All-Clad 700508 Master Chef 2 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Cookware Set, 10-Piece, Silver

CUSTOMER REVIEW



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 line- just 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 darkened- Some 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.