All-Clad Cookware

[LJSquishy]

I suppose this isn't exactly "budget" cookware, but I want to buy a 10-piece set of All-Clad cookware.

I'm interested in both the Stainless 3-ply as we'll as the d5 Stainless. Please share your opinions on what you like/dislike about either set. All-Clad recently redesigned their basic 3-ply with better handles, and now both sets are induction ready (though I don't have an induction cooktop, I have electric burners with no smooth top). In a way I was disappointed to hear about the whole induction thing because it means the outer layer is not 18/10 stainless, it is 18/00. The cooking surface of the pan is still 18/10.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

My mom buys me one piece of All-Clad every year for my birthday. So far I have 2 sautee pans, 1 sauce pan, and 1 6qt pot. I absolutely LOVE this cookware. I have a gas range and I have worked in restaurants for over 25 years. I love All Clad! you've made a great choice either way you go!!

 

[Pakey]

I have had All Clad stainless for 12 years and the pieces still look brand new. Even the non stick frying pan inside surface has no signs of wear. I've been very happy with the cooking quality.

 

[LJSquishy]

My mom buys me one piece of All-Clad every year for my birthday. So far I have 2 sautee pans, 1 sauce pan, and 1 6qt pot. I absolutely LOVE this cookware. I have a gas range and I have worked in restaurants for over 25 years. I love All Clad! you've made a great choice either way you go!!

I want this purchase to be a smart one. About 8 years ago I purchased a hard-anodized Calphalon set and it was wonderful for about 4 years but it went downhill from there. I know I want stainless now (for health reasons) and I've heard it will truly last a lifetime...if it lasts 20-30 years I will be a happy camper!

I have had All Clad stainless for 12 years and the pieces still look brand new. Even the non stick frying pan inside surface has no signs of wear. I've been very happy with the cooking quality.

Glad you still love it! I have heard that with Bar Keeper's Friend the cookware will continue to look brand new. I'm excited about that! I will probably buy one 8" Swiss Diamond nonstick pan for eggs and such (hubby's request) but I've heard people manage to cook eggs in the stainless pans. I'm sure it is a learned skill to be able to do that.

Question for all: Do you really only use up to Medium heat for the stainless cookware? What setting does water boil for you? And, does it take a really long time to heat up your pan before adding your oil (or to boil water), or just a little longer than the hard-anodized pans?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can find many reviews online.

Personally, I prefer buying cookware pieces individually, rather than in large sets. I'd rather get the pieces I need.

 

[LJSquishy]

You can find many reviews online.

Personally, I prefer buying cookware pieces individually, rather than in large sets. I'd rather get the pieces I need.

I have read great reviews online from most folks, I just wanted to hear from the Dis members.

Everyone tells me to buy individually, but their 10-piece sets have the exact sizes I use daily. I don't understand what sizes people don't use in the sets...they are all practical, common pans. I usually have 3 pans/pots on the stove at once.

My current set has:
8" fry (used almost daily for hubby's egg whites)
10" fry (use for everything; multiple eggs, meat, saute onions/mushrooms, etc)
12" fry (I use this the least out of the 3 frying pans)
1qt sauce (perfect for heating up a single serving of soup or pasta sauce for hubby and I)
2qt sauce (use to heat up a few portions of soup or boil veggies if I don't steam)
4qt sauce (taller than my others; I put a steam basket in it and steam veggies, also cook pasta in it for up to 4 people)
3qt saute (my other favorite piece, versatile, use it for everything like the 10" fry but also for making pasta sauces, creamed eggs, gravy, etc)
5qt Dutch oven (perfect for chicken & dumplings, chili (if I don't use the crockpot), large quantities of soups to freeze, etc)
Square griddle pan (use for bacon, sometimes pancakes & eggs but it's not huge)

I also have a tall soup pot that I use only when I need essentially another big pot like my Dutch oven. It is tall and slender so I hate it. That is the only piece I don't use frequently.

With that said, I could sometimes use maybe two 10" frying pans, or two 3qt saute pans, or two 2qt sauce pans. But unless the sets come with a tall and slender pasta/soup pot that I won't use, I think I will use each piece equally. If anything, I will need to build on a set by adding duplicates. I think the All-Clad casserole pots are awesome looking and I would probably get a lot of use out of one of those.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We have major interest in two eateries
. . . a breakfast & lunch "blue-plate-special" diner (open 5:00am-2:00pm)
. . . a fine dining dinner eatery (open 5:00pm-11:00pm)
2) For our places, we bought sets of All-Clad
. . . the 14-piece set works for 90%-95% of our needs
. . . we also got a few specialty peices to fill-in
3) It may sound strange, but we bought the Emeril 14-pc All-Clad package
. . . our restaurant manager saw them and bought two for each location
. . . $300 for each package
4) We thought it was a cheap way out and we would be sorry
. . . the normal All-Clad big set goes for about $1,200
. . . this appeared at first sight to be a knock-off set
. . . but, the quality was the same from what we could see
. . . and, they perform and last as well as other set
. . . even when they finally go, we can still replace 5-sets for the price of one
5) It turned out to be a great buy!
6) They last and last, and work just great.
7) AFTER seeing the package at the eateries, we bought a set for home.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I want this purchase to be a smart one. About 8 years ago I purchased a hard-anodized Calphalon set and it was wonderful for about 4 years but it went downhill from there. I know I want stainless now (for health reasons) and I've heard it will truly last a lifetime...if it lasts 20-30 years I will be a happy camper!



Glad you still love it! I have heard that with Bar Keeper's Friend the cookware will continue to look brand new. I'm excited about that! I will probably buy one 8" Swiss Diamond nonstick pan for eggs and such (hubby's request) but I've heard people manage to cook eggs in the stainless pans. I'm sure it is a learned skill to be able to do that.

Question for all: Do you really only use up to Medium heat for the stainless cookware? What setting does water boil for you? And, does it take a really long time to heat up your pan before adding your oil (or to boil water), or just a little longer than the hard-anodized pans?

I have had All Clad by Emeril for almost 4 or 5 years now. I LOVE LOVE my stainless steel. I shopped around for several months before deciding on this set. I wanted the entire set because I was getting rid of my almost beginner set. The set is 100% guaranteed by All Clad and will replace anything that gets damaged.

In the last house, I cooked on an electric stove with my stainless steel and now on a gas stove in this house. I do not turn the heat on high when heating up a pan or skillet. It will scorch everything including the oil. It only needs a few minutes to heat up and I very seldom even get to water bubbling heat before throwing the things in the water.

I cannot say enough how much I love my set of cookware. It cooks quickly and evenly. I soak for a bit in the sink and cleans up looking like new again.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have had my set since 02 and I love them.

 

[LJSquishy]

Thanks for the responses!

I think I will just have to hold both of the sets in person and decide which I like better. I'm sure the Tri-Ply is more than adequate, but the d5 has the rolled edges on the pots for pouring which would be really nice (plus it is 5ply).

 

[arissavolk]

I second the Emerilware by All-Clad set- if you're looking to buy around christmastime, you'll probably find a good sale and could get a set for about $125.

If you're lucky, sometimes the department stores have a deal where you get to pick an extra griddle or pan for free. You could invest that extra 75+ bucks you would've spent from a standard All-Clad set and get yourself some nice Wusthof kitchen knives.

 

[LJSquishy]

I second the Emerilware by All-Clad set- if you're looking to buy around christmastime, you'll probably find a good sale and could get a set for about $125.

If you're lucky, sometimes the department stores have a deal where you get to pick an extra griddle or pan for free. You could invest that extra 75+ bucks you would've spent from a standard All-Clad set and get yourself some nice Wusthof kitchen knives.

I'm not interested in the Emerilware by All-Clad, but thank you. I am looking for U.S. made cookware...unfortunately the Emerilware is made in China, and it also has glass lids. It looks like a nice basic set, just not what I'm after. I already have fantastic knives, too (Messermeister Meridian Elite). But thanks!

 

[Fyrefly]

All-Clad is excellent, my mom bought a set because her 30 year old Farberware was apparently warped from years of use so when she got a glass flat top they danced like something out of Beauty and the Beast! But since Farberware isn't made in the US anymore their standards have gone downhill and she replaced with All-Clad.

Since I'm using the old Farberware stainless on my coil stove now I'd say its fair to say well-made stainless lasts decades.

The only tip I might suggest is see if you can use the Bed Bath and Beyond coupons on them. I feel like my mom managed this and I don't know if it's now excluded or if she was buying so much they gave her the discount but its worth a shot. They also threw in a dutch oven I think for buying through them.

 

[Disflyer]

We have the 3-ply 10 pc set. We looked at the d5 but I guess the price difference is what made me go with the 3-ply instead. I cook at home daily and absolutely love the set! I guess when I made the decision it came down to basically this: the 3-ply is still better than 99.9% of anything else on the market, the materials are top notch, would I notice that big of a difference from the 3-ply to d5? I decided I wouldn't. I haven't regretted the decision one bit.

Clean up is simple, bar keepers will become your new best friend. Enjoy whichever set you decide on!

 

[kathymac]

I have individual pieces in both the stainless steel and the D5. Love them both and honestly don't see any difference in how they cook. I have been gradually replacing all of my old pots and pans with All-Clad and I don't think I will ever need to replace the All-Clad.

If you can afford to buy a set and you know those are the pieces you need and will use I say go for it! I have never regretted any All-Clad purchase.

 

[Kies99]

Hmmm....we don't own any All Clad items and I only live about 15 minutes from the factory. Guess we'll have to head down to the factory sale on November 30-Dec 1.

 

[zeferjen]

All Clad is also good to purchase slightly damaged. A lot of times you cannot even see the damage, or it comes with just a scratch. I bought my set from cookware and more during their semi-annual sale. They sell 'irregular' items and right now it is an extra 20% off with the code Fall2012. http://www.cookwarenmore.com/

 

[LJSquishy]

All Clad is also good to purchase slightly damaged. A lot of times you cannot even see the damage, or it comes with just a scratch. I bought my set from cookware and more during their semi-annual sale. They sell 'irregular' items and right now it is an extra 20% off with the code Fall2012. http://www.cookwarenmore.com/

I came across that site the other day and have heard great things about the All-Clad irregular items since they are only cosmetic defects and still hold the same lifetime warranty.

Right now I'm trying to look at all of the different All-Clad pieces to figure out which pieces I would like to own. Some of the pieces are really versatile, like the Steamer Set, Soup pots, & Casserole pots. They work just like a Sauce pot but with double loops instead of a long handle (which I think is a bonus because they take up less room on the stove & in storage, though the loop handles probably get hot...not sure). And, I'm not sure if I want a 10" frying pan for sauteeing (I sautee onions peppers & mushrooms a lot). I think the 12" would be too big, since I have a 12" one at home (Calphalon) and it's so huge I rarely use it. Also, do I want a 3qt Saute pan or 4qt Saute/Simmer pan? All questions that are running through my head! But it is fun.

I still have to visit Williams Sonoma so I can hold both the Tri-Ply and d5 pans in my hand and decide between the two.