J.A. Henckels International Classic Clad 7-Piece Cookware Set
by J.A. Henckels
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: J.A. HenckelsBrand: Henckels
Release Date: 2004-10-28
Model: 40320-000
Product features:
- 1- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, 6-quart stock pot with lid, 10-inch fry pan
- 3-ply stainless steel and aluminum construction distributes heat evenly
- Hollow, stay-cool handles riveted for strength, with hanging holes
- 18/10 stainless-steel interiors resist sticking, fine for metal utensils
- Curved inner contour aids cleaning; wash by hand; lifetime warranty
- J.A. Henckels International Classic Clad 16" Roaster with Non-Stick Rack
- J.A. Henckels International Classic Clad 13-Inch Stir-Fry Pan
- Henckels International Classic 65-Piece Chairo Flatware Set, Service for 12
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of J.A. Henckels International Classic Clad 7-Piece Cookware Set
Customer Review: An exceptional value
Summary: 5 Stars
In a word, WOW!! If you've been looking all over for pans to replace those old beat up ones you got as a wedding present, look no further. In this price range, there's nothing that will touch these pans. If you're like me, you've been searching for a set of high quality pots and pans to replace your aging Revere Ware that you received as a wedding present so many years back. Your skills as a cook have probably surpassed the old set's quality and ability to aid you in churning out the masterpieces you so eagerly crave. So, on to my journey...
The more I cooked, the more I realized my current pans weren't cutting it. At first, I thought it was me. Things were sticking to fry pans in some places and not others, rice cooked in a sauce pan would stick to the bottom, but would be undercooked on top and water for spaghetti took forever to boil. After doing alot of research, I found it wasn't really me (well, most of the time it wasn't me), but the pans. As an omlette guy at a brunch buffet once said to me, "The right tools make all the difference in the world."
So, I started searching for the right tools. I first looked at Calphalon's Contemporary non-stick pans, but was turned off by the amount of care non-stick surfaces require. I also learned any cook worth their salt won't use non-stick surfaces for many things as it doesn't brown as well as more traditional surfaces (more on that later). I then looked at Calphalone One which claimed to have many of the properties of non-stick and traditional surfaces combined, but the care and cleaning of the pans turned me off (demo sets in stores exhibited scratches and dents in the exterior anondized surface). I decided to make the jump to stainless. Stainless steel is more difficult to cook with (read: requires more skill), but it is, IMHO, the best choice if you can stay with your food and don't have to chase a 3 year old who has your third quarter sales results in his mouth. That is, stainless requires some skill and patience to cook with.
Stainless it is. I checked out Calphalone's Contemporary Stainless and was intrigued by the glass covers, but while I was in the store, I saw the Henckels Classic Clad Stainless. Comparing the two, I noticed the Henckels pans were thicker than the Calphalone ones. They were also half the price (this is not a totally apples to apples comparison as the Calphalon set includes an 8" fry pan and an 8 quart stock pot while the Henckels set has a 6 quart stock pot and doesn't include an 8" fry pan - useless to me, anyway). Nonetheless, $400 for a set I wasn't crazy about would undoubtedly give me buyer's remorse.
I then seriously considered a beautiful 7pc All-Clad set. Frankly, if I wasn't so frugal, this is the set I would own. All-Clad is built like a tank and is the first choice of many chefs and experienced home cooks. However, at twice the price of the Henckels it's a tough bite to swollow. Henckels it was.
First and foremost, these pans have all the same qualities as the stainless ones mentioned above: 18/10 stainless steel, riveted handles and an aluminum inner layer extending up the sides of the pots and pans. 18/10 stainless refers to the percentage of chromium and nickel in the stainless (the "18" refers to the chromium content, which gives flatware its rust-resistant properties, and the "8" or "10" refers to the nickel content, which gives flatware a deeper lustre, or shine). Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, but is soft and fragile; sandwiching it between 2 layers of stainless gives you all the properties you need for a quality pan.
Now, onto cooking with these pots and pans. As I mentioned above, stainless is less forgiving and requires more patience. That translates to hanging around the stove. You will need to be very judicious in your heat control; RARELY do you need to go above medium (I have a gas range). These pans heat up fast with low heat and stay really hot with low-medium to medium heat. With aluminum extending up the sides, the heat is coming at the food from everywhere. Remember my rice example from above? No problem with these pans. I was seriously contemplating a rice cooker, but found these pans will cook all of the rice evenly, bottom to top.
The handles on these babies are very comfortable and don't heat up at all (my arthritic mother-in-law really liked the feel of them). The stockpot handles DO heat up, though. On the contrary, I found All-Clad and Calphalon handles to be very uncomfortable. Cleanup is very simple. I soak the pots and pans in soapy water for a few minutes and everything wipes right off. I haven't yet put them in the dishwasher (the manufacturer doesn't recommend it), but everything I've read about stainless says it's dishwasher-safe.
These pans prove you don't need to "make an investment" in a cookware set to get a quality set. Note that these pans are part of Henckels "International" line which means they're not made in the company's home country of Germany; in this case, they're made in China. Don't let that turn you off. When it comes to this set, I feel like that's a choice the company made to keep the cost of a high quality product down rather than cheap out.
Description of J.A. Henckels International Classic Clad 7-Piece Cookware Set
Henckels International Clad Cookware is tri-ply cookware composed of 18/10 stainless, aluminum and magnetic stainless. The middle aluminum layer extends from the base up the sides of the pan so the heat is conducted evenly throughout the pan. This increClad inside and out in gleaming stainless steel, the four pots and pans in this set (three come with lids) ably cook an entire gourmet meal. Included are one- and two-quart covered saucepans, a six-quart covered stock pot, and an open 10-inch frying pan. The long handles, riveted for strength and curved for comfort and control, stay cool thanks to their hollow design and V-connection. Cooks who like to hang pots and pans within easy reach will appreciate the generously sized hole in each handle end. Whisks, spoons, and cleaning brushes all glide smoothly along the curved inner contour of the pans, and the stainless-steel lids fit snugly on the flared, easy-pour rims.
J.A. Henckels International, the economical division of Zwilling J.A. Henckels, makes the durable Classic Clad series for serious home cooks. An aluminum core sandwiched between the stainless steel layers distributes heat evenly not just across the bottom of the pot but up the sides, and requires only low to medium temperatures. As well as being oven- and broiler-safe up to 500 degrees F, each pot or pan features a brightly polished magnetic stainless-steel exterior safe for all types of stovetop burners: gas, electric, ceramic, induction, and halogen. The 18/10 stainless-steel interior resists sticking, won't react to acidic foods, and welcomes metal utensils. Henckels recommends washing Classic Clad pieces by hand to retain the mirror finish, and covers the cookware with a lifetime warranty against defects. Except for the frying pans, each pot shows liter and quart markings, and every piece comes wrapped in a soft, drawstring gift/storage bag. --Ann Bieri
What's in the Box
1-quart saucepan with lid; 2-quart saucepan with lid; 6-quart stock pot with lid; 10-inch fry pan.
From the Manufacturer
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| Patented ergonomic handle design provides optimal control, comfort, and balance. The end of the handle has a hanging hole which saves storage space in the kitchen. | Unique hollow cast handle design and V-shaped connection to pot keeps handle cooler. |
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| Side and lid handles are designed to avoid contact with hot surfaces. Larger pans have helper handles to allow for easy and safe lifting of pans. | Flared rim design for ease of pouring and optimal strength. Pan interiors have a curved corner design to allow for easy cleaning. |
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| Capacity markings on most items for ease in measuring ingredients for recipes. | Code markings on pans and lids makes for easy selection of correct size lid for each pan. The domed shape of the lids fit securely to retain moisture through self-basting. This prevents loss of flavor and vitamins and reduces cooking time. |
| All pans are oven and broiler safe up to 500 degrees fahrenheit and provide cook and serve versatility. The pans have a wide range of stopetop compatibility and can be used with all popular cook top surfaces such as as electric, gas, ceramic, halogen, and induction. |
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