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Hi, I’m Andrew with Prudent Reviews. And in this video, I give you a side-by-side comparison of All-Clad versus Made In. You’ll learn how they differ in terms of product offerings, materials, design, cooking performance, price, and more. Let’s get started. One of the most significant differences between All-Clad and Made In is the number of products they offer.
All-Clad specializes in stainless steel cookware, and has several collections, including D3, D5, Copper Core, and G5.
Each collection has unique materials, construction, design, and features. Although stainless steel cookware is their main product line, they make aluminum non-stick and copper pans too, and a few small kitchen appliances. Made In keeps it simple and makes your decision process much easier. Although they offer more types of cookware, including stainless steel, carbon steel, non-stick, copper, and enameled cast iron, there’s only one collection within each category.
Made In also makes premium forged kitchen knives and dinnerware such as plates, bowls, and glasses. Made In stainless steel and non-stick pots and pans are made in the United States and Italy. They make their carbon steel, copper, and enameled cast iron pots and pans in France. All-Clad’s copper and stainless steel cookware is made in the United States at their Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, factory.
However, the lids and handles for these collections are manufactured in China and attached in the US.
The one exception is All-Clad Gourmet. This collection of specialty pieces like steamers, soup ramekins, and commercial-size stock pots, is made in China. All-Clad’s hard-anodized aluminum non-stick collections, HA1 and Essentials, are made entirely in China. And they recently came out with an enameled steel collection called FusionTec which is made in Germany. Made In stainless steel pans feature 5-ply fully-clad construction.
They’re made with a triple-layer aluminum core sandwiched between two layers of premium stainless steel. Made In’s thick aluminum core transfers heat quickly and evenly, so you get consistent results every meal. All-Clad offers more variety in terms of construction. For example, their best-selling D3 collection is made of a single layer of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. All-Clad’s 5-ply Copper Core collection is made of three different metals; two exterior layers of stainless steel, two internal layers of aluminum, and, finally, a copper core.
The All-Clad collection that’s most similar to Made In in terms of construction is All-Clad D5 Brushed.
This collection has a thin steel core layer surrounded by two layers of aluminum, followed by two exterior layers of steel. The steel core diffuses the heat transfer, so it doesn’t heat up as fast as Made In, but it’s a bit more forgiving. So, with All-Clad D5, you’re less likely to burn your food if you get distracted while cooking. HA1 is All-Clad’s most popular non-stick collection.
It’s made with a thick hard-anodized aluminum base, triple-layer non-stick coating, and a steel induction plate bonded to the bottom.
The Essentials collection has the same construction but lacks the steel induction plate. This cookware costs less, but it’s not compatible with induction. Made In non-stick pans are made with the same durable and heat conductive materials they use to make their stainless steel cookware, but with a high-quality non-stick coating applied twice to the cooking surface. Both brands made durable non-stick cookware but Made In is more effective on induction due to the steel exterior, while All-Clad is less expensive and stains won’t be as visible on its dark exterior.
Made In stainless steel cookware features a brushed exterior, while All-Clad gives you the options of brushed or polished. The difference between polished and brushed is purely aesthetic and has no impact on cooking performance. However, fingerprints and smudges won’t be as visible on a brushed finish. Both brands have long, double-riveted, stainless steel handles that are designed to stay cool on cooktops. But that’s where the similarities end.
Made In handles are hollow inside, flat on the top, and bend upward near the base of the pan. All-Clad’s solid metal handles are straight with a U-shape on the top. A lot of people really dislike All-Clad handles. And, I agree, they’re not nearly as comfortable as Made In, but the sharp edges do a great job preventing your hand from rotating when you grab the handle with an oven mitt or towel.
Another difference is the angle of the handle.
All-Clad handles are positioned at a higher angle, while Made In handles are more even with the top of the pan. The end of Made In’s handles are about 3.5 inches off the counter, and All-Clad’s are a little over 4 inches. The advantage of Made In’s design is that you can fit the pan in the oven with less space between racks. The advantage of All-Clad’s angle is that your hand is a little further from the burner.
Cookware with thick walls is usually more durable and has better heat retention. But if the cookware is too thick, it’ll heat slowly and be too bulky to handle. Fortunately, both Made In and All-Clad got this right. All-Clad’s D3 and D5 collections, and Made In stainless steel cookware is 3mm thick. All-Clad Copper Core is 2 mm thick.
Normally I would say this is a negative, but this collection is thinner for a reason. Copper is heavier than aluminum, and if these pans were as thick as the others, they would be too heavy for most people.
Speaking of weight, I measured each brand’s 12-inch stainless steel fry pans to see how they compare. All-Clad D3 weighs 2.8 pounds, D5 weighs 3.
2 pounds, and despite its thinner walls, Copper Core was the heaviest at 3.7 pounds. The Made In 12-inch fry pan weighs 3.4 pounds, so it’s heavier than D3 and D5 but lighter than Copper Core. I’ve been using Made In and All-Clad for several years, and, in terms of cooking performance, it’s difficult to tell them apart.
Both heat up fast and evenly, and both retain heat well. When you put a piece of meat on these pans, they stay hot so you can get a nice even sear. Made In performs most similarly to All-Clad D3 since both have an aluminum core, and both are 3 mm thick.
Besides the shape and angle of the handle, there’s almost no difference. If you use All-Clad D5 and Copper Core enough, you’ll notice a slight difference between those and Made In.
D5 heats up a little bit slower due to its steel core layer, and Copper Core heats up slightly faster thanks to its highly conductive core. Although the differences are subtle and the average home cook likely wouldn’t notice.
One advantage or Made In that’s worth calling out is the temperature ratings. Made In stainless steel cookware is oven-safe up to 800 degrees F and All-Clad stainless steel tops out at 600. Very few recipes call for temps over 600, but it’s nice to know you have some extra leeway with Made In.
Overall, you can expect excellent performance when cooking with both Made In and All-Clad. One of the major differences between All-Clad and Made In cookware is the price. In short, All-Clad is significantly more expensive than Made In, and there are a few reasons why. Most All-Clad cookware is made in the U.S.
It’s primarily sold through retailers that take a hefty margin And customers are willing to pay a premium for the prestige of the All-Clad brand Made In keeps prices low by cutting out the middlemen. Instead of selling through retailers, Made In sells direct to customers on their website and through its Amazon store.
To be clear, Made In is less expensive than All-Clad, but it’s not cheap. But considering that Made In cookware is 5-ply, fully-clad, and made with premium materials, it’s an excellent value. So should you buy Made In or All-Clad?
The decision really comes down to options, design, and price. Go with All-Clad if you want multiple options within each category, you like the U-shaped handles and polished finishes, and don’t mind spending more for an established brand, even though part of that high price is due to retail markups and the brand’s history. With Made In, you only have one option within each cookware category, but those options are thoughtfully designed in partnership with pro chefs.
The handles are more comfortable and the brushed exterior is sleek and modern. The best part is that, with Made In, you get All-Clad durability and performance, at a much lower price.
I’m a big fan of both, but for the money, it’s hard to beat Made In. If you want to learn more about these two brands, I’ll link to my full reviews of each in the description of this video. I’ll also link to websites that sell All-Clad and Made In. Those are affiliate links, so I’ll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you. If this was helpful, check out this video where I highlight the best cookware made in the USA.
Read More: Best Cookware NOT Made in China (11 Brands You Might Not Know)
