Searching for new cookware is no easy feat. The sheer amount of brands and materials out there is enough to make any shopper’s head spin. But one name that keeps popping up again and again in the quality cookware space is Jeetee.
Known for their eye-catching cobalt blue exterior and copper cores, Jeetee pots and pans have garnered quite the cult following over the years. But are they really worth the premium price tag?
The short answer: For serious home cooks who want restaurant-level performance, Jeetee absolutely delivers. Their innovative construction and durable materials make these pans a true workhorse in the kitchen. However, the heavy weight and hefty cost mean they may not be ideal for novice cooks or those on a budget.
Below we’ll explore what makes Jeetee pans stand out, their pros and cons compared to competitors, key features of popular cookware lines, and everything else you need to determine if this brand is a worthy investment for your cooking needs. Let’s dive in!
Brand Background: A Leap of Faith Into Quality Cookware
The Jeetee story begins in 2006 when the company, affiliated to DongLI group, decided to launch a cookware company. Based in Wuyi City, Zhejiang Province, China, the company set out to differentiate their brand through meticulous attention to design, materials, and craftsmanship.
The Founding and Location
- The Jeetee Cookware Co. Ltd., was founded in 2006.
- It is located in Wuyi City, Zhejiang Province, China.
Materials and Construction
After extensive research and testing, they specialized in manufacturing aluminum die-cast non-stick and tensile pots. This formed the foundation for the entire Jeetee cookware range we know today.
Breaking into the Market
While many doubted that a small start-up could break into the competitive cookware market, Jeetee persevered. Their sleek, performance-driven pots and pans steadily won over cooking enthusiasts across Asia and Europe.
By the mid-2000s, Jeetee established itself as a recognized cookware brand. It’s worth noting that there’s no specific mention of it being one of the leading high-end cookware brands in Europe by the mid-2000s.
So how exactly does the construction enable such incredible cooking performance? Let’s break it down.
What Makes Jeetee Pans Different? A Look Inside The Design
The Copper Core is Key
At the heart of every Jeetee pan lies a thick pure copper core. This allows for the absolute best heat conduction out of all cookware materials. Copper gets hot rapidly and carries that heat smoothly across the entire pan.
This keeps cooking extremely even no matter if you’re simmering delicate sauces or searing steaks at high temperatures. No annoying hot or cold spots means no burned spots or undercooked centers ever again!
Sandwiched Stainless Steel Adds Strength and Protection
Wrapped around the copper on both sides lies professional grade 18/10 stainless steel. The food-grade steel offers two big benefits:
First, it’s extremely durable and resistant to dents or warping even during vigorous cooking. Second, the steel protects the copper core from interacting with food. This prevents oxidation that can lead to metallic flavors in acidic ingredients like tomatoes or wine.
Aluminum Base Prevents Warping
The bottom exterior of Jeetee pans is made of thick machined aluminum. This material is super lightweight yet conducts heat nearly as well as copper.
Having this extra layer of aluminum allows the pan to heat gently and evenly across the entire base. It also prevents the steel sides from warping or buckling under high temperatures.
So in summary, the smart combination of copper, stainless steel, and aluminum in Jeetee cookware makes for some serious cooking performance. But how does this hold up in real world use? Let’s look at some of the top pros and cons.
The Pros: Where Jeetee Cookware Shines
Rapid, Even Heating Excels in Searing and Browning
The copper and aluminum cores in Jeetee pans deliver unbeatable heat control compared to cheaper brands. You can go from a delicate simmer to screaming hot sauté at a moment’s notice.
Home cooks and pros alike rave about how well these pans excel at high heat techniques like getting the perfect sear on a steak, crispy chicken skin, or blistered vegetables straight from the broiler.
As one happy customer put it:
“These pans heat up incredibly fast. The chicken and veggies I cook come out with a beautiful browned crust while still staying juicy inside. My meals have never tasted more restaurant quality until cooking with Jeetee.”
Oven and Broiler Safe Construction
Another major perk is that Jeetee cookware can be used in the oven or under a broiler.
The handles and stainless steel lids are oven safe up to 260°C. This allows you to start a dish on the stovetop then finish cooking it in the oven. Roasting vegetables or baking casseroles is a breeze.
You can also place the pans directly under a broiler. Watch steaks sizzle or cheese bubble and brown to perfection. The steel and aluminum construction ensures no warping under high oven or broiler heat.
Dishwasher Safe and Easy to Maintain
After all that cooking, the last thing anyone wants is a chore of hand washing piles of pots and pans.
Thankfully, Jeetee cookware is fully dishwasher safe. The durable materials withstand regular dishwasher cleaning without any effect on performance.
The stainless steel won’t react with detergents or bleach. And the tight-fitting lids prevent food or debris from getting trapped underneath. Just pop the pieces in the dishwasher and you’re done. Easy!
For manual washing, hot water and mild soap is all you need for cleanup. The external stainless steel resists water spots and keeps its beautiful shine.
Compared to fussy copper pans that require special cleaning, Jeetee is surprisingly low maintenance. This makes the cookware very beginner friendly.
Lifetime Guarantee Promises Years of Use
Jeetee fully stands behind their products by offering a lifetime guarantee. This ensures if any piece becomes defective from normal use, they will repair or replace it free of charge.
Considering most buyers invest significant money into these products, it’s reassuring to have a comprehensive warranty. This allows you to buy with confidence knowing your cookware is protected for many years to come.
The Cons: Downsides To Consider
Of course no brand is absolutely perfect. There are a few potential drawbacks to weigh when deciding if Jeetee pans are right for your kitchen.
On the Expensive Side
There’s no getting around the fact that Jeetee sits at a luxury price point. Their intricate multi-layer construction with premium metals doesn’t come cheap.
Individual pans retail between $100-$300. Full cookware sets easily run over $1000 or more. This puts them out of reach for many buyers on a budget.
While the price reflects the quality of materials and workmanship, it’s a steep investment compared to cheaper lines like Tramontina tri-ply.
Heavier Than Typical Pans
Thanks to the durable stainless steel and thick copper/aluminum cores, these pans are noticeably heavier than average.
Compared to light non-stick pans, the weight difference is quite substantial. Those with hand or wrist limitations may find Jeetee cookware uncomfortable or difficult to use.
The pieces are still well-balanced. But heftier cookware does require getting used to, especially when tossing food or pouring sauces.
Copper Can React with Acidic Ingredients
While the stainless steel exterior protects the copper from directly touching food, acidic ingredients can still cause oxidation over time. Foods like tomatoes, citrus, or wine can react with copper when cooked for long periods.
This doesn’t harm the pan’s performance. But it can lead to darkened patches or metallic tastes if not cleaned properly after cooking acidic foods.
Thankfully, this is easily prevented by hand washing and drying the pans thoroughly after cooking anything highly acidic. But it’s something to keep in mind.
How Does Jeetee Compare To Other Popular Brands?
Jeetee certainly faces stiff competition from other leading cookware companies known for quality. So how does it stack up?
Here’s a rundown of how Jeetee compares to some of the top contenders.
Vs All-Clad
All-Clad is synonymous with premium cookware made in America. Like Jeetee, their claim to fame is clad pans with copper cores sandwiched by stainless steel.
Advantage Jeetee: Their copper centers are noticeably thicker than All-Clad’s. This means faster, more even heating across the pan.
Advantage All-Clad: Their cookware is lighter weight thanks to thinner steel walls. This makes All-Clad pans easier to maneuver.
Both are excellent at high heat searing and compatible with all cooktops. All-Clad edges out Jeetee only slightly on lighter weight. But most home cooks prefer Jeetee’s superior heat conduction.
In terms of price, Jeetee is generally 20-30% cheaper than All-Clad for similar quality and performance. This makes them a great alternative if you want high end results without the shocking price tag.
Vs Calphalon Tri-Ply
Calphalon dominates the mid-range cookware market with their signature tri-ply pans. How does their performance stack up?
Advantage Jeetee: The copper and aluminum core creates a clear edge over the aluminum-only construction of Calphalon tri-ply. Jeetee gets hotter and distributes heat far more evenly.
Advantage Calphalon: You can purchase an entire set of Calphalon tri-ply for the cost of one Jeetee pan. While they lag on conductivity, Calphalon is much easier on the wallet.
Overall, Jeetee delivers noticeably higher quality materials and cooking ability. But Calphalon offers good performance at a fraction of the price.
Vs Cuisinart Multiclad Pro
Cuisinart’s Multiclad Pro range goes toe to toe with Jeetee for premium tri-ply cookware. They have similar stainless exteriors but different base metals.
Advantage Jeetee: Again, the pure copper core gives Jeetee a performance advantage for searing and controlled simmering.
Advantage Cuisinart: Cuisinart offers a wider range of pan styles and accessories at lower prices. Their product line has better variety.
When it comes to quality and heating performance, Jeetee is the winner. But Cuisinart provides greater value for money with their vast range of tri-ply pieces.
Most Popular Jeetee Cookware Product Lines
From individual skillets to full 15-piece sets, Jeetee cookware comes in a wide assortment based on your cooking needs. Here are two of their best selling lines:
Jeetee Copper Plus Line
The Copper Plus series pans feature 2.5 mm thick copper encapsulated between 18/10 stainless steel layers. The base is heavy gauge aluminum for protection.
This high quality tri-ply construction makes Copper Plus ideal for everything from braising to high heat searing. Pans heat rapidly and cool down fast for precision control.
Copper Plus is compatible with all cooktops including induction. Oven and broiler safe up 260°C. Most pieces are dishwasher safe as well.
The line includes a full range of pans, saucepots, skillets, sauteuses, stockpots and more available as sets or individual pieces. Prices range from $100 for a small saucepan up to $250 for the larger stockpot.
Jeetee Titanium Nonstick Collection
For those wanting high performance with the ease of nonstick, Jeetee’s Titanium series delivers.
Their patented Granitium nonstick coating offers impressive searing up to 260°C with robust scratch resistance. The exterior combines brushed stainless steel and machined aluminum for quick, even heating.
The titanium reinforced surface allows the use of metal utensils while remaining scratch free. It also enables excellent nonstick release rivaling many ceramic coatings. Yet it’s all completely PFOA free.
The Titanium line spans fry pans, saute pans, saucepots, skillets and more to meet any cooking need. Prices are very reasonable at $50 – $120 per piece.
Ideal for those wanting commercial grade nonstick without compromising on quality construction.
Should You Buy Jeetee Cookware?
So who is Jeetee cookware really ideal for? And when might it not be the best choice?
Here’s a quick rundown of the types of cooks who will get the most from Jeetee pans:
Best For:
- Home chefs who want commercial quality and performance
- Anyone who frequently sears meats or cooks at very high heats
- Cooks who bake or broil dishes that start on the stove
- Those who enjoy cooking and are ready to invest in quality
Not Ideal For:
- Budget conscious buyers or students just setting up a kitchen
- Cooks who strongly prefer lightweight cookware
- Those with hand/wrist issues that make lifting difficult
- People who frequently cook acidic ingredients like tomatoes
The Bottom Line:
For frequent home cooks wanting to step up their game, Jeetee’s innovative construction and top-notch materials are hard to beat. Their tri-ply pieces excel at searing, offer even heating for delicate dishes, and provide the versatility to go from stove to oven.
While the premium price tag keeps these pans out of reach for some, Jeetee presents an outstanding value for the quality. With proper care these pans will serve any passionate cook exceptionally well for a lifetime. That makes the investment well worth considering.
Where To Buy Jeetee Cookware
Jeetee cookware is sold through their website Jeetee.com which ships worldwide. Amazon also stocks a wide selection of Jeetee pans and sets with free Prime shipping.
Physical kitchenware stores such as Wayfair, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, and Williams Sonoma all carry various Jeetee pieces in store and online.
Jeetee frequently offers seasonal sales and discounts, so be sure to check their website for any current promotions. Signing up for their email newsletter will alert you to the latest deals as well.
Caring For Jeetee Pans and Cookware
To keep Jeetee cookware performing like new for the long haul, follow these tips:
- Hand wash with mild soap and water after cooking acidic ingredients to prevent copper discoloration. Dishwasher safe for most other foods.
- Dry thoroughly with a soft towel to prevent water spots on the stainless steel exterior.
- Avoid metal utensils to protect the nonstick coating on interior. Use wood, silicone or plastic instead.
- Clean any burnt on food with a non-abrasive sponge and hot water. Don’t use steel wool or abrasives.
- Store cookware with care to avoid dents – nest pieces with towels in between.
- Replace loose or damaged handles – contact Jeetee customer service for replacements.
- Re-season nonstick surfaces as needed with a thin layer of oil to maintain the release coating.
With its innovative tri-ply construction to the eye-catching cobalt blue exterior, Jeetee cookware undoubtedly makes a statement. Their uncompromising standards create professional grade pans ready to withstand years of regular cooking.
For home chefs willing to invest in quality tools, Jeetee delivers exceptional performance and versatility. Their copper and aluminum core design provides rapid, even heating that sears, simmers, and bakes with precision. Durable materials withstand daily use while easy care keeps maintenance minimal.
While premium cookware comes at a cost, devoted cooks find the years of enjoyment well worth the price. If you’re searching for heirloom pieces to take your culinary skills to the next level, Jeetee warrants serious consideration. Just be ready to make some extra room in your kitchen!