5 comments about All-Clad Stainless 9-Piece Cookware Set.

1. I use this cookware every day. It's my opinion that All-Clad is the best value for your cookware dollar, as you'll only buy cookware once. All-Clad has a lifetime warranty and I'd recommend that user/reviewer S. Flask have the unsatisfactory piece replaced.
   
   Beyond the basics of durability, this cookware heats evenly and quickly on all cooking surfaces (I've used it on gas, electric, and glass tops). I love that I don't have to think about what my pots and pans are doing, I only have to think about what's going into them. The bottoms of my pots (I've had some for 14 years) have always stayed flat; they don't roll around on the cook top.
   
   I love that the cookware is made in Pennsylvania (except for the lids) and I love that they are made with American metals. But more than all of that, I love that All-Clad has made my cooking better and easier.
   
   Oh, and it even cleans up well. I do recommend using Barkeeper's Friend on it with dish soap. Barkeeper's helps to keep the cookware shiny.



2. i've been using this set for over three years now, and have been very happy with it.
   
   durability: no issues with handles coming loose, etc. almost all of the pans have remained even completely ding/dent free. my only complaint is that the bottom of one pan has domed slightly, so the pan does not lay completely flat on the burner, and heat distribution is affected. so while overall durability has been good, i'm knocking them down a point for this flaw.
   
   cooking: these pans perform well. with the exception of the one mentioned above, all conduct heat evenly. no problem getting good crystalization of fats from meats, or browning vegetables in the oven. i think you definitely need a wider array of pans in your kitchen - a nonstick and a cast iron are two i can think of right off the bat - as well as some different types of metals for different applications. but this isn't something that you can hold against this product. just understand that this set won't cover ALL your pan needs.
   
   cleaning: i've seen a lot of reviewers talk about how hard it is to clean these pans. it should be noted that pans are harder to clean, and stick more, if they're used less frequently. i think some of the issues people are having is because they're not using the pans frequently enough, or are not cooking foods at the proper temperatures. i've had no problems cleaning these pans.
   
   pricing: aside from my issue with durability mentioned above, the is the only other area i feel detracts from this product. if the price is no object, or you can appreciate the cooking qualities of the pans and need something that looks good, i can see spending the money on this set. and i certianly wouldn't refuse it as a gift! however if you're on the fence about the price, and it's a financial stretch for you, i think you could put together a set of pans that will work just as well for much, much less. professional restaurant supply stores will sell pans that will work just as well as these for much less. they just won't be as pretty. so understand that you don't HAVE to spend this kind of money to get the same results.
   
   so overall i'm happy with these pans. i'm disappointed one has warped slightly - i should see if it's eligible for a replacement - but aside from that they're great.



3. I purchased my All-Clad Stainless Steel set 2 years ago. At the time I was working at a specialty kitchen store and recieved a nice discount on the set. Even with the discount, it was difficult to part with the money, especially since I wasn't that great of a cook.
   
   Since that time, I've started cooking a lot more (maybe because I now have the proper pots and pans for the job!). I absolutely love All-Clad and looking back, I would have paid full-price for the set. I don't like cooking in other people's kitchens anymore because they don't have All-Clad. My mother has Calphalon and she wants my All-Clad.
   
   The heat retention in the pots is wonderful. I can make a pot of soup and it will actually stay piping hot for hours... after it is removed from the stove. I originally was concerned with food sticking to the stainless surface, but the surface actually starts to repel food after a few uses, strange as it sounds. When I sautee onions or other sticky foods, I just add some oil, and I'm good to go. I still keep a set of relatively inexpensive Teflon frying pans for quick jobs like grilled cheese.
   
   I can't say enough about how well this cookware is made. The handles are attached so strongly that I doubt they'd ever move. You can scrub the pots and pans with almost anything and they still look new. You can put them in the oven, burn food on them, immerse them in water... they still clean up like new.
   
   I'll always have All-Clad now. I will eventually add addtional pieces to my collection. If you decide to invest in this cookware, you'll have it for life.



4. The title says it all. One thing I notice is compared to my aluminum pots, the stainless takes much longer to boil the same amount of water. So, when I am in a hurry, I keep reverting back to my old aluminum (non-stick). Besides--less cook-time saves energy which is better too.
   
   Rethinking my decision, I would have purchased the LTD or the aluminum finish for better performance or Calphalon One, because the anodized interior is supposed to have less stickyness. But, Calphalon is supposedly not dishwasher safe, so there is a trade-off there.
   
   I have run a number of pieces through the dishwasher at least forty times with no problems and they come out clean enough. If you put them on display, you probably are going to want to hand-rub the pieces while wearing white gloves, but I could care less about trying to impress anyone that way. Instead, I try to impress them with my cooking.



5. I bought a set of the stainless All-Clad about ten years ago and it was one of the best kitchen purchases I've ever made. Over the years I've added pieces to it and I've also purchased a few pieces from other manufactures (Le Creuset, Calphalon, etc.). My All-Clad is still the best though, and is really my "work horse" cookware that I use every day. The stainless steel is great for cooking just about anything and goes into the dishwasher without a problem. Occasionally I scrub them with Barkeepers Friend and they still look shiny and new hanging on my pot rack. If you're looking to buy a set of good cookware, don't let the price of the All-Clad put you off. You really do get what you pay for. This stuff is built to last, comes with a lifetime guarantee, and the quality is just outstanding.

5 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 7-Piece Cookware Set.

1. I bought this set at the end of June as a slightly late graduation present for myself (finished undergrad recently), and it has thus far performed totally beyond my expectations: the stainless steel is easy to clean by hand (no dishwasher for the stuff in this set), and there are no hots-pots that I've been able to find so far (used my shiny new IR non-contact thermometer to determine that). I love the clad steel-aluminum-steel construction, as it spreads heat evenly and offers excellent heat retention. I also love how it can go from the cook-top into the oven without even blinking; try that with your favorite nonstick pan!
   
   I wish Amazon let reviewers award half-stars, as this set would get a great performance review but the steep price would knock it down to 4.5 stars; I do wish it was cheaper, but you definitely get what you pay for. It *does* have a lifetime warranty, which is great...check back in 35 years or so and I'll let you know my thoughts! I'd highly recommend this set...if you've the money to spend on it.



2. The set includes all the best basic necessary cookware to get you really immersed in the kitchen. MC2 is amazing because it is stripped to the essentials, only to function the best. I love the brushed aluminum exterior and i love the wear and scratches because it shows me how much i am using these pieces.
   
   I immediately noticed how good the heat transfer is, how well the high temp dishes come out and how easily they clean up.
   
   These are a huge step ahead of my Calphalon pots & pans.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. I never thought i'd spend the money to buy professional type cookware, I just love it! I love to cook and I don't know why I waited so long. The only setback is the brushed finished,I got the Master Chief II. I've already scuffed it. I might think another finish when adding pieces, but not other brand name.



4. This is by far the highest quality cookware I have used in 50 years of cooking--BUT-- the handles need improvement,especilly on the very large pan. Also ,it(the large fry pan) is a bit heavy, hard to lift when it has food in it.



5. We received this set as a wedding present in 2004. This was our first set of cookwear that wasn't a "hand me down". The quality is amazing. The metal heats very evenly and I love the fact that it can go from the stovetop to the oven. We'll continue adding to our All-Clad collection.

4 comments about All-Clad Stainless 9-Piece Cookware Set with Nonstick Fry Pan.

1. Great set of pans. We will be adding to this set over time. Well worth the cost



2. In light of recurring news articles discussing the carcinogenic potential of Teflon, my husband and I decided to replace our current cookware. The set we had was in good shape minus a few scratches here and there. If you pay attention, however, these "minor scratches" honestly translate to a metallic aftertaste in the food, especially with boiled foods.
   Anyway, after a long and hard discussion, we decided to purchase this set, specifically with the nonstick pan, since we'd be doing a lot of pan-frying. I have absolutely no complaints about this cookware. It is beautiful, sturdy, elegant, and is truly the way to go for healthy, gourmet cooking. It is expensive, but as other reviews have stated, it lasts the long haul.
   The only thing is, now that we have the starter set, I've been eyeing other pieces to add to my collection. It's hard to resist. I am addicted to All-Clad!!!



3. I have used All-Clad since the early 1980's and consider it the very best, and best for the money, too, as it lasts forever, the company will simply replace any that you complain about (the LTD black surface wore off some after 15 years, which is why I switched to the stainless steel outside and inside and some copper outside versions (Copper Chef, by All-Clad Co.) and they sent a new one!). I have boiled over milk on high and it never scorched! The bottom of the pan was not even tan, much less any burned milk! That was a first for any pan for me! The Olympic Cooking Team uses these pans, by the way. And they look good on a rack, too.



4. I am very pleased with my set of All-Clad stainless cookware. The construction is superior to any other set I have ever owned. One of the nice things about the cookware is how cool the handles stay after being on the burner for an extended period of time. I was really surprised by that. I figured that since the handles were stainless steel they would get really hot but that is not the case. I have also found that the cookware heats up much more evenly than my old cookware. That really does help to reduce cooking time. While it may seem a bit pricey, this set should last many years if taken care of. My Mom always told me to buy the best quality item that I could and it will save money in the long run. She was right.....as usual. :-) If you love to cook you will enjoy this set.

5 comments about All-Clad Stainless 6-Piece Cookware Set.

1. I'm a foodie. Even worse, I have cookware collection. I have had Calphalon and All-Clad both for years. Lot's of people think having either is overkill. I can't imagine what they think about somebody who has - and uses - both. Actually, my wife thinks the Calphalon is too 'industrial' and loves the bright shiny All-Clad. Neither go in the dishwasher, as the Calphalon anodizing would get destoyed and the dishwasher won't remove the varnish build-up on the All-Clad anyway. Like others have pointed out you do have to know a little technique to use either sucdessfully. Calphalon definitely browns more on the outside for a given level of "cookedness" on the inside, so skinless chicken, scallops and similar foods can be cooked with better results, but the differences are far less than trying to brown something in a non-stick pan without overcooking the inside. I'm about convinced that pancakes aside, it just can't be done. Leave the non-stick pans for scrambled eggs and such, where you don't want brown, and where the cleanup is really a PITA.
   
   Which brings us back to this set. It will cook dinner for 4 beautifully, unless you try use the 3 Qt Saute pan for 4 huge bone-in chicken breasts at once, overcrowding the pan, or really need to make a half-gallon of marinara sauce. With the addition of a moderately priced 12" non-stick omelet pan (the coating is shot on all of them in 3-5 years) and someday maybe a 3Qt Chef's pan or Sauce pan/Steamer for that extra veggie side dish on Thanksgiving most people really don't need much more cookware than this. In that light, and considering there's usually a 'gift' of some sort available, this set has to be considered a value.
   
   If you are cooking for a larger family of 5 or more, however, you need to have the 5Qt Saute, 12" Omelet, and 3 Qt sauce pans right away. In that case this set will feel cramped.
   
   One last comment. All-Clad is to be thanked for putting together a basic set that has all the necessary pieces. I've seen sets that had 3 Sauce pans and no saute pan, or include a completely useless 8" omelet pan. Always feels like they were leaving something necessary out so you would immediately have to go buy more. I hate tha knd of marketing manipulation. This set is lean, but not lacking. It gets 5 stars, but with the caveat about browning performance compared to anodized.



2. I used to blame my lack of cooking in part on the fact that I had a terrible apartment kitchen with no counter space.

   Well, that much is partially true, but after I received this set for my birthday one year, I realized it was also the pots I was using. And that with the right equipment, cooking is truly a joy.

   I had an old set of hand-me-down Revereware. Competent enough, but their age was showing... and when it took me two hours to boil potatoes in the big pot (and they still didn't get completely done!) I was ready to throw them all out the window. Enter All Clad.

   All Clad is not nonstick, and you do have to take care of it (although I do put mine in the dishwasher) but the shine is enough that you won't have much trouble if you clean up (or at least soak) immediately. Don't let it sit -- I'm still scrubbing the remains of some soy sausages from my skillet! (Although perhaps I shouldn't have cooked those in the first place.)

   They have a solid aluminum core, which definitely makes them heat evenly. They also heat fast! As as example, when I first got my set, I whipped out the saute pan (by far my favorite piece of cookware) and added a little olive oil. I turned the stove on medium. I walked out of the room for about three minutes. When I came back in, I was going to add my chicken. The chicken sizzled... enough that I turned the heat down to medium low, even low. You don't need to cook above medium heat in these pans, because they retain heat so incredibly well. I literally had to relearn how to cook, because of how I'd gotten used to cooking in my old pans! As another example, when using one of my mom's All Clad pots while poaching fruit for a Christmas dessert, it retained heat so well that I kept accidentally turning her gas stove off, trying to get the heat low enough to keep it at a very bare simmer. I ended up settling for a rather bubbly simmer instead.

   I can't say enough good things about these pots. They're wonderful. In fact, I only have two complaints. One, the lids, which are also stainless steel, get very hot and since they're not steel, they're not see through, either, which I rather miss. And two, the fry pan, as others have mentioned, is so small as to be almost useless, but it is very good for cooking very small things, like a fried egg, or a few sausages for one.

   That said though, this is an excellent starter kit and gives you some real basics. If you're looking to just start out with a few good pieces, get it. You'll use the small 2-quart saucepan and 3-quart saute pan all the time!

   And then you'll add to it, as I plan to. Enjoying cooking again is definitely worth it.




3. The Skinny:
   I bought this piece for my wife, who'd been wanting a nice set of "formal" cookware. I have to say, the set is beautiful.

   The Good:
   Each piece has a solid, good weight and from what I can tell, the cooking is pretty even. They're almost like art pieces - we were scared to use them at first, cause we wanted to keep them in their "new"-ish glory for a while...

   The Okay:
   To be completely honest, you're probably gonna do just as well with imitation stainless pieces like emeril-ware or something from cuisinart, etc. However, it's the difference between name brand and imitation.

   Clean up, of course, is a little trickier than with the traditional non-stick. If you get this set assuming it'll be an easy clean up job, you're diluding yourself - no matter what everyone else says.

   The Ugly:
   The only downside to this set, aside from lacking one extra lid, is that the fry pan is pretty useless. It's really too small to be of any use besides maybe cooking an omelette for one. I knew, going in, it was smallest piece in the set, but it's a lot smaller than I expected. That's why I gave this set a 4/5 instead of it's full 5.




4. This set is a great way to get a few basic cookware pieces, however, once you start cooking with this truly outstanding cookware, you'll want to buy more. Over the years, I have spent hundreds of dollars on another well-known commercial cookware brand, but All-Clad is far superior. The stainless looks great and is a breeze to care for. The handles stay comfortable and the pots are really well-balanced, making them very easy to handle. They heat evenly and cook uniformly, even over low and medium heat. I am very pleased with All-Clad's performance on my radiant cooktop. I would recommend this line of cookware to anyone interested in quality and performance. Well worth every penny!



5. I found the six piece set to be the best value. The only other retailer to match this price was cooking.com. I went with Amazon over the local cooking store and department store because of the free gift offer. I also knew about an additional free product offer from the manufacturer, submitted my request and got an additional item by making this purchase. So along with this set, I got a free All Clad mixing bowl and free utensil set. It goes without saying that this product is a wonderful addition to your kitchen.

1 comments about All-Clad Stainless 14-Piece Cookware Set.

1. This product lived up to the all-clad reputation as a quality set of cookware. Having had commerical non-stick calphlon, the cleanup is a little more intensive, but the fact that the product cooking surface is all SS is important to me primarily from a durability perspective. I will be buying more all-clad products.

3 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 9-Piece Cookware Set with Nonstick Fry Pan.

1. When i spend significant amounts of money for something that is supposed to be the top of the line, it is not unreasonable to expect a lot. Yes, they look and feel great, but two main complaints: 1) the lack of attention to certain significant details is something that seems to plague American manufacturing over German or Japanese, for example. The lids do not fit, they both move laterally across the top of the pots, and also rock and rattle back and forth on the verticle axis. The attention to quality and tolerances is not there and is just sloppy. This is not just whining: when cooking rice, I have to wedge aluminum foil between the pot and the lid to keep the steam in. 2) the heating is not all that even, for what you pay for. I get the feeling they skimped on materials and did not put a thick enough bottom on it. Seriously, I had an $80 Turkish made set of cookware with thick aluminum bottoms and glass lids with a long flange that looked like hell, but outperformed these.



2. It really has everything you need to get started in the kitchen. I have been using this set for about two months (switched from Magnalite) and I absolutely love it. Buy the 6 qt. saute pan and maybe the 4-1/2 qt. pot along with it and you have a very complete set.



3. I've had my All-Clad Master Chef cookware for over two years and I LOVE it... wouldn't use anything else (made my husband get rid of his pots and pans when we got married). The cookware's design makes for efficient and even heating... liquids come to a simmer or boil quickly without scalding (which is great when trying to heat cream to a simmer for creme brulee). The nonstick fry pan is sturdy, scratch resistant, and just perfect for lowfat frying or sauteing.

   PLUS, the cookware looks great... I have them displayed on a hanging pot rack when not using them.

   The only downside is that to keep that great polished look, I have to handwash and dry the pots (manufacturer's care suggestion) - the finish doesn't take kindly to dishwashers or waterspots. However, that's a minor inconvenience compared to how effective these pots and pans are for cooking.

   I highly recommend the All-Clad Master Chef for anyone who has an interest in cooking.

5 comments about All-Clad Copper Core 7-Piece Cookware Set.

1. Over the years I have used a variety of cookware--aluminum bottomed stainless Revere Ware, Magnalite Professional, Calphalon, Calphalon Professional NonStick. When I finally had to throw out the last of my tattered collection, I started to look for some stainless cookware that would stand the test of time and offer performance to boot. I decided to splurge on this All-Clad Copper Core.
   
   One of the pieces I recieved was this 1 1/2 Quart saucepan. What a workhorse this one is! Rice to soup to lentils to barely to country gravy, it gets used! The most used of all my Copper Core is this little pot!
   
   Delighted to report that I am THRILLED with this expensive splurge! All-Clad is NOT about expensive hype and status, those these pans are beautifully made, instead they do everything cookware should, and have literally changed the way I cook. Having attended CIA and worked as a professional chef for a few years, I know the golden rule for food not sticking: preheat pan, add oil, let oil heat for 5-10 seconds, then add food. Using these guidelines with the Copper Core, nothing sticks! And I mean for some things, like omelets or fried eggs in the 10" frypan, the performance is as good as my brand new Calphalon NonStick was; when you can just slide omelets and fried eggs out of the pan without ANY sticking at all, why would you ever need Nonstick or Teflon based products?!
   
   However, these pans are also superbly capable of developing a fond on the pan bottom for deglazing and subsequent sauces; in fact I have had them give every last bit of the fond up when deglazed, almost cleaning the pan for me! That's the best thing about them--they do everything right. I am not sure if it's All-Clad propriety stainless "recipe" or what, but these pans are so amazing to be able to function on all levels from eggs sliding out with ZILCH sticking to chicken [...] sticking just enough to develop rich fond for complete deglazing, to the light and glazy fond from sauteed onions and garlic for developing a richer risotto when deglazed with wine.
   
   Mind you, this is partly about knowing some basic cooking principles, and these pans might not act so obligingly in non experienced hands, because when I read about people commenting on how everything sticks in their All-Clad stainless interior, I know it isn't All-Clad's fault, believe me!
   
   I have found the copper core very responsive and quick to adjust to temperature. Perhaps not as great as true copper pot and pans, but noticeably better than aluminum cores (Stainless line) or anodized aluminum (Magnalite Pro/Calphalon). These pans heat up and boil water faster than anything I have ever used, aside from true copper cookware, and when turning the heat down, or removing from burner, they also cool incredibly quickly. It's nice to have semi-copper performance with the ease of stainless steel clean-up. And this cookware does clean-up quickly and easily, particularly when using Barkeepers Friend. I use plastic and wooden utensils (no metal) and they still look almost brand new after several months.
   
   The copper band however does tarnish and discolor just as much and just as fast as a true copper pot or pan, so if you are fanatic, you will need to polish the tarnish away fairly often (at least every other week). However this is barely noticeable for us real world users, and Barkeepers friend does a good job of semi-polishing the copper (but it won't gleam).
   
   I know, I know, they are SO expensive. But honestly, if you know how to cook or want to learn with responsive cookware, I honestly feel this is a great investment. I am wholeheartedly thrilled that I made it and cannot recommend highly enough.



2. What are you talking about? The picture is the same on the amazon site, the 7pc cookware set match the description. I've been using All-clad for over 10 yrs and it's the best cookware you can buy.



3. I have been using this set since September'05 and I love it. It has been a great addition to my extensive Le Creuset collection. I like the 8-qt pot from this set. It is sizable and light! I love the look of my enormously large Le Creuset pots but who can move them every day? However, the smaller Le Creuset pots are still my favorite. I do not like (=hate) the Le Creuset skillets, except for the real nonstick skillets. The regular Le Creuset skillets (black coating on the inside) are useless. But I have been happily using the All-Clad skillets. In addition to the skillets from this set, I have a 12-inch All-Clad skillet.
   
   The quality of the USA-made All-Clad is great. But who came up with this combination of pots and skillets?! There are two lids of the same size in the set. I prefer the interchangeable lids. I think that the 8-qt pot should be taller and smaller in diameter, so that its lid would fit the 10-inch skillet. Otherwise, all items in this set are practical.
   
   For cleaning, especially after high-heat frying, just soak the skillets in warm water for 5-10 min, then scrub briefly with a plastic scrub brush to loosen any large pieces of food and follow with the Bar Keepers Friend cleanser & polisher (powder, the liquid cleanser is useless). "The Friend" won't scratch the surface and the pots and skillets would look like new again except for the copper strip. Do not even bother cleaning the copper strip. It looks fine "weathered". And do not forget to towel dry to avoid the water spots!



4. This is without doubt the finest cookware I have had the pleasure of meeting, with the possible exception of Bourget. I was truly amused by the reviewer who whined his/her food stuck to these pans.
   No offense intended but it is not the cookware that is the problem, but your technique. Stainless steel is by definition NOT a non-stick metal. But if you treat it properly and use sound cooking practices your food will not stick. It always makes me wonder what the F*** people with $1000 worth of cookware are doing with it when they whine about it's properties when in fact it is the user who is clueless. Why do you have this stuff? Surely not to cook in. As a professional chef I can assure you if used properly this cookware is some of the best on the market. Heat your pan till HOT. Add oil. Add your ingredients. Shake the pan a bit, it will not stick. Wait until your meats are browned to turn them.
   
   This is outstanding cookware, with even heating and superiour distribution. If you are looking at buying the copper core wares please be a knowledgable cook and not some yuppy who only wishes to display it on there rack. Otherwise it is a waste of some of the best pots and pans you can buy.



5. I am greatly disappointed with all clad stainless steal, it not only reacted to the food, discoloring the pan but it was almost impossible to clean. I did not use high heat just medium, and on one account with the medium skillet I used just under medium heat and still got the same terrible results. I used everything all clad recomended to clean the inside of the pans and it still took me all the elbow grease I could muster to clean the stupid pans. Don't waste your money these stink, I will take them back.

No comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 6-Piece Cookware Set.

5 comments about All-Clad LTD 9-Piece Cookware Set with Nonstick Fry Pan.

1. My wife an I duked it out between Calphalon Commercial Nonstick (now called "Contemporary") which she preferred for its lighter weight and All-Clad which I prefer for its tougher build. We have a bunch of each. The All-Clad stuff is better hands down. It heats quicker and more evenly. It seems to cook requiring lower stove temperatures. The anodized exterior is smoother and of higher quality. The clad stainless interior is exquisite and easy to clean.
   
   This particular set is perfect - the most required pieces. They constitute a complete kitchen set, lacking only, perhaps, a couple of larger pans (12" fry and 5 Qt. Saute are really nice to have). The choice of stainless interior versus nonstick is personal - but I recommend the stainless interior. First of all, the stainless interior is virtually indestructible and will last a lifetime. All-Clad's nonstick interior is the best in the business, but it does wear out. I've had several LTD nonstick pieces for 9 years now. The ones that get a lot of wear are starting to wear out. Nothing is more pathetic than a battleship built All-Clad pan with a frayed nonstick interior. It's like putting fur in a truck bed. Nonstick might be easier to clean up - but the difference is trivial. Maybe you have the intention of cooking with less oil, but the difference between nonstick and LTD's excellent mirror-like stainless interior is also trivial. I find the arguments for nonstick hard to defend. That being said - the fry pan is where you'd most want non-stick and that's where you find it here. Just right.
   
   As for the review that says anodized aluminum exteriors are hard to maintain, she should read the product literature. You clean anodized aluminum with a plastic scrubby (like the 3M green ones) with bleach cleanser (like Ajax or Comet). Just make a paste with the cleanser and power away stains in moments. Anodized aluminum - like all aluminum cannot be dish washed. The phosphates and brightening agents in dishwasher soap with create a chalky powdery rot in the anodized surface. If you are determined to dishwash your cookware you must forget about aluminum and stick to stainless steel. All-Clad makes a great like of stainless cookware - but nothing is prettier than LTD's awesome black.



2. I've had these pans for a number of years now. I usually cook several times a day almost everyday & although these pans cook beautifully and the interior looks beautiful, the anodized exterior looks terrible now. I wouldn't mind so much but I have them hanging on decorative pot rack. For that reason I want to replace them with the less expensive version in stainless steel but the financial loss is killing me. I don't have room in my small kitchen to put them away. We've had a stainless steel All-Clad sauce pan for a few years which still looks great and isn't embarrassing hanging from our rack. If you don't mind so much what your pots look like then these would probably be a great choice. If anyone knows any great secrets to keeping these looking great, please post them. I've contacted All-Clad several times and do exactly as they say without achieving any desired results.



3. The bodies are made of 1/8" thick aluminum with a full stainless steel lining on the inside. The thick aluminum bodies make them heat evenly and the stainless interior make them non-reactive with food. My only gripes are that the rim of the pots have exposed non-anodized aluminum which become discolored with use. And the anodized aluminum exteriors become discolored if washed in a dishwasher. These are just cosmetic issues that don't affect the function, but I had higher expectations given the relatively high price of this set. I also considered the All-clad cookware that has stainless steel cladding on both the interior and exterior. In retrospect, perhaps those would have been a better choice assuming the thermal properties don't suffer too much from the exterior stainless steel coating.



4. I got this set as a wedding/christmas/birthday present
   from my mother. I did a LOT of research before picking
   this set out. I read reviews of other sets, compared
   prices, materials.. you name it, I checked it out. I
   even did some reading in various cookbooks to try to
   learn as much as I could about good cookware. Here
   are some of the basics I learned.. good cookware should
   be made to last a life time, it should heat EVENLY, it
   should carry a strong warranty, it should be beautiful,

   and it should be expensive (because you get what you pay
   for!). So why did I decide to go with All Clad's LTD 9
   piece set?

   All Clad has a few lines of cookware. ALL of them have
   aluminum cores (and in case you didn't learn this already, aluminum is an EXCELLENT heat conductor). So why the LTD? LTD cookware is made with a stainless steel interior (which is great because it's the most durable metal of all), a pure aluminum core, and a beautiful dark gray hard anodized aluminum exterior. Why hard anodized aluminum for the exterior? Well, although aluminum is a superb heat conductor (second only to copper), it's not very durable. But good old science found a way to make aluminum stronger WITHOUT taking away its heat conducting properties. It's an electro-chemical process that "anodizes" the aluminum. Hard anodized aluminum is actually stronger than stainless steel!! So when you get cookware that has a stainless steel (18/10) interior, a PURE aluminum core, and a super durable and super beautiful hard anodized aluminum exterior, you get the best of all worlds.

   This set itself is almost perfect as far as the pieces go. My only complaint is that the stock pot is too small. BUT..the sautee pan, the nonstick frying pan (which by the way has the GREATEST nonstick surface I've ever used!), and the two sauce pans are WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL pieces. Since I bought this set, I've added to it. I bought the steamer insert (which fits into the larger sauce pan), a 7" frying pan, and a 1 and a half quart sauce pan.. all LTD, and all PERFECT. I have absolutely no complaints about the pieces themselves. Water boils faster in these pieces than in ANY other piece I've ever used. And more importantly, it heats EVENLY. You won't look into the pot as it starts to simmer and see that the bubbles are only coming up from one side of the pan. The bubbles come up evenly from the entire bottom of the pan. Oh, and did I mention that the aluminum core goes ALL THE WAY up the sides of the pan? The heat from the burner gets transfered ALL THE WAY up to the top of your pan, making it heat up incredibly fast!

   All in all, all clad is a perfect 10. The other sets (MC2, copper chef, etc..) look pretty good too, but they have their drawbacks. The LTD set is perfect, and beautiful. I highly recommend it.




5. My all-clad LTD set has withstood five years of hard-core cooking. With proper care, it looks almost as good as new. The set is well-designed to distribute heat well for uniform cooking, as well as having an attractive finish.

   Pricey but worth it for the serious home cook.

2 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 7-Piece Cookware Set.

1. Amazing is the only word I can think of for this cookware.
   
   I am sick of buying nonstick cookware and having all the teflon chip off into my food after the first year. I thought that I would have to sacrafice a non stick surface for a safe solution to not eating teflon but that turned out to not be the case.
   
   This stainless is more nonstick than any teflon I have ever used!
   
   The box says "stainless surface does not react to food." I thought "what kind of nonsense is that?" But it's so true that it is scary! Even when my food burns it still slides around on the top. A litte butter on the bottom with a low flame and my eggs were practically sliding out of the frying pan with one nudge of the handle. Chicken slides around like ice cubes on a hot surface.
   
   I don't know how it does it but this set is better than any cookware I have ever used!
   
   I thought I was crazy for spending $400 on a cookware set but I should have spent the money no this years ago. I probably have wasted more than that amount of money from just replacing cheap teflon sets. Buy this set! You wont be sorry!



2. Though this is a significant investment, these pots will last you a lifetime. I am just so happy with these pots and use them almost daily.