all-clad pots and pans - which set?

[dana b]

i can't decide which set to go with. i thought i wanted the copper core, since it's just so pretty :rolleyes: but i've heard that it's difficult to cook with copper. the basic set seems kinda flimsy and a pain to clean and i don't think i want the non-stick since we're so rough on our pans and dh always ends up scratching them with metal utensils. any ideas?

[bookworm]

If you really want a set, this will be an entirely unhelpful reply. Having said that:

I'd choose pots that are good for what you want to use them for. I have only one All-Clad pan right now (a grill pan; I love it), but I haven't found the saucepans (which I mostly use for boiling water) to be worth the price difference over something decent-but-not-spectacular like cuisinart.

What do you like to cook? I get the most use out of a deep nonstick saute pan (I use a lot of Cooking Light recipes; if you don't mind using oil and you heat the pan properly, you don't need non-stick), my grill pan, my calphalon "everyday pan" (not non-stick, sort of a cross between a wok and a paella pan), and a big le creuset soup pot. Oh, and sometimes my cast-iron skillet (I go through phases with that one. And even when I don't cook in it, it's good for panini-making in the grill pan ;) ).

[steviem]

I have the All Clad Stainless set and I love them! I too, love the look of copper but I knew I wasn't cut out for the upkeep, so we went with the stainless. I also purchased 1 non-stick pan for egg dishes.

If you do go with the stainless, I hightly recommend that you purchase Bar Keepers Friend. It is sort of like Comet and cleans the pans wonderfully.

Good luck with your purchase :)

[ee_chick]

I have pans from their Stainless line, and I love them. They're sturdy, and they cook beautifully. They're oven safe. Plus they look pretty hanging on my pot rack :D My mom has a set of their MasterChef 2 pans and loves them. I don't think you can go wrong :)

Also, I don't know how quickly you want them, but Macy's usually has a 20% off home sale twice a year that applies to All Clad. I know it's hard to find a deal on them. I think the next on will be in the Oct/Nov timeframe.

[LRL]

Dana B,

I would love to get the copper set... so pretty! That being said, copper is the best conductor of heat for pots, and usually has a stainless core-. The copper line is tops for All Clad. Professional chefs prefer to cook with these particular pots (Have a friend that's a chef). I can't attest to the durability, but I know that this is the set we will get once the say comes that I throw all our existing cookware out the window. Argh. I remember my Mom having some copper pots when I was little, and she always managed to get them looking good as new with a cleaning every couple months. I kind of like the patina that copper gets as it ages, but that may be just me.

I do not recommend the non-stick. My DH is really hard on cookware too, and I have had to DH-proof some of my new cookware purchases, meaning absolutely no non-stick. (Maybe baby-proofing won't end up being that bad after all, eh? LOL)

[juliebug]

We have many pieces from the Stainless line, and I love them. I don't think I would bother to spend the money on the non-stick AC pans because as careful as we try to be, we end up roughing up the surface over time.

My favorite favorite pan is my chef's pan (I think 4qt? It's about 12" in diameter). We use it pretty much every day!

I would have loved to get the copper core pans, but they are so much (not that the stainless ones are cheap or anything...). The fully-copper exterior ones are beautiful, but from what I've read they require a lot of upkeep to keep them looking so nice, and as much as I wish I was, I'm just not the type of person who recreationally polish my cookwear ;)

[dana b]

thanks for the replies everyone :)
bookworm duh! it never occured to me to just mix and match to suit our needs, i just assumed i'd buy a whole set of one type. i have a le crueset set as well, i use the grill pan a lot (thanks for the panini tip), but i only lug out the big pots a couple of times a year when i make coq au vin.

stevie m great idea for one non-stick egg pan. i usually make scrambled eggs every morning, i hate cleaning the pan!

lrl and juliebug maybe i need to check them out again, but i think the copper part is just the core, it's only visible by a thin line on the outside, the out and inside are stainless, i *think*. if i do go with the copper core set, i'll probably get it on ebay, it's much cheaper.

[gayle]

My All-Clad is all mc2. It is wonderful and IMHO ( I cook alot) the best cookware of any brand you can buy.

It's what you always see the Food TV chefs using, and personal friends who are Pro Chefs, recommend it as well.

[emc05]

I also have the All-Clad Stainless set. It is WONDERFUL and very versatile. IMHO, copper cookware is best suited for candy making because the heat is distributed more evenly than with stainless...but for everyday cooking...it's a waste of money.

AND, copper IS more difficult to clean.

Hope this helps!! :D

[Jazz]

I have a mix of mc2 and stainless, and love them. I'm also babysitting a couple of my brother's LTD line, and those are great as well. Some cooking/food magazine recently had an article on copper and didn't find them worth it for the home cook ... but, who knows!

A few tips for buying. When you are browsing prices, and you see a 9-piece set, the "9" includes lids (that fooled me for a while). If you live near an outlet that has a Williams-Sonoma, check their prices (they used to sell new All-Clad). Also, check whether the outlet mall offers a coupon book if you are a AAA member (a few years ago, Wrentham outlets south of Boston had a 10% off coupon for W-S -- it was great!). Also, watch Amazon. They periodically have ridiculously cheap specials on All-Clad.

[ginandchris]

We have both the stainless steel and nonstick for the All-Clad. My DH is the one who was responsible for all the kitchen and dining ware when we got married last year. He loves to cook, especially gourmet food. So, of course we had to have the best when we got married.

As for the "DH proofing the cookware" I was the one that had to be taught to not use metal on nonstick! But its ok now, we have a bunch of spatulas, wooden spoons, and such to use.

My only gripe about the stainless steel is how heavy they are. Other than that they are great and ditto about the bar keepers friend! :)

[merjmo]

Stainless over the other kinds because they're dishwasher safe. :D

[steviem]

For the All-Clad stainless pots & pans, although they are supposed to be dishwasher-safe, I was told never to put them in the dishwasher by the sales person at WS.

We use Bar Keepers Helper to clean them and they sparkle every time. A bit of a pain, but worth it in the long run.

;)

[amew]

We have a set of All-Clad LTD. We have the stock pot, a 2-qt. saucepan, a 4-qt. saucepan, a large saute pan, and two skillets (I think an 8" and a 12"). The skillets have non-stick coating, but the rest of the set does not (Williams-Sonoma let me upgrade the skillets in the 9-piece set to non-stick, which I wanted to have on at least one pan for eggs, etc.). We also have the stainless steamer and double-boiler inserts.

I love the way my All-Clad cooks and handles. I hate that I can't put it in the dishwasher. For that reason alone, I would get the stainless if I was doing it over again. I don't know about the copper, but I know that my mother hates her copper pans (not All-Clad) because of the work involved in maintaining them.

[Dotsie]

I have the All Clad Emeril collection. I've had it for 4 years now and it's awesome. I use my pots and pans every day. I have never put them in the dishwasher, I always hand wash and dry.

[dionysia]

A professional chef recommended LTD.

We were planning to buy the stainless set, but honestly couldn't justify the expense.

Instead we bought the Cuisinart stainless set instead and are very happy with it.

Di