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5 comments about All-Clad Stainless 12-Inch Chef's Pan.

1. Perfect and perfect again. Love this pan... it's heavy duty and handles many different tasks. Buy it... you won't be sorry.



2. I recently received the "copper core" version of this pan as a gift and, though I have not used it much yet, I think it is necessary to mention that the Amazon product description is wrong--this pan is not a wok, or "wok-like" in anything more than a superficial sense (it has rounded sides). It is much shallower than a standard wok, and has a much larger flat portion on the bottom than a standard flat-bottom wok (it is more like a deep skillet with a lid than it is wok-like). Yes, one could stir-fry in it, but that means little (one could try to stir-fry in a skillet or sauce pan also). This makes the complaints of "Student" moot; this pan was never meant to replace a traditional wok (if it was, why would All-Clad also make a wok in the same series of pans?).
   Stir-frying will certainly be easier and better in an actual wok; I have one made by Calphalon and it is great. As far as this chef's pan goes, I plan to use it primarily for fricassees and braises.



3. I loved this pan. It is really solid,and it cleans up so well for being stainless and not a non stick service.
   Also I love All-Clad.



4. I bought this pan four years ago and planed to use it as an everyday wok, mainly to make stir-fry dishes. After years of use, I finally have to admit that it is not a good replacement for a traditional Chinese wok. However, I still like it overall. It has even heat distribution, versatile, sturdy, easy to clean, well-made, and looks nice.

   If you are looking for a stir-fry wok, don¡¦t get this pan and choose a traditional carbon steel wok instead. One major disadvantage of this Chef¡¦s Pan is that it cannot reach the high temperature required to make tasty Chinese stir-fry dishes. If you preheat it for 3-5 minutes, add some cooking oil and then food, the pan quickly cools down. You end up boiling the food instead of stir-frying it. The essence of Chinese stir-fry is to cook food at very high temperature in order to seal the juice in the food. Boiling removes the juice along with the flavor from the food. A traditional wok, made of either carbon steel or cast iron, can reach the high temperature required for stir-fry dishes.

   A traditional carbon steel wok is very cheap and can last a life time if cared properly. The downside is that it can rust easily if not cared properly. (I prefer the type without the nonstick coating because the Teflon nonstick coating won¡¦t last long under high heat, and it will eventually disintegrate and get into the food.) You MUST season a traditional wok before using it the first time. Seasoning the wok builds a brown-black patina on the interior that makes it non-stick and also prevents rust. After cooking, wash the wok with hot water only (No detergent !), wipe dry with paper towel, and then heat it on stove to remove any moisture on the wok. Do not soak it in sink after cooking or you will regret. I don¡¦t use my carbon steel wok to boil food and never use it to steam, as they may damage the patina. Scouring the wok or washing it with detergent will also damage the patina. So avoid scouring or you will need to re-season it afterwards.

   Overall, I like All-Clad¡¦s Stainless Steel line of cookware. I have several other pieces besides this 12¡¨ Chef¡¦s Pan. All of them are great and I won¡¦t trade them for other cookware. But I have a traditional Chinese wok just to make stir-fry dishes. If you are looking for a stir-fry wok, you can get a 14¡¨ carbon steel wok (no Teflon coating) from Target or Asian food store under $20.




5. All-Clad makes some outstanding cookware, but I must confess that I own very few of their products, due in large part to the price. I find cast iron to be a much better material for cookware and it is immensely affordable. I highly reccommend Lodge Cast Iron.

   That said, stainless has a few advantages as well and this piece in particular is a testament to the quality of All-Clad's craftwork. It is a heavy, durable piece that holds heat well (though a cast iron wok will do the same thing for 1/10 the price). It is ideal for stir fry or browning meat and it can go from the stovetop to the oven and back, so it is very versatile. You could also use it as a chicken fryer or small roaster for game hen or duck.

   There are two things to be aware of with any stainless steel cookware: 1) don't use metal utensils- you will scratch the !@#$$ out of it. Use wood, teflon/rubberized, or plastic utensils. 2) Don't let it soak in water. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel can and will rust if treated improperly; say, by scratching it with metal utensils then letting it sit in dishwater for days.

2 comments about All-Clad Copper Core 12-Inch Chef's Pan.

1. I recently received this pan as a gift and, though I have not used it much yet, I think it is necessary to mention that the Amazon product description is wrong--this pan is not a wok, or "wok-like" in anything more than a superficial sense (it has rounded sides). It is much shallower than a standard wok, and has a much larger flat portion on the bottom than a standard flat-bottom wok (it is more like a deep skillet with a lid than it is wok-like). Yes, one could stir-fry in it, but that means little (one could try to stir-fry in a skillet or sauce pan also).
   
   Stir-frying will certainly be easier and better in an actual wok that is deeper and more rounded; I have one made by Calphalon and it is great. As far as this chef's pan goes, I plan to use it primarily for fricassees and braises.



2. When I started law school, I moved into a studio apartment with only microwave pots to cook in. After a year, I decided that some better form of food was necessary. I first got an All-Clad 1-quart saucier, and then I got this amazing pot/pan. I need nothing else. It warms quickly and evenly and cleans beautifully. At first I choked over the price but I bit the bullet and got it. The cost is, granted, about the same that one can pay and get a whole set, but I've had those inferior sets before. They've gotten thrown out in a year or two because they're worth exactly what I paid for them. Should I ever actually need another pot, I won't look at anything but All-Clad cop-r core.

1 comments about All-Clad LTD 12-Inch Chef's Pan.

1. This pan is truly awesome. It heats up very quickly and completely evenly - absolutely no hot spots. It retains heat excellently - you only need to use low to medium heat. And cleanup is so easy. The stainless steel surface is like no other - it is almost impossible to get something to stick, and once it is clean it is as shiny as the day you brought it home.

   The shape of this pan is extremely versatile. Saying it is "wok-like" does it no justice. This is the pan I reach for most of the time. It is great for risotto, sautes, egg dishes, paella - you name it.

   Yes, it is pricy, but this pan (and any All-Clad LTD pan) will serve you for a lifetime. And on the question of anodized vs. copper - I see no reason to spend even more on copper unless you are an avid saucier. This line heats and cooks very comparably to copper.

3 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 12-Inch Chef's Pan.

1. I was given All Clad Master Chef pans as a wedding gift 21 years ago and they still look fabulous (they hang from a rack). The chef's pan is versatile and one of my favorites; e.g., with the flat surface, I'll make some sauces for pasta in this pan and put the cooked pasta in the pan to toss (keeping everything warm); deep fry foods like calamari. I also think the long handle is much easier to handle than the traditional side handles on a wok. You cant' go wrong with this pan.



2. I really have to question how the other reviewer managed to conclude that food cooked in the Master Chef is healthier than food cooked in a traditional steel wok. Since this pan isn't nonstick, you'll have to use as much oil or even MORE oil than in a carbon steel wok to cook, because carbon steel absorbs oil as it becomes seasoned and over time becomes far less sticky, and thus requires less oil to cook with.
   I'm not saying that this ultra-luxe pan isn't a great pan, but don't expect it to cook healthier food just because it uses multiple metals or costs several times as much as a cheap traditional wok. It's also questionable as to whether this pan transfers heat better than a traditional carbon steel wok, since the reason the aluminum core is inserted is partially because stainless steel doesn't transfer heat as well as regular carbon steel, so the aluminum is inserted to compensate. It might be true that the aluminum actually enhances it enough so that it can even beat out carbon steel, but I have my doubts.



3. I've been using woks for a while and this is my favorite design wok. Although many asian chefs prefer the semi-circular woks with two side handles, I think this type of wok has it's own positive traits that make it worthwhile to invest in.

   Many Americans and Asian Americans are used to using long handles to cook and when it comes to woks, this is no exception. Although using a round wok has its benefits in being able to stir things easier, the flat wok is necessary to keep the wok in balance given the long handles. Also, the long handles make it much easier to use one hand to flip over food than it does with the two smaller handles. To add to that, when frying in a wok, a flat surface gives more area for cook to fry in. Less oil to fry more stuff in.

   Also, with All Clad's blend of metals, this wok does a better job than the traditional "machine made steel" woks normally bought by asian chefs. Some may argue about this statement but I think I'm right in this. If not better, at least healthier.

No comments about All-Clad Cop-R-Chef 12-Inch Chef's Pan.