below, you will find the Professor's answers to the following:

• What is “professional” cookware, and how do you find true professional cookware?
• How do your prices compare with the big name brands like All-Clad?
  
• What is “NSF”?
• Can I order sizes and types of cookware different from what you list?
• Do you have a minimum order quantity?
• What are your shipping charges?
• Can I wash the products you sell in my dishwasher?
• How can I best take care of my stainless steel pots and pans?
• How can I view the status of my order?

If you have any questions that are not answered below, please don't hesitate to contact us.  Contact information is at the end of this page.  The Professor will respond promptly.

Q:  Professor, lots of places claim to sell "professional" cookware.  What makes yours so special?

A:  You're right!  Lots of cookware calls itself professional, especially the expensive stuff that you can buy in those upscale stores.  You know the ones.  The fact is, anybody can say his stuff is "professional."  But to us, to be professional it has to be a product that was made specifically for restaurants.  Go into a restaurant kitchen sometime.  You'll see lots of different cookware, but seldom anything that came from one of those expensive stores.  You will, however, see good quality, heavy, and well-used cookware that is doing its job.

Q:  So where do chefs get their cookware?

A:  Restaurant chefs get their equipment in restaurant supply houses, who source it from manufactures that design and produce things specifically to meet the rigorous requirements of the food service industry.  And chefs are a picky bunch.  After all, to make a living, you need good tools but you also want them at the right price.  Very few restaurants buy fry pans for $200 or more like they try to sell you in those fancy stores.

Q:  Ah c'mon Prof. You're not really telling me I can get good quality at a cheap price, are you?

A:  Not cheap, but fair.  Remember, the expensive brands you have heard of have lots of costs to cover in addition to manufacturing.  Those slick paper magazine ads, product placement costs on TV shows, celebrity chef endorsements, distribution costs (a.k.a. markups in those fancy stores), and all the rest add up.  They even increase their manufacturing costs by adding whiz-bang ornamentation to the products.  Sure it looks nice, but does it help you turn out a better creme anglaise?  Companies that manufacture for the trade don't have those costs because their customers, the professionals, aren't swayed by marketing and glitz.  What they want is a good product that will do the job, and do it well, day in and day out. 

Q:  And so your stuff is better than the fancy brands we hear about all the time?

A:  We're not saying those well-known consumer brands aren't good.  Some of them are excellent.  But at what cost?  Isn't it better to get the tools you need at a fair price, and all the more in these days of economic turmoil that we all have experienced?  It might take $1,000, or a lot more, to outfit your kitchen with examples of the well-known upscale consumer brands of pots and pans, and cutlery.  We can provide you with great quality for a lot less.

Q:  How much less will I spend if I shop with you?

A:  Well, here's an example.  We did a quick on-line check of an All-Clad 2 Qt. saucepan including lid from their most popular "stainless steel" line.  Williams-Sonoma, Cookware.com, and several others had it, at the time we checked, for $140.   Amazon had it for $120.   We sell a comparable, professional-grade tri-ply clad metal line made by Paderno; our price for the 2 Qt. saucepan with separate lid is $69.90.  If you prefer a disk-bottom pan, we sell the Sitram Profiserie 2.4 Qt. saucepan with separate lid for a total of $61.90.  And if you want to get the most for your money, we sell our excellent Update 2 Qt. stainless steel saucepan, including lid, for an unbeatable $18.95.  And we often have them all on sale for even less.   The  All-Clad 10 inch frypan was $100 at Williams-Sonoma, Amazon, and Cookware.com;  our comparable Paderno is $82.95, while the Sitram (9.5 inch) is $59.95 and the Update (11 inch) is $23.95.    In summary, we sell products nearly identical to All-Clad for as little as one-half their price, and other professional-grade lines that will also do a great job for even less, sometimes lots less.  Not all price comparisons will come out in the same proportion, but you get the idea.

Q:  NSF?  What's that?

A:  NSF stands for National Sanitation Foundation, now called NSF International.  NSF is a non-profit testing and certification organization, whose main focus is safety and sanitation in our food and water.  They've been certifying food service equipment of all kinds for decades.  For example, just about all commercial-grade appliances, large and small, like refrigerators, processors, and ranges, are NSF certified, and in most places equipment without that certification simply can't be used in a licensed food establishment.   NSF also certifies smaller items such as pots and pans, knives, and other kitchen tools.  For these the NSF seal is not mandatory, but it is commonly found on tools intended for the food service industry, i.e. truly professional equipment.  Only well-made products, that are among other things strong enough to be sanitized with commercial equipment and procedures, can get the NSF certification.

The NSF seal is a good quick test to know that a cooking tool was truly made for professionals, and has a high level of quality built-in.  Combine that with a common-sense evaluation of the item (heavy weight, good finish, balance, and good feel) and you're well-assured of a quality tool that will last.

Q:  So this NSF only certifies kitchen products intended for licensed food service use?

A:  Generally but not exclusively.  For example, NSF has certification programs for certain consumer appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers, to assure buyers that they are capable of properly sanitizing things, or holding foods at safe temperatures, and so on--again, it's about food safety.  If your dishwasher has a "sanitation" cycle, look at the manufacturer's label; you may find an NSF seal.  Residential certification, however, does not quality the appliance for use in a commercial setting.

You can learn more about NSF at their website (www.nsf.com).

Q:  And you sell only NSF certified cookware?

A:  Most of what we sell is NSF certified.  All of our manufacturers produce NSF-certified cookware.

Q:  Now Professor, does the NSF mark alone guarantee a quality product?

A:  It's a great start, but as I mentioned above, you also need to look for good specifications for the job you want to do.  The products we sell are often things we have tested out ourselves, using them in our own kitchen sometimes for years.  We bought our first Sitram pot, a pressure cooker, over 30 years ago, and we still use it all the time.  These things are built to last forever.  We have lots of Update pots in our kitchen too, and we use them nearly every day.

Q: Can I order different sizes and types of cookware and knives than you list?

A:  All our manufacturers offer far more products than we are able to list.  If there is something you need, we can probably get it.  Check out the links to the manufacturers' websites that we provide on the "About Our Brands" page.  Just call us or send an e-mail; contact information is at the bottom of the page.  We’ll be happy to see what we can do to find you exactly what you’re looking for.

Q: What if I know of something I think you should have in your list but isn't there?  Do you want to hear from me?

A: Yes, Yes, and Yes!  If you know of some line of kitchenware that we don't carry but you think we should, we absolutely want to hear from you.  Our approach is to keep it simple and focused, but if we've missed something that we need to stock, we certainly want to hear your thoughts.  We love those opportunities to throw ideas around and get to know our customers better.  Please do let us hear from you; call or e-mail at the contacts shown at the bottom of the page.

Q: Do you have a minimum order size?

A: Yes.  Our minimum order size is $25. 

Q: What are your shipping charges?

A:  Due to the complexity of shipments from and to numerous points, we have adopted a simplified Shipping and Handling policy.  All orders (above our $25 minimum) up to $75 are charged a flat $12.95 for S&H.  From $75 to $150, the charge is reduced to $9.95.  Above $150, shipping is free.  For more information, consult our Store Policies page.

Q:  What is the best way to keep my stainless steel pots clean and shiny?

A:  It depends on the type of soil.  Most of the time, soaking in soap and water and a sponge wipe will do the job.  A plastic scrubber can help.  If there is serious, caked-on residue, a metal scrubber like the copper ones sold in grocery stores, or better yet a stainless one, can be very helpful.  For heavier accumulations, we have found Barkeeper’s Friend to be an excellent product.  Another is Bon Ami.  Either way, apply with a sponge or scrubber and use elbow grease.  Before using any of these products, however, try them out on an inconspicuous spot to be sure they won’t dull your pots.  We don’t recommend harsh abrasives like Ajax and Comet.

Q:  Can I clean the products you sell in my dishwasher?

A:  All the stainless steel cookware we sell can be safely washed in the dishwasher.  With respect to knives, any NSF certified knife must be capable of being mechanically washed/sterilized.  Both Victorinox and Sanelli specifically certify their NSF products to be dishwasher safe.  Dexter-Russell suggests caution, but we have found theirs to be equally safe; in fact, we have D-R knives that have been washed nearly daily for many years and show no ill effects whatever.  As always, if you wash your knives in the dishwasher, be sure to place them so the edge will not contact anything.  It is best to remove and wipe them as soon as possible after the cycle is complete. 

Q: How can I view the status of my order?

A: Go to the bottom of the Customer Service page and enter your order's confirmation number in the box.  Youn will be taken to a page that lists all your orders. Click the date of the order whose status you wish to view.

Q: How can I get in touch with you?

A:  You can contact me at: 

e-mail     profpots@gmail.com

or toll free at     888-622-8383; just ask for "Prof" Pots.

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