Buy these aluminum skillets with confidence.
We've been hesitant to spend good money on new aluminum pans, especially online, worried about weight and quality. However, our old nonstick pans simply had to be replaced. America's Test Kitchen recommended the All-Clad stainless skillet for best overall features, but my husband's inexperience in the kitchen demanded nonstick. All-Clad's price for this set is actually doable (even competitive), so we went for it. Best. Decision. Possible.We love these pans. They are nice and hefty, which allows for even heat distribution and less burning. They make perfect grilled cheese sandwiches with a uniform, crusty outside and melty goodness inside (fantastic temperature control), and cleanup's a snap, even with cheese spilling off the bread and all over the skillet surface. We were so happy with our choice, we went ahead and replaced our four-quart stock pot with an All-Clad of the same series.A couple of notes: All-Clad's ads boast their "made in USA" status, but that only applies to their all- stainless products. The box for these aluminum, steel-bottom pans state clearly "designed in the US, made in China." This made us hesitant, but the quality couldn't be better. The box also assures the consumer they adhere to all US safety and health standards.Next: a reviewer or two have complained about the uncomfortable handles. My husband agrees 100%. 'Vicious' is the word he uses. We did purchase All-Clad's silicone handle cover set, which sleeve is too loose for our pans. Not a big help. We're going to try a different brand. However, we do like that the handles are metal and so won't burn (an issue with my inexperienced husband). All things considered, we'll deal with the wonky handles because the pans themselves are so great.Finally, we have a gas range, so we don't know how these pans will work on conduction or glass stove tops. They're perfect for gas, though.One more thought: we only use wood utensils, and hand-wash (no dishwasher). We want these pans to last as long as possible. Since cleanup is such a breeze, this isn't an issue. To prevent scratches, we also don't stack them in the cupboard without surface protection between, such as a dishtowel or washcloth (or, you can spring for pricey inserts made for the purpose). Protecting our investment/ making it last longer is a no-brainer.