( 6 reviews )
-
Posted: Nov 30 2007
Amazon just kinda threw mine in the box with some wadded up paper in one corner, and needless to say the contents were not treated gently by FedEx. Despite the fact that the packaging was in shreds when I opened everything up, the pot itself showed no signs of damage--which is why you buy an All-Clad in the first place. You can get a solid aluminum pot that performs about as well for less than 1/4 of the price of this one, but then you can't cook tomatoes in it, so the stainless steel interior comes in pretty handy. Heats up quickly and evenly, and that's really everything you need a pot to do, so I have zero complaints.
-
( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 16 2006
All clad pots are wonderful. The shorter pans with thick-cored bottoms make excellent jam pots as they deliver very good heat distribution. Good heat distribution is necessary for cooking full-flavored jams, preserves, or butters. Without good heat distribution you run the risk of burn spots on the pan's surface. These burn spots may/will impart an unwanted flavor to your product. If you've ever tried to disguise burned jam-- you know it's a losing battle. While some cooks may consider All-Clad pots or pan to be too expensive, I believe they are well worth the cost as you are less likely to burn your product. One good pan is worth more than six cheapies. Besides, quality equipment instills confidence and makes you feel like a seasoned chef.
-
( 5 of 6 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 11 2006
The 12 quart stock pot is the big brother to the 6 quart Master Chef 2 stock pot I got a few months ago to replace both a 5 quart teflon lined pot and my 8 quart Le Creuset Dutch oven. The 6 quart stainless steel lined aluminum body fit the bill perfectly, so I had great hopes for its big brother. And, the 12 quart has come through with flying colors. I started getting Master Chef 2 from all the different All-Clad lines because that seemed to be the standard of choice on the Food Network's 'Iron Chef America' show. And, while I know it is not the most expensive All-Clad line, I'm also sure that they would not have chosen it if Bobby and Mario would have had any problem with it. I also picked this particular pot because although it is labelled a stock pot, it does not have quite the classic high height to radius ratio, so it is not so high that it is hard to work with, especially when you are using it for soups. When I use it to make stocks, it has the one quality I want most, especially with an electric range, and that is control. Stock temperatures seem to respond quite well to changes in burner setting and I get no hot spots causing boiling when the overall temp of the stock is below 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Best of all, it is not extremely heavy, as it weighs less than the 8 quart Creuset. A bit pricy, but an excellent member of its family of pots!
