Recently I purchased my first set of All-Clad cookware and I did a lot of reading up and comparison shopping, so I thought I would pass on some of what I learned during that shopping experience.
The set I decided to buy was the stainless steel All-Clad MC2 Master Chef 10 Cookware Piece Set with the brushed aluminum exterior. Cook’s Illustrated in May 2009 gave the all-stainless-steel version their top honor for recommended cookware sets.
My set wasn’t the exact same set recommended by Cook’s Illustrated but close enough and it meets my needs. I didn’t care for the shiny stainless steel, and even though Cook’s Illustrated didn’t like the inclusion of the saute and saucier pan in the set, I didn’t mind it as I tend to use a saute pan quite a bit. Cook’s Illustrated also wanted a set with a 12-inch fry pan instead of an 8-inch, and that would have been nice.
Regardless, the set meets my needs well, and I love cooking with the pans, but here are some considerations you may want to take into account if you have decided on All-Clad over another brand.
First question: Which set to buy?
Pan sets can be a really good deal, but you will often get pans that you won’t use, so don’t always go for the biggest set. Manufacturers will throw in specialty pans as an inducement for people to buy, but in the end you probably won’t use them much. Look for pan sets that have what you need, and try looking at the different retailers as they may have different cookware packages. Big home and kitchen stores such as Williams-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel will have slightly different pan and handle options for their respective sets. But just keep in mind that no cookware set will likely have the exact pans you want, but buying them individually will usually cost a lot more too.
Both MetroKitchen.com and Williams-Sonoma offer similar sets that Cook’s Illustrated rated best — though Metro Kitchen has a 2 qt. saucier pan instead of the basic pot. I actually like the saucier better, and the Metro Kitchen package pictured above (click for details) is a bit cheaper. Also, with the purchase of most All-Clad sets on any site, the retailer will often throw in some freebies, but frankly they are usually not that useful. (Though I do actually use the apron I got with my order.)
‘Concerns’ with All-Clad
Though All-Clad pans rate highly with cooks and foodies, there are some common complaints.
First of all, people complain about the price or — better yet — the value of the set. It is true they are more expensive, but I can also attest to the fact I like using these pans more than cheaper sets I have used. If you are concerned about value then you may want to look into cheaper (but also very good) cookware options. I will have another post on alternatives to All-Clad in the coming week.
Also, the long handles on sauce and fry pans aren’t that comfortable. The design just isn’t that great, especially considering the need to carry full pots full of water, sauce or food. And I have had handles that do a lot better job than All-Clad at not getting so hot.
All-Clad pans are beautiful, so if you want to show them in your kitchen they are good for that, but take care with the cleaning. The shiny stainless steel pans can scratch easily and need to be dried quickly to avoid spots. I wanted the brushed aluminum because I didn’t want to worry about maintaining a shine.
Cleaning is also a common complaint. Stainless steel is usually going to be harder to clean than non-stick coated pans. With frequent use, though, and proper cooking methods, stainless steel doesn’t have to be so difficult. I personally don’t mind the cleanup, but I still go for a non-stick pan when I prepare a quick egg. By the way, there is an set that substitutes a non-stick pan. All-Clad Stainless 9 Piece Cookware Set 10 inch NS Fry Pan
Where to get the best price?
With Williams-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel you may have to factor in shipping cost if you don’t have a store nearby or there isn’t a promotion for free shipping. But you can also try going onto eBay for these big retailers and bid on a 10% off coupon, which can reduce the cost. With the said, I think the basic Crate & Barrel set is very reasonable at $370.
I bought my set from MetroKitchen.com after comparing with sets at Cutlery&More. Both of these online sellers usually have good deals and similar prices.
If you don’t care about scratch and dings in your pans, you may want look at All-Clad seconds. They still have a lifetime warranty and you can return it if the irregularity is not to your liking. Cookware & More sells irregulars and also periodic sales if you want to wait for those events. Just as an example, the same 12-inch (irregular) fry pan is about $92 at Cookware & More and a ‘regular’ one is $135 on other online sites.
But with that said, at time of writing there is a great deal on an All-Clad Stainless12 inch Fry Pan with Lid. It is listed for $180 and now selling for $90. Just in case you want to add the 12-inch pan that Cook’s Illustrated was concerned about.
