Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher Safe 12-Piece Cookware Set Review
I've always been an avid cook, but never quite appreciated the importance of a great set of cookware. After being diagnosed with an illness that was probably caused in part by years of Teflon use, I decided to get rid of my kitchen-full of T-Fal Teflon cookware and splurge on stainless steel. After much research, I decided on this set of Cuisinart Multiclad. My thought was I wanted something durable, heavy-duty (yet not so physically heavy that it was a pain to pull out pots and pans every time I cooked), and that would not leach harmful chemicals into food and the air while I cooked.
I admit, I was intimidated by stainless steel... I had the idea that food easily became burned on and that it took intense scrubbing after each use. I also had the idea that a good set of quality stainless steel would cost at least ,000. After finding this set of Cuisinart Multiclad, I decided to take the plunge.
When my order arrived and I began pulling pots out of the box, I was delighted -- I wasn't expecting them all to be so darn *beautiful!* They also felt magnificent in my hands... just the perfect feel... substantial, but not uncomfortably heavy. (Confession: For several days after I received them, I would sneak peeks even when I wasn't cooking with them... I would open the cabinet door just to gaze at them. Yes, folks, I consider them a work of art!)
Cooking with my Cuisinart cookware is a whole new experience. Of course, great cookware won't make anyone a better chef, but I find myself inspired to concoct more gourmet creations than I used to. With cookware that makes you feel like a professional chef, heating soup out of a can seems mundane!
Cleaning the cookware has been just as easy as with my old Teflon. I just rinse each pan as soon as I'm finished with it and it cleans up beautifully. I am also especially careful never to let anything burn (in fact I rarely need to go above medium heat unless I'm boiling water). I also use a tip I've read on several reviews: heat the pan first for a minute or two before adding the food. That tip, plus brushing a fine layer of grapeseed oil inside anything I'm sauteeing, has prevented food from sticking to the pan.
I did have some water-spot-looking discoloration appear once after cooking brown rice. Regular washing did not remove these spots, but I let a bit of white vinegar soak in the pot for about 20 minutes, then scrubbed with a Mr. Clean Magic Erase, and ran through the dishwasher again... good as new!
Another thing I love about this particular set is that it's an outstanding collection of very useful pieces. You have all the sizes and types of pot you need. The only thing I've added is the Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher-Safe 5-1/2-Quart Saute with Helper Handle & Cover. It's a larger version of the saute pan that comes in the set, and I like the larger size for the very large, vegetable-heavy meals I cook for my family. I use the 3 1/2 quart saute from the set just as often, so it's not as though it's a wasted piece. A large family may consider investing in a larger stockpot and perhaps the 12" skillet, but I haven't found that necessary at this point.
One piece in this set that has become a surprise favorite is the steamer (I have two other steamer inserts and didn't think I needed another one). My generic steamers fit down into various pots, leaving only enough room for an inch or two of water at the bottom. The Cuisinart steamer sits atop the 3qt saucepan... not hanging down into it... so that you can actually use that pot for boiling potatoes or whatever, while simultaneously steaming with the same pot... I love how efficient that is.
The bottom line is that this is an absolutely gorgeous, wonderful-to-use set of cookware. I'm hard-pressed to think of anything I don't like about it... it did bug me that little hairline scratches appeared in the bottom finish after cooking, but that's not that big a deal. If tiny scratches in the outer finish would bother you, I would suggest getting this set without the dark exterior finish (the Multiclad set that does not specify it's dishwasher-safe -- even though it is). This is definitely a 5-star product that I plan to use and enjoy the rest of my life!
Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher Safe 12-Piece Cookware Set Feature
- Cookware is dishwasher safe, stovetop safe, boiler safe, and oven safe
- Solid stainless steel riveted handles stay cool on the stovetop, and provide a safe and solid grip
- Tapered rims eliminate drips and spills while pouring
- Tight fitting stainless covers seal in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results
- 12 piece set includes: 1 1/2 quart saucepan with cover, 3 quart saucepan with cover, 3 quart saute with helper handle and cover, 8 quart stockpot with cover, 10 Inch open skillet, 8 Inch open skillet and 20 cm steamer insert with cover
Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher Safe 12-Piece Cookware Set Overview
Unlimited convenience ArmourGuard dishwasher-safe hard anodized exterior makes cleanup truly effortless. Stainless Steel interior offers the optimal cooking surface that will not discolor or react with foods and hard anodized aluminum exterior provides superior heat distribution. A multi-layer system bonds an anodized aluminum exterior to a premium stainless steel interior to create the ultimate high-performance cookware.
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Related Products
- Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher-Safe 5-1/2-Quart Saute with Helper Handle & Cover
- Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher-Safe 12-Inch Skillet with Helper Handle
- Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher-Safe 2-Quart Saucepan with Cover
- Cuisinart Multiclad Unlimited Dishwasher-Safe 6-Quart Saucepot with Cover
- Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Universal Double Boiler with Cover
Customer Reviews
Faster, more even cooking - A Lynn - US
It distributes heat so well that now I can put my stove on 5 or 6 instead of 7 to boil water and it will come to a boil in a much shorter time. Searing on the stove then moving to the oven was wonderful. It cooked much faster than my previous methods (cheap pans or baking dishes) and still managed to hold in all of the flavor and moisture. Sticking foods: if I used non-stick spray, olive oil or something of that nature I was good to go; if I didn't and food stuck, I just put a little soapy water in it, let it sit and it came off easily.
I have a full time job and I'm a student so it was really important to me that I could throw it in the dishwasher. It came out clean with no scrubbing but, as with all stainless steel, the inside did discolor a bit from water spots. This isn't at all important to me as it doesn't affect cooking performance but it did come with care instructions that say a little warm vinegar will take it out.
It's got a great weight to it. I went from cheap pots from IKEA to this so the weight was a bit of a surprise, but I like it because it's durable and the helper handles make it easily manageable. Speaking of handles, they obviously don't stay cool when placed in the oven but they were pretty good with stovetop use. They got a little warm, but not hot and I really enjoyed not having to fool with a potholder. The shorter handles (the helper handles and the ones for the stock pot) do heat up more than the longer ones so use a bit of caution.
The best surprise, for me, was that the lids from the other pieces also fit the skillets so they can be used like a saute pan. So functional!
Overall it's perfect. It's got the even heat distribution that I wanted and doesn't have the chemicals or Teflon that my husband didn't want. It was a great compromise for us. The only thing I do wish is that each of the items in the set were sold individually. It's got a lifetime warranty so if anything happens I could have it repaired or replaced, but it would be nice to have more than one of some of the pieces.
Cuisinart cookware set - Lana - VA, USA
it is good, but not my perfect set.
One piece had some rust from the beginning. Stainless steel discolors after use, have to clean it with vinegar.
If used properly, doesn't stick.
No regrets - Margot J. Foster - Des Moines, IA
I bought this set 2 years ago and I have to say I don't think I could be happier. This set is incredibly durable and has suffered through my daily use and abuse and is still in amazing condition. I am a bit of a foodie and love to cook so I've used these pans for pretty much everything you can imagine and I certainly don't treat them like delicate flowers.
This set was a bit of an impulse purchase for me, I looked at a lot of sets but for no other reason than gut instinct settled on this one and I've never looked back. The cookware has excellent heat distribution and is very easy to clean. Any time I've burned something on or let something sit too long all I have to do is fill the pan with hot water let it soak and I can wipe everything away. The handles do stay cool when being used on the stove stop so no fussing with awkward pot holders.
The only thing that I might consider a drawback is that the part on the inside where the handle is attached can sometimes hold on to a little food so it needs a few extra seconds of attention when cleaning.
Otherwise highly recommended.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 21, 2010 23:22:34
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