Made in vs All-Clad Cookware

Overview: Made In vs All-Clad Cookware

All-Clad has long been known as the gold standard in cookware. Founded in 1971, there are very few brands that can compare to All-Clad when it comes to reputation, quality, durability and performance. Their products are known far and wide for their stellar performance, unmatched longevity and world-class craftsmanship which sets them apart. What’s more, every piece of their fully-clad cookware is made in the USA of premium materials. That’s why it’s no surprise that the cost of All-Clad cookware is higher than most other brands due to its incredible value, which includes a limited lifetime warranty on cookware and bakeware. However, there are other brands on the market that also offer top-notch products at more affordable prices. One such brand is Made In Cookware.

Made In is a brand that is also known for high-quality albeit budget-friendly cookware. Entering the cookware market in 2017, Made In has disrupted the cookware aisle with top-of-the-line products, reputable customer service and an intriguing direct-to-consumer business model that allows them to offer world-class products at a fraction of the cost of high-end cookware brands. What’s more, all of their products are made in the USA and Western Europe, which means that you can trust the quality of their products. Similar to All-Clad, Made In offers a lifetime warranty, however, Made In’s warranty covers all of their products, unlike All-Clad which only covers a portion of their product line. Our take is this: when it comes to Made In vs. All-Clad if you’re looking for high-quality cookware without breaking the bank, then Made in Cookware might be the brand for you.

Avid home cooks and professional chefs might argue that there is much more to consider than affordability when it comes to choosing the right cookware for your cooking needs. Performance, durability, ease of use, aesthetics, and even abstract aspects about the brand such as customer service, warranties, shipping policies and product reviews are all additional points for consideration in selecting the best cookware for you. Furthermore, the type of cooking you plan to do will determine the type of cookware material you’re looking for, from non stick to stainless steel, cast iron, or hybrid—keep in mind the pros and cons of each material can vary from brand to brand despite the overall reputation. For example, while All-Clad is the industry leader in stainless steel cookware, Made In offers nonstick surface cookware that is a safer choice, made without PFOAs, and created to be extra durable and resistant to degradation.

Read on to learn more about how All-Clad and Made-In compare, and which cookware is the right choice for your needs.

While Made In boasts several thousand third-party verified 5-star reviews on their website with over 97% of reviewers rating the product as excellent (5 stars), a quick google search will tell you that customers do not view All-Clad as favorably. Customers gave Made In 5 stars across the board in several areas including Shipping & Returns, Customer Support, Trial & Warranty, Performance, Durability and Ease of Use while All-Clad doesn’t have a single 5-star customer rating in a single category. Most notably, their customer service seems to be lacking as reported by multiple customers and evidenced further by the difficult-to-find contact information on their website and even harder-to-reach support team.

While Made In offers free shipping for orders over $49 within the contiguous U.S., you must first reach a threshold of $99.95 to receive free shipping on All-Clad products (though that shouldn’t be too difficult given its cost). Both brands offer returns for 45 days and both offer limited lifetime warranties for their products. Made In’s warranty is quite a bit more comprehensive, however, as it covers all of their products for any manufacturer’s defects whereas All-Clad does not offer warranties for products purchased from unauthorized sellers. Both brands have different warranty stipulations depending on the type of product, so be sure to review the warranty information in depth before you make your purchase.

Made In cookware is winning the hearts of professional chefs and home chefs alike with not only its amazing products but also its outstanding customer service. The support section of their website is prominently displayed on the top right of their homepage and includes a live chat feature with an option to “Quick Connect to Support” if you want to bypass the chatbot. Also included are a telephone number, helpful links and a robust help center. Conversely, All-Clad appears to hide its contact information on its website buried under FAQs and the option to submit a web form in order to receive support. If you do make it to the section of their website that shares their phone number, you’ll notice that representatives are only available Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (EST), unlike Made In which offers a 24/7 concierge service.

Quick Look

All-Clad Products

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Noteworthy Awards & Accolades for These Cookware Brands

All-Clad cookware has a long history of being a top choice for cookware connoisseurs around the world, so it’s no surprise that they have won many awards including from CNET, Good Housekeeping, Popular Science, Forbes, The New York Times and many more, often topping Best Cookware lists. Despite being a younger brand, Made In has also won several awards for its outstanding quality and innovative design, making the lists of Best Cookware Sets from the likes of Consumer Reports, CNET, CNBC, and recognition from Time Magazine, to name just a few. Additionally, many celebrity chefs including Gramercy Tavern Cofounder Tom Colicchio choose to outfit their restaurant kitchens with Made In Cookware along with many Michelin Starred restaurants.

Pricing + Affordability:

All-Clad’s cookware is more expensive than Made In’s with an average price increase of 12%. For example, the All-Clad 13-piece cookware set costs $999, while a nearly identical set from Made in Cookware can be purchased year-round for only $899. All-Clad will run you over $100 per piece on average while Made In averages just $65 per piece. After extensive testing, we found no benefits to justify this price difference. In fact, we believe that the less expensive, Made In sets offered just as good performance. So if you’re looking to save money without sacrificing quality, we suggest going with a Made In set rather than All-Clad. Not to mention, if you’re purchasing direct you’ll save on shipping with Made In and receive better warranty coverage, especially when buying non stick—providing long-term savings when you don’t need to replace your cookware as often.

Product Performance

When it comes to Made In vs All-Clad in terms of performance, we believe both brands offer high-performing products. All-Clad is known for its bonded cookware that offers superior strength and performance and even heat distribution. However, customers only gave the brand 4 out of 5 stars for performance. This could be due in part to the recommendations from the brand for hand washing their cookware with mild soap or detergent and a sponge instead of the dishwasher to preserve their performance, which is an extra step many might forget, or be unwilling to take when caring for their cookware.

Conversely, Made In’s product performance was rated 5 stars by customers for even heat distribution, sturdy but lightweight construction fit for everyday use, easy cleaning and maintenance, and long-lasting durability. Their nonstick line is especially touted for its heat conductivity, safety, ease to clean, and longevity.

Product Durability

All-Clad has built its reputation by using the highest quality materials, and with proper care and maintenance, its stainless steel cookware will perform well for a lifetime. Their fully-clad stainless steel can even withstand high temperatures and is oven safe. Their nonstick line, however, like most nonstick cookware, is not as durable and will need to be replaced over time.

Made In did not cut any corners when designing its products in tandem with the world’s finest chefs as their development partners. Like All-Clad, their cookware is made with premium materials and their stainless steel is top-notch. Where the brands differ, however, is that Made In’s nonstick surface cookware is a safer choice, made without PFOA, making it extra durable and resistant to degradation, so you won’t have to replace it as often as with other brands.

Product Ease of Use

All-Clad is known for its stainless steel products which may hurt them in this category, as non stick cookware is generally easier to handle. Similarly, stainless steel requires a bit more prep before cooking and maintenance than non stick. However, while their stainless steel may not be as lightweight as non stick cookware, they do offer some lighter pieces in their All-Clad D3 collection. Made In’s full cookware line is designed to be sturdy, but not too heavy, offering everyday versatility. Their pots and pans clean easily, especially when cleaned with their Made Like New cleaner.