()This is a very nice set of lightweight stainless steel cookware.If you are shopping around and trying to compare the differences, I will try to help you distinguish the features from a couple of other brands that I currently own.In addition to this set, I have the Rachael Ray stainless and also the Kitchen Aid stainless.First of all, the Emeril pots and pans are by far the lightest weight.The Rachael Ray comes in the middle with very thick bottoms and thinner sides, and the Kitchen Aid is by bar the thickest and heaviest. I think what you want here is going to come down to personal preference.The RR and the Emeril brands have clear glass lids, while the KA is all stainless.All of the Emeril pieces are standard sizes, whereas you get really deep pieces in the RR collection.The KA pieces are just substantial.
The handles on the RR and KA have protective grips, whereas the Emeril handles are all stainless.I think this is going to personal preference as well.Do you want a sleek all stainless appearance or is having protective grip handles more important?
The Emeril set has some nice features that you don't find in the others.The pots all have measurement lines engraved inside the pots so you can fill to your specific needs without having to grab a measuring cup.The saucepan has pour spouts on each side with a lid you can twist to keep it sealed while cooking then open for pouring from the pan.Also included in this set is a vegetable steamer/strainer basket to fit in your large pot (I love this!).You also get the small wok shape pan.
Overall, this is a great set of cookware with nice features.When compared with the others for cooking performance, I don't notice much difference.When I begin cooking more soups and veggies for the winter I may notice and I will post then any marked differences such as will it hold heat as well since it is a thinner stainless. It's dishwasher safe and I will post any reliability notes in the future. This set looks sleek and is easy to maneuver if you prefer lightweight pots and pans. The extra features are a nice plus.I'm glad I've added it to my cooking arsenal. I'm posting a pic so you can see actual set in kitchen.
Most of my cooking is currently done with Cooks Standard Multi-Ply Clad Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set.It's beautiful, tough, heats evenly, and...overall, better than this Emeril set, though Emeril does win out in a couple of features.
First off, both sets look awesome.Both are made in China, so it's a level playing field.This Emeril set has glass lids, whereas the Cooks Standard has mirror-shiny stainless lids.I prefer the steel lids because the glass looks cheaper, and when I'm cooking, looking "through" the glass usually does nothing at all:I see steam.
Next, both sets heat quickly and evenly.Preheat and apply some olive oil, and you have yourself a stick-free pan, either way.But again, this Emeril set lags behind a bit:The Cooks Standard set has handles that DO NOT heat up.Emeril...they get warmer and warmer; cook long enough, and they're going to be hot.Also, the surface area of the smallest skillets is different, with the Emeril one having quite a small surface that actually comes into contact with the heating element.It's deeper than the Cooks Standard, but I don't use a frying pan to cook top-down; more heating area is better for how and what I cook.
Unpacking this set for the first time, I felt the Emeril pots and pans felt a bit lightweight to what I was used to.Then I had to put my theory to the test.The Cooks Standard set has more metal:maybe not much, but in one case, the Emeril 1.5qt saucepan weighed in at 1.484 pounds, while the Cooks Standard was 1.746 pounds.Whether it affects the cooking or not, I can't really tell and don't notice a difference, but after simply handling them, the Cooks just feels more solid.
But all is not lost with this Emeril set:the smallest saucepan has fluted sides to make it much easier to pour liquids.Also, the lid comes with a straining side built-in (so you can turn the lid and pour out liquid, without food coming out too.)I thought those were pretty nice, and wish my other set had them.In addition, the Emeril set has measuring marks inside the saucepans, which, I suppose, might come in handy.(Then again, they're printed not etched, and since these are fairly new, it's difficult to tell if they'll rub off with a month of cooking.)Another thing that bothered me just a tiny bit:of all the stainless cookware sets I've owned, ALL of them have had 18/10 printed or etched somewhere on them.I couldn't find such designation anywhere on this Emeril set.
Overall, this is a good set, but if you want a better set AND to save some money (though you do get 2 fewer pieces), go with the Cooks Standard.Both have a lifetime warranty. I gave this set the same 4 stars that I gave the Cooks Standard because they both perform well, but if I had to cook with only one set (or buy only one set), it wouldn't be this one...
Buy Emeril by All-Clad E884SC74 Chef's Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, Silver Now
()This is an acceptable set of cookware, which will serve you just fine if you are a college student cooking a few meals a week, or you are buying a set for infrequent use at a vacation home, etc. It is made of bright stainless steel, which we prefer over nonstick for many reasons, google "nonstick" to see why. This set cleans up nicely, and the lids fit well.
However, I recommend against purchasing this set for heavy, every-day use. Reasons:
1. The metal is quite thin. This makes the pots lighter than others with thicker walls, but they do not transfer the heat as well. Definitely not for gourmet dishes when heat control is critical!
2. The handles are metal, no insulation. This is not much of a problem on the long handles, but three pots have short handles. This is especially inconvenient for the large "everyday" wok-like pot, which you will likely want to tip as you cook.
I wanted to give this set three and a half stars. As I thought about whether to round up or down, I noticed that this set is billed as a "Restaurant Chef's" set. A set like this wouldn't last six months in a restaurant, where they cook dozens of dishes per night in each pan. Emeril wouldn't be caught dead using them. These little deceptions were enough cause for me to round down to 3 stars. You can do better with other sets.
()For $200 you get: an 8-inch saute pan fry pan; a 10-inch saute pan/fry pan with glass lid; a 1.5-quart sauce pan with pouring spout and glass lid; 3-quart sauce pan and glass lid; a 3-quart steamer insert; an 11-inch everyday pan and glass lid; and a 6-quart stockpot and glass lid. It comes with this warranty:
"EMERILWARE STAINLESS Lifetime Warranty
From the date of purchase, All-Clad guarantees to repair or replace any item found defective in material, construction or workmanship under normal use and following care instructions. This excludes damage from misuse or abuse. Minor imperfections and slight color variations are normal."
That has to be a deal! The question is how does Emerilware compare to the prestigious "All-Clad?" I own both, so here's what I know.
PRICE: An All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set sells at Williams Sonoma for $799.95 (list price is$1,225.00). The similar set of Emerilware sells on Amazon for $200!
CONSTRUCTION: Both Emerilware and All-Clad have the patented tri-ply construction with an aluminum core to deliver even heat distribution and are made from 18/10 stainless steel. The handles are similar, attached with two heavy rivets. All-Clad has metal lids, while Emerilware has glass lids. Both are oven-safe up to 500 degrees, but the glass lids are only oven-safe to 350 degrees.
The Emerilware design has one difference from the All-Clad. The sides are thinner and the pan is welded to a "heat diffuser disc" on the bottom to promote even cooking. The All-Clad pan is one-piece construction (except for the handle) and even thickness overall.
When I first held the Emerilware 10-inch saute pan, I thought that it had to be lighter than the similar All-Clad version. Upon weighing both, to my amazement I found only three grams difference! The extra weight in the Emerilware must be from the welded bottom, since the sides are noticeably thinner that those of the All-Clad pan.
ORIGIN: All-Clad Metalcrafters in Canonsburg, PA manufactures both the "All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless-Steel Cookware" and "Emeril Pro-Clad Cookware." However, All-Clad is made in Pennsylvania and Emerilware is made in China. The price reflects this difference.
PERFORMANCE: How does Emerilware differ in performance? In theory, the All-Clad with the thicker sides should distribute and hold heat better than the Emerilware. Actually, I don't see enough difference to justify the enormous price disparity. Both can get stains and burned on food, but both come clean in minutes using Bar Keepers Friend® Cleanser & Polish: 12 OZ.
The bottom line is that Emerilware Pro-Clad is not All-Clad, but you're not paying for All-Clad. Emerilware looks like a bargain, to me.
Want Emeril by All-Clad E884SC74 Chef's Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, Silver Discount?
()I really had not cooked much with stainless steel until about a year ago. At that time I picked up this set: KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set and greatly enjoyed using it. I was excited to give this set a go and see if there were any great differences between the two sets.
What you get:
Kitchenaid:1 ½ qt and 3 qt. Sauce pan, 8 qt. Stock pot, 3 qt. Sauté, 8 ½and 10 inch skillet, four appropriately sized lids with silicone seals. (10 pieces)
Emeril: 8-Inch Saute Pan Fry Pan 10-Inch Saute Pan / Fry Pan with Glass Lid 1.5-Quart Source Pan with Pouring Spout and Glass Lid 3-Quart Source Pan and Glass Lid 3-Quart Steamer Insert 11-Inch Everyday Pan and Glass Lid 6-Quart Stockpot and Glass Lid. (12 pieces)
What you notice:
Kitchenaid: This is a very basic set with a few nice features. The lids and handles are coated on the underside so you are not as apt to burn your hand when using them. The silicone seal on the lids appears to be durable. They have a nice weight so are light enough to use when filled but heavy enough to be stable.
Emeril: This is a much more attractive set of pots and pans and it looks like some thought went into creating a complete set for the average cook. The sauce pans in particular are so light that you worry a bit about them being "tippy".
What you find:
Kitchenaid: As I said, I cooked with these, pretty much daily, for a year. I liked them so much that I relegated my Calphalon hard-anodized set to the cabinet under the sink and assigned this set to my pot rack. My biggest issue with this set is the fact that it is quite hard to keep looking good. After a year the bottoms were a bit on the brown side and the pots themselves showed some scratches. I did put them in the dishwasher as instructed because that is one of the selling features and I wanted to see how they would hold up. (That isn't something I normally do with my pots and pans.) They clean up fine in the dishwasher, but if you want them all nice and shiny you need to do some scrubbing and lemon rubbing to get them that way.
Emeril: These perform just as well as the Kitchenaid, with one exception. The smaller sauce pan likes to tip over when empty on my gas range. I really keep an eye on it when heating oil too because I do worry. The pan seems more stable if the handle is placed to the center, naturally in this position it blocks my knobs. I do really like the two handled 11 inch everyday pan, with a large family it is oftentimes just the size I am looking for. I also have enjoyed the steamer insert; it fits nicely in the pot and is a good size for steaming a moderate quantity of produce. As for clean up, so far so good. As with the other set, I have put these in the dishwasher and they wash up well. The pots seem to hold their shine and not brown as easily as the other set, but time will tell. A lemon rub readily removes any rainbows in the pans and these pots are a pleasure to hang up on the rack.
What I think:
Either set is a very good value for the price. Emeril has the more complete set and is probably worth the extra bucks. I do have a serious issue with the stability of the smaller sauce pan though and have taken off a star for that. I intend to continue using this set for a few more months to check on wear and to make sure I don't find any other issues. I will update this review if anything comes up.
Recommended for the average home cook.
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