Cuisinart 12-PC Set Silver ZPV-1842

As expected, the item arrived as posted

I cook for a larger crowd regularly, and I had come to the point of needing a few extra pieces to complement my All-Clad d5 set. However, I was not prepared to pay All-Clad prices a second time round... so I decided to go for this set, which was less for the set than the All-Clad stockpot alone. To be honest, I only realized that there was a 7 piece set after receiving this one, and maybe that was lucky, as I would have ordered the smaller set had I seen it before... but now I am happy to have the 12 set. So, comparing the two sets... - Yes, the All-Clad is better quality. Sturdier, heavier, easier to clean. But, the difference is small, and at this stage, I am not sure it's $600 better. - Once you learn how to cook with stainless steel, both sets perform beautifully. For everyday cooking, I am not seeing much difference between the two. - The Cuisinart one still cleans nicely, even though it might take a bit more soaking for burned-on food. It reacts very nicely to Bar Keeper's friend for more difficult stains. - The shiny inside surface makes me nervous for scratches, but no evidence of such yet. I am sure they will eventually appear, but, honestly, I don't care as much. - The lids are much lighter than the All-Clad ones. Not sure that it matters though. - Compared to my other set, this one seems to have less surface and more height, making it more appropriate if I am cooking smaller quantities - I find myself reaching for it if I am cooking for 1 or 2 people. - It's beautiful. Happy to see it hanging on my rack. The different sizes are the main reason I am happy I ended up buying the 12 piece set, as it gives me more flexibility in choosing the appropriate size for the job at hand. I would think that the Cuisinart version is possibly better than the All-Clad if you are routinely cooking for 1-2 people; the All-Clad may be better if cooking for 3-4. Not that either set couldn't handle any amount of people in that range. For myself, I see that I am reaching for what I thought was going to be my backup set more often than I thought I would. And, even though I can tell the All-Clad is better quality, the difference is not such that would impact my day-to-day cooking. Of course, longevity (my All-Clad set is close to 10 years old with no signs of wear) remains to be seen.

Hermosos, excelentes en todos los aspectos

Firstly, I’ve given this cookware set a 5 out of 5 based on ‘best value’ not ‘best quality’. Secondly, I place considerably more trust in reviews from America's Test Kitchen (ATK) / CenturyLife.Org than most user reviews. Similarly, I expect readers of this review to treat it on a ‘for information only’ basis. In a nut-shell the Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12 x piece cookware set is a Chinese made equivalent of the USA made 3D All-Clad range. A great comparison review was written by CentryLife. The only addition I can make to their review is that the sides of the Cuisinart fry pans/skillets are noticeably steeper than that or the All-Clad, as seen in the picture (All-Clad 3D left / Cuisinart right). As noted in the ATK review of 12” skillets, these steeper sides may be detrimental under some circumstances. These two fry pans are comparable in almost every other respect, aside from cost. The Cuisinart Multiclad Pro saucepans do show watermarks more than the All-Clad, these can be removed with Barkeepers Friend. The entire 12 x piece Cuisinart MCP-12N set was only $20 more than my 1 x Demeyere Proline Frying Pan, so my expectations are adjusted accordingly. I believe the performance gap between Demeyere and All-Clad is significantly more than the gap between All-Clad and Cuisinart. High quality workhorse skillets can be purchased at a later date, if required. The Cuisinart set is worth it for the saucepans and stockpot alone, the skillets are an entry point bonus.

The Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro cookware set was carefully packaged and delivered quickly. The pots and pans feel heavy and sturdy, indicating great quality. I haven’t used them yet, but my first impression is very positive. Thanks to the seller for the careful shipping!