Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #272648 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Calphalon
• Model: DLA8706 1/2P
• Dimensions: 9.90" h x 11.60" w x 17.00" l, 9.00 pounds

Features

• Set contains 6-1/2-quart saucepan, 6-quart insert, and lid
• Set cooks and drains pasta, corn, or shellfish easily
• Aluminum core for excellent heat conductivity
• Pot and lid are hard anodized for durability
• Lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review
If you've ever suffered a steam burn draining your spaghetti through a colander, you'll appreciate this three-piece pasta set. A 6-quart insert sits inside the saucepan, so when your pasta is appropriately al dente, just lift the insert for instant drainage. The 6-1/2-quart saucepan has a pure aluminum core for fast heat conductivity so the water will boil faster. Because aluminum can dent, warp, or discolor easily, a hard-anodized coating protects the saucepan and increases its durability. The lid is also hard anodized, which means the oxide film of aluminum has been thickened to protect the pan. The insert is stainless steel, so it won't react to food and will retain its shape through a lifetime of use. The set includes a collector's edition recipe card to get you started on your pasta-cooking adventures. While most metal utensils are safe with anodized surfaces, avoid sharp tools, such as knives. For optimum longevity, this set should be hand washed. --Laura Cuthbert

Customer Reviews

A lifesaver in the kitchen!
One of the best things about this pasta set was being able to throw away my plastic colander. This was worth its weight in gold from the day I brought this home. Pasta cooks very nicely in this combination, as does steamed vegetables. It's particularly helpful when boiling crab legs- much easier to simply lift out the insert than to take all those pesky legs and put them in a colander. This is also great for making pot roasts that could be made in a stockpot or crockpot- the strainer makes it very easy to separate the stock for making gravy. So many uses, so little time!

Calphalon Commercial Pasta Pentola Set--Great Buy
This Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 6 1/2-Quart Saucepot with Pasta Insert and Lid is a "pasta pentola set" from the newer line of Calphalon's Hard Anodized cookware. Because the handles of this saucepot, pasta insert, and lid are made from stainless steel, they stay cool to the touch. The pasta insert is made from heavy duty 18/10 stainless steel.

I have found that the cooking times for different kinds of pasta are consistent when I cook them with this pot and insert, so I can set my kitchen timer for a minute or so before the time I need for al dente. When the pasta is done, I remove the insert, let the water drain off into the pan, and put the cooked pasta into a large bowl and sauce it.

The sauce pan can be used to make large quanties of sauce, stew, chili, or soup. It heats up to a medium-high setting in a short amount of time. The Commercial hard anodized finish is almost nonstick. I don't use any pan cooking spray on these hard anodized pans because it causes a sticky residue to be built up. I hand wash my Calphalon pots and pans and use Bon Ami or Dormond cleaner for any stains or discoloration.

All of the Calphalon "Collector's Edition" "specials" are great buys, and this pasta pentola set is perfect for a couple or a small family to add to their collection of quality cookware.

How much pasta can you cook???
I bought this out of my gold box. Nearly ended in divorce court. This fills up the cupboard and some pots have been relegated to the shelves in the garage. I bought this to replace a Circulon stock pot that I bought to try that brand. No comparison! The Circulon doesn't fit on the burner, is too tall for the stove, and is non-stick. To be fair, it's a fine pot, but I'm not a big fan of non-stick. The Calphalon stays on the stove while I try to figure out where to keep all this stuff. I love this for pasta and stock. You can lift out the stainless liner and remove all the dross from stock (I just made a chicken dish with the 12" everyday pan, this pot to make the stock, and the 4 qt. pot to cook some tortellini). The stock comes out clear, and the remains are easy to sort out for the cat! I've finally decided to limit the number of lids for all these pots. Thankfully, many lids fit more than one pot. Clean up is easy IF you follow directions. I spent 39 years in the public schools trying to teach kids to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! The Calphalon cleaner works wonders if all else fails. Always, always heat the pan first, then add oil, then the ingredients at ROOM temperature. One other thing, I only use plastic or wooden utensils in any cookware, I hate the look of scratches! This product line is better than any other I have ever used; you can keep your teflon and non-stick stuff....and I NEVER let anyone else wash these pans!