Features:

  • 40% longer-lasting release (vs. Calphalon Classic)
  • Durable nonstick interior is metal utensil safe
  • Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
  • Oven safe to 450°F
  • Suitable for gas, electric, and glass top stovetops
Superb!

First, the elephant in the room for many is PTFE While the description does not shine a light on it, the company rep addresses it in the Q&A very fairly, thank you Cephalon for your honest answer... While PTFE is the the best non stick surface, it has some detractors, but as others have mentioned, no hardcore proof it causes health problems. Same is true of many of the alternatives. As a general rule, I try to avoid acid foods like tomato sauce in the pots... of course, this is a not an issue for everyone, many people smoke cigs all day and dont fear that, so this is a personal issue for sure.... I have tried the ceramic and several other non stick surfaces, they work good as well, but wear fast... PTFE works the best, and last the longest for sure, so I see why Cephalon is staying with it... As for the set, its hard to please everyone with the offering, but they offer a great value in the set, so even if all dont fit your needs, so be it, u come out way ahead... the cookware is just superb, cephalon has really elevated their products since my last big purchase 12 years ago. Hard anodized alum. does a great job with heat distribution, and if you cook with a flame, u know how valuable this is !!! electric cook tops naturally spread heat around, so not quite as important, I cook with all gas, so big plus for me, very happy with this feature.... next, I love the handles, they stay cool to the touch, that is impressive! The lids FIT like a glove, seems trivial, but cheap cookware can have very poor fitting lids the non stick surface, its truly remarkable.... hard to make anything stick. Now, they say you can use metal utensils...hmmm... just the fact you can, is good enough for me, so the surface is more durable, but I am not tempting fate and will stay with wood or silicone to be safe. damaging the surface allows some of the non stick chemicals to leach into food easier... the pots are superb, heavy duty !!! Yes, heavy, but you cant build heavy duty products any more light weight, as the robustness comes from thicker metal, and even alum, the least dense of all metals, still weighs a lot for a small gal... a non issue for normal size guy like me... the fry pans are really superb. I love the 12"...I cook loads of LEAN ground beef and freeze it, often 15 lbs at a session... and 93% lean will stick a lot !!! Not with this pan! Love it.... cleans up with a paper towel! ;) I do run water and soap to be safe though.... although these are dishwasher safe, which is cool, I don't see a need, they hog up too much space in the dishwasher, and for what purpose, they clean right up in a few seconds? BTW, just a heads up... all cookware that has different surface elements on it, i.e. alum, non stick surface etc, or others with many different metals...all surfaces expand and contract at different rates.... this is why, you NEVER take a red hot pan, and run it under cold water!! let it cool naturally for 15 minutes first.... its that shock to the non stick surface contracting before the metal below it, than can eventually degrade the connection between the two...so a little prudence should be exercised vs. a 100% stainless pan.... when cookware is heated, it is a gradual process, so should the cooling! Overall, this is an impressive set that is priced mid to high end vs. competition, but u get what you pay for with cookware, and IMO, this is a good value, specially the larger set....

Beautiful set, excellent as most Calphalon is

Having been a Calphalon pan fan, for quite some years, opting to get this set was a perfect fit. However, I am stymied at the inclusion of a pasta insert and a steamer insert. These are not things I typically use. Does anyone else? I had pasta inserts on older pans and they were long ago given away. I tend to use a colander to drain pasta. About the only time, I think I would use this, is when I keep the pasta water for something. Besides, for two older people, that size pasta pan will rarely if ever get used and since I had my microwave I tend not to steam anything. COOL HANDLES ON THE FRYING PANS Now that aside, One thing Calphalon does right is handles. The long metal handles do not get hot. I love that. Both that it is metal and that it does not get hot. The frying pans all have these. The cover handles DO get hot, not crazy about that, but I have learned to live with it. INCLUDED IN THIS SET: **** 10" Fry pan (cover from multi-pot fits this) **** 12" Fry pan with cover **** 1.5-Qt. Saucepan with cover **** 2.5-Qt. Saucepan with cover **** 5-Qt. Sauté pan with cover **** 8-Qt. Multipot with cover, pasta insert & steamer insert WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A DIFFERENT MIX OF PANS While this set will cover what most people need, instead of the pasta and steamer insert, I would have included a Saucepan sized between the 2.5 and 5 quart and a smaller fry pan. If you have no use for a pasta or steamer insert and can live with a 3 qt. Saute pan instead of a 5 qt. that shaves $100 off the price, you might be better off with the 11 piece set. WON’T WORK FOR INDUCTION: With all the new free-standing induction units out there, it is important to note, this set of pans does NOT work with them. I don’t know how hard it is to do both. However, I’ve gotten so I check, as I do have an induction unit available to me. USAGE: I think I would have to use this set a long long time, before I can comment on wear. . . I’ve use the saute pans multiple times, and the 5 qt. Saute pan as well. Both the 10 and 12” fry pans have been pulled into use many times. The entire set looks brand new. However I have gotten in the habit of always hand washing pans. Not so much to preserve them, but to not overly crowd the dishwasher. I have a mix of plastic and metal utensils and both have been used.

High-quality, even heating, oven proof! Love!

You cannot go wrong with Calphalon's hard-anodized cookware! I own 2 other pieces from this line - the 12" griddle pan [https://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-1932456-Classic-Nonstick-Griddle/dp/B01CY3MZB2/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8] and 12" all-purpose wok-like pan [https://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-1932456-Classic-Nonstick-Griddle/dp/B01CY3MZB2/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8] and I LOVE them. Like my other 2 pieces, this 13" deep skillet heats evenly. Most of my cooking utensils are silicone, but I love that I can use my few metal spatulas or spoons on this pan without causing scratches! The skillet is well made, with the handle securely riveted to the main cooking bowl. The glass lid is great for checking on your food without releasing any heat. This skillet is the same high-quality and durable product I have come to expect of Calphalon. I love it!

These are the best we've owned

These are the best pots we've ever owned. They're nonstick, tough and sturdy, distribute heat well, and are easy to handle. We've used them for boiling, sautéing, stir-fry, pancakes, and a bunch of other stuff. I think they're a joy to cook with. Let's start with overall construction. Everything is made of thick metal. This means they take a little longer to heat up. but they also distribute heat well and stay warm longer once removed from heat. They can also take a knocking about without fear of denting or getting damaged (but do yourself a favor and don't knock them around!). The handles are held in place by two large rivets. Since the handles re all metal, they can get hot, so be careful. The nonstick surface is very nice and also on the tough side. The pots indicate the surface is metal utensil safe. We haven't tried that, and always use wood or plastic utensils with ours. After a lot of use the surfaces have held up very well, with only very faint, thin scratches. The lids are equally sturdy--nothing cheaply done here. The glass is thick and tough, and the handles are also made of thick metal. The only "downside" is because they are all metal, the pot lid handles get hot. So remember to use a thick towel or pad when removing the lids! These are a breeze to clean. They're dishwasher-safe, but so far we've only cleaned them by hand. Most of the time a sponge is enough to get them clean--no abrasives or scrubbing needed. If something is stubborn a soaking is usually enough to loosen it.

Outstanding in every way

I have pans. Lots and lots of pans. Nonstick, stainless, 5", 10", 12", 13". You name it, it's in the kitchen cabinets and overflowing into the cabinets in the garage. So of course I am always looking for another addition. This is a 13", hard-anodized nonstick pan. The packaging was excellent: enough to keep both the pan and the glass lid from suffering the slings and arrows of shipping. For convenience - and for people who don't do bicep curls with fifty pound weights - there is a small handle opposite the main handle for two handed wrangling. The description indicates it is safe for the use of metal utensils, and based on today's use, it certainly seems so. This pan (and lid) has solidly riveted connectors for the handles; none were loose on arrival, and short of a torch, it doesn't look like they're going anywhere. The pan holds heat wonderfully, especially important when doing any sort of pan frying. I didn't notice any hotspots at all during use, and when moving batches of food in and out of the pan, the temperature remained consistent (which I tested using a thermometer). It is large enough to fit a great deal of food without crowding, essential to good, even browning. The pan comes with a clear glass lid, something I quite like, as it allows a quick check of whatever is in the pan without having to lift the lid and allow heat or steam to escape. It also has a seal on the rounded edge where it meets the pan, which is a good thing in my book, not just for getting a good seal on the pan, but for cleanup - as anyone who has had to clean the innards of curved/rounded lids would probably agree. Overall, two thumbs up - and five stars. Awesome.

Love Hard Anodize

We have an older set of hard anodized pans from Calphalon that have proven to be durable and great for cooking. We jumped at the chance to test this much larger set of pots and pans. As with our previous experience with Calphalon hard anodize, these pots and pans work well. The coating is relatively durable compared to a conventional PTFE (the generic name for Teflon) coating, though we do not use metal utensils on any non-stick coating. The pots and pans are relatively thick and heavy, but the thickness helps transfer heat and reduce the risk of hot spots on the cooking side of the pots and pans. In addition, the thickness reduces flexing during heating and cooling, reducing the risk of cracking/crazing of the surface coating, which should help with durability. As for cooking, these pots and pans are everything we expected. Heating tends to be relatively uniform, and the underlying steel seems to be well made. The glass lids fit perfectly and tend to get a lot of use. We love being able to see into pots and pans while cooking (we also own pots and pans with stainless steel lids). The handles are tightly riveted, and we expect no loosening over a lifetime of use. Speaking of lifetime, this cookware comes with a lifetime warranty. We have never had an opportunity to use Calphalon's lifetime warranty, and we hope we never do. Even so, it is nice to see that Calphalon has such faith in their products. While this set is one of the more expensive Calphalon sets, we believe the price is in line with other premium pots and pans that include a lifetime warranty. Indeed, when it comes to hard anodize, there are many far more expensive sets than this one, so from that perspective this set is relatively inexpensive. Accordingly, we assess the value of this set to be average to above average. Our overall rating reflects our experience with this set as well as previous Calphalon hard anodize cookware. We love Calphalon hard anodized cookware. It has been among the best cookware we have owned. We were a fan with the purchase of our first Calphalon hard anodize pieces, and we remain fans. Five stars for products that are worth what they cost. Enjoy!

All around great!

My wife and I haven’t been able to find a cookware set that we’ve liked enough to replace the relatively inexpensive set of Emeril pots and pans that we received as a wedding gift about a decade ago. We’ve tried some higher end individual pieces, but still preferred what we had. This Calphalon set, however, is finally the step up that we’ve been seeking. (As an aside, the Emeril cookware was awesome, especially in the context of the price; this set is just a bit better). One of the big deals about this set for me is that the cooking surface is a bit more resistant to scrapes from metal utensils. Although she is one of the most naturally talented cooks that I’ve ever come across, my wife has a tendency to stir and tend a pot or pan with the closest thing to hand. Often a metal spoon. I can already tell that this set is going to hold up better to this habit over time. Obviously, nothing is totally impervious to deep scrapes under enough pressure with a solid instrument, but the casual stir doesn’t create the same friction with tis Calphalon set. My second favorite this about this set – I know it seems silly that this is my second favorite thing – is that they cook very well. Every piece of the set heats quicker than I have become accustomed to, especially in the context of how evenly they cook. That is, we have one very thin pan than heats quicker, but is super prone to hot spots. The cookware in this set cooks evenly. Beyond this, the set is very attractive. The set is also exceptionally easy to clean. Even what would have otherwise been the hardest messes to ungunk slide right of with a minimal amount of effort. It is also nice that the entirety of the set is dishwasher safe. All in all, my wife and I highly recommend this set. We expect to be using this cookware for the next ten years and beyond!

What's Cooking, You Ask??? Just About EVERYTHING In My Calphalon Skillet!

If you're familiar with The Lion King, then you know the scene when Rafiki holds up baby Simba on the cliff for the other animals to see. I swear to God, that's what popped in my mind when my husband took the Calphalon 13 inch deep skillet out of the box the day it arrived. He lifted it out and held it up and turned it all around to look at ...he was in awe. And it reminded me of the scene in Lion King! lol. I"ve never ever owned a Calphalon product before. My husband used them when he worked in his sister's restaurant many years ago and loved them. He was on vacation from work last week. Other than a day trip to a casino, we stayed home the entire time. We did decide to eat whatever we wanted for dinner all week. The first day we had the Calphalon skillet, he made fried chicken in it. It was fabulous. Easy to cook and even easier to clean up. The pan wiped clean immediately . The next day, he made chicken fried steak and that was even better than the fried chicken. (OMG, I ate two huge pieces...stuffed my face but SO worth it!) Again, clean up was simple. One night, I made filet. We were going to grill out but he hadn't bought charcoal, so there went that idea. Instead, I put the filet in the skillet and then put the entire pan into the oven for a few minutes to cook. Perfection! I eat A LOT of chicken and vegetables. I make a lot extra and eat it for lunch the following day. I filled that skillet with chopped, fresh vegetables and chicken and cooked my heart out. And it was superb! I LOVE this skillet. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I told my sister about it last week and do you know that she asked if she could borrow it? I let her...and she tried to keep it for a few extra nights but I put a stop to that quickly! lol I'm nothing but impressed with the Calphalon skillet and I LOVE it. I even cleared off an entire kitchen shelf for it. And I also know what I will be getting my sister for Christmas this year! I cannot recommend this enough. Its such a sturdy and versatile skillet. I will use this on pretty much a regular basis. It cooks beautifully, its unbelievably sturdy, it CAN go in the oven and its very easy to clean up and put away, as is the lid.

Good quality, not too heavy

I've been cooking with stainless steel pots and pans for years after our hard anodized set had a bad run through the dishwasher that destroyed them. So this set had me intrigued since it says it's dishwasher safe and nonstick. The first thing I noticed about this set was the handles on the pots are very nice and are comfortable to hold when moving the pots and pans around. The glass lids are very heavy and make my All Clad glass lids look like featherweights. The pots and pans in this set are considerably lighter than my stainless steel ones. While they say you can use metal utensils with this set, I'd be cautious about doing so, because I see that another reviewer had metal that scratched the surface. The dishwasher safe is only if the detergent does not have bleach or any kind of citrus in it. So I'd err on the side of caution and just hand wash these. My old hard anodized set was destroyed when I used a different version of Cascade, and I've had hard anodized frying pans that also claimed to be dishwasher safe destroyed by finish tabs. So hand wash is probably best, and since they're nonstick cooking surfaces they should be easy to clean.

Is there such a thing as a “Gorgeous” Skillet?

Well if so, this is it and what an amazing piece of Cookware it is! It arrived in a huge box and is quite hefty in size and weight but it’s very attractive and amazingly well designed with its high sides and heavy glass lid. I appreciate the long handle (which stays fairly cool by the way) and the additional small handle on the opposite side which aids in lifting when it’s full or when you’re ready to wash it. It says it’s dishwasher safe but I always find it easier to hand wash my pots and pans. I cook a lot and have good stainless steel cookware (so I thought). I’ve always shied away from buying nonstick, except for Tramontina commercial fry pans because everyday cookware always seem to get scratched up as I prefer using metal utensils. Well apparently, these are made to withstand metal. I cook on a Gas stove and I did find it took longer to heat the skillet which I suppose is because of the thickness and weight. No big deal. Another good thing is, that even though the weighty glass lid doesn’t have a steam vent, it doesn’t fog up and you can see everything while it’s cooking. It also doesn’t retain water spots when you air dry it after washing and rinsing it in super hot water. This 13” skillet is such a great size for dishes I make such as Chicken Cacciatore, Paprikash, Perogies, Noodles and Cabbage, breakfast...the list just goes on! I christened it tonight with some nice Sesame crusted Salmon, with Broccoli and Lo Mein noodles and it was a pleasure to use. I feel extremely privileged to be able to receive and review such an amazing item. If this is any indication of the quality and performance of the other products in this line, I just might have to replace my Stainless Steel. Thank you so much!

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