All Clad vs Cuisinart – Two heavyweights in Tri-Ply Cookware but which is better?

Two of the most popular cookware ranges are All Clad and Cuisinart, but which is better? We are going to take a look at two of the most popular cookware sets from these powerhouse cookware companies and then give you our opinion on which is the best.  The two sets we will be comparing will be the Cuisinart 12 Piece Tri-Ply Cookware Set and the All-Clad 401488R Stainless Steel. However our observations are quite general and could be applied to any of their stainless steel sets.

Let’s start by saying that both All Clad and Cuisinart are both American brands, however only All Clad makes all their cookware in the United States. A lot of Cuisinart products are produced in China. This is reflected in the price with the Cuisinart set being much much cheaper.

Value for money

For pure value for money you can’t look past Cuisinart, they are excellent cookware sets and like I said they are much cheaper than All Clad generally. The 2 sets mentioned above have a $400 price difference at the time of writing.

Durability

Cuisinart Set

Both score top marks here. The All Clad is the heavier and more solid feeling set but many reviewers are reporting they scratch up easily after a few trips through the dishwasher, so we recommend hand washing only. However we must state that both these products are rated as being dishwasher safe.

Induction Ready?

Yes! Both these sets are induction technology compatible.

Non Stick?

No. Both these sets are stainless steel and are not “non stick”. However do you really need non stick? It sounds like a good idea but stainless steel is pretty much none stick when using an oil or other light coating. Another thing to consider is that stainless steel is dishwasher safe so if something does get stuck on it you can put it in the dishwasher and forget about it. Non stick will eventually come away over time as well and it’s not dishwasher safe. Plus there are the health concerns many people have about non stick coatings. If you like cooking eggs a lot though you will probably want an additional frying pan that is non stick!

Ergonomics

All Clad Set

This is purely our opinion but we we much preferred the feel of the Cuisinart products. They felt better in our hands and as they aren’t quite as heavy as the All Clad it was an all round better experience. We particularly preferred the Cuisinart handles.

Best to cook with?

Both All Clad and Cuisinart pans would not be out of place in any professional kitchen and they are used in many restaurants across America. SO which ever you go for will provide an excellent cooking experience and you will not regret your choice. Both have great heat retention and very even cooking as you would expect from premium cookware. There is no clear winner here.

Conclusion

While both ranges are excellent to use, durable and absolutely beautiful to look at we can’t help but prefer the Cuisinart range. The value for money is off the charts here. We also found the ergonomics to be that much better with the Cuisinart making them easier to handle and a marginally nicer experience. While both are rated as being dishwasher safe there are quite a few reviewers complaining of the All Clad scratching easily, whist not blaming the dishwasher, it’s a fact that easily scratched cookware doesn’t fare well in the dishwasher. So if you really want something that is high quality but you can stick in the dishwasher after a hard days cooking then yet again the Cuisinart slightly trumps the All Clad.

Whichever you chose to go for though will not leave you disappointed. These are 2 of the most popular brands for a reason.