If you’re looking for excellent value for money you’ll find it with Cuisinart Chefs Classic Stainless Steel!
What’s great about the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic series is that it is available in so many different size combinations that you are bound to find one that fits your needs. While the most popular is the 10 piece set, you can also get Cuisinart Chef’s Classic sets in a 7 piece, 11 piece, 14 piece or 17 piece depending on your needs and budget.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
 | Cuisinart Chef's Classic - 7-Piece |
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 | Cuisinart Chef's Classic - 10-Piece |
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 | Popular Choice Cuisinart Chef's Classic - 11-Piece |
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 | Cuisinart Chef's Classic - 14-Piece |
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 | Cuisinart Chef's Classic - 17-Piece |
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WHAT IS IT MADE OF?
The Cuisinart Chefs Classic stainless steel cookware is made of stainless steel with a thick aluminum core encapsulated at the base. This allows for quick, even heat with no hot spots in the pans.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
This cookware undoubtedly has a beautiful, high end look, with mirror finish stainless steel and classic design. According to users, it is beautifully engineered, giving a perfect combination of form & function.
HANDLES
The handles are made of cast stainless steel and are riveted to the pans for security. The handles have a Cool Grip™ feature which enables them to stay cool on the stove top and a contoured design for a secure grip.
LIDS
The lids of all the sets in this series except the 11 piece are made of mirror finish stainless steel and are tight fitted to the pans. The lid of the 1.5 Qt saucepan fits the 8” skillet while the lid of the 3 Qt. saucepan fits the 10”skillet which is quite handy. The 11 piece set has tempered glass lids with stainless steel rim.
DO I NEED TO TAKE ANY PRECAUTIONS DURING COOKING?
The following precautions will help you get the most out of your Cuisinart Chef’s classic stainless steel cookware and prolong the life of your set.
- High Heat: Don’t use this cookware on high heat. The aluminum encapsulated base makes this cookware highly conductive and efficient for quick, even heat distribution. A low to medium setting is recommended for most cooking.
- Empty Pan: Don’t leave a pan empty over a hot burner. Doing so can ruin the pan and cause damage to the stove top.
- Utensils: While it is safe to use metal utensils in this cookware, the company recommends using plastic or wooden utensils to avoid any scratches. Keep in mind that if you do get scratches on the cooking surface, this will not affect the performance of your cookware.
- Vacuum Seal: If you leave the cover on after turning the heat down or off, a partial vacuum may form which will seal the lid to the pan. To break the seal, turn on the heat for a few moments, and the cover will come off easily. If you don’t want the lid to seal to the pan, remove the cover or set it slightly ajar before turning off the heat.
- Gas Burners: This cookware has exceptionally high thermoconductivity, and even a low setting on some gas burners will overheat or even burn some foods. An inexpensive gas “flame-tamer” placed between the burner and the bottom of the pot solves this problem. Flame-tamers are readily available at most hardware stores.
IS IT EASY TO MAINTAIN?
You might be concerned about the cleaning and maintenance of these stainless steel pans.
However, users report that all you have to do is add a little hot water to the pan after cooking and let it stand and clean up is a breeze. You can easily wash it off by hand or in the dishwasher and they come out sparkling. Any minor spotting or discoloration, which is typical of stainless steel, can be easily cleaned with Barkeepers Friend or even a little warm vinegar.
Cuisinart recommends using a sponge or soft cloth instead of steel wool or other metal pad to avoid scratching the surface.
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO POUR
The rims of Cusinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel cookware are tapered to make pouring clean and easy.
CAN YOU USE THESE IN THE OVEN AND THE BROILER?
These pots are oven and broiler safe upto 500 degrees
IS IT DISHWASHER SAFE?
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic can be safely washed in the dishwasher. The company does caution that regular dishwasher cleaning will eventually scratch any utensil. Users mention a discoloration after washing in the dishwasher that can be cleaned with Bar Keepers friend.
Important to note, Cuisinart recommends using a non-lemon detergent for cleaning these pans.
CAN IT BE USED WITH INDUCTION COOKTOPS?
No it’s not induction compatible. For an induction compatible cookware set, you can consider the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro.
DOES IT INCLUDE A WARRANTY
Yes it comes with a lifetime warranty against defects
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUISINART CHEF’S CLASSIC AND MULTICLAD PRO STAINLESS STEEL?
While both are very popular stainless steel sets, think of the Multiclad Pro as an upgrade over Cuisinart Chef’s Classic. Main differences as follows:
- Cuisinart Chef’s Classic has aluminum only on the base of the pans in the form of an encapsulated disc. Multiclad pro has a layer of aluminum between two layers of stainless steel which extends all the way up the sides of the pans. This enables the food to be surrounded by heat rather than just at the base.
- MultiClad Pro is induction compatible.
- For the above reasons, you will find that the Multiclad Pro is pricier and heavier than the Chef’s Classic set.
Read our review of the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro to make a comparison.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
The Cuisinart Chefs Classic stainless steel sets have a LOT of positive reviews on the internet with consistently high ratings.
ARE THERE ANY COMPLAINTS?
One things to be careful of is the lid handles which might get hot if cooking on higher heat or for a long time. Use potholders to lift.
Some users complain of food burning in the pots but keep in mind that stainless steel cooking has a learning curve and you have to condition yourself to cook on low to medium heat.
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.