All-Clad Copper Core Review

Alright, I know you want the best, but is this the best value you can get for your money? That was the motive that led me to embark upon the All-Clad Copper Core review. Did you know that a  complete set of this cookware goes for about a thousand dollar and as a person who has been studying cookwares for a bit now, and knowing that there is cookware that delivers healthy cooking for those that care about the safety of their families, I decided to do a study to help show you if this is a good buy or if you should look somewhere else.

Features of All-Clad Copper Core Cookware – All-Clad Copper Core Review

There is absolutely no doubt that All-Clad Copper Core Cookware is of high-quality.

Here are the features at a glance.

• 5-Ply bonded construction with stainless steel, aluminum, and a thick copper core for even heating, warp-free strength, and reliable responsiveness.
• Riveted stainless-steel handles with venting and contoured for a comfortable grip; stainless-steel lids; flared edges; capacity etched on base
• Oven safe and broiler safe up to 600 degrees F; optimized for induction; dishwasher-safe; limited lifetime warranty; made in the USA
• Highly polished 18/10 stainless steel interior with starburst finish offers superior stick resistance and easy maintenance, plus won’t react with food

Material used in Construction

This 5 ply copper core cookware is made out of a five-layer sandwich, namely: stainless, aluminum, copper, aluminum, and stainless (this order is from inside to out). I have mentioned that Copper is the material used in this cookware. Copper an extremely good conductor of heat. This means that it allows you to cook with low heat, evenly distributed just as you would in waterless cooking. Compared to All-Clad Stainless-Steel line, this cookware heats up and cools down faster and like I mentioned earlier, it spreads heat more evenly. It conducts heat so well that you’ll probably want to use a lower stove setting than you might be used to; to avoid burning food. Foods that require a specific internal temperature should be easier to cook once you have some practice with copper core cookware.

Proper handling is essential to prevent food from sticking to the pots and pans. Make sure you heat your pan slowly, add oil, and make sure you don’t let your pan get too hot. I think it is worth mentioning that every piece works on an induction cooktop.

Appearance

The uniqueness of its design is that it is 5-ply bonded.  It consists of a copper core sandwiched between 2 aluminum layers with an 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface for the interior and magnetic stainless steel for the exterior. The lids and handles are also made of stainless steel and the handles on the lids are easy to grip. Its long stick handles are riveted to the pans and stay cool on the stove-top. The brushed stainless cooking surface is durable, as is the polished stainless exterior.

Ease of Use and Handles

All-Clad is easy to use however, there is a little controversy about its handles. The company says it is stay-cool while some customers think otherwise. This cookware has helper handles on all of its larger pan sizes like this one, which makes handling much more comfortable both on the stovetop as well as transport to/from an oven or washing in the sink. 

Oven Safe? Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, up to 500ºF as All-Clad states on their website. However, I won’t recommend using high temperatures as over time. Continuous exposures to these high temperatures seem to affect the non-stick effectiveness and it’s possible that the cookware can warp slightly. For the dishwasher-safe question, Yes. It is but hand washing would be a preferable way to care for the cookware. All-Clad recommends hand washing as well. It’s quite easy to clean the stainless surfaces of this cookware set, especially given how easy it is to keep food from sticking.

Another thing to note is that there’s an exposed copper band on each piece that will tarnish over time. To help prevent the tarnish you can use a copper polish that is safe for cookware while cleaning.

Warranty and Durability

All-Clad offers a lifetime warranty to cover any manufacturing defects you might uncover. Rather than having to replace your pots and pans every 2 to 3 years, investing in more expensive pieces upfront could save you the hassle and money in the long run. If you handle it carefully, they can literally last a lifetime and be passed on to your children.

Read Waterless Cookware Comparison

Should you buy All-Clad Copper Core Cookware? – All-Clad Copper Core Review

Well, I think I have listed some ups and then downers of this product but to clear up whatever confusions you might have, let me give you the highlights once again.

What’s the Upside? – All-Clad Copper Core Review

• High-quality cookware
• Heavy and durable
• Even heat distribution
• Easy to clean and maintain

Downside – All-Clad Copper Core Review

• It’s quite expensive
• Uncomfortable handle – The design of All-Clad handles can certainly be improved because there are many users who find them uncomfortable to grip. The groove in the middle means the sides pressed into your palm when you lift the pan. And when the pan is filled with food, the weight adds to the discomfort.
• Heavy – The solid metal construction of these pots and pans means that they’re a bit heavy to heft. If you want to toss your pan about easily with one hand you might want a lighter set.
• Cleaning requires a good
• Copper Can Tarnish – While the stainless in this cookware is easy to clean, there’s a copper band on the outside that can tarnish if you’re not dutiful about cleaning it. You can be lazy about this without affecting how well your cookware cooks, but then you can’t be proud of how beautiful your set looks.

Here are the options available for purchase 

10 Piece Set

2 frying pans (8″ and 10″)
2 and 3-quart saucepans & lids
A Large 8-quart stock pot & lid
3 quart sauté pan & Lid
Induction Ready Cookware
Check Price & Availability

7 Piece Set 

10” Frying pan
2-quart saucepan with lid
3-quart sauté pan with lid
8-quart stock pot with lid
Check Price & Availability

14 Piece Set 

10” & 12” Skillets
2 & 3-quart saucepans with lids
8-quart stock pot with lid
3 & 6-quart sauté pans with lids
4-quart chef pan with lid

All-Clad Copper Core Canada

If you are about to purchase one but are wondering what is a great substitute for waterless cookware available in Canada, this All-Clad Copper Core Canada is definitely for you. I already mentioned the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this product. Now, let’s talk about what’s really important which is, “How much do I need to spend to make this cookware mine?”

Here is the Breakdown – All-Clad Copper Core Canada

10 Piece Set – CDN$ 1,212.87 & FREE Shipping

• 8″ and 10″ skillets
• 2 quart/1.9 litre
• 3 quart/2.8 litre saucepans with lids
• 3 quart/2.8 litre sauté pan with lid
• 8 quart/7.6 litre stock pot with lid

Check Availability and other price ranges here

7 Piece Set – CDN$ 847.81 & FREE Shipping

• 10” Frying pan
• 2-quart saucepan with lid
  
• 3-quart sauté pan with lid
• 8-quart stock pot with lid
  

Check Availability and other price ranges here

14 Piece Set – CDN$ 2,299.99 + FREE SHIPPING.

• 10” & 12” Skillets
  
• 2 & 3-quart saucepans with lids
  
• 8-quart stock pot with lid 
  
• 3 & 6-quart sauté pans with lids
  
• 4-quart chef pan with lid

Check Availability and other price ranges here

So does the All-clad copper core qualifies as a waterless cookware? I had a hard time answering this question and I don’t want you to go through the same. That’s why I decided to do the All-Clad Copper Core review. It is actually not a waterless cookware but it is so close that you might not be able to tell the difference. All-Clad is a household name for cookware and they are very good at what they do, I must say. In this All-Clad Copper Core cookware review, I hope to tell you what the product is all about and then give you my own suggestion on whether it’s a good investment or not. It’s all to make your choice making process easier. First, let’s establish the difference between the regular waterless cookware such as Maxam and Saladmaster and this cookware.

What’s the Difference between All-Clad and Waterless Cookware? – All-Clad Copper Core Review

Metal Used Not Highest Metal Such As Titanium As In Waterless Cookware.

If you know a thing about waterless cookware, you’d notice that Maxam uses T304 and Saladmaster uses 316Ti, all different grades of surgical stainless steel while All-Clad uses Copper. Surgical stainless steel is rated as the highest quality of stainless steel. What gives it an edge over All-Clad with its copper core is its healthy cooking advantage. Cooking with a waterless cookware is considered to be much safer than using the copper core cookware, all this is based on the manufacturer’s guide.

No Cover Sealing Feature like Maxam & Saladmaster

Some customers who have used both products would tell you a slightly different version. You can use the waterless cooking technique in a cookware as high quality as All-Clad. The only difference is that most waterless cookware products have an airtight sealing device installed on the cover that makes the cookware extremely tight. These features allow you to cook with very little water and heat, keeping most of the nutrients inside the pot.  The all-clad copper core has its own advantages as you will see soon, however, it does not have this sealing feature compared to Saladmaster or Maxam.

As you may already know if you are familiar with the waterless cooking style; that many of the waterless cookware features enable you to have tastier meals while minimizing the additional stress you might have while using stainless steel pots like the All-Clad copper cookware. The thick core allows for even distribution of heat. It uses low moisture, low heat to cook healthy meals and they are pretty fast too. Also, they are both on the high side in terms of cost. If you had to choose, I don’t see any harm in going for All-Clad. They are just as healthy to me and they have lots of good recommendations as well. Let’s move on to our All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Review. Other than that, All-Clad competes well with waterless cookware. 

Conclusion – All-Clad Copper Core Review

I’m glad I was able to do the All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Review. It’s exciting to know that there is a product just as good as waterless cookware. If you are willing to pay All-Clad Copper Core prices, that’d be great. However, there is also an option of buying waterless cookware as good as Maxam Cookware as it is way cheaper. Waterless Cookware eliminates some of the drawbacks that All-Clad has. If in doubt read my All-Clad vs Saladmaster article here. Or if you really want a copper core cookware then, by all means, go for it.