In this in-depth review of Cuisinart cookware, I reveal its pros, cons, and everything you need to know. This standard-sized roaster is ideal for all types of foods– from meat & poultry to meals for a crowd. OVAL ROASTER PAN – This standard-sized roaster is ideal for all types of foods– from meat and poultry to meals for a crowd. Looking to outfit the rest of your prep space with high-quality kitchen equipment?
The assortment of odd-sized pans in the set and the absence of a 12-inch skillet somewhat disappointed our testers, and the pans are on the heavy side, with a lighter feeling handle. This combination did feel unbalanced, but the cookware still rated high regarding design. These lightweight pans scored well in performance, but our testers don’t recommend using them in the oven because of the handles and the low overall safe temperature rating of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lids are made from stainless steel so you can’t see what’s cooking, but they’re unbreakable and you can use them in the oven along with the pots. The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set was selected as the overall winner. Our tester loved its durable tri-ply stainless steel construction, even heating, heat retention, and compatibility with all cooktops.
This cookware set was one of the only ones that became spotlessly clean after washing—even when coated with burned-on oil. And although this set is much more expensive than our main pick, we think it’s worth the extra cost for its durability and proven longevity. The knowledgeable team at Sur La Table is always available to help you determine which cookware set best cuisinart griddler elite suits your needs. While some brands are costlier than others, most have different tiers within their catalogs to suit a wide range of budgets and cooking experience levels. If nonstick is a nonstarter for you, we’d recommend the Calphalon set, which is made from hard-anodized aluminum to resist corrosion and warping, as well as a durable two-layer nonstick interior.
Naturally, the company has also added cookware to its offerings, with affordable stainless steel pieces and complete sets made with the same lasting quality as the KitchenAid mixers. Founded in 1963, Calphalon is most famous for creating hard-anodized aluminum cookware that quickly became a favorite of professional chefs and at-home gourmet cooks. In our Lab, the pans offered fairly even heating and browning for seared scallops, and though we didn’t find any hot spots, there was some discernible variance in temperature across the pan. The stainless steel pan did not perform as well for cooking eggs—there was quite a bit of sticking—so you’re better off tapping the included nonstick skillet for this type of task.
This set is dishwasher safe, oven safe up to 500 F, can be used on any cooktop, and feature glass lids. The Pro Series also features a three-layer, disc-clad cuisinart griddler elite base for fast and even heating across the cooking surface. The base materials are the same, with an aluminum core surrounded by stainless steel.
The new pans are also about an ounce heavier than the older versions, but the slight weight difference wasn’t discernible in our tests. The 10-inch skillet still browned chicken the same as the older model, too. Whether you’re a beginner cook learning to make simple recipes or a professional chef working on complex cuisines, a set of stainless steel cookware is a great addition to your kitchen. While many cooks prefer to have non-stick pans or cast iron as their cookware of choice, there are definite benefits to going the stainless steel route.
We tried to cut through all of that confusion by testing the best version of each cookware set that we could find across multiple retailers. Stick handles that provide an easy grip and a comfortable angle allow you to quickly move saucepans around the stovetop using only one hand. So we dismissed sets with small or medium saucepans that had two side handles.
This set also comes with two nonstick skillets, but we’d recommend getting a nonstick pan separately. But maintaining the cooking surface requires more upkeep, and it’s prone to rusting if not properly seasoned. When we prepared caramel, the dissolved sugar bubbled uniformly across the bottom of the All-Clad 3-quart saucepan; this cuisinart soup maker wasn’t the case with saucepans in the other sets we tested. Also, because the All-Clad saucepan distributed heat so well, our testers didn’t have to swirl the sugar in the pan as frequently as they did in the other saucepans. While simmering tomato sauce, there was no scorching in the stockpot, even with minimal stirring.
But, I do think it makes sense to skip those two and go straight to Multiclad Pro. Fully clad cookware is the way to go for durability, looks, and the best cooking performance. This is an option that you won’t quickly outgrow and is definitely worth the slightly higher price tag. Chef’s Classic is one of the least expensive options that you’ll find. Stainless steel is one of my favorite cookware materials because it’s durable, versatile, and can be used on any cooking surface.