"We have a winner!"

"Read why this set is rated the best stainless steel cookware set on the internet"
 

More than a year ago we were contacted by a reader who needed some help with purchasing a set of stainless steel cookware. This person didn’t just want any old cookware – they wanted the best they could get for their money – they just didn’t know where to start.

 

Now we don’t sell cookware ourselves – we research the products and pass the information on to you, the consumer. So we were able to assist our reader by providing unbiased recommendations based on what we knew at the time.

 

Some time later, this person contacted us to say she considered our recommendations but went with a completely different cookware set which she was so pleased with that she had to tell us all about it. In fact, she was  more than pleased, she was ecstatic!

Our mistake…

At the time we were researching brands like All Clad and Calphalon and really hadn’t much to do with the cookware she was recommending and even though she raved about it, we didn’t take too much notice and just brushed it off as one person’s opinion.

 

How wrong were we! We had been focusing on what we thought were the best cookware brands and totally missed this jewel in the crown.

"All Clad Quality Without the All Clad Price"

It was only until recently that we finally got around to looking into this cookware in more detail and confirmed what the hundreds of reviewers from all over the internet were saying – that this was, as one reader put it, “All Clad quality without the All Clad price tag”.

Now at this point you're probably wondering what brand of cookware I am talking about but bear with me as before you go racing off to buy it you need to know a few vital facts.

 

Don't worry...there are only 2 quick and easy things you need to know but without this important information you may get sidetracked and spot a cheaper brand and think that will do the job. But believe me when I say that cheap cookware is cheap for a reason.

 

IMPORTANT: Don’t skip this next bit as without it you could be wasting money on your next cookware purchase...

2 Vital Facts You Need to Know Before You Choose Your Next Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Before you even consider buying a stainless steel cookware set make sure you know the 2 important points below. Learn them well as this knowledge will not only ensure that you buy the best cookware possible but you also get the best bang for your buck.
 

		Buy stainless steel cookware that has either an aluminium or copper core…or both! Stainless steel looks good and is strong and durable but it really doesn’t cut it when it comes to good heat retention. This is where aluminum or copper comes into play. Both of these metals ensure that foods cook evenly without those annoying hot spots. Plus when you turn that dial to change the temperature on your stove top, the cookware responds rapidly to temperature changes.
		Ensure the aluminium or copper runs up the sides of the pans A lot of stainless steel cookware on the market today only includes a layer of aluminum or copper in the base of the pot or pan. This is good but what is even better is when the aluminium/copper runs up the sides of the pan. When you see this you know you are looking at quality cookware.

What else do you need to know?

Of course there are other things to consider when buying stainless steel such as ensuring it is dishwasher safe, oven and broiler safe, that it has strong riveted handles and it has lids that fit securely.

We Knew That We Had a Winner!!

So what is the cookware set that our reader raved about so long ago?... I almost feel like a drum roll would be appropriate here but let's not stall any longer. The cookware set she was referring to is the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set.

 

This set has all the attributes spoken about above and more. But not only that, this cookware set is consistently given a 5 star rating by consumers on the net. In fact, the lowest overall rating we have ever seen for this set is 4.5 stars. We knew then that we were on to a winner!

 

Let's Take a Look in More Detail

 

Note: Since writing this review, we have purchased the latest version of the Multiclad Set  and have tested it for six months now.  I am happy to report that this set has the same exquisite good looks, beautiful finish and performs every bit as well as the old set that we have. 

 

First of all this set meets all of the criteria as set out above ie. it has an aluminum core that runs up the sides of each pot or pan but lets take a closer look at some of its other features.

 

What's in the Box?
 

It includes all the basics and more including 2 covered saucepans, 2 skillets, a covered sauté pan, a covered stock pot and a steamer insert with lid. You really shouldn't need much else. (Note that the steamer fits into the 3qt saucepan.)

8 inch skillet	10 inch skillet	1.5qt saucepan	3qt saucepan	3.5qt sauté pan	steamer insert	8qt stockpot

How Much Should You Pay for this Set?

The price of this set has remained consistent for just about every cookware retailer on the net - somewhere between $299 and $325. We check prices regularly and have always found the best price at Amazon. However, they often sell out as this is a popular set so if you see it in stock on Amazon and at a good price it is worth grabbing.

Is it Cheaper to Buy Individual Pieces or the Whole Set?

It is cheaper to buy the set. Prices tend to fluctuate of course but as of the date of writing this the total cost of buying each piece individually came close to $400. This is at least $100 more than what you should be paying. It is definitely cheaper to buy the set.

What Are the Lids Like?

Each piece of this set includes a lid except for the skillets of course. Its' quite unusual for a cookware set to do this as often the lids will fit two or more pans so many manufacturers don't bother including a lid for each pot or pan.

The lids form a tight seal to ensure that moisture doesn't escape but at the same time they are not too tight. There has to be some room for steam to escape.

What are the rims like?

The rim edges are rounded and smooth which makes pouring so much easier. We compared it to the All Clad stainless steel line of cookware and have to admit that we prefer Cuisinart. You can see in the image that the rims on All Clad cookware are completely straight.

Is it Oven Safe?

Yes, definitely. This set is oven safe to 500F so it makes it easy to sear your foods on the stovetop and then take it straight to the oven without having to transfer to another piece of cookware.

Is it Safe to Use on Induction Stove Tops?

I checked the Cuisinart website and they do indicate that this set is safe to use on induction stove tops....nice!

What Are the Handles Like?

The handles are riveted and are made from solid stainless steel. The handles are cool to touch on the stove top although if you leave them for long enough they will end up getting hot...but it will take a while. They are not cool to touch in the oven so ensure you use oven mitts.

We compared the handles to the All Clad stainless steel range and both of us preferred the feel of the Cuisinart handles. The All Clad handles turned up at the edges and just felt uncomfortable to hold especially when the pot was full of food.

Is it Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, this set is dishwasher safe so you won't need to hand wash this one. However, we always recommended hand washing any piece of cookware you own. They will look better for longer.

Does it Come With a Warranty?

A limited lifetime warranty is included and covers defects in material and workmanship under normal home use from date of original purchase.

How Much Does it Weigh?

The entire set weighs approximately 26 pounds.

- 10 inch skillet - approx 3 pounds
- 8 inch skillet - approx 2 pounds
- 1.5qt saucepan - approx 2.8 pounds
- 3qt saucepan - approx 3 pounds
- 3.5qt sauté pan - approx 5.2 pounds
- 8qt stockpot - approx 6.8 pounds
- steamer insert - approx 2.8 pounds

What is it Made of?

The set is made from stainless steel. In fact it has two layers of stainless steel and sandwiched between them is a layer of aluminum which runs along the base and up the sides of each pan. The aluminum core ensures even cooking so you won't get those nasty hot spots and the cookware will react quickly to temperature changes.

What about 18/10 stainless steel?

One of the things we used to look for in a quality set of stainless steel cookware was that it was 18/10. Basically this meant that there was a mix of alloys (chromium and nickel) making the stainless steel one of good quality. Unfortunately we can no longer do this as cookware companies are moving away from branding their cookware as 18/10, 18/8 and so on. One reason for this is that as more and more people use induction stovetops, cookware manufacturers must move towards making their cookware compatible and hence the alloys may vary within the product. If the alloys vary they can no longer brand their cookware with a specific alloy mix.

We just recently became aware that Cuisinart no longer brands their cookware as 18/10, nor does Calphalon for that matter - two of the biggest producers of cookware. In fact, a representative from Calphalon contacted us recently to let us know that we needed to change our Calphalon Tri-Ply review because we mentioned 18/10 and they no longer market their products as such. We suspect also that Kitchenaid no longer specifies 18/10, although we are waiting for confirmation on this.

However, if you really feel the need to have a set of cookware that you know is 18/10 then we suggest you purchase an All Clad cookware set. We recommend one of the following:

- All Clad Tri-Ply 9 Piece Cookware Set
- All Clad Tri Ply 14pc Cookware Set
 

Any Complaints?

We really can't find anything bad to say about this Cuisinart stainless cookware set and even when reading the hundreds of reviews for this set on the internet we were hard pressed to find anyone with anything bad to say. About the only negatives were from a small handful of consumers who experienced a discoloration on the outer surface of the stainless steel. First of all, this is not unique to Cuisinart. Secondly, this is caused by using high heats - this cookware works best using low to medium heat. And thirdly, this discoloration can be removed with the use of Barkeepers Friend.

A few people have discussed the issue surrounding 18/10 but as we mentioned above, this seems to be where most cookware companies are heading so we can no longer use this as a criteria for determining the quality of cookware. This is still a quality set that receives exceptional ratings compared to most other cookware sets in this price range and is still our top pic for a good stainless steel cookware set.

Where Can I Get the Best Price?

We check prices regularly for this cookware set and by far the best price has always been at Amazon. However, because they are generally the cheapest, it often sells out quickly, so don't think about it for too long if you see they have some in stock.