Product Description

Cuisinart's 12-piece Chef's Classic stainless cookware set includes 1-1/2-, 2-, and 3- quart saucepans with covers, 8-inch and 10-inch skillets, a 3.5-quart saute pan with helper and cover, and an 8-quart stockpot with cover. Each piece features 18/10 mirror finish stainless steel which does not discolor, react with food, or alter flavors, and maintains its original brilliant finish with every dishwasher cleanup. Aluminum encapsulated bases heat up quickly, spread heat evenly, and eliminate hot spots. Rims are smoothly tapered to eliminate drips and spills while pouring, and tight-fitting stainless covers seal in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results. Oven safe to 550 degrees F, this cookware set is safe for use on the stovetop, in the oven, or under the broiler, and freezer safe for easy storage of leftovers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5940 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Steel
• Brand: Cuisinart
• Model: 77-12A
• Released on: 2006-06-01
• Dimensions: 24.50" h x 14.00" w x 12.50" l,

Features

• Set includes 1-1/2-, 2-, and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8-quart covered stockpot; 8-inch and 10-inch skillets, 3-1/2-quart covered saut¿ pan with helper handle
• 18/10 mirror-finish stainless steel with encapsulated aluminum base
• Solid stainless-steel riveted handles stay cool on stovetop
• Tight-fitting stainless lids seal in moisture and nutrients
• Safe for oven up to 550 degrees F, stovetop, broiler, and freezer; lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review
This trusted name in kitchen appliances carries its renowned design and construction expertise into this Chef's Classic 12-piece cookware set. Classically styled for any kitchen décor, each piece is crafted of 18/10 stainless steel, with an encapsulated aluminum base for quick, even heating without hotspots. The mirror finish never reacts with food or discolors, and maintains its shine even after repeated dishwasher-cleaning. Even the handles and lids are solid stainless steel for the utmost in durability.

Included in this set are three lidded saucepans, holding 1-1/2, 2, and 3 quarts, all sizes you'll reach for everyday for such tasks as cooking soup, rice, or macaroni-and-cheese. The 8-inch and 10-inch skillets are ideal for frying and sautéing, whether onions and mushrooms, omelets, pancakes, hamburgers, or fish. Braise meat dishes in the sauté pan, which lifts with the aid of a helper handle; and fill the 8-quart stockpot with chili, corn-on-the-cob, artichokes, or pasta. Each piece is oven-safe up to 550 degrees F, so you can start a dish on the stovetop and finish it in the oven or under the broiler. You can freeze foods in these durable pans, too. Dishwasher-safe, the set makes a superb gift and is covered by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects. --Ann Bieri

What's in the Box
12-piece cookware set. The set consists of: 1-1/2-quart covered saucepan; 2-quart covered saucepan; 3-quart covered saucepan; 8-quart covered stockpot; 8-inch skillet; 10-inch skillet; 3-1/2-quart covered sauté pan. 12 pieces total.

Customer Reviews

Best Pans for the Money!
I started out with Magnalite aluminum pans as a bride too many years ago. 20 years later those pitted relics went to the Goodwill and were replaced with Calphalon anodized aluminum with non-stick interiors. They lasted perhaps 10 years before the non-stick started to flake off. I wanted stainless steel: dishwasher safe, virtually non-destructable, etc. So, the search began.

Revereware, like my mother still uses after almost 60 years, is much more flimsy than it used to be. Farberware? Non-stick or not? One could practically buy a house for the price of the high end stainless, though it is certainly built to last as long.

I would occasionally check the houseware stores, Amazon and other websites looking for good, reasonably priced stainless cookware. Imagine my extreme good luck when this cookware came on sale, there was a no shipping deal and $25 off the purchase to boot! I should have bought a lottery ticket that day!

The Cuisinart Chef's Classic set showed up in less than a week. I unpacked all the pans and lids, washed them up and put them in the cupboard. All the other pans went the way of the Magnalite. Although the manufacturer says handwashing is best, they go into the dishwasher and come out bright and shiny. Being a creature of habit, I still use SOS scouring pads to remove stains and to polish the metal a bit. The manufacturer does not recommend this, nor do they recommend the use of metal utensils. The saucepans are starting to show wisk marks, but that shows these pans are used and loved. The lids fit well on the saucepans and I don't have boil-overs like I used to have. Do plan on following the instructions relating low heat start-ups; these pans get hot quickly and hold the heat very well. I still use my old, reliable cast iron frying pans for frying foods, but the frying pans and the saute pan are good items to have in the pantry. All the lids are interchangeable according to size.

I am very pleased. The cookware set is superior to what I have had before and the deal through Amazon was incredible.

Cuisinart's Chef's Classic Series is a Best Value
We have owned varies types of cookware in the past 20+ years. Some we have had to throw away, some were passed down to the kids. However this is by far the best cookware we have every owned. I never buy anything with first researching the product. I spent hours comparing the various brands of stainless steel cookware based on the various styles of cooking we do. You name the brand and I more then likely looked at it. The Chef's Classic Series is every bit as good as the some of the more expensive brands on the market today. It transfers and holds the heat very well. It cooks at a fraction of the temperature of lesser quality cookwares. The handles are comfortable in your hand. Even filled, they do not feel over whelming heavy but at the same time they have a solid, sturdy feel. They feel balanced! Clean up was always a problem with the other stainless steel cookware we owned but not with these. I'm actually surprised how easily food releases with only minimal oil. I do not think you would be disappointed if you choose this cookware.

Best value for the money
I got a great deal on a single pan several months ago, loaned it out and never saw it again. I was heartbroken. Being frugal, I waited for another knock-out deal from Amazon. I got this entire set for $89.99, on sale. I can't say enough about how much I LOVE them. I couldn't have been more excited getting my worn out pots and pans ready for Goodwill.
There are only 2 things keeping them from 5 stars:
1)the sides of the pans are thin (I don't remember my other pan being this thin). Given that I'm going to cook on the bottoms & not the sides I'm not overly concerned.
2)the set comes with two lids of the same size. I would rather they put another pan than give me one more lid to keep up with. Although, I'm sure I'll be glad to have two when I use both pan and skillet at the same time.

Now, the good stuff. No more teflon to worry about coming off in my food. I can use whatever utensil I want without worrying about ruining a nonstick finish. When used properly (not too high heat), they are easy to clean up. I made two batches of scrambled eggs this morning. On the first one, I was using the wrong burner and turned the setting too high resulting in a film of egg left behind. Cleaned out the pan with a very light use of a brillo pad. Not really that difficult to do, but more work than teflon pan. I then had to make more eggs (growing boys!). Second go around, I was more careful and only used low-medium heat and a small amount of oil. There was absolutely no sticking. A simple wipe of the pan with a sponge and hot soapy water and the pan looked as good as new. VERY EASY.

Getting such a large set had me wondering how I would fit them all in my cabinets. But the pans nest into each other very nicely, so they require little space. I love the shiny finish, so I'm keeping the cardboard that came with them to pad between pans and minimize scratches. All I need now is a system for those pesky lids!
I would recommend these pans to anyone who wants a good quality set of pans and knows how to cook. They are a GREAT VALUE.