Cookware Reviews

For a family with a child who can't get enough pasta (no sauce, just cheese), or for anyone who wants to entertain a small party, this durable 3-quart saucepan is exceptional. All-Clad makes quality cookware with professional materials and thoughtful design. The materials and weight ensure even heat distribution, non-scorching, and a cool handle. All-Clad products, I believe, offer more long-term value than other cookware: They're durable, perform well, and are surprisingly easy to clean.

There's also an All-Clad steamer insert available at a very low price. I don't have it yet, but the helpful reviews here have persuaded me that it would be a useful addition.

I love this pan so much I bought 2! The 3 quart saucepan is a perfect size, I use it at least once a day. It is excellent for boiling potatoes, squash, a pound of penne, sauce, reheating some sauce and meatballs etc. It is my favorite of all my All Clad pans. It is made very well, is easy to clean, heats evenly and is designed to last. All Clad cookware is one of the most expensive lines around and it is worth every penny, it really is lifetime cookware. This saucepan is a definite must have. Very, very highly recommended! A+++!

Also, if you should get something stuck to the stainless steel use a product called "Bar Keepers Friend" to clean it. Most supermarkets have it and Kitchen Etc. and Bed, Bath and Beyond carry it too. The container (like a Comet can) is gold with blue and white writing. All Clad recommends it for cleaning stainless steel and it works like a dream and is very inexpensive.

Heavy cast or rolled aluminum is the optimum material for pots and pans. Based on this fact, Magnalite cast aluminum gourmet cookware was the best you could get from about the 1950's through the '70's. However, there are some problems with aluminum as a cooking surface. Some foods react with it and cause discoloration; it's hard to clean, a fact that became glaringly obvious with the advent of non-stick surfaces. And there have been reported health issues related to cooking food in contact with aluminum (experts currently assess the risks as insignificant).

All-Clad is the heir apparent to the position of "creme de la creme" among cookware. The inner layer of metal is aluminum to evenly conduct heat throughout the pan. The cooking surface is stainless steel, the ideal surface because it is non-reactive, easy cleaning, and more durable than nonstick compounds. All Clad offers a variety of exterior finishes to suit your taste. Finally, this line is WELL BUILT. It will outlast anything else in the kitchen.

This may be the most expensive cookware but it's also the best. For a person who doesn't have the physical strength to handle very heavy cookware, this may not be a good choice. For anyone else who is willing to pay for it, this is what you want to cook with.

This 4 quart saucepan is really a must! Perfect for a pound of pasta, boiling veggies, a small batch of sauce, the list is endless. It is also great if you don't feel like pulling out a stock pot or if you are trying to save space on your stove. I love All Clad in general but this one is one of the best. The handle is perfect, the lid is great, it is just an all around great pan and super easy to clean. All Clad quality can't be beat. Once you try one piece you will be hooked too (that is if you are not already :). All Clad offers a lifetime warranty and each piece is superb quality and very well made. There is nothing like top quality stainless steel.

Cleaning Tip: If you should get something stuck to the stainless steel use a product called "Bar Keepers Friend" to clean it. Most supermarkets have it and Kitchen Etc. and Bed, Bath and Beyond carry it too. The container (like a Comet can) is gold with blue and white writing. All Clad recommends it for cleaning stainless steel and it works like a dream and is very inexpensive.

Highly recommended! A+++!

It's good enough for Mom's Christmas Custard. Need I say more? A little expensive, but it cooks Mom's custard in style with the double boiler insert (purchased separately)

This is a must have pot for any cooking enthusiast that is planning on owning All-Clad's stainless line. The size is versatile, large enough to boil pasta, small enough to make sauces or puddings. I just purchased mine and love it. It cooks evenly and washes up nicely and it's beautiful to look at. I don't think this size comes in any of the sets. You must buy it separately. This comes with a lid already and has a nice grip handle that is easy to hold with one hand, while you are stirring or cooking in the pot. I prefer this one to the 4-quart pot with the two handles as this one is easier to manage at times, when stirring, etc. or when you need your other hand, as I find sometimes in a busy kitchen. If you're thinking of buying a few items of All-Clad, (since they are pricey), this is a must.

This is another of the workhorse pans in my kitchen. The AllClad Stainless 2qt pot is marvelous for cooking sauces that will bubble or foam; for sauces involving fruits that may need to boil. The height allows for ingredients to grow, and the small diameter means you are not waiting for items to heat up. The pot heats quickly and evenly.

Try it for cranberry sauce at the holidays, or any small sauces involving milk or cheese. Remember that the pan does not have a great surface area, so timing and delicacy in preparations is key. Leaving the pot unattended on a high heat is not a smart idea. Keeping the pot with a good warmth, slowly working up the heat of your sauce or fruit is one of the best ways to use it.

The only downside of this pot is that yes, it is difficult to pour from, and the small surface area of the pot (=smaller open area) means that ladles are often too unwieldy for it. So be prepared beforehand to know how you're going to get your sauce out of the pot without making much of a mess.

Have fun in your kitchen!

All-Clad makes quality cookware with professional materials and thoughtful design. The two-quart saucepan is specialized yet versatile (see the Amazon guide which suggests making rice, potatoes, hot chocolate, etc.). The materials and weight ensure even heat distribution, non-scorching and relatively easy clean-up, and a cool handle. I am intrigued by the review of the more economical "Sur La Table' brand, but I would recommend calling them to find out the weight of the pan and other specifics to see if the two brands are really comparable.

The All Clad 2 Quart Sauce pan in great....a perfect balance of stainless steel & aluminum. However, the downside to All-Clad is the price. There is an alternative. Go to www.surlatable.com and look at there branded cookware. We have the 1, 2 and 3 quart sauce pans and they are identical to All-Clad, but with more style and at 1/2 the price. The 2 quart sauce pan is $75, 3 quart is $85. They are the same 18/10 polished stainless steel inside and out with a solid aluminum core.

I have a set of All Clad pots and I tend to use the 1, 2 & 4 qt pots more often than the 3. I suppose that's because of the choices I have. Needless to say, the 3 works best as the bottom of the double boiler or the steamer insert. (The one that fits the 3 or the 4 qt pots.) And that's what I use mine for.

3 qts doesn't hold quite enough water for cooking pasta for 3. It's a little too big for 2 cups of rice, it's too big for a pt of soup. (That's 3 servings) Yet sometimes the 4qt pot is too big and then I reach into the back of the cabinate and pull this pot out.

So my recomendation is if you want to use the ALL CLAD double boiler (A good double boiler insert) or Steamer insert Get this pot. Otherwise fill in the other parts of your collection first. Of course if you are feeding 5, instead of 3 you may find yourself wanting this pot vs the 2qt than I do.

Positives: The pot is really well made. It's hard to burn stuff in it with that thick core, and Stainless steel goes right into my dishwasher. But I don't care if it has some minor scratches as it won't affect its cooking ablity and I don't have time to hand wash anything that fits in the dishwasher.

PS
What loop? The pan title says "with loop" but there is no loop in the photo. I had thought that the loop option only came with the 4qt pot.

Heavy cast or rolled aluminum is the optimum material for pots and pans. Based on this fact, Magnalite cast aluminum gourmet cookware was the best you could get from about the 1950's through the '70's. However, there are some problems with aluminum as a cooking surface. Some foods react with it and cause discoloration; it's hard to clean, a fact that became glaringly obvious with the advent of non-stick surfaces. And there have been reported health issues related to cooking food in contact with aluminum (experts currently assess the risks as insignificant).

All-Clad is the heir apparent to the position of "creme de la creme" among cookware. The inner layer of metal is aluminum to evenly conduct heat throughout the pan. The cooking surface is stainless steel, the ideal surface because it is non-reactive, easy cleaning, and more durable than nonstick compounds. All Clad offers a variety of exterior finishes to suit your taste. Finally, this line is WELL BUILT. It will outlast anything else in the kitchen.

This may be the most expensive cookware but it's also the best. For a person who doesn't have the physical strength to handle very heavy cookware, this may not be a good choice. For anyone else who is willing to pay for it, this is what you want to cook with.

Whether you are simmering a delicate soup, making jam, reheating yesterday's dinner, or you have put beans on the stove, at a boil, and forgotten them - utterly, with a trip to the library and an assortment or errands done, returning hours later to a smoke-filled house and unrecognizable ashen material on your All-Clad Saucepan - this wonderful pot will handle the task. Conscientious cooks will love its weight, even heating, and versatility. Distractable cooks will especially appreciate the fact that it cleans up without a hitch. In addition there is a sensible 'loop' in the handle for hanging from a rack, and another in the lid's handle, so that you can slip the lid handle down the pot's handle, and hang the set neatly from a pot rack. I've had mine for years. The weight is just right, it is good-looking, made in the USA, and a double-boiler insert is available for this size, which is also a good item, and usable as a separate saucepan if need be. Great product, and worth the money, especially if you tend to occasionally depend on your smoke alarm to remind you that something's on the stove.

I am a big fan of All Clad cookware and I love to cook with large pans. However, when I got this 14 inch pan, I had to return it for the 12 inch model... it really is too large for most home cooks. On a normal gas stove like mine, it covers two burners with its imposing 154 sq. inches of cooking surface. Unless your cooktop is extra large or you are cooking for an army, stick with the 12 inch version for your large fry pan needs.

I got this pan a month ago, mainly to round out my collection (wow, it looks great hanging on my rack!) To be honest, I was a bit worried about how much use I'd actually get out of it.

How wrong I was! It's absolutely spectacular for recipies that require large amounts of sauted vegatables. I love being able to saute several large onions, peppers, etc. at the same time.

Where it really shines is searing meat in prepartion for roasting. I love to roast, particularly pork and lamb. Only a pan like this lets you sear an entire pork tenderloin without any acrobatics.

It's definitely not for everyone, but I really enjoy using it.

Yep, this is a big pan. But when you need something this big, nothing is better that we've tried.

The quality of the colander is excellent. However, the holes in the colander are too large. When draining noodles, they tend to come out the holes.

This is an excellent colander, I love it. All my cookware is All Clad Stainless Steel so I decided to buy this colander and have not been disappointed. Although this is the smaller of the two sizes All Clad makes it is very roomy. This colander can drain a pound of pasta (even a pound of lasagna) without any problems. It is also great for rinsing salad, the solid side handles make it very easy to manage. It is made very well and is very sturdy. The cleanup is also very easy. Highly recommended!

THIS IS A TERRIFIC ITEM FOR THE KITCHEN AND IT LOOKS GOOD TOO! IT IS HIGH END QUALITY,AND DOES THE JOB THAT IS ALL I CAN ASK OF ANY THING I USE IN THE KITCHEN,I LIKE IT SO MUCH I WANT TO GET THE 5 QUART NEXT.ENJOY

I purchased this fry pan in June of this year - and it is almost to a state where it is ready to be thrown away as of December 1st. I would have expected the nonstick surface to be of superior quality and durability from All-Clad, but the sad truth is that I have had cheap grocery store pans that have maintained the coating far longer, and a small fraction of the cost. After just a few weeks the surface became scratched on this pan and the coating started to come off in the food - ick! I love the uncoated All-Clad, but I will be looking elsewhere for nonstick in the future.

that said, the All-Clad Stainless 14-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan has clearly failed. the non-stick surface began to deteriorate long before any other non-stick pan we've owned has in the past.

we received this pan as part of 10-peice set, and really, it's the only complaint we have about the set in general. the rest of the All-Clad peices have performed beautifully and withstood all of the rigors of being cookware in a house with two accomplished and passionate chefs.

about a year ago we gave up on this pan and purchased the 'Restaurant Fry Pan Set' from Nordic Ware (8" and 10") and they have performed much better than the All-Clad version of the same and held there non-stick surface now four times as long -- at a fraction of the cost! unfortunately this set is not currently available on amazon. (it is on (another) site)

I highly DISAGREE with the other reviews of All-Clad's non-stick coating. I have owned my All-Clad set for 6 years and the non-stick coating is still as good as new! You do have to take care of good pots and pans no matter what, so if you are expecting these pots and pans to be easier than "grocery store" pans... then save the money because there's no doubt you would ruin them.

As far as the quality of the non-stick coating, I have found it much more durable than any other brand I have used including Calphalon.

You CANNOT use forks, knives, steel wool, or stainless steel utensils in non-stick pans- no matter what brand... you MUST use non-stick friendly utensils (i.e. wood or plastic)- and I guarantee that the negative reviewers were not careful with their pans.

All-Clad has a lifetime guarantee that they truly do stand behind. I had a random rivet problem with one pot and they replaced it without question. If you were careful with your pan and it scratched with appropriate care then All-Clad will replace it. I feel this makes the All-Clad decision a no-brainer and risk free including the non-stick pans.

I own this pan it appears to be a chefs pan so I bought it. Too bad I bought from a rival company called henckels clad cookware that looks exactly like this one but costs 10 times less money...

All-clad is fantastic. I own some cheaper brands, and I promise they don't compare. If you are a serious cook, you'll be able to tell a big difference in the heat distribution over a gas or electric burner. You can heat milk on medium high and it won't burn! You won't regret it. Try the 1-quart sauce pan ... you'll be hooked.