Kitchen Aid Cookware: Emeril Pro-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set Review

I'm just a guy who likes to cook. The Berndes teflon sauce pans that I've been using for years were starting to deteriorate, and I knew I wanted to replace them with a set of stainless steel clad cookware. As much as my ego wanted All Clad or Demeyere, I just couldn't justify the cost. After a lot of research and store trips, I decided on the Calphalon Tri-Ply set. Deciding to make one last attempt to kill any buyer's remorse, I made one more trip to Bed Bath and Beyond just to be sure. That's when I spotted the Emerilware Pro-Clad set (this is the fully-clad line, not the original line with the heavy disk welded to the bottom). I should say I'm not really a fan of Emeril -- he's just another TV personality to me. I rarely watch his shows, and I've never eaten in his restaurants. If anything, I'm the kind of person who would avoid celebrity endorsed products.

Enough with the caveats. I wasn't crazy about the handles on the Calphalon set. Too skinny and short for my hands. When I grabbed the Emerilware sauce pan, it was instantly very comfortable in my hand. The handle is much beefier than pretty much any other SS cookware I picked up. Performance-wise, the handles stay cool on the stovetop (I have a glasstop). Even the loop handles on the stockpot were cool enough to pick up and drain a pot of spaghetti. Love the handles. The pieces have a slight heft to them without being unwieldy. I have a couple of old monster fry pans, and these are very easy to manage in comparison. Good weight and balance. Also, liquids pour nicely off the rolled lip.

I've had no problem adjusting to SS after using teflon for a lot of years. I use olive oil or canola oil, and have had no problem with food sticking or burning. I love the saute pan for searing steaks, chicken, and pork chops, then throwing it into the hot oven to finish. Back on the stovetop (using a pot holder, duh), a little bit of chicken broth or wine deglazes the pan and makes a quick an easy sauce. I find that I use all of the pieces in the set on a regular basis. The steamer is useful as we prefer to steam our veggies. If you follow the instructions and keep an eye on the heat, these things clean up with absolutely no problem. Any residual discoloration or stubborn bits come right off with Barkeepers Friend.

I deducted one star for the following small gripes: I would have preferred SS lids instead of glass, even though I haven't run into any drawbacks with the glass. Next, the Pro-Clad line is somewhat limited compared to other brands. I picked up the largest (3 qt) saucepan to round out the set -- I would have preferred a 4 qt with an extra loop handle, but it' not offered. I'm hoping the manufacturer adds other choices to the line over time. It would be nice to have a matching saucier or wok, for instance. Lastly, I've noticed that the frying pan is warped very slightly, maybe 1/16", so that it rocks a little bit on the glasstop. I didn't notice if it came out of the box this way, or warped slightly from the heat of the stove. It doesn't seem to affect the performance anyway. All of the other pieces are perfectly flat on the bottom. I inspected all of the pieces for burrs, and found them all to be perfectly smooth.

In summary, my wife and I are really pleased with our purchase of the Emerilware Pro-Clad set. It works great and looks great. We expect them to give us many years of great food.

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Product Description:
Cook with confidence when using this reliable cookware set. Offering a variety of everyday essentials, the 10-piece collection consists of a 10-inch fry pan, a 1-1/2-quart covered sauce pan, a 2-1/2-quart covered sauce pan, a 3-quart covered saute pan, a 6-quart covered Dutch oven, and a steamer insert. The fry pan offers a wide base and gently curved sides for flipping food or sliding an omelet or grilled cheese sandwich easily from the pan to a plate; the saucepans come in handy for cooking breakfast oatmeal, heating up soup, or making homemade marinara sauce; and the deep-sided saute pan works well for one-dish meals--start by browning meats or sauteing onions, then add liquid and other ingredients to finish on the stovetop or in the oven. The set's Dutch oven can hold a heap of chili or vegetable soup or be used for boiling pasta, and the steamer insert fits securely in the pot for steam-cooking vegetables, seafood, and more.
Durably constructed, Emeril's Pro-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless line of cookware features a thick aluminum core bonded between two layers of stainless steel for fast, even heating and optimal cooking results. Oven-safe up to 550 degrees F, the cookware comes equipped with wide, ergonomically designed handles that offer a secure grip and come permanently attached with stainless-steel rivets and caps. Even more, a gently flared rim on the pans allow for easy drip-free pouring, and the included tempered-glass lids make it easy to check on cooking foods at a glance (oven-safe up to 350 degrees F). To clean, place in the dishwasher or wash by hand in hot soapy water and dry thoroughly. The cookware carries a limited lifetime warranty.
What's in the Box
10-inch fry pan
1-1/2-quart covered sauce pan
2-1/2-quart covered sauce pan
3-quart covered saute pan
6-quart covered Dutch oven
Steamer insert