All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 10-Piece Cookware Set, Chef Review

Great meals begin with quality ingredients, but the vessels you cook them in are no less important to a perfect outcome. The more time I spent working in other people’s homes as a private chef, the better I understood the value of high-end cookware. I’ve used scads of different quality cookware brands throughout the mansions I’ve cooked in, and when I set out to upgrade my own cookware from a decent-but-basic Cuisinart set to something more swanky years ago, I had no doubts: All-Clad was my favorite brand. After trying out their stainless steel cookware line, and that of so many others, All-Clad’s quick heating, lack of hot spots, snug-fitting lids, and ability to stand up to high searing temps had me sold. 

I wanted a set that would be comprehensive enough to not leave me needing additional pots, pans, or lids, beyond the specialty pieces I was fine to purchase separately, like a nonstick egg pan and a ceramic Dutch oven. This 10-piece stainless steel set has everything that you need for both individual and family usage, to equip you from a single serving of salmon to a big batch of bolognese. 

I ordered the set on Amazon during a sale, when it was discounted a couple hundred dollars off its regular price, and I’ve used it regularly — and contentedly — ever since. 

Maximum Temperature: 600°F | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Includes: 8.5-inch skillet, 10.5-inch skillet, 1.5-quart saucepan, 3-quart saucepan, 3-quart sauté pan, 6-quart stockpot, 4 lids

How I Use All-Clad’s 10-Piece Stainless Cookware Set

I’ve used the All-Clad D3 10-Piece Stainless Steel set on a near-daily basis for several years, and for a wide array of culinary work, both cooking for myself and as a private chef. I use the smaller saute pan for individual items like a single piece of protein, and I love the way I’m able to heat it quickly to sear but then turn the temp down a good bit since it holds heat so nicely. The larger pan works well for two to three servings of a protein or a single-serving skillet meal. I’m a fan of making chicken piccata in it for its ample surface area and how easily it transitions from browning to simmering. 

I love the set’s wide, shallow pot for braises like Coq Au Vin or a tagine-style, chermoula-marinated Moroccan stew. The medium sauce pot is perfect for crafting a batch of marinara, making several servings of soup, or cooking enough grains for meal prepping, and the small sauce pot is ideal for single servings of leftovers or making a single portion of soup. I use the large pot for jumbo batches of sauces, to make stocks, and for holiday meals. The shape of it, being wider than it is tall, means less painful arm lifting to reach over the top, which I appreciate. 

The lids for the pots have a slightly higher-than-average handle. That means it takes some extra time for them to get too hot to touch, and they also have an elegant appearance. That said, you’ll still want to have a pot holder on hand, as the lids are entirely made of metal. I appreciate how snugly they fit onto the pots and how steam doesn’t tend to escape much through them.

What I Love About All-Clad’s 10-Piece Stainless Cookware Set

These durable pots and pans are composed of three layers, with a bonded aluminum core encased in stainless steel both above and below it. That three-layer construction is how they manage to provide such even heating, with the bonus of not cooking directly in aluminum. You can sear proteins and vegetables to just shy of burnt without risking damage — just wash the pot or pan out afterward and scrub it down briefly with Bar Keepers Friend, which will return it to its earlier glory. 

The stainless steel components are suitable for all heating elements, including induction, and the longevity of these pieces is fabulous, which is what makes them so widely used amongst culinary professionals. Provided you take care of it, a decade-old stainless steel All-Clad pan is indistinguishable from a new one. I’ve consulted for restaurants that use All-Clad in their kitchens and am always amazed at how well they hold up to even the roughest of usage, for years on end. 

The Caveats

You’ll want to avoid the dishwasher with this set; handwashing is typically recommended for All-Clad’s cookware, and the extra labor will help ensure its longevity. Also, Bar Keepers Friend will, indeed, be your friend! This stainless steel set will otherwise tarnish and brown, especially if you do a lot of medium-high to high-temperature usage. The aforementioned cleaning agent will return it to sparkly new with just the lightest of scrubbing; I’ve thought a pan was nearly ruined and it came back to life after a scouring with it. 

To prevent sticking, you need to preheat the pots and pans substantially, unless you have a large liquid component going in them. Don’t try to cook a protein without a hot sear, unless you’re braising it, or it will stick. And while these are far from the heaviest stainless pots and pans, they’re also definitely not the lightest. If you need very lightweight cookware, then these won’t be a fit.

Tips and Tricks

• Wash this set by hand to keep it in pristine condition for years to come.
• Dry the lids with a soft cloth so they don’t accumulate water spots or scratches.
• Use Bar Keepers Friend or a similar scouring agent after washing to remove any discoloration.
• Preheat the pots and pans thoroughly to prevent sticking.
• Always allow the cookware to cool before immersing it in water.

How It Compares

All-Clad vs. Le Creuset

All-Clad is often compared to Le Creuset because both brands are notorious for their longevity. I love the Le Creuset brand, and I use their Dutch oven regularly. However, having used a Le Creuset cookware set in client homes, it’s not something I would purchase over this stainless steel All-Clad set. The weight of the Le Creuset isn’t feasible for daily use, especially if you have any distance between the sink and the stove. Additionally, the time it takes to heat a pot or pan from Le Creuset is more similar to cooking with cast iron, and it can add extra minutes to your overall cooking time. By comparison, the All-Clad D3 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set is much more convenient and suited to heavy everyday use.

Pricing

Because All-Clad cookware is on the higher end of the pricing scale, it isn’t affordable for everyone. And if this set isn’t quite in your price range, I consider Cuisinart cookware to be a solid choice for a more budget-friendly option. Made In is also a popular choice if you’re looking for high-quality and attractive cookware that’s somewhere in the middle.

Longevity and Warranty

All-Clad offers a lifetime warranty, so they stand behind the quality of their pieces. Plus, this set is safe for use up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. It can stand up to everyday use, and with the proper care, you’ll get years and years out of these pieces. These qualities alone justify the price tag since they will more than pay for themselves over years of continued use. Overall, it’s better to invest in a quality cookware set like this one rather than repeatedly replacing ones that are more cheaply made every couple of years.

The Verdict

The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 10-Piece Cookware Set is worth the investment. And if you ever need more pots or pans than the ones this set includes, I’d recommend buying individual add-ons. When clients and friends ask me what cookware to buy, this is the set I always recommend, so it’s safe to say I’m a loyalist! The only thing I’d change is eventually swapping up for the 14-piece set. And if I did that, I would gift my well-loved 10-piece set to someone new in turn as these pots and pans really don’t wear out easily. Having tested and used cookware from numerous brands during my time as a chef, I found my home in All-Clad. The consistency of the results can’t be beat, and there is little more important to me than that.