My Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12 Piece Cookware Set Review
Since there was no way I was going to risk letting her down, I really threw myself into researching the best cookware sets on the market, and I came up with a real winner, the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12 piece cookware set.
What’s So Great About the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Set?
In short, it has all of the basics (and the beyond the basics) that a good set of stainless steel cookware should have. From solid construction to practical touches that you’ll be thrilled with while you’re actually cooking, to a beautiful finish that you’ll love to show off and a price that simply can’t be beat, this is one set of cookware that you’ll be thrilled that you bought for years to come.
What’s on the Inside?
Cuisinart Multiclad Pro stainless cookware is made from 18/10 stainless steel with a solid aluminum core. Basically, that means that the aluminum is sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. And it’s not just the bottom with the aluminum core; it runs all the way up the sides, which means that your food will get evenly cooked and you won’t have any hot spots to get burned on.
Whenever you’re buying stainless cookware, having either a copper or aluminum core is a must. Stainless steel is not a great heat transmitter, but aluminum is. However, aluminum cookware is not a great option, as it is soft and dents easily. This set gives you the best of each, the quick heating power of the aluminum, and the strength and toughness of the stainless steel.
The fact that it’s 18/10 is also important. Stainless steel is actually made up of two different metals, chromium and nickel. All stainless steel has 18 percent chromium, but the amount of nickel is either 8 or 10 percent. The higher the number, the stronger it will be, and the better it will live up to its name and actually be “stainless”. So if you want your cookware to stay shiny and unscratched, you’ll opt for 18/10, which is how the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro 12 piece set comes.
What About the Outside?
This is a really beautiful looking set, and it’s easy to keep clean. Barkeepers Friend comes highly recommended for those who want to polish it and bring out the best shine, but even without special treatment it’s a truly handsome set.
While there is a brushed finish on the outside of the cookware, and the inside is mirror-polished, so that your food slides out easily. One of the best things about this set is that it’s non-stick without the unhealthy chemicals that you usually find on non-stick cookware. If you are cooking some particularly sticky food, a quick spray of Pam should more than do the job.
Ergonomic handles!
Handles are a pretty important part of pots, pans, and skillets, but they’re something that not everyone pays attention to. The handles on the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro cookware are a dream to hold.
They have smooth edges all around, a gently curved underside that fits in the palm of your hand just right, and they even have an indentation that you’ll find is perfect for your thumb when you’re moving the pots on and off of the stove. The handles are also solid cast stainless, and they take a really long time to get warm, so you won’t have to use a potholder to take them off of the stove, although, as with any metal, if you leave them there long enough they will start to get warm.
Perfect-for-Pouring Rims
The rims are also something really special. Most cookware comes with perfectly straight rims, which can lead to drips and mess when you’re pouring the food out. Cuisinart offers something different — smooth, slightly rounded rims that facilitate drip free pouring.
Lids a Real Chef Appreciates
The lids were also designed with some extra thought. First of all, they are interchangeable, and can fit the skillets and frying pans. That’s really great if you want to make a grilled cheese sandwich, or if you just want to keep your eggs warm till you’re ready to sit down at the table.
The lids are tight fitting, but at the same time they don’t make a perfect seal, which means that you have better kitchen safety. You don’t run the risk of having something explode for lack of breathing room, since just the right amount of steam will be able to vent. And since metal changes shape slightly when it gets hot, the lids are made to fit just right when you’re actually cooking.
Perfect Balance
One common problem with cookware — and particularly with skillets and pans — is that they have a tendency to tip over, especially if you have a spoon inside the pot or resting on the base of the handle. But that’s not something you have to worry about with this set.
The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel cookware set is designed so that the pans are just slightly bottom heavy, giving them extra balance, but not overly so that they are very heavy with food in them. They are just the right weight so that they will sit firmly on the stovetop, but allow you easy, graceful movement for flipping pancakes, tossing onions, and the like.
Yes, They Are Oven Safe!
One thing I love is cutting down on dirty dishes (who doesn’t?), so being able to put these pans straight into the oven without having to transfer to baking pan is a real boon. They are safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the pans are actually safe for broiler use as well.
And Induction Safe…
If you have an induction stove top, you’ve probably found that many of the cookware sets you might be interested in won’t work for you. But this set will!
…And Dishwasher Safe As Well!
You can put these in the dishwasher without having to worry. But one thing I will recommend is that you hand wash them whenever possible. that goes not just for this set, but for any stainless steel cookware set. It will just keep it’s beautiful finish for that much longer.
What’s in the Box?
You get all the essentials and then some.
The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro stainless steel 12pc cookware set includes:
- an 8 inch skillet
- a 10 inch skillet
- a 3.5 quart sauté pan
- a 1.5 quart saucepan
- a 3 quart saucepan
- an 8 quart stock pot,
- a steamer insert (which fits the 3 quart saucepan to a tee).
All the pieces aside from the skillets come with their own lids, which is nice, since you won’t find yourself in a position of not having enough lids to go around when you’re cooking multiple dishes at once. The lids for the larger saucepan and the sauté pan fit the skillets as well, so you can keep them covered if you’d like.
So Are There Any Cons?
It was actually really hard to find any negative Cuisinart Multiclad Pro reviews or complaints, since most people really seems to love this set and just rave about it. The only two cons that people mentioned were that the lid handles do get hot (as is the case with nearly all metal handles on pot lids), and that some people had some discoloration of the outside metal.
This discoloration really is not a problem as it can easily be removed, and it’s also not unique to this set. It’s something that will happen to any stainless steel set, and comes from using the cookware at very high temperatures, rather than the medium to low temperatures that it was designed for. Using Barkeeper’s Friend to polish the cookware will get rid of the stains quickly, so that’s an easy solution.
How About a Warranty?
The set is covered with a limited lifetime warranty, which covers defects in the workmanship or materials of the cookware. The warranty is limited to normal use (so if your kid ruins it in a science experiment that likely won’t be covered), and goes into effect from the date of purchase.
Where to Find the Best Price?
This set is so much less expensive than I expected it to be! First of all, buying in a set really does save you money. If you bought each piece individually it would come to about $400, but the manufacturer’s list price for the full 12 piece set is $299. Most online (and offline) stores sell it between $250 and $320, but I’ve found that Amazon consistently has it for less, and with free shipping, too.
One thing you should know though, is that this set is one of the most popular cookware sets on the market, and it sells out fast. While you’ll get the best deal on Amazon, it’s also often out of stock, so if you do find it in stock there at a great price, make sure to take advantage and buy your set quickly before it sells out and you have to wait longer, or spend more.
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