Stainless steel cookware suggestions? Not necessarily for BGE...

DeltaNu1142

A year or two ago, I got a reasonably-priced, reasonable-quality set of T-Fal non-stick pots and pans. They've held up just fine, but since then, the wife & I have taken a cooking class and I was enamored with the stainless cookware they provided to use in class.

I've looked at some 10- and 12-piece All-Clad and Cuisinart sets. Pricing ranges from $220-$550 for the 3-ply, aluminum-core stuff, all the way up to $1500 for the nice All-Clad 5-ply copper-core sets.

I don't mind blowing that much on a really nice set, if it's actually worth it. And All-Clad has a lifetime warranty, for whatever that's worth. If there's no real difference between those and the cheaper Cuisinart sets, though, well... I guess that's what I'm asking. I did a quick search of the forums and didn't find much, but I'd expect some folks here to have the experience to help guide my decision.

bpric

I've used All-Clad for about 15 years, and I'm very happy with it.  I bought the plain stainless steel finish.  I usually wash them by hand, but I'll occasionally toss them in to the dishwasher if I'm feeling lazy.  I'd never do that with a copper finish.  My pots and pans are stored in a cupboard, rather than on a rack or someplace visible, so maybe the fancy copper finish is worth the extra effort for you.  Also, I haven't been overly impressed with All-Clad's teflon products (only handwashed). I'd probably buy the same set (minus the teflon pieces) if I had to do it all over again.

fishlessman

havent looked at them lately and i dont use much stainless any more but what sets all clad apart is the internal layers are formed across the bottom and wrap up the sides of the pots. most others just have the aluminum layer on the bottom which forces a hot spot in the lower corner of the pot which causes burning in that area. thats what you want to look for when comparing them, you want that uniform layer to go up the sides as well.

gdenby

A few years ago I was looking for some good SS cookware. I was discussing choices on the e-gullet forum. I mentioned All Clad, because esteemed chef Thos. Keller recommended and used them.  A fellow said that at that time (4 -5 years ago), the French brand Mauviel was better, and slightly less expensive. Still too pricey for me, but you might want to look at those also.

I ended up buying a few pieces of Calphalon, and have been satisfied w. those.

acmoser76

I have a set of All-Clad Copper Core. Bought them 4-5 years ago and really like them. They were expensive but figured they would be the last pots/pans I'd ever buy... until I found this site. I still don't regret buying them though.

U_tarded

I have a cuisinart set.  I like it.  I believe it's core goes up the side they have a few different sets.  Get basic set plus a tfal egg pan and a couple lodge skillets we have more that we need and aren't anywhere near a g into it.  My sister got the same cuisinart set but hated it with her ceramic electric cooktop.  I like mine with gas though 

pab

I have the All-Clad copper core that I bought at the factory second sale that is held in Washington Pa. twice a year in June and December. The June dates this year are the 3rd and 4th. I saved about 50% of the retail price. I have been to the sale twice and plan on attending again this June. I love the cookware but this particular line is 5 ply and it is too heavy for my wife to hang on our rack. They also have a 5 ply line without the copper layer as well as the most popular 3 ply construction. They have on-line sales several times a year on factory seconds as well. 

DeltaNu1142

Right. I should note that I'm cooking on gas, or in the electric oven. I've only used CI in the Egg, and this set would probably stay inside.

The All-Clad copper core products don't say "dishwasher safe," where the tri-ply and D5 stuff do. I've never stuck pots & pans in the dishwasher, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to... so as nice as the copper looks, I think I'll stay away from it & save the $$.

Mauviel cookware, on Amazon, anyway, gets lower marks than comparable All-Clad sets. Here's the closest to a comparison I could find:

Amazon review said:

I purchased this cookware set on a very good deal, but we ended up returning it and purchasing an All-Clad d5 set instead. I really wanted to like this set more than I did, but there were three issues that pushed us toward the All-Clad vs. the Mauviel. I will note that we never cooked with the set as we wanted to be able to return it as there was an issue with a pan mix-up in the set we received (two of one item sent, one item missing). However, I have no doubts the cooking performance would be great. The pans are beautiful and the SS appears really well finished. We also preferred the Maviuel curved handles to the All-Clad straight handles as they were more comfortable and found the Maviuel set to be nicer looking than the All-Clad, but couldn't over look a couple of flaws. The issues we had with the set had to deal mainly with ergonomics and size so that is what this review will cover. The biggest difference difference for us was the size of the pans in the set. We have a large family so we favored the larger sizes of the All-Clad set vs. the Mauviel as they were all slightly to significantly larger (with the exception of the frying pans) so they fit our cooking habits better. Another factor was the lid handles. Others have complained the Mauviel handles are too small for the lids and we did find that to be true. It would be very difficult to remove them without contacting the lid itself necessitating a pot holder at all times and even then it wouldn't be the easiest to grasp. Finally, we tested a few of the pots for the handle water leaking issue mentioned by another review and discovered it to happen on some of the items. The issue is when you wash a pan water can get behind the handle on the pan exterior and become trapped there until the pan is place upright. After being placed down, the water will continue to trickle out for up to 40 seconds. Certainly this could be worked around, but just seems like something you shouldn't have to consider with cookware in this price range. We compared it against the All-Clad and it did not exhibit the same issue. In the end I am sure we would have been able to use this set happily, but for us the AC sizes and handle issues with Mauviel made the AC set a better fit.

One other review dinged Mauviel on its finish.

DeltaNu1142

Calphalon stainless is priced well, but in reviews I've found online, they're never mentioned where All-Clad and Cuisinart are. It's weird, because their other stuff I have seems to be pretty decent quality.

pab

I haven't put the copper core in the dishwasher, but I imagine if it was only done occasionally it wouldn't hurt them. The only copper visible on the pans are a small band around the bottom and a thinner line at the lip. You are correct that the d5 and tri ply are dishwasher safe

pgprescott

All clad is the standard bearer, but I have some of that and some Tramontina. Hard to tell the difference in quality at all. The price is a fraction though.  

DeltaNu1142

pgprescott said:

All clad is the standard bearer, but I have some of that and some Tramontina. Hard to tell the difference in quality at all. The price is a fraction though.  

Whoa, those are cheap. Suspiciously cheap. Looks like they're made in Brazil? I'll have to handle some before making a decision on something more expensive.

fishlessman

did the cooking class just use one type of set. some pans are just designed to cook foods better and quicker, i wouldnt be without a couple sizes of just heavey aluminum sauce pots, they heat and cool quicker for soups and graveys. an enameled cast iron dutch is really handy as well as a braiser. you want really light stock pots for things like pasta. i wouldnt be happy with alll the pieces the same, if im searing, give me good ole cast iron. i have lecrueset stuff thats really nice but lodge makes some dutch ovens that cook almost as well, would be hard to tell them apart if i didnt use a simmerplate. i do have some stainless but stainless is not always the best

Eggingaround

Try taking a look at Costco Kirkland stainless series. I've had mine 15 yrs or so. I've never had a problem. I use both CI and stainless all the time. The stainless goes in the dishwasher from time to time, I just prefer hand washing it. Not sure how their new pans are, but I truly love mine. 

DeltaNu1142

fishlessman said:

did the cooking class just use one type of set...i do have some stainless but stainless is not always the best

I understand. This class just had stainless pans on induction tops.

I have a large aluminum stock pot. I've got various Lodge CI pieces. I've got some stoneware. And then I've got the T-Fal non-stick pots & pans. They're good, but for the sake of durability I think I'd like to go with SS. My in-laws, for example, can't seem to get it into their heads to use any one of the six or seven silicone spatulas I have to flip food around in the pans, and instead insist on using a stainless triangular pizza blade. Seriously. I don't understand it at all. And then I'm the a#&hole for suggesting there's a tool that's way easier to use that won't damage the surface of the cookware.

That's just part of my motivation to go to SS. Lately, I've come across times when I want to put the pans in the oven, but I don't know the temperature limit of the synthetic handles.

EDIT: turns out the pans are rated for 350 deg F. That won't do.

jimithing

I was given this All Clad stainless 10 piece set as a wedding present and it's fantastic.  I don't know if that's where it was purchased but that's the set I have.

I purchased an extra Tramontia stock pot from Costco because it had a nice steamer basket with it.  It's okay but it does stain.  I can scrub out the stains with bar keepers friend but I don't have to do that with the All Clad.

DeltaNu1142

The local Sur La Table is where we took the cooking class.

Good to know about the staining.

tonyled

DeltaNu1142 said:

Calphalon stainless is priced well, but in reviews I've found online, they're never mentioned where All-Clad and Cuisinart are. It's weird, because their other stuff I have seems to be pretty decent quality.

calphalon owner here and nary a problem.  ive been slowly replacing all of my teflon calphalons with stainless as they wear out. 

buzd504

I've been using a set of Caphalon stainless for 10 years with no complaints.  I have an All-Clad slow cooker (it's really nice) where the heating element went out.  All clad sent an out of warranty replacement no charge and no questions asked, so i wouldn't hesitate to use their products either.

pgprescott

DeltaNu1142 said:

pgprescott said:

All clad is the standard bearer, but I have some of that and some Tramontina. Hard to tell the difference in quality at all. The price is a fraction though.  

Whoa, those are cheap. Suspiciously cheap. Looks like they're made in Brazil? I'll have to handle some before making a decision on something more expensive.

I'm not sure if they have different quality sets. I got mine on line from Walmart, i'm sorry to say. They only sold them online. They are very nice. Shockingly well made and perform great. I'm more than satisfied. I also own several all clad pieces as well as cast iron and De Buyer.

Carolina Q

I have several All-Clad pieces (SS) and like them. I don't have any of the Tramontina or Emeril look alike stuff so I can't compare. I also have some Mauviel copper pans. Very thick copper, some SS lined, some tinned, all with CI handles.  They look great and work well, but they're awfully heavy!! 

Check Marshall's or Home Goods for A-C and less frequently, Mauviel. Decent prices for seconds that you can't tell are seconds. Also, Bed Bath and Beyond's 20% coupons are helpful if you go with a brand they sell.

HeavyG

I haven't bought any stainless pots in many years but I've got a couple All-Clad pans. They are nice but I don't like the handles so I ended up buying  a bunch of the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro stuff. They are laminated all around/up the pot and not just on the bottoms like the All-Clad and I much prefer their handles. They are also a bit less expensive than All-Clad.

pgprescott

Carolina Q said:

I have several All-Clad pieces (SS) and like them. I don't have any of the Tramontina or Emeril look alike stuff so I can't compare. I also have some Mauviel copper pans. Very thick copper, some SS lined, some tinned, all with CI handles.  They look great and work well, but they're awfully heavy!! 

Check Marshall's or Home Goods for A-C and less frequently, Mauviel. Decent prices for seconds that you can't tell are seconds. Also, Bed Bath and Beyond's 20% coupons are helpful if you go with a brand they sell.

The Emeril stuff is ok, but very much inferior to both All Clad and Tramontina. Not the same ball game. The Tramontina is multi clad around the entire piece not just a disc on the bottom. 

E-ville Egg

Costco sells Tramontina. For the money you can't beat it. I have a set of Calphalon SS dishes and they are pretty comparable. My wife is very hard on our cookware and she always throws them in the dishwasher while I hand wash. 

GregW

pgprescott said:

All clad is the standard bearer, but I have some of that and some Tramontina. Hard to tell the difference in quality at all. The price is a fraction though.  

Tramontina is hard to beat for the money.
It's cheap enough that I don't obsess about taking care with it. If it gets a little beat up it's no big deal.

jtcBoynton

I have had my All-Clad pans for about 25 years.  They are still in great shape and I anticipate that they will last my lifetime.  They are pricey, but when you factor in never having to replace them, I consider them a good value.  

Eggscuses

Isn't the Emeril cookware made by All Clad?

pgprescott

Eggscuses said:

Isn't the Emeril cookware made by All Clad?

cheap version. 

Eggscuses

pgprescott said:

Eggscuses said:

Isn't the Emeril cookware made by All Clad?

cheap version. 

That's what I was thinking

paqman

I love my Paderno set.  I like that the handles are soldered; it makes them easier to clean than sets with rivets.  They used to be quite expensive but they are now quite affordable.  The only complaint I have with my current set is that it is not induction compatible but I think that the newer sets are compatible.  I got mine 20 years ago. They go in the dishwasher 95% of the time.

Focker

Pans are like just about everything from knives, guns, bows.  Let them, find you.  

Personally, I did not care for the classic All-Clad rolling handles.

I have only one SS pan, a 7ply Viking 3.5 qt saucier.  Manufactured by the Belgium company Demeyere.  The 7 ply is the entire pan, nice even heat.  Cleans up to like new on occasion with a little Barkeepers Friend.  Wasn't cheap at $200, but a 3.5qt saucier is so versatile.   It is my favorite vessel, no doubt.      

Like fish, it is nice to have options depending on the task.  From seasoned CI, enameled CI, T-Fal Pro, Lodge carbon steel, SS, they all have their place in the kitchen.  

Another favorite is a Food Network 10 qt multipot I found at an antique store booth new in box for $25, likely from an estate sale.  Gives pasta a lot of room.  Great for steaming, stocks, sous vide'n.  Heats and cools quickly.  It resides at a permanent spot on my cooktop, next to the Viking/Demeyere.