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 Master Chef 2 8-Inch Fry Pan.

1. This is by far one of our most-used pans -- in fact we bought a second! It suits small jobs, such as sauteing smaller amounts of veggies or garlic. And despite the fact hand washing is recommended, we have been washing these in the dishwasher with no apparent problems. Has stood up to years of use and is still going strong. Highly recommend this product.



2. These pans are fabulous the heat quickly and evenly. The only even near negative is the cost. I would recommend them to friends and have given one as a gift.



3. I was a little disappointed when I first opened the box because there were some little grey marks on the rim of the pan - but they disappeared completely when I used a little Bon Ami on it. Had to wash the pan anyway before using it. I cooked some fried eggs in it and they were the best I've ever had. Then I cooked some chopped meat in it and the results were wonderful. Very easy to clean, beautiful to look at, and a real pleasure. And I like the handle although some people don't seem to. I am now going to buy another All Clad MC2 pot or pan every month since I can't afford to do it all at once, and then gradually get rid of all my Calphalon non-stick! Better late than never and I am very happy!



4. All-Clad pans are always well made, and this pan is no exception. A couple things to keep in mind with this particular pan:

   1) Master Chef 2 finish - I love the brushed aluminum finish, which should age well, but for now, not everything is available in this finish, though the selection is pretty good.

   2) This is an 8" pan, which I find a nice size for a lot of stuff, but it is "small" (of course, there is a 7", if you like tiny pans :^)

   3) This is the stainless steel interior, not non-stick. While All-Clad guarantees their non-stick interiors, I love the stainless, no worries about scratching, you can get in there and scrape away when making sauces. But you will want to use a bit of olive oil or other fat whenever cooking; but then again, why wouldn't you.

2 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 10-Inch Fry Pan.

1. I was shopping for a good pan and had look at copper pans and All-clad stainless series. Those pans are good but heavy. This 10 inch MC2 series weight perfectly at 3 lbs. I can lift it up with one hand comfortably. It heat up fast, the liquid evaporate fast on this pan. The browning on fired eggs are nice (which was missing when using non-stick). It is kind of difficult to maintain the shiny surface though. It is wise not to use the green scottbrite on it, it would damage the surface. Move the liquid food quickly or it would stick to the pan. When it was new it was so beautiful, I can't help lift it up stright and said "one pan rules them all"



2. This fry pan has a fabulously-even heat distribution that cooks and sears meats to perfection while preserving the natural flavors thereof. Doesn't absorb the natural juices like some teflon/non-stick pans do. Beautiful stainless polished finish that will keep on shining with proper care/ stainless powder cleansers. When I really want the flavor to come through, I use this pan and it brings out the best of each meal!

2 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 2-Quart Saucier Pan.

1. The gently sloped sides of All Clad's 2-Quart Saucier exactly match the curve of All Clad's stainless balloon whisk (and many other balloon whisks for that matter). This gentle curve, combined with the very smooth tough stainless steel interior make this a great surface for frequent stirring. All Clad's incredible heat transmissive properties allow you to deftly adjust temperature - a must for delicate sauces, roux, and risotto. Of course this pan can be used as a general purpose sauce pan as well. The 2 quart size is just the right size too.
   
   As for the MC2 finish - it's fine. It gets stained - but the soft matte surface is easily cleaned with a paste of cleanser (like Ajax or Comet) on a scrubby. Just rub the paste in a circular motion and power away the stains. You can use BarKeeper's Friend too - but plain cleanser works fine. I do this one every couple of months. All in all it's about the same to care for as anodized aluminum (and about as good as any other cookware except nonstick - but this is vastly more durable). Highly recommended.



2. having an assortment of All-Clad pieces, I couldn't pass up the rare All-Clad MC2 sale.
   
   Like the rest of the line, the MC2 has a stainless steel interior. The difference is in the brushed aluminum exterior. That's where the problem lies. Apparently this finish is a tad more porous than the LTD line. I keep getting 'stains' that require the Barkeeper's Friend. No big deal-but for a pan of this price, easy maintenence should be mandatory.
   
   Wait for the LTD sale instead.

1 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 6-Quart Saut¿ Pan.

1. When I saw the size of this pan, I wondered if it could possibly work well on a conventional-sized gas burner. Or would it just heat the center of the pan with the outer areas relatively cool? The clerk at the store assured me that it would heat evenly because it has an inner core of pure aluminum besides the exterior of brushed aluminum to help it conduct heat all the way up the sides, too. I took a chance and purchased this pan. It is great! I cooked one of my favorite recipes--chicken marsala--in it and it performed flawlessly. The bottom of the pan heats evenly with no hot or cold spots. It is heavy enough that you can use high heat with no fear of the pan warping. You can cook at low temperatures and feel confident that the pure aluminum core will spread that gentle heat evenly all across the bottom and up the sides of the pan. It browns beautifully and the mirror-smooth stainless interior is easy to clean. The lid fits snugly and keeps those precious juices in your food.

   For those who have never tried one of All-Clad's fine pans, here are a few tips. To prevent meats from sticking be sure to preheat the pan properly for at least a few minutes and do this on the same heat setting that you intend to use while browning your meat. Add the cooking oil (not a cooking spray) after the pan has heated. Use an oil that has a high smoking point like vegetable oil, peanut oil, or even light olive oil. Extra Virgin olive oil has too low a smoking point to be used for pan searing meats. Don't put cold meat in a hot pan for searing or it will stick. Let the meat sit out at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before you begin to sear it. Pat it dry with paper towels to be sure it is not wet (that causes sticking, too). The pan should be hot enough that you hear a nice, loud sizzle when the meat is placed into the hot oil. Leave some space around individual pieces of meat to allow moisture to evaporate. If you crowd the pan, your meat will stew, not brown, and it will be tough. Don't poke or move the meat around once you have put it into the pan or it will not properly sear. Right after you place the meat in the pan, you may notice that it is sticking to the bottom of the pan. Don't panic! That is how the meat surface becomes properly carmelized (browned). The meat will tell you when it is properly seared because it will "release" from the bottom of the pan and can be easly moved and turned over. Repeat this searing process on the other side.

   DEGLAZE! This is an important next step: remove the browned meat from your pan, pour off any excess oil that is left in the bottom. If you see a hardened brown crust on your beautiful pan, no worry. Just deglaze the pan by adding some wine, stock, even plain water, and stirring over medium heat to loosen those crusty patches. This process only takes a couple of minutes. Keep stirring to loosen anything that is stuck on the bottom of the pan, then you can add extra ingredients, return your meat to the pan, cover with the snug-fitting lid and braise or simmer to delightful tenderness.

   With its all-metal construction, this pan is oven ready and can go right from stove top into the oven to finish your cooking. They are virtually indestructable, too, with a lifetime guarantee from All-Clad. They may be pricey but you can count on them as a lifetime investment and can even pass them on to your kids. You won't believe what a difference real quality cookware will be until you try it for yourself.

   When it's time to wash the pan, hot sudsy water and a little Barkeeper's Friend scouring powder will restore the pan to like-new brilliance.

   The only down side to this pan is that its slim handles make it difficult to manipulate. And you will need a pot holder or oven mitt to protect your hands from the "helper handle" (which does get hot) and the handle on the lid. The long, stay-cool handle will be just fine for stove-top use unless you put the pan in the oven.

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.

No comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 5-1/2-Quart Saucier Pan.

4 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 2-Quart Saucepan.

1. I've only had this pan for about a week now, but so far it's been just what I needed. I've used to to warm cream and, along with a metal Amco mixing bowl, serve as a double boiler, where I prefer a pan taller than it is wide, and it's worked just fine. I don't think the appearance is as attractive as the stainless or even the LTD lines, but it's not bad, really. Performance matters more, anyway. Plus, I found this pan mis-marked at Dillard's for a mere $23.75, so I wasn't going to pass it up just because it isn't shiny on the outside. A pan of this size and shape is very handy to have, and I would buy this one again without hesitation...even though I personally would rather have the stainless, mainly because I wonder how well the exterior will wear.



2. If you are a serious cook who wants serious quality cookware, then All Clad is a great option. If you are not 100 percent familiar with All Clad, here is a brief description of what you can expect from them...All of their lines have a full aluminum core (which provides excellent heat retention and distribution) and stainless steel interiors (which offer an easy to use, non reactive cooking surface). It is the best of both worlds combined in one piece of cookware. The difference between the various lines of All Clad is simply the exterior surface...stainless steel (obviously their Stainless line), anodized aluminum (the LTD line), Copper (Copper Chef line), Stainless with an added layer of copper in the core (Copper Core), and brushed aluminum (the MC2 or "Master Chef 2" line). They are all, in my opinion, excellent cookware, but each one has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the Master Chef 2 line, which this saucepan hails from are:
   
   1)The anodized aluminum exterior gives it added thickness and heft. In my opinion, this provides better cooking qualities than most of the other AC lines (except for the LTD which is even slightly thicker). While all lines of AC perform beautifully, I feel MC2 has slightly better heat retention and distribution. I enjoy the cooking experience a little more with MC2 than I do with the stainless line.
   
   2)It costs less. I think we all agree that's an advantage!
   
   However the main disadvantage of the MC2 line, in my opinion, is strictly cosmetic. Straight out of the box, the saucepan will look beautiful, but over time, it's exterior will undergo intense marring. It doesn't matter how much you baby your cookware, these pans scratch horribly and discolor very easily. I don't care what anyone says...I have tried every trick in the book to rid my MC2 of their ugly discolorations, and nothing works. And as far as scratches go, once they're there, they are there for good. If looks are a big issue with you and/or you keep your pots and pans on display in your kitchen, bear in mind that these pans take quite a beating. These just will not have the striking beauty of the stainless or copper core line.
   
   As far as this particular saucepan, it's definitely a winner. With the thick aluminum core and exterior, you will definitely enjoy the performance that this pan will offer you. Your sauces won't scorch as easily as lower quality pans and you will find you will have much more control over your cooking with a pan like this. It is certainly a joy to cook in it, as is all of All Clad cookware. And the accompanying stainless steel lid is durable and tight-fitting, everythning a lid should be. Do bear in mind that this saucepan is not like a typical two quart saucepan. Most 2 quart pans are wide and short. This pan is tall and narrow. (It doesn't even measure 6 inches across and is smaller in girth than my 1 and a half quart saucepan). The advantage to that is you will get less splatter and less evaporation with a pan of this shape, but to me, the narrow girth of this pan is a distinct disadvantage. I cook on Thermador burners which are very wide. The flame on my burners completely devour this pan and I have to use a medium to medium low heat setting at the most or the flame will lop up the sides of my pan. If you have pro appliances with wide burners, then this will be an issue for you. You will either have to use a low flame or invest in a simmer plate. This fact, along with the exterior marring, is what made this pan lose a star for me. However, if I were to rate this pan solely on performance, then it would earn five stars all the way! Even with the drawbacks, I'm still a very proud owner!



3. I chose to try the Master Chef 2 construction because it is the line used in the Food Network's 'Iron Chef America' kitchens, and I wanted something to replace both a very old, very thin stainless steel pot and a newer, but very, very heavy Calphalon anodized aluminum pot. As with everything else I have gotten from the Master Chef 2 line, this piece does a better job than anything of the same size and shape which I have replaced. I have both the 2 quart saucepan and saucier, and find that I really need both. The saucepan is superior for straight cooking, as when making rice or blanching small vegetables, but the saucier is superior for, you guessed it, making sauces, risottos, oatmeal, and anything else which requires constant stirring. And, you often need to do both at the same time, so they make a very nice team.



4. The high sides on this pot make it great! perfect pot for sauces, oatmeal, etc.

1 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 4-1/2-Quart Saucepan.

1. Item was in perfect condition except for one cosmetic fault, but for the price, who cares!

1 comments about All-Clad Master Chef 2 Nonstick 8-Inch Fry Pan.

1. All-Clad Master Chef 2 Nonstick8-Inch FRy Pan----hey you hestitant chefs, go for it! Do you want to flip an over easy egg? This is the pan for you...