T-Fal cookware is a brand of pots, pans and bakeware manufactured by Tefal, a part of France's Groupe SEB. The company's products are known under the T-Fal name in the North American market.
In 1954, French engineer Marc Gregoire invented a process for bonding Teflon (polytetrafluorethylene) to aluminum, initially using it for his fishing gear. His wife, Colette, suggested trying it on her cooking pans. After doing so, they garnered the patent and in 1956 formed Tefal, which is a contraction of the words "Teflon" and "aluminum," to manufacture the non-stick frying pan and essentially create the non-stick cookware category.
T-Fal's signature non-stick cookware line is vast. The company sells hard anodized, non-stick cookware in various price points including the Ultimate, Flexi-Grip and Signature collections. The hard enamel non-stick line includes Ultimate and Premier. T-Fal sells non-stick inside and out in its Professional and Initiatives lines, and a specialized line called Simply Delicioso by Ingrid Hoffmann. The company also sells individual non-stick cookware including griddles, woks and roasters.
In addition to its non-stick line of cookware, T-Fal offers chefs stainless steel. The Elegance line features a brushed and polished stainless steel exterior in frying pans, sauce pans and a 10-piece set. For those who prefer copper bottoms, the company also offers its Ultimate and Performance stainless steel with copper bottom cookware sets.
T-Fal is available online at a number of retailers including the T-Fal store, Amazon, and several epicureal-related stores. You can also purchase the cookware at retail stores such as Macy's, Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, Sears, Target, Mill's Fleetfarm and Kohl's. Not all stores offer the same cookware, so it's a good idea to do research before you go.