All-Clad Class Action Lawsuit
As of October 2022, All-Clad is settling their lawsuit claiming that their cookware is not dishwasher safe. If you've purchased All-Clad D3, D5, or LTD from 2015-July 2022, you may be eligible to receive compensation from All-Clad. You can find the details at multi-plycookwaresettlement.com.
All-Clad D3 Vs. D5 at a Glance (A Quick Comparison Chart)
This chart shows the features and main differences between All-Clad D3 and All-Clad D5. Prices are approximate and may change.
NOTE: Table may not be visible in mobile view.
All-Clad D3 Vs. D5 Quick Comparison Chart | ||
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Header | D3 | D5 |
Configuration: | 3-ply (stainless-aluminum-stainless), 18/10 stainless cooking surface, 18/0 stainless exterior | 5-ply (stainless-aluminum-stainless-aluminum-stainless), 18/10 stainless cooking surface, 18/0 stainless exterior |
Features: | -2.6mm sidewalls -polished stainless exterior -drip free pouring on skillets and sauté pans -traditional All-Clad handles -stainless lids -oven/broiler safe to 500F -capacity etched on bottom -limited lifetime warranty -12" skillet weighs about 4lb (w/lid) -made in USA | -2.6mm sidewalls -brushed or polished exterior -drip-free pouring on all pieces -"oversized" stay-cool handles on pots and lids -bottom thumb stop on long handles -stainless lids -oven/broiler safe to 500F -capacity etched on bottom -limited lifetime warranty -12" skillet weight 4.4lb (w/lid) -made in USA |
Buying Options: | ||
Approximate Prices* 10-inch skillet: 5 piece set: 7 piece set: 10 piece set: 14 piece set: |
*Prices subject to change.
About All-Clad
Beginnings
Before All-Clad was founded, most cookware was aluminum, which was cheap, abundant, and did a good job spreading heat evenly, but wasn't very durable. This all changed when metallurgist John Ulam invented the cladding process, which sandwiched fast, even-heating aluminum between two layers of durable stainless steel.
Ulam's clad cookware, which he began selling at trade shows, was an instant success. He founded the All-Clad company in 1971.
All-Clad has changed hands a few times since then. In 2004, All-Clad was purchased by the French kitchenware conglomerate Groupe SEB, who still owns it today. Groupe SEB is one of the largest kitchenware companies in the world and owns several American brands as well as other brands around the world.
Today, most of All-Clad's clad cookware is still made in the USA (they have a disc-clad pasta pot and multi-cooker made in China).
All of All-Clad's other products, including aluminum nonstick cookware, lids, utensils, and appliances, are made overseas (China).
New All-Clad Lines
In the 2000s, All-Clad's patent for tri-ply (D3) expired, allowing other manufacturers to get in on the clad stainless cookware market. Many of these companies made their tri-ply cookware overseas for less than All-Clad could make it in the US. This created some tough competition for All-Clad.
All-Clad executives considered moving their operation overseas, but they didn't want to give up their primary differentiation--being made in the USA. So to keep ahead of the competition, All-Clad introduced several new products to the market such as Copper Core, D7, C2, and Thomas Keller (those last three are now discontinued). Each new line was meant to appeal to a special niche of clad cookware users. According to the All-Clad website, D5 was introduced in 2009 as All-Clad's premium induction cookware; we talk more about its performance in a minute.
With their new lines, as well as customers willing to pay a premium for their products, All-Clad has stayed competitive and successful in today's cookware market. In fact, they are considered to be one of the highest quality cookware brands in the world.
You can read more about all of All-Clad's lines in our Definitive All-Clad Review.
Today, All-Clad's clad stainless steel lines are D3, D5, and Copper Core. There are also D3 Everyday, sold only on the All-Clad website, and Collective, sold on the All-Clad site and at Williams-Sonoma. Additionally, All-Clad sells a few lines of nonstick (Essentials, HA1, and NS Pro), and they've recently introduced an enameled cast iron line. You can read about all the All-Clad cookware lines in our All-Clad Cookware Review.
D3, D5, and Copper Core are All-Clad's most popular lines, so All-Clad D3 vs. D5 is a popular query. Read on to find the answer to which line is the best choice for most cooks.
We also have a detailed Copper Core review.
Full disclosure; you can't go wrong with D3, D5, or Copper Core. They're all great. But if you're looking for the best performance and the best value, the D3 (or D3 Everyday) is the best option. Keep reading to find out why.
Why Use Clad Stainless Cookware?
Clad stainless steel cookware is durable, non-reactive, versatile, and easy to care for. Stainless cookware also stays shiny and looking new even after decades of use.
An investment in good quality clad stainless cookware can be hefty, but it will last a lifetime, so your cost-per-year-of-use is low even if you buy at the top of the market.
Clad stainless cookware is also a healthy choice because it contains no toxic chemicals. While there is some evidence that clad stainless cookware can leach elements like nickel and chromium into your food, this occurs in extremely small amounts. Unless you have a nickel or chromium sensitivity, the amounts are too tiny to be considered unsafe. Our bodies need nickel and chromium in trace amounts, so the tiny amounts in stainless cookware is not considered unsafe. Furthermore, studies have shown that only new stainless steel cookware leaches nickel and chromium, and it stops leaching completely after several uses.
Clad stainless cookware is the most versatile cookware choice, but it isn't the best for everything. High heat searing and deep frying do best in cast iron, and many people (not us) prefer nonstick pans for eggs, fish, and other delicate foods. But the great thing about clad stainless is that you can use it for anything in a pinch, and it will produce satisfactory results.
Furthermore, with the proper techniques, the stainless cooking surface can perform much like a nonstick skillet, with cleanup that is just as easy. So if you don't like clad stainless cookware because "everything sticks to it," trust us: you just haven't learned the right techniques yet.
All-Clad D3 Vs. D5: The Theory Behind the Designs
Here we look at the designs and discuss the performance differences between D3 and D5.
D3 Design
D3 design is simple: it sandwiches heat-spreading aluminum between two layers of stainless steel. The stainless steel provides a durable, non-reactive cooking surface and protects the softer aluminum. It's a classic design that revolutionized the cookware industry and, when executed well, is hard to improve upon.
What does "executed well" mean? Good quality stainless steel and an aluminum core that's thick enough to provide even heating and hang onto heat fairly well. Many brands skimp in one or both areas, which is why it's so important to do your research. If you go with All-Clad, you're covered in both of these areas.
D5 Design
All-Clad D5 design is more complicated. All-Clad took the inner aluminum layer of D3, split it in half, and put a layer of stainless steel in-between. So the 5-layer construction (shown above) is stainless-aluminum-stainless-aluminum-stainless.
Like All-Clad D3, the cooking surface is 18/10 steel for stability and durability. The exterior is 18/0 for induction compatibility. According to this site, the interior stainless is 18/10, meaning that it is not magnetic (so it's not there to enhance induction performance).
You can buy D5 in a polished exterior (like D3) or a brushed exterior. The performance and price are the same for both finishes. The brushed exterior is more common and easy to find, but if you want the polished, you can find it on the All-Clad site.
All-Clad markets D5 as "a patented technology...for excellent results and optimal browning" and also as "optimal for induction."
Our testing, however, shows some interesting results in both of these areas, which we discuss below.
Before getting to that, let's talk more about the construction: D5 has the same wall thickness as D3 at 2.6mm. This means the additional layer of stainless steel is added at the expense of aluminum. In other words, D5 contains less aluminum than D3.
The weight of D5 substantiates that this is true: D5 is only slightly heavier than D3, and this weight comes form the additional stainless steel. We didn't weigh every piece we tested, but the D5 12-inch frying pan weighs 4 ounces more than the D3 12-inch frying pan.
What We Found in Testing
How did all of this pan out (sorry for the pun) in our testing? D5 performed exactly how we would expect a piece of cookware with less aluminum and more stainless steel to perform: it heated slightly more slowly than D3 (i.e., it had poorer heat conduction) and held on to heat slightly longer than D3 (i.e., it had better heat retention). The differences were small, and we did not notice that the D5 pan heated more evenly than the D3 pan.
Induction: All-Clad says the extra stainless steel slows the movement of heat upwards from the heat source. Stainless steel conducts heat much more slowly than aluminum, so by the time the heat moves through the internal layer of stainless, through the top layer of aluminum and into your food, it is theoretically distributed more evenly across the pan.
Why is this good for induction? It probably isn't (more on this below), but we can tell you where the claim comes from: because induction cooktops heat so fast, you really need a pan that heats evenly.
The truth, though, is that unless you have very thin, cheap cookware, adequate preheating produces even heating (so if you want the most even heat, let your pans preheat for a few minutes before adding cooking oil or food).
Here's the important takeaway: there is very little difference in performance between D3 and D5. Only extremely experienced chefs would notice much difference in daily cooking tasks, and they probably wouldn't bother to choose one pan over the other because of it.
For this reason, we recommend that you don't select one over the other based on performance, but based on design: D5 has some slight improvements over D3 such as bigger lid and helper handles and grooved lips on all the pieces. It also offers the brushed finish option. But the 5-layer construction isn't much of an improvement.
D5 heats slightly more slowly and holds onto heat slightly longer than D3. However, the difference in performance between D3 vs. D5 is so small, we recommend that you don't select one over the other based on performance, but on design: D5 design has some improvements over D3 such as a bigger handle, a thumb stop on the long handles, and grooved rims on all the pieces, and a brushed finish option.
Does Multiple Plies Mean Better Quality?
This all brings up an interesting question: Is muli-ply clad stainless cookware better than tri-ply clad stainless cookware?
The best answer is sometimes.
More plies does not automatically mean cookware is more durable, heavier, or will provide better heating performance. These are the important factors to look at:
- Total thickness: thicker cookware equals more even heat and better heat retention
- Heating core construction: is the aluminum layer(s) thick enough to heat well?
- Stainless steel quality: is the stainless good quality so it won't rust or corrode?
Thus, looking at the number of plies is not enough information. There is tri-ply cookware that runs circles around multi-ply cookware; similarly, there are some multi-ply brands that provide excellent performance (such as Demeyere).
Since we're just focused on All-Clad D3 vs. D5, we won't get into that in any detail here. If you want to learn more, check out our Cookware Archives for more articles on clad stainless cookware.
How to Choose Clad Stainless Cookware: Features to Consider
We break down our cookware analysis into several categories: heating properties, durability/stability/safety, design, induction compatibility, and buying options.
Some categories are objective, such as heating properties and durability: in other words, one brand or line of cookware is objectively better than another based on its construction and aluminum content.
Other categories, like design, are subjective: what some people like others might hate or consider unimportant.
Let's see how D3 and D5 measure up.
(Note: If we're comparing different brands we also look at budget and warranty information.)
By taking into account the important features of cookware and understanding what's important to you, you should be able to find cookware you can love.
D3 Vs. D5: Heating Properties
Winner: Tie (though we'd go with D3)
Why: D3 heats faster, but D5 hangs onto heat longer. However, the differences are small, so the performance is very similar.
For most people, heating properties are the most important quality of cookware (assuming safety is a given). People want cookware that heats evenly, fairly rapidly, and has decent heat retention. Clad stainless steel cookware, with its aluminum interior, is more on the rapid-and-even end of the spectrum (while cast iron is on the hangs-onto-heat-forever end).
For most tasks, D3 and D5 are both great choices. But if you want to sear a steak or deep fry chicken, you should go with cast iron (not D5).
Our preference is D3, for the simple reason that it contains more aluminum, meaning better heat conductivity in general.
D3 is also less expensive, so it's a win-win.
D3 Vs. D5: Durability, Stability, and Safety
Winner: Tie
Why: Both have identical external construction of 18/10 (cooking surface) and 18/0 (exterior) stainless steel, which are durable and stable. They are both corrosion resistant, warp resistant, and non-reactive with food and the environment, making them a safe, smart choice.
The internal layer of stainless makes D5 more resistant to warping. So technically, D5 wins this category. However, D3 is highly warp-resistant even without the extra layer of stainless, so it's not an important distinction.
The brushed stainless option for D5 may hide scratches a little better than a polished exterior, but it's no more durable.
D3 Vs. D5: Overall Design
Winner: Tie
Why: Most design choices are personal, so what one person prefers may be different from what another prefers. Having said that, D5 offers updated options, including a brushed finish, grooved lip, and larger handles.
Let's look at some of the important design features.
Handles: D3 has the traditional All-Clad handles, which are hated nearly universally among cookware enthusiasts:
People complain that the U-shape cuts into their hand. However, we like the design. The groove provides a thumb-hold or leverage for your arm that makes a full pot easy to stabilize with just one hand. The design may not be the prettiest or most comfortable out there, but it is definitely one of the safest.
All-Clad upgraded the D5 handle to combat some of the issues people had. The D5 handle is longer, slightly wider, and has a finger/thumb stop on the bottom to aid with stabilizing. However, the differences really aren't all that noticeable, as you can see from this D5 skillet handle closeup:
D3 lids (and helper/short handles) have thinner, smaller handles (left), while D5 lids have thicker, heavier handles (right):
The heavier handles on the D5 look nice, but none of our testers noticed much of a difference in handling. If you have very large hands, the bigger handle may be an improvement.
Grooved rims: Grooved rims are good for pouring with minimal drips. Only the skillet and sauté pan in D3 have grooved lips, and the one that probably needs it the most--the sauce pan--has straight sides, as shown here:
All D5 pieces have grooved lips (shown in the sauce pan below), which is a nice feature, but for most cooks, not a necessity. Dripping isn't a huge problem with the flat rims, so it really comes down to which look you prefer.
Finish: D3 comes in polished stainless steel only, while D5 is available in polished and brushed stainless. Brushed steel can hides scratches, but this is a purely cosmetic issue.
This image shows the brushed D5 finish (as well as the grooved lip, thumb stop on the bottom of the handle, and the wider-than-D3 helper handle):
Weight and Maneuverability: D5 is slightly heavier than D3. The difference is small, but if you have any ergonomic or upper body issues, D3 is the better option.
On the other hand, D5's somewhat improved handle design may make up for its weight, especially if you have large hands.
Pan Shape: Since both are All-Clad, shape is mainly about the grooved lips because everything else is pretty much the same.
Overall, a lot of people may be inclined to give this category to D5. After all, All-Clad made updates to the design and it is also available in two finishes. This is fine if it's what you prefer and have the budget for it, but we don't think the updates are worth the extra cost.
D3 Vs. D5: Induction Compatibility
Winner: D3 (yes, even though All-Clad calls D5 "optimal for induction")
Why: Both lines are induction compatible, but D3 offers faster, more responsive heating. The extra layer of stainless in D5 slows down heating, effectively hobbling one of the greatest advantages of an induction cooktop.
One of induction's best traits is how fast it heats. Why would you want to slow that down? If you're concerned about evenness, just allow your pots and pans an adequate amount of pre-heating before adding cooking oil and/or food. No other modifications--including more expensive cookware--are needed.
Yes, the difference in performance between D3 and D5 is small, but if there's anywhere you would notice it, it's on an induction cooktop.
It's true that the extra layer of steel may be more "forgiving," so if you're an inattentive or novice cook, you may burn less food with D5 than with D3. But again, the difference is so small as to be hardly noticeable. If you know how to use your cookware and your cooktop, "forgiving" cookware should be a non-issue. The lightning fast heat of induction is a huge plus, and you shouldn't be looking for ways to slow it down.
(Note: If you're interested in cookware that has been optimized for induction cooking, check out Demeyere Atlantis. Read our article All-Clad Vs. Demeyere or our Demeyere review to find out more. Some of the induction features of Demeyere may surprise you.)
D3 Vs. D5: Cost and Buying Options
Winner: D3
Why: D3 is the more economical option but equal or superior to D5 in heating, durability and safety, overall design, and induction compatibility (you may not agree about design, and if so that's fine--but as with everything else, the differences are small).
D3 is less expensive and offers more open stock options than D5. The only thing D5 has that D3 doesn't is brushed exterior option. So if that's important to you, go with D5. Otherwise, D3 is the best option.
D3: The Best Buying Options
D3 has a huge range of buying options, including sets and open stock. And you can buy D3 Everyday from the All-Clad site, which is the same D3 performance but with updated handles and slightly larger skillets--all at a lower price.
D3 is widely available online and in retail stores. Thanks to the Internet, prices tend to be stable in most locations; probably the only place you'll pay too much is on the All-Clad website. If you check out kitchen retail sites like Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table, you may find sales, or they will sometimes throw in a free piece, like a roasting pan, with the purchase of a set (the equivalent of a $100 or more markdown).
You can buy sets with nonstick skillets, but we don't recommend buying nonstick in clad stainless: it's expensive, and the nonstick will wear out years before the rest of the pan, making you wish you'd gone with a cheaper option.
Below are the sets we recommend.
NOTE: Williams-Sonoma typically has better D3 options than Sur la Table, but it's good to check both stores. You may run into a sale and get a great deal.
No set is going to have all the pieces you need, no matter how big it is. Thus, you are usually better off buying a smaller, 5-7 piece set and augmenting with individual pieces as you know you need them than you are buying a huge set with pieces you are not likely to get a lot of use from. A 10-piece set is about the biggest we recommend.
D3 5 Piece Set
The 5 piece set includes:
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 3 quart sauce pan with lid.
It's a good starter set, which you will probably want to augment with a 12-inch skillet, a nonstick or cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven or stock pot, and a roasting pan.
Buy All-Clad D3 Sets on Amazon now
Buy all-clad d3 at williams-sonoma
D3 7 Piece Set
The 7 piece set includes:
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 3 quart sauce pan with lid
- 8 quart stock with lid.
This too is a nice starter set and probably the best all-around choice for most people: all the pieces are useful, so you won't be buying anything you don't need or won't use. The 8 quart stock pot can also serve as a Dutch oven, good for both oven and stove top use. You may want to augment at some point with a larger skillet, a nonstick or cast iron skillet, an enameled cast iron Dutch oven, and a roasting pan. But these are all useful pieces that you won't regret having.
buy all-clad d3 7 piece set on amazon now
BUY ALL-CLAD D3 AT WILLIAMS-SONOMA
D3 10 Piece Set
The 10 piece set includes:
- 8-inch frying pan
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 2 quart sauce pan with lid
- 3 quart sauce pan with lid
- 8 quart stock with lid.
This is a good set, too. Having two sauce pans is great; you can use the smaller one to heat soups or make smaller batches of pasta, and the bigger one for family sized batches of pasta, soups, sauces, and more. At some point you may want a larger (12-inch) skillet, a roasting pan, and perhaps a cast iron skillet and Dutch oven, but all the pieces in this set are quite usable.
buy all-clad d3 10-piece set on amazon now
BUY ALL-CLAD D3 AT WILLIAMS-SONOMA
D3 Open Stock
"Open stock" are the pieces you buy individually. For D3, that means everything from skillets and sauce pans to double boilers, roasting pans, pasta pots, woks, and more. There are too many to list here, so we'll just provide a page on Amazon and a few of our favorite open stock pieces.
If you want to see all the open stock pieces available, see the D3 collection at All-Clad. (Though we don't recommend buying there, as you will almost certainly find cheaper prices just about anywhere else.)
This is not a cheap pan, but you will love it. The helper handle makes it easy to use for any task, and it's big enough to double as a small stock pot.
This is also not a cheap pan (though about $80 less than the 4 quart sauce pan above!), but you will find this size perfect for so.many.tasks. You can use it as sauté pan, a skillet, a chef's pan, a stock pot, a Dutch oven, and even a stir fry pan in a pinch. It's great for everything from making chili to making pasta and rice. We think it's even more versatile than a chef's pan, because the straight sides make it better for liquids.
D5 Buying Options
Theoretically, you can buy D5 in either a brushed or polished stainless finish, but brushed sets are easier to find, especially on Amazon. Below are all the sets we recommend. (You can find larger sets at Williams-Sonoma, but we don't recommend going over 10 pieces; you don't need all those pieces, you probably won't use them all, and even though buying open stock pieces is more expensive, it usually turns out to cost less than investing in a gigantic set with too many pieces you won't use.)
D5 5 Piece Set
The D5 5 piece set includes:
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 3 quart sauce pan with lid (from Amazon) OR 2 quart sauce pan (from Williams-Sonoma, same price)
buy all-clad 5 piece set on amazon (brushed)
buy all-clad D5 5 (all) at williams-sonoma
The sauce pan in the Williams-Sonoma set is smaller but for the same price, so we recommend the Amazon set, though you can only get it in the brushed exterior.
D5 7 Piece Set
The D5 7 piece set includes:
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 1.5 quart sauce pan with lid (Amazon) OR 4 quart sauce pan with lid (Williams-Sonoma)
- 8 quart stock pot with lid.
BUY ALL-CLAD 7 PIECE SET ON AMAZON (BRUSHED)
*Buy ALL-CLAD D5 (all) AT WILLIAMS-SONOMa*
Note the difference in sauce pan sizes at the different stores: the price of the Williams-Sonoma set is about $50 higher, but the 4 quart sauce pan in the W-S set is more useful than the 1.5 quart sauce pan in the Amazon set.
Both brushed and polished options are available at W-S; brushed only at Amazon.
D5 10 Piece Set
The All-Clad D5 10 piece includes:
- 8-inch frying pan
- 10-inch frying pan
- 3 quart sauté pan with lid
- 1.5 quart sauce pan with lid
- 3 quart sauce pan with lid (Williams-Sonoma)
- 8 quart stock pot with lid (Amazon) or 6 quart stock pot with lid (W-S)
The set pieces are the same at Amazon and Williams-Sonoma. Amazon has only the brushed exterior and Williams-Sonoma has both (though this link goes to a polished set).
BUY ALL-CLAD 10 PIECE SET ON AMAZON (BRUSHED)
BUY ALL-CLAD D5 (all) AT WILLIAMS-SONOma (Polished)
D5 Open Stock
You'll find fewer open stock options in D5 than in D3, but you can find common pieces like the stock pot, 12-inch skillet, lids, and a few other pieces. You can see the full D5 lineup--brushed and polished--at All-Clad.com.
See All-clad D5 open stock on amazon
Pros
Cons
Summary: Pros and Cons of All-Clad D5
Pros
Cons
All-Clad D3 Vs. D5 FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about All-Clad D3 vs. D5.
Why Is Clad Stainless Steel a Good Choice for Cookware?
Clad stainless steel is safe, durable, and good brands (like All-Clad) have good heat performance. It will last for decades and still look like new. Unlike nonstick pans, you can use high heat, metal utensils, and abrasive scrubby pads with clad stainless pans, which makes them easy to use and easy to care for.
What Makes All-Clad So Expensive (And Is it Worth the Price)?
Clad stainless cookware is more expensive to make than other types of cookware, so that increases the cost. All-Clad clad stainless steel cookware is made in the USA, which also raises the price. The All-Clad brand adds to the cost, too. But most of all, All-Clad is high quality cookware, and high quality products have a higher cost. But because All-Clad will last for decades and comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, your cost-per-year-of-use will be low, so it is well worth the initial investment.
Are D3 and D5 Both Dishwasher Safe?
Yes, technically both D3 and D5 are dishwasher safe, but your cookware will retain its shiny surface if you wash by hand. Since you can soak steel and use abrasive cleansers and pads to clean, it's not hard to clean. No, it's not as easy as nonstick, but its durability, safety, and longevity are worth the extra elbow grease you may occasionally need to clean your clad stainless pans.
Will Food Stick to D3 and D5 Pans?
Yes, food will stick to both D3 and D5, as it will stick to all stainless steel. Part of learning to cook with stainless cookware is learning how to prevent sticking. There are a few different ways to do this, such as pre-heating the pan until it's the right temperature, then adding enough oil or butter to coat the pan, then adding your food and letting food cook until it forms a crust on the bottom. A crust forms a barrier between the food and the pan, and once there, most foods will easily pull away from the pan without sticking.
Also, you can use the bits of food that do stick to make a delicious pan sauce by deglazing with water, stock, or wine and adding seasoning.
Some foods stick more than others, so you may want to use a nonstick pan for eggs--but you can use stainless steel sticky foods if you practice and figure out the right technique.
Will D5 Pans Last Longer than D3 Pans?
No. D3 and D5 both have a lifetime warranty and should last for several decades. You can expect the service from all All-Clad stainless cookware.
What Is the Warranty on All-Clad D3 and D5?
All All-Clad cookware comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Is it True that Most Professional Chefs Use All-Clad?
A lot of chefs do use clad stainless cookware because of its great heating performance and durability. You will see clad cookware mostly in high-end restaurants because this cookware is expensive compared to most of the cookware available from restaurant supply stores.
Final Thoughts: Should I Buy D3 or D5?
D3 is less expensive and has more aluminum than D5. More aluminum means faster heating and faster response to temperature changes.
D5's internal layer of stainless steel slows down the response time of the cookware. This means it is less responsive than D3, but will hold onto heat slightly longer. The heating is also slightly more even.
Overall, the differences in performance are so slight that we can't justify the more expensive D5. It's also slightly heavier than D3, which is a drawback for most people (especially when the added weight does not result in improved heating performance).
One reason to go with D5 over D3--really probably the only one--is if you fall in love with the brushed exterior. If it's in your budget, you won't regret buying D5 (brushed or polished). Like all All-Clad stainless, D5 will last for decades, so your cost-per-year-of-use will be low.
Thanks for reading!
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This post is really misinformed. If you're going to write about induction you should at least know the basics. Induction doesn't work on Aluminum (it's not magnetic) and it works extremely well on stainless steel. More stainless steel means it will work better for induction. I stopped reading at that point. This is a pretty serious error and you should rewrite your article to reflect this.
Thanks for the comment, John. The idea that “more steel” would make a pan work better with induction is an interesting idea that could be true. However, 300 Series stainless is not magnetic. This is why induction compatible cookware has “magnetic” stainless (typically 400 Series) on the exterior and 300 Series on the cooking surface. Why not everywhere? Because 400 Series is much less corrosion resistant than 300 Series due to its lack of nickel, so they only use it where they have to.
We don’t know if the inner layer of D5 is 300 or 400 Series stainless, because All-Clad doesn’t say. Which is kind of weird if “more steel” is the reason D5 is supposed to work better with induction.
It is certainly possible that the inner layer of D5 is magnetic stainless, but that’s not the reason All-Clad gives for its “optimal induction performance.” No; they say that the inner layer of steel “slows down” heating in order to make lateral heat transfer more even.” They don’t say anything about “more steel makes it more induction compatible.” In fact, we scoured the Internet and consulted several cookware experts to find answers (before writing this review) as to why an internal layer of stainless steel–which has TERRIBLE heating properties compared to aluminum–would enhance performance on an induction cooktop. Not one review or expert we found said “more steel makes it better for induction.”
In testing, D5 and D3 are extremely similar in performance on both gas and induction. As is Copper Core. D5 is slightly slower to heat (and possibly more even, though the difference is tiny) than D3 and Copper Core is slightly faster (and also very even due to the copper layer). However, the three lines are SO close in performance that we can’t justify telling readers they should go with the more expensive D5 (or Copper Core). Unless they fall in love with the design of one of the more expensive lines, D3 will provide extremely similar performance at a lower price. And now, with D3 Everyday an option, it’s even harder to recommend the more expensive lines.
Our conclusion is that most reviewers who claim that D5 is better than D3 are simply parroting the All-Clad marketing hype, probably hoping to get a higher commission from the more expensive line. They either don’t understand the science or don’t care.
This is not to say that D5 is bad cookware. It is not. It just does not enhance performance enough to justify the higher price–on induction or otherwise.
Hi John, I did some more searching, and here’s a site that says the internal layer of stainless is 18/10, meaning it is not magnetic and thus has no effect with induction. It’s an old source, but the pan was given to the blogger by All-Clad for a review, so the info is almost certainly correct.
It's so interesting contents. I bought D3 rather than D5, and very satisfied to using it. I also bought same size of AC copper core pan, but always use D3. Because it's more lighter(slightly), and I feel at ease handling it carelessly. I love AC!! my favorite.
Thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed the article.