4 comments about All-Clad Stainless 7-Quart Stockpot with Pasta Insert.

1. I have been eyeing this pot for years! I thought it could be replaced by the All-Clad 12-Quart Stainless Multi Cooker with Steamer Basket, but no dice. The multicooker has an aluminum base and takes a while to heat up. Also, unless you're cooking for an army, it's really big. I had been using the All-Clad Stainless Asparagus Pot with Steamer Basket, but it only works for 1-2 people. I needed something in between those two pots!
   
   The pasta pentola is perfect. The seven quart size is nice. I love that it's tall versus wide. Because it is fully clad (aluminum on the bottom and sides), it heats more effeciently than the multicooker and asparagus pot.
   
   The insert works beautifully. It drains well and after draining, you can tilt it over the pot to keep the pasta warm as you finish other items for the dish.
   
   I love that everything is dishwasher safe. You can use Bar Keeper's friend to keep everything shining like new. All-Clad Stainless cookware will last you a lifetime. If there are ever any problems, these come with a lifetime warranty.
   
   If you often cook pasta for a crowd and are an avid soup maker, this pot is worth the investment. I suggest purchasing it over the 6-qt stock pot and the multicooker. If the choice is between this and a Dutch oven, get the Dutch oven and put this on your wish list.



2. This pan is really nice for pasta. Good heavy weight. You can tell this pan will last.



3. My family gave me this set for Mothers Day. I really love it. The heating is very even in this pan. I never need to use heat over med to cook. I can cook 1 1/2 pounds of pasta. The insert holes are too small for pasta to pass through. When lifting pasta out you have to do so slowly to allow the water to drain into the pan. I then leave the insert at an angle to serve from the pot this keeps the pasta warm. I was able to cook 6-8 ears of corn-on-the-cob by standing the ears on end. I can cook large quantities of vegetables and drain to serve without effort. The stockpot is great. It is deep enough to make jams without the jam splashing out of the pan onto the stove like my other stockpot. The set is too big to fit in the dishwasher with the dishes from the meal, but it does fit. I am able to clean it easily after cooking, even cooked jam without much effort at all. This set is a very practical addition to my kitchen.



4. I got this cool looking pot and insert thinking, Wow! I won't have to strain the noodles. But then after using it a bit, I realized that I don't need to heat 7qts of water to feed my family. And that the insert doesn't sit far enough down in the bottom of the pan to really hold enough pasta. I know this is a contradiction but that's what this pot combo is. It's really too wide for asparagrass, although if I have enough people it works. It's a bit too samll for steaming corn on the cob, as I tend to heat 2 ears per person. Also lifting the pot full of noodles isn't a thing to do over the stove. It's move the pot to the sink and lift there. 7qts of water is heavy and this isn't a task to be taken by smaller cooks.

   On the great side, the 7qt pot turns out to make great soups. It fits the small burner at the back of the stove. The soups rarely burn even without stirring. And the steamer works for that big batch of clams I have once a year. So while I won't give it away, I'm not sure I would buy it on a second time aroound. (The plain 7qt stock pot, now that I would get.)

   I still get a lot of "Wow's" from people who see it in my kitchen but is that worth the extra $...?

   So consider getting just the stock pot. (Unless you like lots of clams/mussels etc.)

2 comments about All-Clad Stainless 7-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan.

1. Does just what you want it to do. Great for cooking eggs for 1 or 2 people. Super easy to clean. Handle stays cool, nonstick is indeed nonstick. All-Clad is no bargain, but I think you get good value for the money. No warping, consistent even hear across the cooking surface of the pan, easy to clean, and a truly stay-cool handle. And lasts well for years.



2. Not only is All Clad stainless cookware superb, the nonstick is superb as well! I am not a fan of nonstick in general however I make an exception with fry pans. Eggs and cheese are just so much healthier when they are cooked with less oil. That being said I have the 7, 8 & two of the 10 inch All Clad nonstick fry pans and I couldn't be happier with them. I have 2 of the 10 inch so I can make two 3 egg omelets at the same time. I find the 10 inch is perfect for 3 eggs, my husband and I prefer our omelets loose or slightly runny versus dry and this is a great size for that, it is also great for several scrambled eggs or breakfast sausage. The 8 inch is perfect for a 2 egg omelet or scrambled eggs and the 7 inch is perfect for 1 or 2 eggs or sausage. The 7" is a great fry pan for just about any small item you could imagine. You will love it!

   All Clad fry pans (and the entire All Clad cookware collection) are first class, top quality, well made, designed to last and come with a lifetime warranty. Make sure you only use silicone (my choice), nylon or wooden utensils and hand wash only. The hand washing is a breeze since this nonstick collection is made so well... All Clad makes more sense for your wallet and the environment and wouldn't you rather use "crème de la crème" professional quality cookware than junk? I know I would!

   Highly recommended! A+++!

3 comments about All-Clad Stainless Petite Roti Pan with Roasting Rack.

1. I can't really "review" this pan since I returned it unused, but I have the "same" All-Clad Petit Roti Pan from just a couple of years ago, and this one is now substantially different. My old one had a flat bottom, great for making gravy after you finished your roast. This new one has a ridge around the bottom, where the juices will drip off into these sides. Very difficult to make a gravy when that happens. This is just my opinion as a cook, I really can't comment otherwise on the product, but this change alone was enough for me to send the pan back.



2. I got this pan for Christmas and used it that day for the turkey breast roast. It is perfect for smaller families who don't plan to cook the 30 pound turkey or a huge standing rib roast. I can't imagine cooking anything that would require a bigger pan. It fits easily into the oven, cleans up in a breeze and matches all my other All Clad stainless pots and pans. Many years ago a chef told me that All Clad was the best and I have never been disappointed.



3. I also own its big brother and both pans work extremely well. Efficient, even heating. Upright handles make the pan easier to lift. Solid, heavy contruction. I like going from oven to stove top for making gravy. Easy to clean (dishwasher safe).
   
   Worth the price for All Clad quality and the perfect roasted bird.
   
   Update 1/7/07: This pan does not work on induction cooktops

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-Steel Stockpot.

1. This is a fabulous product. I have a bunch of All-Clad and you just can't lose by buying their cookware. It pays to buy the best you can because it will last forever.

No comments about All-Clad Stainless Oval Au Gratin Pan.

No comments about All-Clad Stainless 3-Quart Saucier with Lid and Pour Spouts.

5 comments about All-Clad Stainless Roti Combo with Rack and Turkey Forks.

1. This is NOT a true clad or tri-product it is stainless only i.e. no aluminum core. My warped under the broiler and ruined a sizable salmon fillet. I have a ton of other true All-Clad this is not clad and All-Clad won't help you if you buy one so stay away and buy a pan which is actually tri-ply. After talking about this misrepresentation to All-Clad customer service I am pretty much done with All-Clad All-together.



2. Forget the negative reviews! This pan does a fantastic job of roasting. I will be doing a 7 lb. Choice Beef Rib-eye roast for Christmas dinner in it. It deglazes just like any other good SS pan.
   
   It is a tad heavy though, so don't expect an aluminum feel to it. Cleanup is just like any other SS pan... use Barkeeper's Friend and it all done and shiny.
   
   There may actually be better roasters out there, but that doesn't mean this is not an excellent roaster!
   
   And BTW, it costs $199, no matter where you look to buy it.



3. I bought one of these last year to use on Thanksgiving and have been wondering ever since how I had managed to live without one! It by far does the best job of making a turkey that I have ever seen. The turkey recipe I normally use involves brining the turkey and then roasting it, and in this pan it turns out amazing, I have everyone who tries it ask what my secret is, and my secret is this pan. I have also used it to make a delicious pineapple glazed ham and roasted two decently sized chickens at once in it as well. It is by far the best roasting pan I or any of my girlfriends have ever seen. Even my mom was wondering how I made her recipe better than her! If you are in the market for a roasting pan this one is hands down the only choice out there!



4. Do not be fooled! This roasting pan does NOT have an aluminum core; virtually every other stainless steel All-Clad piece does. The sales people at Williams-Sonoma said it DOES, but the box clearly says solid stainless steel. I cooked my turkey in it, realized my (their) mistake, and took it back. You can get a better stainless pan for under $40. Don't make the mistake of buying this pan just for the All-Clad brand name on the handle. It is a rip off. And this pan is horrible for doing anything beyond simple roasting (e.g., deglazing or reducing on the stove)!



5. This roasting pan is NOT a clad construction like the other All-Clad cookware. It is a pure stainless steel construction and does not conduct heat well at all. I'm going to be returning mine as I just purchased a Viking Roasting Pan to replace this one. The Viking is only a little bit more expensive but it is a fully CLAD ALUMINUM construction and conducts heat SUPERBLY -- plus it matches my All-Clad cookware!

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 Stainless 2-Quart Rice Pot With 1-Cup Liquid Measure.

1. I am not sure why All-clad called this pot rice pot. I don't see any difference in design than regular All-clad pot. It's little nice pot, the size of this pot is close to saucer than rice pot. It's for all-purpose use as long as you cook small portions. I used this pot several times, none of them to cook rice yet. I used it for cooking past and sauces. It's easy to clean, and keeps food hot for long time.
   The lid is not very stable, but no problem since the pot is very little (it may be annoying if the pot was bigger). I have pots from Zepter, the lid is much more stable. I wish Amazon.com sells Zepter cookware. They are great, built well, and worth the price paid for.
   The good thing about All-Clad that can be used in the stove and oven.
   In General, I like All-Clad's it heavy, quality, and works well.



2. I like it a lot. Comes with a nice little measuring cup.