Cooks Standard 5.5-Quart Multi-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Deep

Same quality as Le Creuset, better design than All-Clad!
This review is for: Cooks Standard Multi-Ply Clad Stainless-Steel​ 5-Quart 11-Inch Covered Deep Saute Pan.VALUE. I’ve been wanting a set of tri-ply stainless cookware and never understood the premium people were willing to pay for All-Clad. I was really glad to find this brand – I got the 10-piece set and this deep pan – it was cheaper at the time to buy it separately, than to buy the bigger set that includes it. The sets are a fantastic value, the separate items are a bit more pricey, though. I also ended up ordering the 13″ “wok” (chef’s pan with dome lid) – it might not be a true wok, but it’s a great risotto vessel!CONSTRUCTION/QUALITY. Anyway, these are so well made. And attention to detail is excellent – these are done by smart people. I also have a couple of tri-ply Le Creuset sauce pots and Cooks Standard is every bit as good, though I prefer Cooks Standard shapes of handles, design.DESIGN. Ergonomic handles. I never liked All-Clad skillet handles – skinny and painful. These pans have comfy handles. Every pan and pot in these sets has a FLARED RIM – very important for drip-free pouring. I won’t even buy stainless pots/pans without the feature anymore, regardless of the value. The finish is brilliant – I thought they were photo shopped until I received them 🙂 The interior is matte (brushed), which is also good. All the handles – pots, pans and lids (except the steamer basket lid) have the air-flow “stay cool” design – very helpful and they also look stylish. The rivets are all stainless, at least on the inside. Even some brand-name cookware have aluminum rivets, which are strong enough, but aluminum will eventually grey (oxidize).PERFORMANCE is excellent. To be sure, that’s just physics, it’s not like stainless steel is some proprietary material – laws of physics apply across all the brands given the same thickness/construction (these work better than the cheaper thin stainless with thick metal bottom). If your foods are sticking, then it’s your technique, not the cookware. But if you use proper technique, you can sear meats and even fry eggs with no sticking. Most other foods (vegetation) cooks without sticking even without regard to technique (but I still like to preheat). Yes, the technique is quite different from teflon/nonstick, but it’s worth it. I am not afraid of well-made nonstick cookware (i.e. anodized), but got tired of them wearing out after a couple of years. And you can’t put anodized into the dishwasher. Also, the multi-clad cookware is not terribly heavy – just slightly heavier than all-aluminum.CLEANUP. I told myself that I wouldn’t baby this set, so I wash them in the dishwasher just about every time – no issues, it stays brilliant. I haven’t needed it, but Barkeeper’s Friend will help with removing tougher stains, like if you overbake something in the oven. I once used it to restore an old copper-clad skillet and it removed all the gunk. Normally I just pour boiling water into them while still hot (as if deglazing) and scrape with wooden spatula or let it sit about 10 minutes for the extra tough stuff. After that EVERYTHING comes off.INDUCTION cooktops. Yes, it works.BOTTOM LINE: don’t buy into the hype of where it’s made geographically. These are fantastic on their own, but even better for the money.P.S. It looks like Cooks Standard also released “5 ply” cookware, but I don’t like their look (handles) as much as these. I have a “5-ply” Mauviel roasting pan, but I always thought that’s a gimmick – as long as you have a conductive sandwiched core, you’re good to go, regardless of how many layers.

Minor Lid Issue
I have used this pan several times each week for many months now. Depending on the dish I would say this cooks the main course for 1 person or 8 people, but really shines in the 2-6 servings range as it nicely fits several chicken breasts or pork chops.I recommend the pan wholeheartedly, but see the con listed below to understand a simple, fixable design flaw in the lid that may matter if you will take this pan to a potluck or otherwise let it cool a bit.Pros: -good heat distribution on the stove -floor and walls are identical for even heating in the oven -cleans easily, no food-catching notch under a rolled lip -lip shape leads liquid into pouring and prevents too much dripping -well shaped for tossing without food loss -large floor space prevents crowding -comfortable main handle and helper handle -retains is shape despite some inappropriate de-glazing with cold liquid -solid, riveted handles -Rivals pans that cost 3x this one and blows away many pans that are more than $100Con:The lid is air tight to the point that it will create a vacuum inside of the pan when the heat is removed. I took the pan from the stovetop to a neighbor’s house and the lid would not come off – it lifted the whole pan and contents instead. While there was a stove on hand to let me reheat the condensed, cooled liquid until the lid came off normally, I will be drilling a tiny (maybe 1/32 in) hole in the lid. You could also also prop the lid a little to the side or put a spacer like a paper clip on the lip before putting the lid on.

Decent purchase, sleek look
I love the look, perfect size, easy to clean finishes and ok height.The shiny finish has brought attention alot when I am washing it. The only reason that I can’t give it a five due to having a stainless steel 3ply cooper bottom, 4inch sides, 14 inch in diameter with a concave dome but this does not cost nowhere near it and that is great.

Nos se le ven las manchas de aceite cuando se calientas y en otros que tengo si. Buen material.

Exelente calidad

This pan is a great find. The weight is just right and the handles are comfortable. It cleans up well if you don’t abuse it and the cooking is very even. It may just make me convert to “stainless steel” because the quality of Cooks Standard is fabulous.