Review of All-Clad LTD 10-Piece Cookware Set

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.

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.

8" fry pan, 10" fry pan, 2-quart covered sauce pan, 3-quart covered sauce pan, 3-quart saut? pan and 8-quart stockpot

Product Description
A great gift for someone's first kitchen - or make your own feel like new. LTD cookware features an extra-thick anodized aluminum exterior that distributes heat evenly and is bonded for strength. Oven safe to 400?. This 10-piece cookware set includes 8" fry pan, 10" fry pan, 2-quart covered sauce pan, 3-quart covered sauce pan, 3-quart saut? pan and 8-quart stock pot. Lifetime warranty.

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