Kitchen Aid Cookware: All-Clad Stainless-Steel Braiser Review

I have several all clad pans and they are all nicely built and work great, including this one.I am giving this pan only 3 stars mainly because I don't think the design is very good.I see several people have left good reviews but for the life of me I find very little reason to ever us this pan.

I should premise that I bought this pan to replace an old revere type skillet my wife has had forever.I use this old pan all the time.It is 12" diameter at the top and has rounded sides (rather than splayed)like the new all clad french skillets.OK, back to this pan, so I splurge for it.Upon 1st inspection, the bottom surface area on this 13" braiser is the exact same as my old 12" cheap skillet.In other words, the sides on this thing are splayedso dramatically that you're losing an entire inch of surface area on the bottom of the pan.OK, wells that's good for frying I guess but I never fry with this, the sides are low and grease gets everywhere and I don't feel like screwing around with a splatter screen every time I want to brown 6 chicken thighs.

If I want to brown and then braise 6-8 pieces of chicken, or beef for a french stew, I always end up using my le creuset dutch oven.If I poach salmon I always grab the cheap 12" skillet.If I make risotto I use the cheap skillet.If I make any type of pasta sauce and then finish with the pasta in the pan I use the cheap skillet since the sides are a smidge higher.For me, the only actual regular use this pan gets is as a glorified roaster for a whole chicken, something I do 5-10 times a year.

I don't want to make is sound like I have a personal vendetta against this pan, but I'm just not impressed with the design and I would not buy it again.You get a small cooking surface area with a large storage space requirement.Ask yourself what you are going to use it for.You can get a decent roasting pan for $40.(who cares if it's tri-ply when you're roasting, if you need to make gravy afterwards just pour the juices in a saucier or saucepan)IMO, the new all clad french skillet design is nicer.I bought my 13" braiser before they were on the market so I didn't have that option to consider, but I probably would've gone that route.Too bad they didn't make a 12" french skillet, until someone does, I'll still be using my old one.

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Product Description:
The 13" Braiser is unavailable from All-Clad.The expected availability date is April 12, 2010

The 13"-diameter braiser is terrific for pot roast or osso bucco. The 10"-diameter size is great for bean dishes and braised vegetables. Designed for slow cooking in a small amount of liquid, it has a wide, flat bottom for quick browning, sloped sides to concentrate the cooking liquid, and a domed lid to capture flavor and nutrients. With low-profile, space-efficient loop handles, this beautiful pan can go from stovetop to oven to table.

All-Clad's leading cookware line is brilliantly styled with a hand-polished gleaming stainless-steel finish that many of the world's professional and home chefs prefer. The 18/10 stainless-steel interior will not react with your food, leaving the pure taste you desire. Dishwasher-safe.

Product Features
- 3-ply bonded construction for a lifetime of use
- Mirror-finished magnetic stainless-steel exterior is hand-polished to a lustrous shine
- Pure aluminum core covers bottom of the pan and extends up the sides for greater heat conductivity
- Easy-to-clean 18/10 stainless-steel interior helps prevent foods from sticking
- Stainless-steel interior will not react with foods
- Cookware maintains even heat distribution that prevents "hot spots" when cooking
- Signature stay-cool handles are cast from solid stainless-steel and designed for ergonomic comfort
- Handles, rivets and lids are polished stainless-steel creating a striking impression
- High-strength, non-corrosive stainless-steel rivets keep handles permanently secure, making cooking safer
- Suited for all stovetops including electric, gas, ceramic, induction and halogen
- Bonded cookware handcrafted in the U.S.A., lids and components manufactured overseas.

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