Cheap All-Clad Master Chef 2 Aluminum and 18/10 Stainless Steel Cookware

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $799.99
Sale Price: $499.77
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

Bottom-Line: If you are ready to step up to real no-nonsense cookware, make it All-Clad MC2 Cookware.

I do most of the cooking in my household. I enjoy cooking, it relaxes me and I like to experiment with different ingredients, spices and dishes. Sometimes my dishes turn out the way they were supposed to, sometimes not. Heretofore, I have used a Calphalon Nonstick Cookware Set, but its pieces have started to scratch and peel, much to my chagrin.

So I started looking for a set to grace my kitchen. I decided this time to pay real coin for a long lasting (American made) cookware set so I started casting around for a stainless steel set and decide upon All-Clad, namely the "MC2 Master Chef (2) 10-Piece Cookware Set," which I purchased from MetroKitchen for a tidy sum.

About the Cookware

All-Clad Metalcrafters, I learned during my research, is an American cookware company based in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The "MC2 Master Chef (2) 10-Piece Cookware Set" is made of a brushed aluminum exterior and stainless steel interior finish; non-stick need not apply!

The Set

Be forewarned, this is expensive cookware. My set cost $574.95 and that was on sale. The set consists of the following:

(1) 8" Fry Pan

(1) 10" Fry Pan

(1) 2-quart Saucier w/Lid

(1) 3 1/2-quart sauce pan w/Lid

(1) 3-quart Sauté pan w/Lid

(1) 8-quart Stock Pot w/Lid

(1) 5.5-quart Cast Aluminum Dutch Oven (free gift)

The set is designed with stay-cool handles for easy maneuvering. I have found that while the handles stay much cooler then other cookware I have used, if the pot has been cooking for a while the handle will get semi warm which might prove uncomfortable for some.

The lids are made of stainless steel and surprise, surprise; the medal handle does get hot even after extended cooking and or simmering.

The pots and pans come with a lifetime warranty, but there is an extensive list of do's and don'ts that must be honored to keep the warranty in effect. The biggest has to do with the dishwasher: do not put them in there or the warranty is voided.

Another big no-no is non-stick cooking stray, it leave a film which over time can affect the way the pots, pans, and skillets cook. Now I use light olive oil--just enough to cover the bottom of the pan, especially when it comes to browning and searing meats. And I have found that I get much better results, then with cooking sprays.

My Viewpoint

My new "MC2 Master Chef (2) 10-Piece Cookware Set" is about what I expected: very nice! The 10-piece set is, hands down, without a doubt the best set of cookware I have ever owned. Yes there was an initial period of adjustment when I had to gauge the best gas settings to use with which foods, but that is true of any cookware. I am now used to the way the cookware, well cooks, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Inside the packaging there are helpful hints so that you can get the most out of the cookware; I highly recommend reading it closely.

Calphalon has a fan for life before it cookware started to unravel, peel, and scratch! Now I have moved on to what I hope is a much better set that will last much, much, longer. If you are ready to step up to real no-nonsense cookware, make it "All-Clad MC2 Master Chef (2)." Yes, it's expensive, but the best things in life never come without a price, in this case a hefty one. This is one I am willing to pay. Now that I have turned to "All-Clad MC2 Master Chef (2)" hopefully I will never have to go back.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Best Cookware ever. will never go back to nonstick. Must use low to Med. Heat. Spray pans before with cooking spray before heating.

Best Deals for All-Clad Master Chef 2 Aluminum and 18/10 Stainless Steel Cookware

These are great pans; however, I exchanged them for the All-clad stainless. The only reason is that I can put the stainless cookware in the dishwasher (even though it says handwash). The MC2 set is handwash ONLY. The quality of the MC2 set is superb.

Honest reviews on All-Clad Master Chef 2 Aluminum and 18/10 Stainless Steel Cookware

I've had this cookware for about 3 years now and love it! It heats fast and evenly, is well made, and very attractive. This line is well constructed and if properly cared for the pans should last forever. I have all three skillet sizes (8", 10", and 12"), two saute pans (3 qt., and 6 qt.), two saucepans (1.5 qt. and 3.5 qt.), and the 6 qt. stock pot. I started with a 7-piece set from Amazon and have since added pieces here and there either when they're on sale or I have some extra cash. Bed Bath & Beyond is a great place to pick up open stock pieces (20% off coupons!), so are Amazon and Cookwarenmore.com (which has "irregular" pieces with minor cosmetic imperfections at deep discounts). I would like to round out the set with the other two saucepan sizes (1 qt. and 2 qt.) and the larger stock pot (8 qt.) to have a complete set to last me the rest of my life.

I used to have a non-stick collection from Costco that I wanted to phase out due to health concerns regarding the teflon coating. It just didn't seem right or natural, and ingesting any teflon flakes that scraped off made me nervous. The interior cooking surface of the MC2 line is the exact same stainless steel surface that all All-Clad lines have. It's bulletproof and cooks amazingly. I haven't had any sticking problems with the MC2 linejust remember to pre-heat the pan for a minute or so before you add any oil or food. I don't have any non-stick pieces, so I can't speak to those.

This set has an outer layer of brushed aluminum alloy instead of the shiny stainless steel that other All-Clad lines have. This gives it a cool industrial look that the inevitable scratches look more at home on. It also gives the cookware a bigger overall mass of aluminum that should transfer heat faster and better than the stainless exterior pans. The downsides to this exterior are that its not recommended for the dishwasher and that it is NOT induction cooktop compatible. I would hand wash regardless and prefer gas, so these aren't issues for me, but they might be for you.

The set cleans up easily (use some Bar Keeper's Friend for stubborn spots). I put a piece in the dishwasher once and the exterior oxidized and darkenedSome BKF and elbow grease had it looking new again in no time. I would stick with All-Clad's recommendation of hand washing.

The long stay cool handles do stay cool while cooking and you won't need a kitchen towel or pot holder for these. If you grab close to the base of the handle, it's going to be hot though. The short helper handles and lid handles do, however, get hot while cooking. This isn't a design flaw, it's just how they are, but they will require a pot holder or towel to grab while cooking.

I think this is the best value in the All-Clad line as it's the least expensive, cooks better than the more expensive stainless line (due to the higher Aluminum content) and has a cool commercial look. The only downsides to the MC2 line are it's not induction compatible and the line isn't as extensive as the more mainstream stainless line. For me the cost savings, thermal superiority, and commercial look outweigh these drawbacks. You won't go wrong with any piece of All-Clad, MC2 or otherwise.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for All-Clad Master Chef 2 Aluminum and 18/10 Stainless Steel Cookware

arrived on time and the appearance and quality was truly outstanding. the recipient of the set kept saying "wow" lookat this!!