Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Review

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When you buy the Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel cookware set, you would expect a certain quality due to the price that you need to pay. After all, it is quite a high upfront investment and you would definitely want it to last a lifetime. But is it worth the high price? Are there any negatives that you need to look out for? In this review, we will try to give you the pros and cons of this cookware set before you part with your hard-earned money to bring it home.

Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Review

calphalon tri ply stainless steel cookwareThe Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware is available as a 8 and 13-piece set on Amazon. For the latter, the items in the box are:

  • 1.5-quart sauce pan with lid
  • 2.5-quart sauce pan with lid
  • 3-quart saute pan with lid
  • 3-quart chef’s pan with lid
  • 6-quart stockpot with lid
  • 8-inch omelette pan
  • 10-inch omelette pan
  • 12-inch omelette pan

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For the 8-piece set, you won’t be getting 2 covered pans (the saute and chef’s pan) and the 12-inch fry pan. At the time of writing, the 13-piece set costs about $40 more. If you are buying the pieces individually, the 10-inch omelette pan already costs over $30. So, given that you will have 3 additional pans in the bigger set, the 13-piece package certainly works out to be a better deal.

This cookware has a classic design with a polished stainless steel exterior and satin finished interior. In between, a heavy gauge aluminum core provides even consistent heating. The aluminum layer also extends up to the side for optimal cooking performance.

The Calphalon Tri Ply cookware is induction compatible. It is also oven-safe up to 500°F as well as broiler-safe. The handles are stainless steel and of the stay cool design. You can leave the pots and pans in the dishwasher although hand-washing is recommended if you want to keep the shine over time.

Another similar stainless steel cookware set by the same company is the Calphalon Contemporary. Comparing the two – Calphalon Tri-Ply vs Contemporary Stainless Steel, the main difference lies only in the style. They are made using the same tri-ply manufacturing technique. Hence, the performance and durability are more or less the same. The exterior, however, is different. The Contemporary has a brushed finish while the Tri-Ply has a polished finish. The handles also have a different style. The Contemporary is more expensive though, although for the 13-piece set, it has a bigger 8-quart stockpot compared to the 6-quart offered by the Tri-Ply line.

Should You Buy The Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set?

Pros
  1. Solid cookware – There is a nice weight to the pieces. The set has a shipping weight of over 30 pounds when most comparable cookware would only weigh around 25 pounds. As comparison, the 12-piece Emeril Pro-Clad Tri-Ply has a shipping weight of 26 pounds. Solid and sturdy, they will sit well-balanced on your stove.
  2. Cheaper than All-Clad – One of the main reasons you buy All Clad is to have made in USA cookware. But the price also costs a lot more. The cheapest All Clad Stainless Steel cookware on Amazon costs about $500 at the time of review and it is only a 10-piece set. At the same time, some reviewers have noted that the Calphalon Tri-Ply’s quality is comparable to the All Clad that it is hard to justify the much higher cost for the latter.
  3. Good cooking performance – If you know how to use them properly, food do not stick much to the pans. It takes patience to learn to cook with stainless steel and hence, you will always have a few buyers complaining that the pans stick while others will find them easy to cook with. The Calphalon Tri-Ply is no different. The majority of buyers have no problems with stickiness and some even use them to cook eggs without a problem.
  4. 12-inch fry pan – This is a practical piece to have in the kitchen which is included in the set. A lot of cookware sets only offer a 10-inch fry pan that you have to pick up a larger one separately.
Cons
  1. Handles are thin – If you look closely at the pictures, you will see that the handles are thinner than most other cookware out there. While they stay cool, some buyer shave complained that they do no offer a comfortable grip, especially when there is a little weight to the pots and pans once they are filled with food.
  2. Spots and stains – Stainless steel pots and pans can discolor over time. They may also have spots if you don’t dry them immediately after washing. You may try using Bar Keeper’s Friend and a non-abrasive pad to get it shiny again.
  3. Warping – A few buyers have complained that the pans warped even with proper care. Although such complaints are few and far in between, the risk is still there.

So, is the Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel cookware set worth a buy? Between the Tri-Ply and Contemporary, we would go for the Tri-Ply for its lower price since there is little to separate the two apart from style. Some shoppers have also wondered if it is worth it to pay for the Calphalon AccuCore. In terms of Calphalon Tri-Ply vs AccuCore, the materials for the two cookware are different. Note that the AccuCore has 5 metal layers with a copper core. It is in a different league and so would be the price for the cookware.

Our conclusion is that the Calphalon Tri-Ply is still on the high side in terms of price. While the quality is good, the performance is not so superior compared to, say, the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro, which is selling for $100 less. But if you are into more solid and heavier pieces, then the Calphalon would be a better choice for you.

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