If you're a serious home chef, you need to have the proper tools.
With the possible exception of knives, the most important tools in your kitchen are your pots and pans.
All-Clad and Demeyere cookware are two of the best options. Here, we examine and compare All-Clad and Demeyere clad stainless steel cookware (so if you're looking for nonstick advice, this article is not it). Both are great brands, but there are some big differences between them.
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.
See All-Clad cookware on Amazon now
See Demeyere cookware on Amazon now
All-Clad Stainless Cookware at a Glance
Here are All-Clad's clad stainless cookware lines. See our All-Clad review for a look at all their lines.
All All-Clad stainless cookware is induction compatible, made in the USA (except lids, made in China), and has a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Prices are approximate and may change.
The All-Clad Lines | ||
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Line | Description | Best For |
 | -3 ply (s-a-s). 2.6mm thick w/1.7mm aluminum core -Most popular AC line -Oven safe to 500F -About $700 for 10pc set. | Great all around cookware, best price of all the AC stainless lines. |
D3 Everyday  | -Tri-ply s-a-s, 2.6mm thick w/1.7mm aluminum core -Identical to D3 with new handle, slightly larger skillets, and grooved pouring rims on all pieces, and glass lids -Oven safe to 600F -About $650 for 10pc set. | D3 in an updated, less expensive package, and with glass lids (which we don't like). Exclusive to All-Clad website. Great all-around cookware if you don't mind the glass lids. |
 | -5 ply (s-a-s-a-s) -2.6mm thick -Same thickness as D3, so less aluminum because of steel core -Oven safe to 600F -About $900 for 10pc set. | Marginally more even heating than D3 and more expensive. We recommend D3 instead. |
 | -5 ply with copper core (s-a-c-a-s) -1.7mm total thickness w/1mm layer of copper--thinner than D3 and slightly more responsive -Oven safe to 600F -About $1200 for 10pc set. | Thinner, slightly more responsive than D3, CC is great all-around cookware, but the slightly faster heating may not be worth the higher price. |
G5 Graphite Core  | -5-ply s-a-g-a-s (g=graphite) -Graphite more heat conductive than copper -Carbon only in bottom; sides are s-a-s -New-style handle -Lightest AC line -Oven safe to 600F -About $1300 for 10pc set. | Lighter than D3 or Copper Core, so good for people with ergonomic issues. Heats marginally faster. Expensive, no sets available. Exclusive to All-Clad website. |
Collective (W-S exclusive)  | -A mix of AC configurations: D5 skillets; Copper Core sauce pans; D3 sauté pans and rondeau -New-style handles and lids -Oven safe to 600F -$165/205/230 (10"/12"/14"); no 8" skillet available -$1000 (10 pc set only). | More expensive than the lines it's made. Good for people who want their cookware to match, but these different configurations probably aren't worth the higher price. |
Demeyere Stainless Cookware at a Glance
Here are the Demeyere clad stainless steel cookware lines. See our Demeyere review for a look at all their lines.
All Demeyere stainless cookware is induction compatible and made in Belgium except the specialty Resto line, which is made in Indonesia. Prices are approximate and may change.
The Demeyere Lines | ||
|---|---|---|
Line | Description | Best For |
 | -Curved pcs fully clad, straight pcs disc clad. 7 layers cladding. Proline skillet 4.8mm thick w/3.7mm aluminum core; saucier pans 3mm. Straight-sided pieces have 4.8mm disc w/2mm copper. -Rivetless -Silvinox finish -Oven safe to 500F -9pc set about $1500. | Proline skillet best non-copper performer on the market, about 75% more aluminum than AC D3. Excellent all-around cookware if you don't mind the weight. Silver 7 is SLT's house version of Atlantis. *Some pieces lack helper handles: not recommended for anyone with strength issues. |
 | -May also be called "Industry." 3mm thick w/2.1mm aluminum core -Rivetless -Silvinox finish -Oven safe to 500F -About $1000 for 10pc set. | Excellent all-around cookware. About 25% more aluminum than AC D3 and slightly heavier. Large skillet should have a helper handle. |
 | -Same build as Industry 5: 3mm thick w/2.1 -Lacks Silvinox treatment -Has rivets -Some pieces have glass lids -Oven safe to 500F -About $800 for 10 pc set. | Same build as Industry 5 without the Silvinox coating and with riveted handles. Great option if you Industry 5 build quality and don't mind the rivets and lack of Silvinox coating. |
 | -Specialty cookware pieces -Made in Indonesia -Oven safe to 500-600F | Great if you have the need for a Maslin pan, mussel pot, mini Dutch ovens, egg poacher, tea kettle, or a few other quirky pieces. |
All Clad Vs. Demeyere at a Glance
Here's a quick comparison table of the clad stainless cookware of both brands.
In short, Demeyere is heavier and has better heating properties. All-Clad is lighter and easier to handle, but still provides great heating and durability.
See the sections below for details on each line.
All-Clad Vs. Demeyere at a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
All-Clad | Demeyere | |
|  | |
Number of Lines | 6 clad stainless lines, 3 nonstick aluminum lines, 1 enameled cast iron line | 4 clad stainless lines, 1 nonstick aluminum line |
Heating Properties | Thicker than all All-Clad lines. | |
Reactivity | Quality stainless is one of the least reactive cookware materials. | Silvinox coating slightly edges out AC. |
Durability | All stainless cookware is very durable. | All stainless is very durable. |
Ease of Care | Stickiness is one of stainless' main drawbacks. | Silvinox coating and rivetless design superior to All-Clad. |
Usability and Design | Good amount of cooking surface, grooved handle design, stainless lids. Some people dislike the handle, but it is meant to help you stabilize the pan-and it works. | Good amount of cooking surface, great pan design, good pcs in sets. Heavier than AC and shorter handles which you may or may not prefer. Some larger pieces LACK helper handles, making them harder to handle. |
Warranty | Lifetime warranty. | 30 year warranty. |
Price | Expensive. But cost-per-year-of-use is low because it lasts for decades. | More expensive! But cost-per-year-of-use is low because it lasts for decades. |
First: What Makes Cookware Great?
 All-Clad 5 Piece Set. |  Demeyere Atlantis 6 piece set. |
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In order to compare any cookware brands, you have to know something about cookware in general.
These are the qualities that matter most:
- Heating properties: how evenly does the cookware heat and how well does it hold heat?
- Safety/Stability: Does the cooking surface react with food? Does it contain unsafe materials?
- Durability: How well does the cookware stand up to use?
- Ease of care: Is it easy to take care of? Is it easy to clean?
- Design: Is the cookware easy to handle? Do the lids fit well? Do the large pieces have helper handles? Will it look good in your kitchen?
Other issues that may be important to you are induction compatibility and price. Since these are both premium brands, we're assuming readers have the budget for them, so we don't talk much about price, except to say that quality clad stainless cookware has a low cost-per-year-of-use because it lasts for decades. So even if your initial investment is higher, clad stainless cookware will last so long that the expense is actually lower than if you buy cheap cookware that you have to replace every few years.
As for induction compatibility, this is only important if you have an induction cooktop or may be getting one in the future--but both All-Clad and Demeyere clad stainless are induction compatible. More on this below.
Both All-Clad and Demeyere heat well and are safe and durable. Demeyere edges out All-Clad on all three, but is heavier and most lines are more expensive.
Heating Properties
The function of cookware is to transfer heat into your food. Most heating sources (burners) have a smaller diameter than the pots you put on them, so the job of dispersing heat evenly falls mostly to the cookware.
The two important aspects of heating for cookware are thermal conductivity and heat retention.
Thermal Conductivity
The ability of a pan to heat is its thermal conductivity. All materials have different thermal conductivity ratings.
Silver, copper, and aluminum have the best thermal conductivity of all metals. Since silver cookware is a luxury reserved for only the very wealthy, it won't be included in our discussion (although Demeyere straight-sided Atlantis pieces do contain a small amount of silver).
If a material has poor thermal conductivity, a pan will heat unevenly, with hot and cold spots. Examples of materials with poor thermal conductivity are cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, and glass/ceramic.
Since no heating source is perfect, even the best cookware requires stirring and monitoring. But good quality cookware goes a long way toward evening out an uneven heat source.
Mass also affects thermal conductivity: the thicker and heavier a pan is, the more evenly it will heat, regardless of the material. In general, thick, heavy cookware heats better than thin, light cookware.
Copper is the king of heat conduction, but it's expensive and requires polishing.
Heat Retention
The ability of a pan to hold heat after the heat source has been removed--or, more importantly, when cold food is introduced to the pan--is its heat retention (also called heat capacity). All materials have a unique heat retention rating, with cast iron having the highest heat retention of all cookware materials. However, heat retention is also dependent on a pan's mass. That is, the thicker and heavier the pan, the higher its heat capacity is, whatever it's made of.
This makes sense. A thick slab of any material takes longer to heat up and cool down than a thin slab because there's more mass that has to heat and cool.
Thermal Conductivity Vs. Heat Retention: Which Matters More?
Thermal conductivity and heat retention aren't dependent on each other. A pan can have excellent thermal conductivity and not be great at heat retention (such as copper). Or, a pan can have poor thermal conductivity and excellent heat retention (such as cast iron). Cast iron heats slowly and unevenly (has poor thermal conductivity), but once hot, it hangs onto heat like a champ. This is why it's such a great choice for deep frying searing, both cooking techniques where heat retention is important.
You can learn more about thermal conductivity and heat retention here. However, unless you're an engineer or scientist, the ratings won't tell you much.
Of the two ratings, thermal conductivity is usually considered the more important one. Heat retention is less important because most cookware provides enough heat retention for general purpose cooking. Unless you want something with specific properties for a specific purpose--for example, a copper pan for super-fast responsiveness, or a cast iron pan for searing steaks--the ability to heat evenly is typically what you pay for in cookware.
The truth is, you'll get used to whatever cookware you use every day. This doesn't mean it's all created equally (it absolutely is not), but you'll adjust to whatever cookware you have. (This is probably why some extremely low quality cookware gets high ratings on Amazon: people don't know what they're missing.)
For versatility, clad stainless steel is one of the best options available. If it's good quality, it offers good thermal conductivity, decent heat retention, safety, and durability at a lower price than copper cookware. Cast iron is also a good choice, but the seasoning makes it not great for acidic foods, which can ruin seasoning. There are no such worries with clad stainless cookware.
Both All-Clad and Demeyere cookware have good thermal conductivity, meaning they heat evenly. Demeyere cookware has more aluminum, so it edges out All-Clad in both thermal conductivity and heat retention. However, this greater mass also means that Demeyere is heavier cookware.
Safety and Stability
Stainless steel is the most stable metal to cook with. It's one of the safest cookware materials on the market.
Small amounts of nickel and chromium may leach into foods from your stainless steel cookware, but the amounts are quite small--in some studies, undetectably small. In fact, this article from the Mayo Clinic does not list cookware as a source of nickel for allergy sufferers.
If you have a nickel allergy and want to cook with clad stainless cookware, we recommend nickel-free stainless cookware or, if you have the budget, Hestan NanoBond.
Neither All-Clad nor Demeyere offer a nickel-free stainless line.
Why isn't all stainless nickel-free? Because nickel-free stainless is less corrosion resistant.
Stainless is a very stable metal, so you can expect low reactivity and a safe cooking surface with both
All-Clad and Demeyere cookware.
Durability
Durability is another important factor. How long will the cookware last, and how much use (and abuse) will it stand up to?
Clad stainless cookware is extremely durable cookware. Many brands of clad stainless come with lifetime guarantees, including All-Clad; Demeyere has a 30 year guarantee.
Cheap brands of clad stainless cookware can contain lower quality steel that will rust and corrode more easily. When you buy a top brand like All-Clad or Demeyere, part of the expense is certainly due to the high quality of the stainless steel used.
You will get your money's worth out of good quality clad cookware. Although it is expensive, if you average its cost over your lifetime (and perhaps your children's lifetimes), the cost-per-year of use is very low.
We've seen some complaints about Demeyere's welded handle, but this has not been an issue in any of our long-term experience with Demeyere. If a welded handle comes off, Demeyere will replace the pan free of charge.
Durability is a primary feature of stainless cookware, so you can expect excellent durability and longevity from both All-Clad and Demeyere.
Ease of Care (and How to Cook on Stainless Steel)
The gold standard for "ease of care" is nonstick cookware--since nothing sticks to it, it's the easiest cookware to wash.
However, nonstick cookware has limitations that prevent it from being a good choice. The nonstick coating is delicate and lasts only a few years before losing its nonstick properties, scratching, or breaking down and leaching particles of teflon or ceramic flakes into your food.
You can't use high heat, metal utensils, or put it in a dishwasher--at least not if you want the cookware to last more than a year or two. (Even if the manufacturer claims you can do these things, we recommend that you don't if you want it to last.)
See also: The Best Nonstick Frying Pan: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
That leaves everything else, all of which fall into about the same category as far as ease of care. Food sticks to stainless steel, enamel, and other cooking surfaces, which all require about the same amount of cleaning. We think clad stainless steel is the easiest to use, if you know the right way to use it.
How to cook with stainless steel: If you follow these steps, stainless pans can be almost as easy to wash as nonstick: 1) Heat the pan, 2) Add oil and let heat, 3) Add food, 4) Do not attempt to flip or move the food until it has formed a crust, at which point it naturally releases from the pan. 5) If you want, deglaze the pan after food is done to make a pan sauce or dissolve bits of cooked-on food.
Demeyere pans have some features that All-Clad pans don't have that make them easier to care for. Demeyere finishes their cookware with a proprietary surface treatment called Silvinox® that makes the cookware shinier and easier to clean. It's not nonstick, but most users find Demeyere easier to wash than other brands of clad stainless cookware.
Most Demeyere cookware has welded handles, meaning that the cooking surface is completely smooth: no rivets to collect gunk. If you've ever had to clean around rivets, you know what a pain this can be.
Ease of Care Summary
All Clad: The rivets can collect gunk, but when used properly it is about average for ease of care.
Demeyere: Similar to All-Clad, but the Silvinox® coating make it less "sticky" than other stainless cookware and the welded handles mean no rivets to collect gunk on the cooking surface.
Design
Cookware design has two important aspects:
1) It should be functional enough that it's easy and pleasurable to use.
2) It should be beautiful enough that it gives you pleasure to look at it.
You have to focus on the design features most important to you. In our estimation, the most important features are lids, handles, weight, size, and overall appeal.
Lids
Often, the biggest difference between expensive clad cookware and middle-of-the-road clad cookware is the lids: expensive clad cookware has stainless steel lids, and mid-quality and cheap clad cookware has glass lids.
Here's why stainless lids are better:
- They're lighter
- They're more durable
- They're less bulky
- They're 100% oven proof (glass may or may not be, or may be safe to a lower temp).
Some people prefer glass because they like to see what's happening inside a pan. But the main reason stainless cookware has glass lids is because they're cheaper to make.
Handles
Handles alone aren't enough to make or break a good cookware design. Nevertheless, there are a few important considerations:
- Overall Design: You'll grow accustomed to whatever handles your cookware has, but there are a few considerations. Most All-Clad handles are U-shaped, forming a groove along the top side of the handle. Some people hate this, saying it's uncomfortable and cuts into your hand. We like the design because it makes it easy to stabilize the pot, which means it's safe. Flatter handles or round handles without a groove slide around more. Demeyere handles are shorter and fuller (no groove), with a little indentation where your thumb or finger would go to steady the pan: they're not as functional or safe as All-Clad handles, but they're prettier.
- Short or long: Traditionally, skillets and saucepans have one long handle, but some have two short handles (and technically have a different name, but function essentially the same). A long handle makes a pot easier to grab, while short handles can make it easier to put in the oven and store.
- Helper handles: Helper handles are short handles on the opposite side of the long handle. They're called helper handles because they make it easier to maneuver heavy pots. On any skillet larger than 10 inches or any sauce pan or saucier larger than 3 quarts, helper handles are extremely useful. All-Clad makes cookware with both options; most larger pieces of Demeyere cookware has helper handles, however, there are a few Demeyere pieces that are lacking a helper handle that really need one. None of the Demeyere sauciérs have helper handles, for example; this is a big miss for Demeyere.
- Silicone-coated handles: Some cookware has silicone-coated handles. These can wear out quickly, especially when used over gas flames or put in ovens. Like glass lids, they often indicate cheaper cookware. No All-Clad or Demeyere cookware has silicone-coated handles.
- Rivetless handles: A few brands of cookware, including Demeyere, offer handles that are welded rather than riveted--this means there are no rivets on the cooking surface. Rivets aren't a deal breaker, and some people prefer rivets because they believe they're more durable, but welded handles do make cookware easier to wash and keep clean.
The welded handles of the Demeyere Proline skillet: no rivets on the cooking surface.
Size and Weight
Be sure you get cookware that fits your cooking needs. As far as size goes, get pans that are large enough for what you want to use them for; when buying a set, check the pan sizes so you're not surprised by too-small pans. Manufacturers will often fill out a large set with smaller pieces to make you think you're getting a better deal than you actually are. (Few cooks need three small sauce pans, for example.)
As for weight, you should buy the heaviest cookware you can easily handle, because it has the best heating properties. If you have ergonomic issues, we recommend you go with All-Clad over Demeyere--or at least check pan weights before buying. Demeyere Industry 5 is a good choice, too: heavier than All-Clad but not as heavy as Atlantis.
For the best cooking experience, buy the heaviest cookware you can easily handle.
Overall Appeal
"Pretty" may seem like a poor scale for something as functional as cookware, but the truth is that, like most things, beautiful cookware is more pleasurable to use than ugly cookware.
The thing is, "pretty" isn't just about looks. Most cookware is pretty because it is also functional: it has a nice heft, heats well, and is easy to handle.
When cookware is cheap and tinny, it's not a pleasure to use, either functionally or aesthetically. And since cooking is one of those life chores which has to be done whether you're in the mood for it or not, do yourself a favor and get cookware you can love.
Take a look at the sets below: which would you rather have? (If you pick the one on the right, you're on the wrong website.) The stainless set is not only more beautiful, it's also more functional, with stainless lids, stainless handles, and a stable stainless cooking surface. Yes, it costs hundreds more, but it's going to last about 100 times longer than a nonstick set with plastic handles, glass lids, and a nonstick cooking surface.
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All-Clad and Demeyere Design Summary
All Clad: Some people dislike the D3 handles, but overall it is light, easy to use, and attractive. However, the lightness makes its heating properties not as good as Demeyere.
Demeyere: While beautiful, it's heaviness and somewhat short handles may be drawbacks for some people, and some of the larger pieces should have helper handles. But it has excellent heating properties, and the welded handles and Silvinox finish make it easier to clean than other stainless brands.
Induction Compatibility
Induction uses the pan itself to complete a magnetic circuit, so induction cookware has to have a magnetic bottom.
You may be surprised to learn that not all stainless steel is magnetic. In fact, magnetic stainless has to be nickel free ("18/0" as opposed to 18/10 or 18/8). You may remember from above that nickel-free stainless is less corrosion resistant. So most induction compatible stainless has 18/0 stainless on the external surface and 18/10 (or something similar) on the cooking surface.
Cast iron and carbon steel are also naturally induction compatible.
Neither copper nor aluminum are induction compatible, but can have a magnetic base that makes them induction compatible.
In addition to being magnetic, ideal induction cookware should have excellent thermal conductivity and flat, warp-resistant bottoms (the fast, intense heat of induction can warp a thin pan pretty quickly). Thermal conductivity matters because induction heating is extremely fast and responsive.
The Demeyere Atlantis line is specifically designed to work with induction, having layers of magnetic stainless and extremely flat, heavy bottoms that create an excellent magnetic connection to the induction hob (and are also nearly impossible to warp). Demeyere claims that their cookware can be up to 30% more efficient on induction than other clad stainless brands (though we haven't figured out how to test this claim).
All All-Clad and Demeyere clad stainless cookware is induction compatible.
The Demeyere Atlantis saute pan: see how flat--and thick--the bottom is?
As of 2021, All-Clad stainless cookware is induction compatible, since Master Chef and LTD have been discontinued. If you have older All-Clad, lines with a stainless steel exterior are induction compatible, while lines with an aluminum exterior are not.
All Demeyere cookware is induction compatible. However, Demeyere has many features that make it the superior induction cookware, including its TripleInduc technology (more on this below), it's greater mass, and extremely flat, wide pan bottoms that provide greater contact with the burner.
Cladding: What You Need to Know
This section gets into detail about cladding--what to know, what to look for, what makes it good (or bad), and more. It isn't required reading, but it may help you make a better decision about which cookware to buy, and why.
What Is Cladding?
Cladding is the process of bonding different metals together under extreme pressure. The process was invented in the 1960s by American John Ulam, who went on to found the All-Clad company in 1971. Cladding allowed the use of multiple metals to be used as one, maximizing the best properties of each and minimizing the drawbacks, resulting in durable cookware with excellent heating properties.
Here's how it works: Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor, but it is soft, prone to warping and scratching, and reactive with certain foods. Stainless steel is a terrible heat conductor, but very stable (non-reactive), warp resistant, and durable. Thus, cookware with an aluminum interior and a stainless exterior has the best of both worlds: excellent heating properties and extreme durability.
How Many Layers Are Enough?
The original clad stainless cookware had 2 or 3 layers: aluminum exterior with a stainless cooking surface, or stainless exterior-aluminum interior-stainless cooking surface. Since then, manufacturers have come up with different configurations (which we discuss more in the sections on All-Clad and Demeyere), including 5-ply and 7-ply.
Most 5-ply cookware has three internal layers of aluminum (like Demeyere Industry 5 and Essential) or an internal layer of copper between two layers of aluminum. All-Clad D5 is unique in having two internal layers of aluminum that sandwich a layer of stainless steel. This is supposed to provide more even heating for better performance on induction stoves. The internal layer of steel slows down the heat moving from the burner to the cooking surface, giving it time to spread out and be "more even." We're skeptical about this design and don't understand why you'd want to slow down heating on induction. In testing, there was a very slight difference in evenness between D3 and D5 (see our article on D3 Vs. D5 for more information).
Demeyere Proline (and other curve sided pieces) configuration.
The Demeyere Proline skillet and other curve-sided pieces have 7 layers of full cladding: The TriplInduc bottom, with 18/10 steel protecting the 18/0 induction layer, plus three aluminum alloys, plus the stainless steel cooking surface.
Straight sided Atlantis pieces have a disc bottom with 6 layers of cladding: 3 layers of stainless on the bottom: the more corrosion-prone magnetic layer is protected by layers of rust resistant 18, which is their patented "TriplInduc®" design); then thin layers of silver sandwiching a 2mm copper disc. The pan is 18/10 stainless steel.
The Demeyere Inducto Seal/TriplInduc® design.
Multiple layers can be functional, as in the case of Demeyere's TriplInduc®. However, multiple layers have become a bit of a fad, and don't always improve cookware performance.
The more important factor to consider is the thickness of the aluminum and/or copper heating core, and the overall mass of the pan.
In other words, a 2-ply pan with 3mm of aluminum (like the now discontinued All Clad MC2) is going to heat faster and more evenly than a 5-ply pan with a 1.7mm layer of aluminum (such as All Clad D5).
Comparing aluminum content of All-Clad and Demeyere
All-Clad: D3 and D5 have about 1.7mm of aluminum. Copper Core has 0.9mm of copper plus two thin layers of aluminum, which adhere better to steel.
Demeyere Atlantis: 3.7mm of aluminum on the Proline and other fully clad Atlantis pieces. Disc-clad pieces have a 7mm base, with a 2mm layer of copper plus aluminum and silver.
Demeyere Industry 5: Has a 2mm aluminum heating core.
(So Demeyere wins this category hands down.)
How Thick Should the Heating Core Be?
The more aluminum or copper a pan has, the better its heating properties are going to be.
So what's a good number?
These are all estimations, because different manufacturers use different alloys of aluminum and copper with slightly differing properties. But in general, copper is about twice as efficient as aluminum at spreading heat. Therefore, a 1mm copper heating core offers roughly the same heating properties as a 2mm layer of aluminum.
With that in mind, what's a good number? Well, All-Clad D3 (tri-ply) has about 1.7mm of aluminum total, and this has become the standard by which all other brands of clad cookware are judged. This is enough aluminum to create even heating but not so much that the pans are overly heavy.
In contrast, the Demeyere Proline skillet has 3.7mm of aluminum--about 75% more than All-Clad D3 (or D5). Demeyere's Industry 5 line, the one most comparable to All-Clad's D3, has about 2mm of aluminum, which is approximately 25% more aluminum than D3 (but also heavier).
In fact, all of Demeyere's lines offer thicker layers of aluminum--not to mention the copper and silver in the disc-clad Atlantis pieces.
Thus, there's no question that Demeyere is the better-performing cookware. However, it's heavier, more expensive cookware: the Proline skillet is almost as heavy as cast iron, and quite spendy, so for all-around, everyday cookware, you may prefer the lighter All-Clad D3 or the Demeyere Industry 5. Both are great options.
The thickness of the aluminum and/or copper heating core is what gives a pan great heating properties, not the number of layers. A good number for copper starts at about 1mm; a good number for aluminum starts at about 1.5mm.
Full Cladding vs. Disc Cladding
Cookware can be fully clad or it can have a clad disc bonded to the bottom surface of the cookware; this is called bottom-clad, disc-clad, or impact-bonded cookware.
You can spot disc cladding easily by the seam where the disc is welded to the rest of the pan:
Most bottom-clad cookware is less expensive because it's cheaper to make and tends to be lower quality than fully clad cookware. This is especially true in the US, where disc-clad cookware is considered inferior to the fully clad American brand All-Clad.
However, disc-clad cookware is popular in Europe, and some European brandsmare extremely high quality. This includes Demeyere Atlantis. The Atlantis line has fully clad and disc clad pieces. This configuration has evolved from Demeyere's cooking philosophy, which is that when you use curved-sided pieces (like a skillet), the sides are part of the cooking surface; when you use straight-sided pieces (like the sauté pan shown above) only the bottom is cooking surface.
All-Clad, on the other hand, makes only fully clad cookware. Fully clad cookware is what Americans are accustomed to and prefer. Whether it is the better design, though, is a matter of opinion, and also depends on the disc configuration: if the disc is thin and doesn't fully cover the pan bottom, heating will be uneven. But a disc like that on Demeyere Atlantis provides excellent heating; probably better than most fully clad cookware.
W like Demeyere's philosophy. For example, pans used for liquids, such as sauce pans and stock pots, really don't require full cladding because the natural convection in liquid distributes heat evenly throughout the pot. And in any straight-sided pan, it's difficult to use the sides for cooking as you can in a frying pan or a wok. So is full cladding necessary? Perhaps not for everything.
Even so, there are other reasons to prefer full cladding. One is balance: bottom clad pans can feel unbalanced, especially if you're accustomed to full cladding. Another is that with full cladding, you don't have to stop and consider "which pan should I use?" Since all pans are fully clad, you'll get similar results whether you grab a frying pan or a sauté pan, a sauce pan or a saucier.
As we said: it's largely a matter of preference.
If you do want to consider disc-clad cookware, we recommend that you avoid cheap Chinese brands. High quality disc cladding has to be thick enough to compensate for the lack of full cladding--usually 4-6mm--while lower quality bottom cladding has roughly the same thickness as a fully clad pan--but only on the bottom.
Americans tend to prefer full cladding, but there are good arguments to be made for some disc clad pieces, especially if they are high quality (like the Demeyere Atlantis).
We recommend that you avoid inexpensive disc-clad cookware. which is offered by many major cookware manufacturers. So if you buy on the low end, make sure you're getting fully clad cookware, or disc cladding with a thick enough, large enough heating core.
About All-Clad
All-Clad is an American company founded in the 1971 by metallurgist John Ulam, who invented the process of bonding aluminum to stainless steel. All-Clad has been a consistently profitable company and has gone through a few changes of ownership. Today, All-Clad is owned by the French kitchenware conglomerate Groupe SEB, which also owns many other well-known brands such as T-fal, Wearever, Mirro, and Krups.
Despite being owned by an overseas company, all of All-Clad's clad cookware is still made in the USA. Other products, such as lids, electronics, and their cast aluminum nonstick cookware, are made in China. Their newest line, Fusiontec, is made in Germany.
When people hear "All-Clad," they usually associate it with the D3 (tri-ply) cookware, one of the first bonded cookwares ever made and still AC's most popular line.
When All-Clad's original patent expired in 2004, hundreds of All-Clad tri-ply knockoffs entered the market. In response, All-Clad introduced several new lines to stay ahead of this competition.
All-Clad has discontinued some of their popular lines, including Master Chef, LTD2, Thomas Keller, and two of their nonstick lines. They also discontinued their newest copper line, C4. They have a new enameled stainless steel line called Fusiontec which is made in Germany and expensive.
See also our Definitive All Clad Cookware Review.
About Demeyere
Demeyere (pronounced de-MY-ruh), is a Belgian cookware manufacturer that's been around for more than 100 years. They were a small, family-owned business until the mid-2000s, when they were purchased by Zwilling J. A. Henckels, a German conglomerate that owns several cookware lines and are probably best known in the US for their knives. (Quite possibly, the timing of this acquisition was related to All-Clad's patent on clad cookware expiring.)
Demeyere was the first company to make induction compatible clad stainless cookware. They are known for their excellent design and extremely high quality products.
Demeyere Cookware Features
The Demeyere designers have a different philosophy about cookware than All-Clad, which has resulted in pans with very different designs.
Cladding
In their original line, Atlantis, the curve-sided pans (e.g., skillets and sauciers) are fully clad, while the straight-sided pans (e.g., sauté and sauce pans) are bottom-clad. (See the Full Cladding Vs. Bottom Cladding discussion above for more details.)
Here's a 4 minute video from Demeyere which explains their reasoning (and pan construction):
Demeyere doesn't make any tri-ply cookware. Their fully clad line, Industry (also called Industry 5 or Industry 5 Plus), is 5-ply, with 3 interior layers of aluminum.
Demeyere also makes a line of nonstick pans (AluPro), but as far as we can tell the pieces are sold only as open stock (no sets).
All Demeyere cookware is made in Belgium except their Resto line of specialty products (tea kettles, egg poachers, mini pans, and more), which is made in Indonesia.
Note: All of these lines are summarized in the table below.
Demeyere makes fabulous cookware. They offer more aluminum than All-Clad's offerings, thus heat more evenly (i.e., better thermal conductivity) and hold onto heat longer (i.e., better heat retention). Their welded handles mean no rivets to clean around, and their Silvinox® finish makes the stainless exteriors easier to clean (less sticky) than other brands of stainless.
The drawback of Demeyere cookware is the substantial heft that all this quality adds: if you don't want heavy pans, the All-Clad D3 is a better option--but the performance is less impressive.
To compare:
- The All-Clad D3 12" skillet weighs 4 pounds.
- The Demeyere Industry 5 11" skillet weighs 4.2 pounds.
- The Demeyere Proline 11" skillet weighs 5.3 pounds.
- For comparison, a 12-inch cast iron skillet weighs 7-8 pounds (depending on brand).
These aren't huge differences, but it's something to be aware of (and note that the Demeyere sizes are both smaller--but heavier--than the All-Clad).
The Demeyere Atlantis Proline skillet is a true kitchen masterpiece, offering almost 4 millimeters of aluminum for fast, even heat distribution (compare to 1.7mm in All-Clad's D3 line and even less in the D5 line). The result is heating properties comparable to high-end copper cookware.
Here are some of the Demeyere cookware features. (Most of this info is taken from the Demeyere website.)
Silvinox® (All Demeyere Cookware)
From the website: Silvinox® is a unique electrochemical surface treatment system that enriches the material by removing any iron and impurities from the surface. This makes the stainless steel easy to clean, and provides higher resistance to fingerprints, harsh detergents and strong acidic foods. The products retain their silvery-white colour even after years of use.
TriplInduc® (Atlantis, John Pawson)
From the website: TriplInduc® is a combination of three alloys that provides up to 30% more efficiency on induction than other brands of induction compatible clad stainless cookware. Furthermore, it ensures that the base remains flat, allowing you to switch from one heat source to another at any time.
TRK Note: TriplInduc® is 3 layers of stainless steel: exterior layers of 18/10 that protect an internal magnetic layer of 18/0. We're not sure why this results in greater efficiency on induction, but it does seem to in most applications. Maybe it's just the increased mass, or the extremely flat, wide bottoms that provide better contact with the induction hob.
InductoSeal® Base (Atlantis/John Pawson Straight-Sided Pieces)
From the website: The InductoSeal® base consists of seven layers. A copper disk, hermetically embedded in the base, ensures optimum heat distribution and provides a heat-conducting surface which is 33% larger than a traditional base. InductoSeal® allows for controlled cooking on a low heat, and is energy-saving. The capsule is hermetically welded to the side of the product and provides extra hygiene as water, fat or dirt cannot penetrate into the base.
TRK Note: This diagram, from the video above, shows the 7-layer configuration of the InductoSeal® base (including the TriplInduc® layer):
7-PlyMaterial® (Atlantis/John Pawson Curve-Sided Pieces)
From the website: 7-PlyMaterial® is a unique technology consisting of 7 layers, including stainless steel and an aluminium core. This technology is used for both the product's base and sides and ensures optimum heat distribution up to the top edge of the product, allowing for perfect control over the cooking process. The 7-PlyMaterial reaches up to 30% more efficiency on induction due to TriplInduc®. The total thickness of the 7 layers is designed with the necessity in mind to obtain the right temperature for the typical cooking process for which the product is used.
So you can see that the fully clad pieces have a hefty amount of aluminum plus the protective TriplInduc® that protects the magnetic stainless steel.
The straight-sided pieces have an impressive 4.8mm thick disc with an even more impressive 2mm-thick copper and silver interior (which should erase any doubts about the Demeyere's disc-clad pieces being able to spread heat quickly and evenly).
5-Ply Material (Industry 5)
From the website: This special combination of different alloys, including aluminum, ensures that the heat is not concentrated in one place, but is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the pan. A magnetic stainless steel exterior makes these products suitable for all cookers, including induction.
TRK Note: The "different alloys" are 3 alloys of aluminum, the two outer alloys for better bonding to the steel and the internal alloy for its thermal conductivity.
ControlInduc®
From the website: ControlInduc® stainless steel frying pans regulate the maximum heat on induction hobs to 250°C, meaning the pan can never overheat.
Induction Compatibility
All Demeyere cookware is induction compatible.
Price Comparisons: Which Costs More?
Overall, Demeyere is the more expensive cookware.
Note that we are only looking at clad stainless pieces, so we don't include nonstick, or All-Clad's new Fusiontec enameled cookware.
All-Clad/Demeyere Cost Comparison and Recommendations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Product | App. Cost (10"/12"/ | Features | Recommend? |
AC D3 | $130/170*/600 (7pc) | 3 ply, 1.7mm aluminum, induction. Compare to Demeyere Industry 5 | Yes. Good all-around cookware. |
AC D5 | $165/205/700 (7pc) | 5 ply, alum/stainless, same thickness as D3 but with less aluminum due to layers of stainless steel. Compare to Demeyere Industry 5. | No. The extra stainless does nothing to improve heating or induction compatibility--just increases the price. |
AC Copper Core | $165/205/ | 5 ply w/1mm copper core + 2 uber thin layers of aluminum. Lightweight and somewhat more responsive than D3. | Yes. Great all-around cookware--but more expensive than D3. |
Demeyere Atlantis skillet (Proline), 9.4"/11" | $220/250 | 7 layers with TriplInduc steel layers plus almost 4mm of aluminum. Excellent pans but heavy. | Yes. The best stainless skillet available. But heavy, similar to cast iron. |
Demeyere Atlantis Disc-Clad sauté pan | 2.6 qt: $300 4.2 qt: $370 | Disc-clad Atlantis pans have 2mm copper plus silver and aluminum. | Yes, if you want stellar heating and don't mind the weight. |
Demeyere Industry 5, 9.5"/12.5" | $100/160/ | 5 layers of stainless and aluminum w/2mm of aluminum. Compare to AC D3, D5. | Yes. Thicker aluminum than all AC's lines. Better 5 ply than AC D5. |
Demeyere Essential 11"/12"//10pc | $130/160/800 | Same configuration as Atlantis, different design. Double steel lids for better insulation. | No. Get Atlantis or Silver 7: same cookware for less. |
*You can sometimes find the AC D3 pan on Amazon for as low as $70/120.
Which Brand Is Better? Our Recommendations
If you're looking for top-end clad stainless cookware, All-Clad and Demeyere are both excellent options.
If you want the best heating performance that clad stainless cookware has to offer, go with Demeyere. Atlantis/Proline is their premium line, but Industry is also very good (or go with Zwilling Aurora for less).
If you are concerned about weight and maneuverability or you have ergonomic issues, go with All-Clad. We recommend D3, followed by Copper Core. We don't recommend D5.
Here are our favorites from both brands.
Best Overall: Demeyere Atlantis/Proline Skillet
You may not want to go with the whole set, as the sauté and sauce pans are bottom-clad (and pretty heavy), but the Proline skillet is unsurpassed in quality. In fact, if you invest in just one quality piece of cookware, it should be the Proline skillet (it's that good).
| buyy demeyere proline skillet:  |
|---|---|
| buy demeyere atlantis sets: |
 | buy demeyere Atlantis sauté pan: |
|---|
Best Lighter Weight: All-Clad D3/Demeyere Industry 5
The Industry 5 is going to be heavier than the D3, but lighter than the Atlantis line. The All Clad D3 frying pan with lid is one of the best deals on the Internet.
 | buy All-Clad d3 skillet: |
|---|---|
 | buy All-Clad d3 skillet w/lid: |
| buy All-Clad d3 sets: |
 | buy demeyere industry 5 skillet: |
 | buy demeyere industry 10 pc. set: |
FAQs on All-Clad Vs. Demeyere
Here are some common questions about All-Clad vs. Demeyere clad stainless steel cookware.
Which Is Better, All-Clad or Demeyere?
Overall, Demeyere is heavier cookware, so it has the best heating properties. But it's too heavy for some people, so we recommend Demeyere for people who don't mind heavy cookware and All-Clad D3 for people who want high quality but lighter cookware.
Where Is All-Clad Cookware Made?
All All-Clad fully clad stainless steel is made in the USA. All-Clad disc-clad, nonstick, and stainless steel lids are made in China.
Where Is Demeyere Cookware Made?
Demeyere Industry, Atlantis, and John Pawson are made in Belgium. Demeyere Resto is made in Indonesia.
Are All-Clad and Demeyere Oven Safe?
Yes, both All-Clad and Demeyere are oven safe to at least 500F.
Are All-Clad and Demeyere Dishwasher Safe?
While you can put most clad stainless cookware in the dishwasher, we recommend washing it by hand. Dishwasher detergent can be abrasive and discolor the finish.
Final Thoughts on All Clad Vs. Demeyere
There you have it: overall, Demeyere is heavier cookware, which gives it better heating properties. All-Clad is lighter weight and easier to handle while still providing great heating.
All cookware is a trade off. If heating properties are your number one concern, go with the Demeyere pans (either Atlantis or Industry 5 is great cookware, with Atlantis being their premium line and also the heaviest). If lighter weight and maneuverability are important to you, any All-Clad line is a good choice, with our favorite being D3.
Thanks for reading!
If you found this article helpful, please share:
What a great article! Thank you for doing the research and providing real, quantifiable data.
I was trying to decide what brand of saucepan to buy and as I got into researching cladding I started to wonder about the differences in the thickness of the aluminum core between the different brands. It seemed to be a very important factor and I couldn’t find much data on it from the manufacturers. Your website did the homework and provided the answers I was looking for. Thank you!
I’ll be sure to check out the other articles on this website.
You’re very welcome, Christopher. Comments like yours make our day–this is a small but rapidly growing site, and we started it for the very reasons you mentioned: there is a terrible lack of “quantifiable data” about many consumer products, cookware being particularly frustrating. If you like our site, please consider liking our Facebook page and SHARING our articles on social media! We need all the publicity we can get! Thank you!! 🙂
Great analysis. Any thoughts about which sauté pan would better survive the abuse of very high temperatures on a high-output induction cooktop? I know that’s not the ideal or necessary way to use clad cookware, but I know from long experience that a certain individual in my household will not be dissuaded from using it that way. Same question for nonstick skillets, too.
Hi Susan, Thanks for your comment. Demeyere Atlantis has the “ControlInduc” feature, which limits how hot a pan can get. I believe the upper range is 425F, at which point there’s an alloy in the cookware that keeps it from getting any hotter regardless of the heat source. (We didn’t talk much about it because it didn’t seem like an important feature, but I guess maybe we were wrong about that). As for nonstick, there is no nonstick that can withstand high heat and not lose its nonstick properties quickly, but ceramic would be the safer choice, as PTFE starts to give off fumes somewhere around 450F. You’d be better off using a well-seasoned cast iron pan, which can almost perform like nonstick and take as much abuse as you can throw at it.
Thank you so much for such a comprehensive analysis! I was debating between both brands for a sauté pan, and your analysis made it easier to decide between the two!
You’re very welcome! So which did you choose??
Thank you for your excellent and thorough comparison. What a pleasantly surprising find on the internet! When I buy the pans i'll buy through your links.
Thank you very much, CJ! Comments like yours make this work worthwhile. 🙂
Amazing review! Glad I stumbled on this site. Will share.
Thanks, Jacquelyn! We’re glad it was helpful!
How flat should I expect a Demeyere pan bottom to be? I just got my first one – the 3.2 quart saucepan – and was surprised that it was not as perfectly flat as I expected. I put a straightedge across it and there are lots of gaps, with the edge just making contact at two points on the bottom. I don’t have my induction rangetop yet, but am concerned that since flatness and contact is so important for induction, I’ve just spent a slightly insane amount of money for a pan that doesn’t quite live up to one of its big promises.
On the other hand, I don’t have any experience cooking on induction, and maybe the pan is as good and flat as they come, and will work fine. I’m evaluating its flatness relative to perfect, the way I do when purchasing woodworking tools that are supposed to be machined to tight tolerances.
Hi Allen, I asked your question of our resident engineer, and he said that flatness (or lack thereof) does not affect how well a pan works with induction. This is because induction heat is inductive, not conductive: conduction requires contact, but induction does not. So the pan will work just fine even up to a centimeter or so away from the burner. (Who knew!?) This is why (according to him) you can put a towel over the burner and still get perfectly good heating. He also said that you actually don’t want the pan bottom perfectly flat because the glass top, which is an insulator, would absorb more heat from the pan, causing inefficiency.
I will have to do more research to verify that he is correct–but he is quite positive that he is.
Having said that, I know that Demeyere markets their products as more efficient w/induction than other cookware. I had always assumed that was because of the flat bottom, but that must not be the case. (We may have to do some revisions in our reviews.)
And having said that, I will also add that my Demeyere Atlantis saute pan is extremely flat on the bottom, although my Proline skillet is not. I haven’t measured their actual flatness, but both work beautifully on my induction hob.
Hope that helps–enjoy your new induction range!
Thank you so much for this review! I just purchased a new home (which includes an induction stovetop). The cheap ceramic-coated aluminum pans I bought at TJ Maxx years ago won't heat at all. Because of your detailed review I selected Demeyere with confidence knowing that it will work with my surface and give me great performance.
You’re very welcome, Niki. So glad we were able to help! One thing to note about Demeyere is that it’s heavy cookware, so I hope you don’t mind that. The Industry 5 isn’t too bad but the Atlantis can be very unwieldy, especially when full of food. So even though it’s about the best quality clad stainless on the market, it’s not right for everyone. Thanks so much for the comment!
I have a Gaggenau induction cooktop and think that the Demeyr Atlantis cookware is incompatable with it. When
using this cookware, I hear clicking comming from the cooktop and now the cooktop is failing, needing a new "board" for the second time.
Any ideas why this may be happening?
Hi Anita, I’m sorry you’re having problems with your cooktop. Sooo frustrating! We haven’t looked at the Gaaggenau induction cooktops, so I can’t speculate too much about it. I would start by contacting your appliance dealer (again). The clicking may or may not be related to the cookware. Sometimes it happens when the inner layers of cladding aren’t fully clad, but this is almost always in inexpensive clad cookware; I have never heard of it happening with Demeyere, and it has never happened to me w/my Demeyere cookware. So I doubt very much that it’s the cookware, unless you got a defective piece. Also, you said it’s coming from the cooktop itself, so again, I doubt it has anything to do w/the cookware. You could try another brand of stainless or a cast iron piece and see if you get the same result. I’m guessing you will but you really need to contact the appliance people. It sounds like you got a lemon and if the cooktop is no longer under warranty, I would still try to get them to replace it; if the appliance dealer won’t help, contact Gaggenau. They are a premium brand and in my experience these top makers will bend over backwards to make their customers happy. Good luck and let me know what happens.
Excellent article, thanks so much!
Rather surprised though thar you didn't include the Demeyere Industry Stainless Steel Traditional Nonstick Fry Pan line too, along with their aluminum nonstick line.
My 9.4" Proline is my favorite pan ever!
Thanks again for your very well detailed article, very much appreciated!
Hi Frank, We’re glad you enjoyed the article. As for not including the Industry stainless nonstick, that was an oversight we should probably correct. The general consensus at TRK is that aluminum nonstick pans are the better choice because they’re cheaper, and nonstick has such a finite life span. Even so, you’re right; we want to include all the options and will add the nonstick Industry to the article (and if you’re considering Demeyere, price probably isn’t much of an issue for you). Thanks for catching that!
Hi Melanie. When I wrote you the first time I was researching for a SS multi-clad nonstick skillet. I went ahead & purchased the Demeyere triple ply SS nonstick 8"pan, but returned it after testing an egg on it. It stuck slightly when new, which means it's only going to get worse over time as they all do. Plus the cast SS handle wasn't polished; looked rough & cheap. So back to Macy's it went.
I'll stay with Made-In's nonstick pans. Love their 5ply SS as well, even more than AC, but Demeyere Atlantis & Proline are in a league of their own.
Thanks for the input, Frank. Interesting about the Demeyere nonstick! You may have saved us having to buy a pan for review. 🙂 People love Made In but I have yet to try it. I'm sure it's made to compete with AC and not Demeyere–nobody has a build quality like that Proline.
The level of detail in your comparison article is fantastic! Such a huge help! Thank you so much!
In researching Demeyere a couple of years ago before purchasing their loss leader priced 9.4" Proline skillet, I had read somewhere that their Silvanox electrochemical treatment actually prevents any nickel leaching, which no other SS cookware does as far as I know. Problem is I cannot find the article that stated that, even on Demeyere's site. Since you didn't mention it, I'm assuming you didn't hear that either…
Received their Atlantis 5.1 quart saute pan yesterday & couldn't be happier with it's craftsmanship & beauty! Getting ready to break her in with a big thick ribeye.
Thanks again for your excellent article.
We had not found that info about nickel leaching, either. I did a quick google search and found a blurb about it in Chowhound’s cookware forum (a great source of cookware info). It does make sense that the treatment, which removes impurities from the surface, would help to prevent nickel leaching. But there’s nothing definitive about it in the discussion. Too bad.
BTW, that small Proline is no longer $99. It's gone up to over $200 now on most sites. We found it for $129 (IIRC) on I think the Sach's or Nieman Marcus site over the holidays, but it's no longer a loss leader item. Which is too bad, because it really is a great pan.
Thanks for the heads up on the Silvinox!
You can compare induction capable pans by using a double burner with equal amounts of water in each pan, like in this example:
https://youtu.be/9kWS_CCjWyM
Great video. Thanks!
In your article you listed the order of conductivity of metals with silver being first, the most conductive, then when on to say because it was so expensive it wasn't going to be included. But in reading about the Demeyere Atlantis sauté pan I purchased, it states the 2mm copper core of the bottom disc is sandwiched between two thin layers of pure silver, then layered with other metals to make it 7ply. That's got to aid it's heating properties, huh.
Hi Frank, Yes, the Demeyere Atlantis straight-sided pieces do have a small amount of silver in them. Just one more factor that makes Demeyere such an exceptional brand of cookware! Thanks for the comment.
What an amazing wealth of information! Thank you for all your hours of research and insight. I'm in the market for a new high quality set and would love to give you compensation through purchasing links. I would really like to see a comparison of build materials and manufacturing process used, quality, and usefulness of All-Clad D3 Everyday Stainless vs All-Clad D3 Stainless cookware. I have searched for hours and hours and cannot find any information as to the differences except superficially, like rolled lip, rounded handles and larger cooking surface. I don't understand why the Everyday D3 line is so much less expensive than D3 at the regular price. How are they cutting costs? Are they using a thinner core? Is it an introductory price that will eventually increase? Does it seem as though they will last as long as the D3? Thank you!!
Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for your comment. We never tire of hearing our articles are helpful to people! Your questions about D3 Everyday are good ones. We have been trying to get answers to these questions, too, without much luck. Eventually, we will probably have to buy an Everyday pan and slice it open to actually see what’s in there.
But until we do that, we can only guess at what All-Clad is up to with this new line. We do know that the Everyday line is going to be a direct-to-consumer brand, meant to compete directly with brands like Misen and MadeIn. And we know that it’s their D3 line with a face lift, and that, yes, it is made here in the US (my first thought was that it’s imported, but nope, it’s made here).
They must be cutting corners on quality to compete at a lower price point, right? But I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s D3 with a new look and a lower price. And I think this because they can’t put out a thinner product and still compete with MadeIn and Misen. These brands have–somewhat ironically–designed their lines to compete with All-Clad, so All-Clad can’t very well make an inferior product to compete with them. All-Clad has set the standard, and they can’t deviate from it without serious repercussions. (They’ve tried: their Chinese-made Emeril line, which failed miserably, is a good example of why this doesn’t work.)
So if this is the case (and it’s just a theory, but I think a good one), then there are two other possibilities. One is that they are saving enough by not selling in retail outlets that they can charge so much less for the cookware. The other is that their profit margin has been extremely high, and they are willing to make less in order to compete with DTC brands.
They may also have found a cheaper way to produce the same cookware. Advances in technology happen all the time. My guess is that these advances have occurred over time, and they are just now lowering their prices because they want to hang onto their market share.
Whatever’s going on, it’s interesting, indeed. Your theory about it being an introductory price is also possible. But I think it most likely has to do with the DTC brands which have become their toughest competition.
So, the million dollar question is, is Everyday worth a try? If you like D3, then I think Everyday is a good risk. I can’t promise that with certainty because we haven’t tested it yet. But I think the chances that it’s as good as the old D3 are very good.
Thank you so much! My husband actually came up with the direct to consumer competition theory as well. It makes sense and of course All-Clad wants to hang on to their market share. I purchased a D3 set as well as a 1.5 QT D3 Everyday pan to fill a gap. When I picked each of them up I realize how very much I disliked the handles on the D3, especially compared with the Everyday. I filled each up with water to mimic how it would feel to use when full.
Seeing the value in the shape of the D3 handle for safety purposes, it's obviously the most important factor. But holding it while stirring is definitely something I don't think I'll enjoy and because I cook a lot, it's going to annoy me. Being that I've already decided to spend the money already on high quality cookware, it's not a financial decision, but rather one of likes/dislikes and quality. Having such a difficult time deciding if I should return the D3 set and opt for the D3 Everyday. If and when you do test the D3 Everyday, please review it as compared with the D3. Thank you so much for your exhaustive research and insight. It's extremely helpful. 🙂
Hi Jennifer,
I think it's safe to assume that the Everyday is D3 with a new design. If you prefer the design–esp. the handle–then I see no reason why you shouldn't go for it. If you want to hold off, I understand. But I think your risk of getting a bad product w/the Everyday is low. You should definitely go with the style you prefer, as it makes a huge difference in how much you enjoy using it.
I noticed on the All Clad site that they were out of stock on many of the Everyday pieces. I guess their new marketing strategy is paying off. 🙂
Thanks and I agree. I saw that too. Trying to be patient. Can you post a link at least so you get compensated? You deserve it!!
I appreciate your enthusiasm more than I can say, but unfortunately, All-Clad does not have an affiliate program. If you want to help us out, you can click through to Amazon from any link on our site, and we get commission on anything you buy for 24 hours. But please don't feel obligated!
About eight months ago, I bought a set of the Everyday when I switched to an induction cooktop (which I adore). I have bought D3 pieces to supplement the set (there are no open-stock Everyday pieces, only the set)–extra 2-qt and 3qt saucepans, the small saucier, and the 12-in skillet with lid. I can't see any cooking performance differences in the two lines. I far prefer the Everyday flaired lips on the saucepans but I prefer the D3 handles. The D3 saucepans are also smaller in diameter and taller than the Everyday, which CAN make a difference with certain recipes).
Before Thanksgiving, I added the large Demeyere saucier to the mix! OMGOODNESS what a wonderful pan! Far and away my favorite! Definitely worth the extra money!
Thanks for commenting, Mary! I think you and I are in the minority liking the D3 handles, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one. 🙂
One thing I don’t know if it was noted earlier, is that lifetime warranty from All Clad means nothing if they refuse to fix or replace anything. We have several pieces, but one of them —a frying pan—keeps building up black carbon all over the surface. Everything we have tried, we can’t remove it. We only cook at medium heat, and exclusively use it to sauté vegetables (we don’t eat meat). It’s always been this way from the first couple months, and we feel it’s defective. Had a very hard time getting a hold of support, and they never even explained any solutions or offered some cleaning suggestions, they simply said it wouldn’t be covered by warranty. I never even asked for a warranty claim, I just asked what we could do to have a better operating frying pan.
So you can ignore the lifetime warranty claim—it seems worthless to me.
Thanks for the comment, Mark. Your problem with carbon buildup is weird, but it probably isn’t a manufacturing defect, so I kind of have to take AC’s side on this one. Their warranty covers manufacturing issues, such as cracks, warps, handles coming loose, etc. I could be wrong but I don’t think carbon buildup falls in that category. But I will say this: people who expect the company to replace worn nonstick pans are going to be disappointed, too, because this also does not fall under manufacturing defects. I’m not sure what type of pan you have, but the “lifetime warranty” on any nonstick pan won’t be honored by any manufacturer unless–again–it’s an obvious defect from the factory.
I have actually had a defective pan–it was warped when I took it out of the box–and All-Clad replaced it without an issue. So maybe the factory defect has to be obvious, but I was happy with the company’s response.
Hello, does the All-Clad D3 line or Demeyere Industry 5 have sealed rims?
Hi Paul, Demeyere I5 has sealed rims. The A/C D3 does not.
Thank you!! I’ve been blown away the information quality and quantity of your website. Thank you for your timely reply.
I’ve been looking for top performing brands that are both: sealed rims for occasional dishwasher use AND of a material/coating that minimizes leeching.
I thought Heritage Steel (316Ti) would work but their rims are not sealed?
It seems down to Hestan Nanobond and Demeyere for me.
Hi Paul, If you are only going to occasionally use the dishwasher, I would not let a lack of sealed rims influence your decision. It probably won’t shorten the life of your stainless cookware by any appreciable amount, and it won’t affect the cooking surface.
Our initial research on Heritage Steel is that it DOES have sealed rims. We haven’t confirmed this, but my guess is that it’s true because the company also makes several brands of waterless cookware, which is typically sealed.
If leaching is your biggest concern, then definitely go with the Nanobond. A lot of people think it’s hokey and gimmicky (and overpriced), and I have a hunch it’s not going to do well in the market for these reasons, but the coating is the most stable material we’ve yet seen on cookware–any cookware–and should stop leaching at a rate of about 100%. It is infinitely superior to nickel-free stainless, which is really your only other choice in stainless cookware (and which will leach materials other than nickel).
(Aside: Hestan should market the heck out of Nanobond as the most stable cooking surface in existence. They would probably sell a ton of it.)
However, stainless steel cookware leaches materials at an extremely small rate, and the materials it leaches are needed by our bodies in trace amounts (e.g., chromium, nickel, iron). There are no toxins in it. Unless you are super sensitive to nickel (which some people are), leaching isn’t really a concern with stainless cookware.
Performance-wise, I’d go with Demeyere. The information on their Silvinox coating is limited as far as leaching, but it’s a surface treatment that is supposed to stabilize the stainless, which probably makes it somewhat less reactive. It’s probably the second best choice to Nanobond.
Thank you again for such a full and helpful reply!
Are you sure that Demeyere I5 has sealed rims? Every picture and video I've seen shows the exposed aluminum layers (however Proline skillets now do have sealed rims).
Hi TC, We are so sorry for the late reply. Your comment somehow got lost in the shuffle, and I am just now finding it while doing an end-of-year website check. The pan we tested had a smooth rim with no layers showing, so we assume that means the rims are sealed.
Belgian here. To give you an idea of how long Demyere pots and pans last. I (31y/o) and my wife have used my parent's Demyere pots for over a year now after my parents used them for 40 years. They still work excellent, and they remain immaculate no matter how much food we burn in them. These pots are literally for multiple lifetimes. Even their ceramic pans are amazing. The coating isn't sparkling anymore, but the anti-stick works like new after 1.4 years of usage.
Thanks for commenting, Vincent! I love my Demeyere cookware and I have no doubt it will last for generations. Amazing about the ceramic, too. Will have to check it out.
This was a super helpful comparison. I am looking to upgrade some of my older cookware (Triply disk from Tramontina – launched before that All Clad patent expired.
My Tramontana is rivet-less and I had no idea how to find similar now that I want to upgrade! I am still sorting out what to get, but I did recently get a Demeyere Proline skillet. And I am very impressed.
Now I am looking for a small saucier, and awaiting an All Clad universal pan from the Fusiontec line.
Allclad isn’t all 1.7mm aluminium. My 12” skillet is 3.2mm overall thickness and the core is around 2.2mm.
Hi Kim, thanks for commenting. I own an AC D3 skillet and I re-measured it after reading your comment. I have a Starrett digital caliper, FYI. I got 2.6mm. To double check, I also measured my AC D3 3qt sauce pan, and that is also 2.6mm.
I am curious which AC skillet you have and how you measured it. It’s also tough to know get an accurate measure for the interior aluminum without slicing the pan open, which I’m not going to do again. 🙂
Hi, fantastic review. Certainly learned a few new things. I wanted to contribute a personal experience with the Demeyere Proline 11" skillet vs. a similar skillet made by Falk Culinair (also from Belgium). Falk Culinair design uses a 2.5mm thick material made of 2.3mm external cooper with a 0.2mm internal layer of stainless steel. By internal, I mean the cooking side of the skillet. The copper is exposed and overall the skillet looks great.
The Demeyere skillet heats up faster and more uniform. The Falk Culinair loses its flatness when heated up, causing the skillet to swivel freely on the stove. Quite annoying.
Hi Eran, thanks for the input! That’s a great nugget of information that we’ll file away for future reviews.
Glad you found the review helpful.
Great review and website! Does Demeyere make lids for their proline skillets? Or do any of the Atlantis lids fit the proline skillets?
Hi Farhad, No, to my knowledge there is no lid available for the Proline (probably because in Demeyere cooking philosophy, a skillet is not meant to be used with a lid). I use one of my All-Clad sauté pan lids and it works great. Or better yet, buy a generic lid for about $20.
Thanks for your comment!
I've been scavenging Demeyere Atlantis off of Craigslist and such for years now and they have ridiculously high resale values. Unless they have have a lot of cosmetic wear and tear these will sell for around 75%-80% of their current market new sales price.
Still a steal though.
The thermal conductivity and mass lead to very VERY even heating; this is especially noticeable when you are making something like crepes.
Have to buy lids for them off Amazon because it is the only way to match their odd rim diameters while not looking like a dollar store universal lid.
Thanks for the comment. That’s a great way to get top notch cookware for less!
I compared on an induction cooktop a 4-qt D5 soup pot to a Tefal Ingenio 21cm pot. I used a True Induction Mini-Duo MD-2B that is slated for my camper van and a power meter to measure electricity consumption (a Drok 200386). Using 3 pints of room-temperature distilled water, both pots performed nearly identically. Both drew 1600 watts on high, induction power factor 0.98 , and the D5 took about 6:45 minutes and 181 watt-hours to boil and the Tefal took 6:30 minutes and 172 WH. I waited over an hour between tests for the cooktop to cool and reset. Since the D5 pot is heavier, the small amount extra energy required is not surprising. Any error in the measurement would be to my visual calling time when my eyes decide the water it boiling. I would be curious to compare out the Demeyere Atlantis 4.2-qt dutch oven, if the test didn't involve a hefty purchase. My D5 4-qt pot came with a collared steamer insert, so I'll be happy enough using it, although I'd have preferred in inset steamer to save galley space!
That’s a very interesting test, and I’m surprised the difference was so small. The layer of aluminum in the D5 is probably about the same thickness as the T-fal pan, but the steel layers should slow down heating, I would think more significantly than that. I’m pretty certain the Atlantis pot would take quite a bit longer to heat because the base has 2mm of copper, plus aluminum and silver, so is quite a bit thicker than either the D5 or the Tfal. But the payoff for that is extremely even heating and better heat retention–though it may not be that much better because of all the copper.
Thanks for sharing your testing results.