Are these pots suitable to cook in?

Question

My mother recently bought these from an old second hand shop because she thought them pretty, but I am just wondering if they are suitable to cook on the hob.
I tried to google them on Google images but it kept showing me Serveware. Does anyone know if this is actually cookware? We think so but just want to be sure. We use a solid plate hob.

^{Click for full size}

Answer 1

These are enamelled pots - perfectly fine and intended for cooking, albeit a bit sensitive to chipping if not handled carefully. You can find various listings of that exact set on the Internet, e.g here or here.

Enamel is a hard, glass-like, non-porous substance and pretty non-reactive. As long as you are not exposing it to extreme temperature changes (when it can crack like glass) or excessive scrubbing, it remains pretty much the same even with prolonged use. So buying them secondhand is a good investment, if they are in a good condition. Do not use enamelled pots with chipping, less because of the rust from the iron core, but because in that case there’s a (small) chance of enamel shards or splinters ending up in the food. With good care however, enamel pots can be used a long time.

Note that the surface is quite hard and scratch-resistant, so not bad per se and reasonably well to clean. It’s not non-stick, though, so you will want to use a bit of fat if you intend to fry or roast something in them. Some cooks like the light inside color, because it makes it easier to judge the color, e.g. when browning onions.

Answer 2

You don't see them around so much these days, but they look like a million variants of the old enamelled steel casserole pots, probably last popular in the 70s.
They probably ought to have lids.

Answer 3

They went out of fashion after the seventies but I still have them and they are particularly useful for pot roasting or simmering over a low heat. These pots came from the Netherlands more than 40 years ago and are still perfect. Yes they can be used on a hob.

Answer 4

Yes, those are enamelled pots and they are perfectly safe to cook in (on gas, on an electric stove or in the oven), but may not work on induction. They're also easy to clean and safe to put in the dishwasher. I have two sets and have been using them for nearly 40 years (and I cook a lot), and they still look almost as new.

Answer 5

I wouldn’t use the on the stove top. I tried to melt some butter in one, once (at probably too high of a temp—I was 11 or 12) and the enamel started cracking and breaking off.