The thing about All-Clad is, though possibly better brands may come and go,
AC will always be in the 95th percentile, till the end of time. Until they figure out how to put a silver core into pans. Also, their design is very basic and thus compatible with the most number of people, on average.
Here's an example. About 5 years ago I began gathering pieces of Kitchenaid 5 ply clad cookware, a few pieces at a time. KitchenAid cookware was similarly priced alongside All Clad and in some reviews at the time KitchenAid was rated superior in quality. It was very high end and expensive, just like AC.
Right now, I have almost all Kitchenaid cookware. It is indeed great. However lately I have grown to somewhat dislike the handle design. Although it's functional, I think the All Clad handle design works just -slightly- better. Also, the AC handle design seems -slightly- easier to clean.
So now, occasionally, I think to myself, "maybe I should have gotten All-Clad instead".
Compare this to my older brother, who was interested in cookware years before I was. He bought 3 pieces of cookware while he was still in college, more than 10 years ago. He got a 3qt stainless All Clad saucepan, a 3 qt stainless saute pan, and a 10 inch LTD skillet. He still uses them to this day, they work just as well as the first time he ever used them. And he has never ever thought to himself "hmm maybe so and so brand is better".
If you are on a budget, there are better deals to be found out there. For example new brands and models come and go every year with 90% of the functionality of All Clad at half the price. I guess you could say All Clad makes you pay a lot for that last 10%.
AC will always be in the 95th percentile, till the end of time. Until they figure out how to put a silver core into pans. Also, their design is very basic and thus compatible with the most number of people, on average.
Here's an example. About 5 years ago I began gathering pieces of Kitchenaid 5 ply clad cookware, a few pieces at a time. KitchenAid cookware was similarly priced alongside All Clad and in some reviews at the time KitchenAid was rated superior in quality. It was very high end and expensive, just like AC.
Right now, I have almost all Kitchenaid cookware. It is indeed great. However lately I have grown to somewhat dislike the handle design. Although it's functional, I think the All Clad handle design works just -slightly- better. Also, the AC handle design seems -slightly- easier to clean.
So now, occasionally, I think to myself, "maybe I should have gotten All-Clad instead".
Compare this to my older brother, who was interested in cookware years before I was. He bought 3 pieces of cookware while he was still in college, more than 10 years ago. He got a 3qt stainless All Clad saucepan, a 3 qt stainless saute pan, and a 10 inch LTD skillet. He still uses them to this day, they work just as well as the first time he ever used them. And he has never ever thought to himself "hmm maybe so and so brand is better".
If you are on a budget, there are better deals to be found out there. For example new brands and models come and go every year with 90% of the functionality of All Clad at half the price. I guess you could say All Clad makes you pay a lot for that last 10%.