All clad cooking utensils... necessary?

Question

I'm doing my wedding registry and everyone is telling me to register for ALL all-clad...pots, pans, cooking utensils, etc. I love to cook and I love to bake, but are all-clad cooking utensils really necessary? I mean...measuring cups that are all-clad are $50!!

Answer

Hi, merecos:

 No, of *course* All-Clad utensils aren't necessary. I'm a cookware nerd and scholar, and I'm not sure ANY All-Clad pan or utensil is best-in-class, let alone indispensable.

 However... the name has become equated with good quality because it generally IS good quality. It would be difficult to go horribly wrong with anything bearing the name.

 There is also the weird, parallel universe of wedding registries to consider. All-Clad (non-coincidentally) is carried and stocked pretty much everywhere most people can register. So it's an easy, dependable, shorthand choice for your well-wishers. Contrast many of the best-in-class utensils, which you must *know about* and then seek out from sometimes obscure maker/sellers who don't keep registries.

 Only you can decide whether to blush at effectively asking friends and relatives to lay out, e.g, a Grant for a set of A-C measuring cups. On the one hand, it's exorbitant. OTOH, people want to get you something nice, and don't mind paying a little extra to get you what you want. And you're more likely to remember Uncle Jimmy gave you a slightly pricey set of All-Clad cups than a plastic set from the Dollar Store.

 I think you should ask for exactly what you want. If you shoot the moon, you may not get as much. The key for most couples starting out is to *know* what they want, and not be swayed by branding and rank retail consumerism.

 Congratulations, by the way!

Aloha,
Kaleo

Answer

Don't do it! Before you register make darned sure that you actually like All Clad cookware. Not everyone does. And you certainly don't need All Clad measuring cups and spoons. All Clad is good cookware, but it's not the only good cookware so be sure you handle it and are comfortable with it. My opinion, the All Clad utensils are way overpriced and really nothing special.

Answer

Hi merecos,

Presumably "everyone" knows you better than a few anonymous Chowhound commenters, so I wouldn't ignore what they are telling you. OTOH, you need to put things on the registry that you really want and intend to use: perhaps for the rest of your life. 

I've often given cooking enthusiasts this All Clad slotted spoon as a wedding present:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-professional-slotted-spoon/?pkey=e%7Call%2Bclad%2Bslotted%2Bspoon%7C2%7Cbest%7C4294967249%7C1%7C24%7C%252Fall-clad-slotted-spoon%252Fcooks-tools%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH

It's something that I wouldn't buy for myself (because of the cost) but would love someone give to me. I've gotten nice letters of appreciation back. Sure, you could get plastic measuring cups--and they might cost less than $5, but Uncle Fred might not want to be remembered for those.

All Clad may not be the answer for everything in your registry, but don't ask for anything that you won't treasure when someone gets it for you.

Ray

Answer

Unlike AC cookware, AC utensils/tools are not made in America, but instead in China, and I've found that it makes a difference. I had a set of 10 or 12 utensils, which seemed sturdy, but one of them broke, and AV wanted me to pay to send it to them to 'comsider' for warranty replacement, which would take weeks. So, in that situation, AC didn't provide good quality or service for me. I switched to Fissler utensils (which are also heirloom quality and price, and made in Germany); I've been quite happy with construction and design. Of course, it's harder to register for Fissler (they should be available on Amazon or maybe BBB, though.)

Answer

No.

Answer

No but do find a good set of stainless steel measuring cups and spoons, they go in the dishwasher and will probably last your lifetime.

Answer

No, not necessary. I do think that a stainless material is a good idea for those who use a dishwasher with a heating element. Also, two sets are pretty nice if you have the drawer space.

If you love to bake, ask for a digital scale to measure dry ingredients.

I have a few SS All-Clad pans. They are fine but I have a Zwilling Sensation skillet that I like much better for even heating and handling comfort. Definitely do some reading and go to a store and handle the cookware.

I don't know anyone IRL who knows much about cookware...even the few who love to cook. And, they don't have to. But, I wouldn't take their word on what tools I'd want in my kitchen. ;)

Answer

I received, as a freebie with an A/C purchase years ago, A/C tongs similar to this:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/5664545/?catalogId=13&sku=5664545&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=default&cm_ite=default&kwid=productads-adid^52929359623-device^c-plaid^110338006183-sku^5664545-adType^PLA&gclid=Cj0KEQjw9vi-BRCx1_GZgN7N4voBEiQAaACKVqbKWYYWGFUtS856bvoILkkFUYPq2gef5jNYrmQGQ5kaArnn8P8HAQ

They were useless. I have so many other tongs that are far superior, and were a lot cheaper.

So, I had considered just tossing them. Until I realized they could be used in my laundry room, retrieving the errant sock at the bottom of my deep capacity washing machine. Bingo, very expensive sock grabbers.

I prefer OXO for basic tools, and have other specialty tools as needed - usually hitting the resto supply warehouses for them.

IMO, save your registry for other things. Then you can run amok at the Bed, Bath & Beyond wall of kitchen tools with all those 20% coupons.

Good luck and congratulations!!

Answer

My 2 cents worth.

As far as buying "all" All-Clad brand of kitchen stuff - forget it. It is a waste of money. Most of what you will need and use does NOT need to be costly.

HOWEVER... The cookware is another story.

IF you have never used solid copper or copper core / clad cookware you will not understand why you should "step up" and get it. The copper core transfers heat faster and more evenly than the stainless and/or aluminium does, reducing overall cook time.

Pots - Don't go cheap or buy anything other than copper core or solid copper pots. The way they move heat from the burner to the contents of the pot is light years better and faster than solid stainless or even aluminium. The heat in a copper pot heats the contents of the pot faster and more evenly than other materials. Copper transfers the heat up the sides of the pot faster than anything else. Overall cooking time is reduced - partially because the heat going up the sides of the pot has a greater area to heat the contents and gets a quicker boil.

Skillets - Solid copper skillets, skillets with copper core and GOOD heavy cast iron ones are a real neccessity in the kitchen. YES - ALL of them - cast iron, copper clad and solid copper have a place in your kitchen.... 

Less burning and sticking in the bottom of copper pot or skillet is to be expected. Once you get a rolling boil in a copper pot and turn down the heat you will see the effects almost instantly - when you crank the heat back up the boil will return much faster than any other pot - even glass..

For the most part, I don't care what manufactures say about their stainless skillets, stainless pots ect with a attached "heat spreader" - they are nowhere near as good or EZ to use as copper pot or skillet.

I DO use some non stick aluminium skillets with the heat spreaders - I have trouble making omelets in anything other than non stick aluminium or Corning Glass utensils...? Never mastered them in anything else.

Off my soapbox.

Answer

Necessary? Of course not. But the few that I have are well made and do the job. Some are included with other cookware purchases. For example I have the ladle because it came with my 4qt pot, same with the fork lifters that came with the roaster.

Answer

I just gave two girls that love to bake this set of measuring cups.
https://www.amazon.com/Prepworks-Progressive-Ultimate-19-Piece-Measuring/dp/B00EZQQEMS/ 
They thought it was a wonderful gift.

Answer

There has been a recent spike of these utensils showing up at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, which is a sign that they may not be selling as AC hoped. In looking at them closely, it seems that more thought went into branding than into actual purpose-driven design. 

For example, I looked at a beautiful set of AC whisks that used their signature cast stainless handle. I then realized that a handle designed to be held horizontally in one orientation was the least efficient design for a tool that's meant to be held in multiple orientations ranging from horizontal to vertical. In other words, the dumbest possible design for a whisk. 

Similarly, if you look at the measuring cups - they have rivets just like full-sized All Clad cookware. There's absolutely no reason for rivets here, which make cleaning slightly more difficult.

In fact, despite my desire to want to find a reason to spend more money on AC utensils, I have yet to find a single one that I actually like.

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All clad cooking utensils... necessary?

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