All-Clad vs Made In Stainless Skillet: Which to Buy

D3 is All-Clad's original line: 18/10 stainless inside, stainless outside and an aluminum core, bonded rim to rim. The listing states it is made in the USA with global components in All-Clad's Pennsylvania factory. It is oven and broiler safe to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, works on induction and must be washed by hand.

America's Test Kitchen named it the winner of its stainless skillet testing and says it has been the favorite for decades. Its testers measured a 9.5 inch cooking surface, weighed it at 2.8 pounds and found it resisted warping and abuse testing. They also liked the grooved handle, which keeps the pan from rotating in the hand.

Skip it if you want a pan that can go in the dishwasher. All-Clad says hand wash only, and the polished exterior shows every mark.

Made In's Stainless Clad pan is five layers of metal, made in Italy, with a 430 stainless outer layer for induction. The maker gives a 12.5 inch rim, a 9.5 inch cooking surface, 1.75 inch depth and 20 inches overall with the handle. The handle is hollow, which Made In says keeps it cool on the stove.

America's Test Kitchen weighed it at 3 pounds and liked its balance and easy-to-grip handle. It also measured a smaller cooking surface than the maker's figure, 8.75 inches, and found the pan did not sit flat even when new and warped more than others during testing, which matters most on induction and glass tops. Made In's page gives two heat ratings, 800 degrees Fahrenheit in its summary and 500 in its care notes; the lower figure is the safe one to follow.

Buy it if you have used one and like it, or find it well below the D3. Skip it if you cook on a glass or induction top and flatness is your first concern.

Tramontina's Signature pan is 18/10 stainless around an aluminum core, riveted stainless handle, made in Brazil. The listing rates it oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, induction compatible, NSF certified, dishwasher safe and covered by a lifetime warranty.

It is the sensible first stainless pan for anyone not ready to spend $130 or more, and it shows that the tri-ply formula, not the name, does most of the work.

D5 alternates stainless and aluminum in five bonded layers, with a brushed stainless finish and double-riveted handles. All-Clad says the construction gives even, steady heat. Like the D3, it is oven and broiler safe to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, works on induction and must be washed by hand.

America's Test Kitchen recommended it but found it heavier, at 3.1 pounds, and slower to respond, and saw little reason to choose it over the D3 at the price. It is the five-ply choice for a cook who wants it from All-Clad.