All-Clad Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set -- PAN-TASTIC!
Written: May 05 '04 (Updated May 06 '04)
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Pros: Durable, lifetime guarantee, dishwasher safe, even heating, made in USA
Cons: Price
The Bottom Line: The All-Clad Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set is highly recommended by this demanding user. Avoid anodized and nonstick cookware, cook with the best: All-Clad Stainless.
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| alexmd's Full Review: All-Clad Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set |
UPDATE:
I am updating my review of All-Clad Stainless Steel Sauce Pans, originally written in 2001. It is now 2004 and my All-Clad Stainless Steel Sauce Pans look as good as new. None of them has developed any problems, not even a loose handle! All-Clad Stainless Steel Sauce Pans were a great investment that continue to perform!
NOTE: This review was originally published in 2001. In 2003 Epinions reorganized the All-Clad listings and as a result my review ended up in an inappropriate category. I am placing this updated review here and deleting the old one.
Introduction:
I have purchased several sets of cookware over the years, but stopped when I purchased the All-Clad stainless steel series (stainless inside and out). All-Clad makes several series of cookware, each with their patented metal-on-metal sandwich technique. Exterior metal options range from utilitarian brushed aluminum to anodized aluminum to stainless steel to high-end copper. Interior options are nonstick surface and stainless.
A Note on NonStick Cookware:
As most professional chefs will tell you, nonstick is a cooking technique, not a choice of cookware. Proper preparation of food and pan will yield stick-free results regardless of the cooking surface used. In addition, there are times when nonstick surfaces can sabotage your cooking efforts, such as when a glaze is desired in saucemaking.
In this era, I'm certain all readers have been taken in by the promise of "lifetime" waranty on nonstick surfaces, but we all know how long that lasts. Sooner or later, by accident or ignorance, even the best nonstick surface becomes scratched.
For these reasons, I recommend against purchasing the non-stick interior on the otherwise built-for-a-lifetime All-Clad pan.
For those few recipes that benefit from nonstick surfaces, such as omelettes, I would encourage the savvy reader to purchase an inexpensive pan to be used for just this purpose.
A Word on Anodized Aluminum:
Anodized aluminum has been made popular by the Calphalon products. The hard dark-grey surface has the appeal of cast-iron without the heft. In addition, anodization prevents highly reactive aluminum from tainting, or being tainted by, foods. However, pity the poor soul who considers putting anodized cookware in the dishwasher. The surface will be ruined.
Of course, if you are one of those people who NEVER uses the dishwasher for pots, this may not apply to you. However, I recall one episode with my anodized All-Clad LTD cookware in which a well-meaning houseguest put three pans in the dishwasher and cleaned them for me. Do you really think it could never happen?
Now on to the reason you are reading this:
The All-Clad Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set consists of:
10" Fry Pan
2 Quart Sauce Pan with Lid
3 Quart Casserole Pan with Lid
3 Quart Saute Pan with Lid
6 Quart Stock Pot with Lid
The All Clad Stainless series is characterized by stainless steel on both the inside and the outside. The stainless steel interior does not react with foods, and is nonstick when adequately prepared. The aluminum core provides even heating (stainless steel is a relatively poor conductor of heat). The stainless exterior is probably the most durable and labor-free surface of any pot and suits almost any decor.
The saucepans are available in convenient sizes and come with lids. Handles are securely riveted to the pot bodies. Heat is distributed evenly, including up the walls of the pot, and the solid construction means little distortion of the heated surfaces even under high heat cooking conditions. Oven safe too!
Long-handled pans have good heft, and are well-balanced. Long handles are heat-resistant and fastened with three sturdy rivets. There is an assist handle on larger pans.
The larger skillets have straight walls that prevent spillovers, while the regular frying pans have curved sides that are perfect for sauteed foods.
Of note to smaller users: the pans do have a "professional" heft to them. However, of all the professional quality cookware I have considered using, they are the lightest and most well-balanced. My mom, however, finds them too heavy to easily manipulate.
Durability:
My set has been in constant use for 7 years. They look almost new despite being abused in the dishwasher on a regular basis.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
alexmd
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Member: Alexander
Location: North Carolina, USA
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Medical Professional in NC, USA.
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