Wish I could have returned these asap, but husband always wanted all clad set of pots/pans. Only 2 good things about these-they heat quickly and evenly, and they are pretty. Bad-They are EXTREMELY heavy for their size, their pot/saucepan handles are SUPER Unergonomic; narrow and set at weird angles, require hot pads to lift/remove lids when they are hot because handles are metal. Handles look like they were designed 100 years ago before nice big grippy handles were invented. The shape of the lid is flat/recessed, so if you have food that will cook down ie vegetables, you need a bigger (more $$) pot or pan. My old set had domed lids so you never had to worry about putting the lid on. And all the pans are a good inch smaller in diameter than my old set, AND are about ½ to 1 inch shorter depending on the pot/pan. When the holidays come, these are going in garage and old set is coming back out because there’s NO WAY my arthritic hands will be able to handle them full of food.

Besides the confusing nomenclature for existing owners wanting to expand their classic All-Clad sets, the d3 series cookware matches the quality and properties of the previous (and for some specialty cookware - current) all clad stainless mirror finish products. Though more affordable than the d5, the d3 set heats up faster and is a better option for regular use. The mirrored d5 and d3 series match each other aesthetically, with the d5 being heavier and and retaining heat for longer. It is said that the d5 series cooks more evenly. In practice, the d3 line does a very good job of evenly cooking, and if I weren’t pleased with the performance of the d3, I would look to the copper line rather than adding more bulk to the cookware.

If you are matching older anodized, copper, or brushed stainless cookware, you might want to consider ha1, d5 brushed or copper sets, respectively. Of those lines, the HA1 line doesn’t appear to have the same quality or manufacturing as previous anodized models, which led me to donate my older limited cookware for a unified mirror stainless look. There is anecdotal evidence that big box retailer’s collections of d3 are not up to snuff, but buying directly from All-Clad.com seemed to present better pricing and decent free shipping options.

This set focuses on pots, which is great if your are adding to a collection. There are few pot-based sets available in stores, probably because pans are cheaper and retailers want to WOW you with the number of pieces rather than what pieces you are getting. I didn’t need another set that came with 4 fry pans… I don’t even need 4 fry pans. You may find that this 7 piece set along with a pan set match your price points and needs better than a large single set.

Besides this set and what I’ve donated, I own the d3 1 qt pot, 8 inch fry pan, and 8 qt pasta cooker, and some older mirrored stainless 10 in frypans. The lids on the d3 are thin and heat up, sometimes requiring a pot holder to open, but the cookware itself is all flawless. My favorite pan that is t included in this 7 piece set is the 8” fry pan, which, once seasoned and with additional butter during cooking, makes perfect omelets (it along with the 1 qt pot play with scale and looks great on the pot rack). I also use the pasta cooker (not included in this set) more than the 6 qt pot because of the strainer. This pot seems to be part of the stainless mirror line, which matches but isn’t part of the d3 line. I did notice the pots developing a rainbow hue after their first uses, but vinegar (or simply cooking a sauce that includes vinegar) cleared them up. It’s possible these needed to be washed better before initial use as the problem has not returned.

At the price I paid, this set was an unbeatable deal.

I didn't unpack and start using this cookware until the new range arrived. Being an induction cooktop, some of my current cookware had to be replaced. Yesterday was the first day the new ones were in use, so this review could be repeated again in 6 months to be fair. But even yesterday, using saucepans, I can feel the quality of them. They are a good weight without being too heavy, the pot handles do not conduct heat. The lids do, of course. So keep that in mind. They clean easily, and with an induction cooktop, cooking goes much faster, and the cookware is the best choice for me, after researching for nearly 2 weeks. And Windsor is just down the road should I be ordering more. The day I ordered these, the sales representative could not have been more helpful. No rushing. Questions answered. Thank you All-Clad. (I cannot remember how old my current cookware is, and it did me well, but All-Clad is better quality)

Amazing pan, but bottom scratches super easy. I’ve been cooking on All-Clad for decades. They’re amazing pots and pans. My only complaint is that the bottom scratches super easy. On my first cook I made steaks. While basting I tilted the pan, as one does, which instantly made the shiny new pan completely scratched up on the bottom. Instructions say not to move or scoot the pan while cooking. I don’t know too many cooks that doesn’t move a pan during cooking on a cooking grate. Bottoms scratch over time, but it was sad to see it happen so quickly.

However, if you can get over that I’m sure these pans will last an extremely long time.

The pic is after my first cook.