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If you are building a healthy kitchen, choosing the right pots and pans is just as important as choosing the right Paleo ingredients. One of my all-time favorite brands has to be, hands down, All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have known about or tried the brand if no one had referred them to me. For most people, it’s a lot of money to spend on cookware. If you don’t have experience with them, there’s almost no way you would want to give them a try based solely on the high price tag. In the store, there are so many pots and pans to choose from. They all claim to be great until you buy them, use them for a year, and watch them fall apart.
How I Discovered All-Clad
My mother-in-law used to constantly rave about her All-Clad stainless steel cookware. She would tell me it was the absolute best she had ever used. And boy, did she try many brands—buying everything from Food Network advertised specials to pans recommended in celebrity cookbooks.
She told me that All-Clad conducts heat perfectly evenly, so the food is cooked consistently every single time. She also loved that it was incredibly sturdy and easy to wash. She was so convinced I needed them that she bought me a beginner set for Christmas. The beginner’s set included a medium pot with a lid, a small pot with a lid, and a large deep pan.
She was completely right! They have been my pride and joy in the kitchen ever since.
5 Reasons All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware is Worth It
The beginner set has been with me for over a decade, through all the trials and errors of cooking daily family meals. Here is why I believe this cookware is worth every single penny.
- Incredible Durability: After more than ten years of heavy use, my pots and pans are still shining, beautiful, and radiating with quality. They do not warp or dent.
- Even Heat Conduction: Because of the layered metal construction (usually an aluminum core wrapped in steel), there are no “hot spots.” Your food cooks evenly across the entire surface of the pan.
- No Chemical Coatings: Unlike cheap non-stick pans, there is no Teflon or synthetic coating to scratch off into your food. This makes it a perfect, non-toxic choice for a healthy lifestyle.
- Oven and Broiler Safe: You can sear a piece of meat on the stovetop and transfer the entire pan directly into a hot oven or under the broiler without worrying about melting handles.
- Made in the USA: The fully bonded cookware lines are manufactured right here in the United States, using high-quality metals.
My Biggest Cookware Mistake
I will admit, I was a fool during my time with them. My eyes wandered, and I cheated on my All-Clad set with other pots and pans that happened to catch my eye at the store. I bought cheaper trendy pans, hoping they would be just as good.
Every single one of them failed. They warped, the handles got loose, or the finish completely wore off. It was such a massive waste of money. While I do love my modern HexClad Commercial pans for specific non-stick uses, my All-Clad set remains the indestructible backbone of my kitchen.
If you are on the fence about the price, consider it an investment for life. You will never have to buy another stainless steel pot again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is All-Clad stainless steel cookware non-toxic?
Yes, All-Clad stainless steel is completely non-toxic. It does not contain any PFOA, PTFE, or synthetic non-stick coatings that can degrade or release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures. It is one of the safest materials you can cook with.
Do things stick to All-Clad stainless steel?
Food can stick to stainless steel if you do not use it correctly. The trick is to preheat the pan completely before adding your cooking oil, and then let the oil get hot before adding your food. When cooking meat, do not try to flip it until it naturally “releases” from the metal.
How do you clean burnt food off All-Clad pans?
If you accidentally burn food onto your All-Clad pan, do not panic. Simply fill the pan with a little water and a splash of vinegar, bring it to a boil on the stove, and use a wooden spoon to scrape the burnt bits away. For polishing the outside, a powder called Bar Keepers Friend works miracles.
Can All-Clad go in the dishwasher?
While All-Clad states that many of their stainless steel lines are dishwasher safe, it is highly recommended to hand wash them. Harsh dishwasher detergents can dull the beautiful polished finish over time and degrade the exposed aluminum edges.