Made In vs All Clad: Which Is Best For Your $ (& 2023 Guide)
Made In vs All Clad - Who comes out the winner?
It depends.
Both brands offer great kitchenware sets, but their prices differ. And there's one factor that puts one over the top.
Let's break it down.
But before we do, let's look at the Made In set.
Made In The Sous Chef Set Review and Key Features
Made In is a well-known cookware manufacturer and one of All Clad’s chief competitors. They produce a popular cookware set called the Sous Chef Set. We’ll examine this set to perform a direct comparison against All Clad’s best collections as well.
Made In's cookware uses stainless steel, carbon steel, and other materials together. It produces high-quality pieces for a variety of home chef needs.
Made In Cookware Uses Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel Construction
The Made In Sous Chef Cookware Set is a quality collection through and through. This set is in between Made In’s cheaper Starter Kit and pricier Executive Chef Set.
The Sous Chef Cookware Set is comprised of different materials. Certain pieces are made of one material while other pieces are made of another.
For example, one of the set’s frying pans is made with stainless steel cladding. The 5-ply stainless steel combines stainless steel and aluminum in alternating layers. The stainless steel layers form the outermost surfaces and the innermost layer. Stainless steel is anticorrosive and incredibly durable.
The resulting cookware is long-lasting and will not likely rust over time. Even better, it’s 18/10 stainless steel. This type of stainless steel is exceptionally durable and long-lasting.
The aluminum layers inside the 5-ply frying pan are excellent heat conductors. They’re also relatively lightweight. By combining stainless steel and aluminum, Made In makes a quality frying pan. It can serve for any occasion and will last for a long time to come.
The other pieces in the kit use carbon steel. Carbon steel is a type of steel with exceptional durability. It's similar to cast iron. However, cast iron is usually quite heavy.
Carbon steel it isn’t anticorrosive to the same degree as stainless steel. Despite this, the carbon steel provides excellent durability. It absorbs heat well enough for efficient cooking performance.
In fact, compared to cast-iron, carbon steel heats up a lot more quickly. Carbon steel is decently conductive and facilitates even heating. You shouldn’t experience any cold or overly hotspots.
Non-Stick Layers for Made In Cookware
Some of the Made In Sous Chef Collection’s pieces feature nonstick layers. The nonstick layers are created using specialized chemicals that smooth the cooking surface for pots and pans. Over time, food items won't stick to the cooking surfaces. There won’t be minor imperfections for food particles to get stuck in.
However, this nonstick method isn’t as effective as All Clad’s nonstick solution. That’s because the nonstick layers used with Made In cookware pieces can wear down or off over time. Furthermore, some nonstick chemicals can be poisonous if they eventually wear off and enter your food.
So you must be careful not to use metal utensils or to over wash your premium cookware.
Made In Cookware is Oven-Safe
Made In’s Sous Chef Cookware pieces are all oven safe. But the degree to which they are oven-safe depends on the materials used.
For example, the stainless cookware is oven safe for up to 800°F. The carbon steel cookware is even better. It is oven safe up to 1200°F.
All of Made In’s carbon steel cookware is particularly good for high heat oven baking. The nonstick cookware pieces are safe up to 500°F.
Made In Cookware has Stay-Cool Handles
Made In’s Sous Chef Collection uses stainless steel handles for all cookware. As a result, your hands won’t be burned even under heavy heat. Stainless steel by itself is a poor heat conductor.
So it won’t absorb heat quickly or easily. Furthermore, the handles are long relative to the size of the cookware instruments.
What’s in the Made In's Cookware Sous Chef Kit Set?
The Made In Sous Chef Kit contains 11 pots and pans, plus accessories. These are:
The included carbon steel seasoning wax helps the carbon steel pots and pans of the collection keep your food’s flavor for longer.
In addition to all the physical pieces, Made In provides additional value through its shipping and warranty policies. Any shipping for orders over $49 is automatically free. Thus, the Sous Chef Set qualifies for this bonus. Made In also includes a limited lifetime warranty. It covers any manufacturer defects you might discover upon receiving your cookware collection.
All Clad D3 and D5 Stainless Steel Cookware Sets Review and Key Features
All Clad D3 Cookware set
All Clad D5 Cookware set
All Clad makes high-quality stainless steel cookware pots and pans through and through. The manufacturer produces a number of cookware lines. Of these, the All Clad D3 and All Clad D5 stainless steel cookware sets are among its most popular options.
Tri-Ply and 5-Ply All Clad Stainless Steel Cookware
The All Clad D3 and All Clad D5 cookware sets use tri-ply and 5-ply stainless steel layerings.
All Clad tri-ply stainless steel construction uses two layers of stainless steel. It also uses a single layer of aluminum sandwiched between them. This construction method means that the aluminum facilitates excellent heat conduction. Even heating is all but guaranteed. The stainless steel layers on the exterior provide exceptional durability and corrosion resistance.
Meanwhile, the All Clad D5 set uses 5-ply stainless steel and aluminum construction. Two layers of aluminum are sandwiched between three layers of stainless steel. This is the same design used by Made In’s stainless steel cookware pieces. It’s even more effective at facilitating heat conduction and preserving durability.
All Clad also uses 18/10 stainless steel. You will not have to worry about warping over time, even under extreme heat or when placed in the oven.
All Clad Stainless Steel Cookware's Flared Edges
Each All Clad set piece features flared edges. The All Clad pots and pans’ edges will prevent foods like sauce from spilling over the sides too easily.
This can make it easier for you to pour your food into other dishes or prevent you from making a mess in your kitchen.
The All Clad flared edges fit perfectly with the lids included in the collection. Thus, achieving an ideal simmer is quick and easy.
Stainless Steel Handles for All Clad Cookware
All Clad’s D5 and D3 Cookware sets include stainless steel handles for each piece. As mentioned with the Made In cookware review, stainless steel handles are great. They don’t conduct heat very well so your hands are not likely to be burned.
But All Clad goes even further and uses stainless steel rivets to secure the handles to their pots or pans. The stainless steel rivets will ensure that the handles will remain intact and strong for years to come.
Brushed Stainless Steel vs Classic All Clad Stainless Steel
Brushed Stainless Steel
Classic Stainless Steel
The All Clad D3 Cookware Set uses classic stainless steel for its outermost surface. Classic stainless steel, when properly cleaned, features a mirror shine. This looks aesthetically pleasing. But it’s also easy to get fingerprints or other smudges on this surface. You’ll need to clean the All Clad D3 Cookware Pieces more frequently to keep them looking perfect.
In contrast, the All Clad D5 Cookware Set uses brushed stainless steel. You get brushed steel when the cookware manufacturer brushes steel before shipping it out.
All Clad's brushed stainless steel features a unique aesthetic. It does not accrue fingerprints and smudges as easily. You may prefer this texture if you want your All Clad cookware to look phenomenal without too much effort.
What’s in the All Clad Stainless Steel D3 and D5 Sets?
All Clad’s D3 Cookware Set includes:
The All Clad D5 Cookware Collection is almost identical. It contains the exact same pieces except for one:
Read our in-depth review of the D5 cookware.
Which is Better: Made In vs All Clad?
When Made In is compared to All Clad, the latter is a slightly better choice than Made In overall. But there are some details that might make you lean one way or the other.
For instance, Made In’s cookware is much cheaper than All Clad’s offerings. Even though the All Clad D3 Cookware set is cheaper than the All Clad D5 set, it’s still much more expensive than the Made In Sous Chef Kit. The Sous Chef kit provides good value for money and long-term durability without totally breaking the bank.
Furthermore, Made In’s carbon steel cookware pieces are excellent conductors for heat. They may last for decades on end if you take care of them successfully. The carbon steel aesthetic is also unlikely to degrade over time. This cookware could look brand-new for years to come.
All Clad’s D3 and D5 cookware sets, in contrast, provide slightly better long-term durability and heat conduction due to their tri-ply and 5-ply stainless steel constructions, respectively. But it’s tougher to keep stainless steel looking its best for decades.
This being said, All Clad’s cookware pieces also feature flared edges and a better non-stick method compared to Made In. The starburst finish is likely to last for longer and there’s no risk of you ingesting potentially harmful chemicals even if the finish wears down.
In our opinion, it’s a matter of price versus ultimate quality.
If you want a decent cookware set that provides excellent heat distribution and long-term durability, the Made In Sous Chef Cookware Kit is a phenomenal pick. It won’t cost as much money as All Clad and you’ll still get phenomenal value in the long run.
However, if price is no object and you want the best of the best, All Clad may be a better choice overall. All Clad’s cookware is just a little more durable and a little better at ensuring optimal heat distribution and heat evenness. The non-stick starburst finish is just icing on the cake.
Made In vs All Clad Stainless Steel Cookware FAQs
How Do All Clad's Non-Stick and Made In's Non-Stick Layers Work?
One of the biggest differences between All Clad and Made In cookware is seen in their non-stick layers.
Made In uses a traditional type of non-stick solution. All Made In cookware features chemical layers of non-stick materials. These include chemicals like PTFE. These chemicals are normally harmless and are not water-soluble. So they won't wash out with regular dishwashing or when liquids are placed on their surfaces.
However, extreme heat and metal utensils can ruin the non-stick layers. It can wear them down or rub them away over time. While it’s unlikely, this could also cause the non-stick chemicals to enter your food if you aren’t careful.
On the flipside, All Clad uses a special non-stick method to achieve this effect. It uses a so-called starburst finish. The starburst finish essentially involves sanding down the outermost stainless steel layer of your cooking dishes.
By sanding down the stainless steel cooking surface, imperfections and bumps are removed. This makes it difficult or impossible for food to stick to your kitchen cookware.
Plus, the starburst non-stick method lasts for longer and is less vulnerable to being worn down over time. However, you should still avoid using metal utensils with All Clad cookware. You should also avoid throwing your All Clad pieces in the dishwasher.
Are All Clad Stainless Steel and Made In Cookware Induction Safe?
Yes, with one exception.
Made In cookware is completely safe for use with induction stovetops. An induction cooktop uses magnetism to transfer heat to your cooking instruments.
All Clad’s cookware is also generally safe for induction stovetops. However, All Clad also makes "copper core" cookware for those looking for even more premium cooking dishes. Note that copper core cookware is much more expensive.
Copper is an even better conductor of heat compared to aluminum. But it’s also a poor conductor for heat from induction stovetops. As a result, if you purchase the All Clad Copper Core D3 or All Clad Copper Core D5 Cookware Sets, you'll need to use an interference disk. The interference disk will help the magnetic induction stovetop transfer heat to your copper core cookware.
Are Made In's and All Clad's Stainless Steel Cookware Dishwasher-Safe?
Technically, yes.
Made In does say that all of its cookware can be used with regular dishwashers without an issue. All Clad says the same thing.
But both manufacturers also say that it’s better to hand wash your premium cookware. There are different reasons for this.
For Made In, hand washing your cookware prevents your dishwasher from wearing down the non-stick layers over time. The non-stick layers used with Made In cookware can vanish after many washing cycles. This is due to the high heat and chemical detergents used in modern dishwashers.
Similarly, All Clad’s cookware benefits from hand washing as opposed to dishwashing. Regular residential dishwashers can diminish the effects of the starburst finish. This reduces how effective the non-stick finish is in the long run.
For the best results, it’s recommended that you hand wash your All Clad and Made In cookware. Use a soft sponge and regular dish soap and never use a scouring pad. A scouring pad can get rid of the chemical non-stick finish in the case of Made In. Or it can wear down the starburst finish in the case of All Clad.
Are Made In and All Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Discontinued?
The Made In Sous Chef Cookware Kit is not discontinued at this time. However, the Made In Sous Chef Kit is on backorder at the moment. This likely indicates that the manufacturer has run into a bit of a snag. It may need to produce more Made In pieces before it can reliably ship them to customers.
In contrast, All Clad has discontinued the All Clad D5 Cookware set. This cookware set can only be found at certain vendors for a limited time. Once all of its pieces are gone, you’ll never be able to purchase the All Clad D5 Cookware set again. If you’re interested in this set, it’s best to purchase it ASAP.
The All Clad D3 Cookware Set is a little more ambiguous. It’s not technically discontinued. But the manufacturer is no longer making more pieces or sets. All Clad may decide to reverse this decision and produce more D3 collections in the future. But it may still be a smart decision to pick up the All Clad D3 Cookware Set now if you’re interested. It's the only way to avoid missing out on your opportunity while you still have it.
Final Verdict: All Clad Stainless Steel Cookware vs Made In Cookware: Which Should You Choose?
In the end, you’ll have to make a choice: All Clad vs Made In.
However, it’s clear which home cooks brand’s sets are made for. All Clad is a slightly better choice if you want an expensive but premium set of quality cookware. All Clad’s cookware will last for years to come, especially if you take care of it through regular hand washing.
But Made In presents a solid alternative if you don’t want to spend too much money. Made In’s Sous Chef Cookware Kit is still an excellent choice. The Made In cookware provides long-term durability and good heat distribution. This is double true compared to cheap cookware that doesn’t last for long without resting.
Consider your options carefully before making a decision. No matter what, we’re confident that using either of these cookware brands will improve your cooking experienced significantly.
