The Made In vs All-Clad debate is truly a battle between student and master. Much like the climax of a dramatic action movie!
Each of these brands represents different generations of cookware. Together, they tell a story of “veteran experience vs. youthful passion.”
First, we’ll dive deep into the nitty gritty differences between the two brands. Then, we’ll give our personal picks of which one triumphs in each different area.
Our goal is to help you pick the best cookware for you, helping you make an informed decision with no regrets. Of course, everyone is different, so there can be no objective winner between Made In and All-Clad cookware. However, a decent amount can still be said about the specifics, so let’s dive right into the comparison.
What is Made In?
Made In is one of the most successful cookware brands of modern times. It has been a disruptor in the cookware industry since its launch in 2016. Starting out as an innovative startup by childhood friends Jake and Chip, Made In was made to “rethink the kitchen landscape.”
Partnering with the best raw materials suppliers across America and Europe, the brand began redesigning the core kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, knives, and more.
One of the stand-out appeals of Made In as a company is its strong partnerships with Michelin-star chefs. These award-winning chefs provide plenty of advice during product development.
As a result, Made In cookware is used in Michelin-starred kitchens, independent restaurants, and top-rated hotels worldwide. It has even received over 60,000 reviews from home cooks.
As All-Clad’s chief competitor, Made In has been a considerable threat to cookware giants everywhere with its direct-to-customer business model. It cuts out the middle man, delivers premium cookware to buyers, and backs up its products with limited lifetime warranties.
What is All-Clad?
The veteran, All-Clad has been a major distributor of premium cookware since its establishment in the 1970s. It has produced various products, from stainless steel cookware to hard anodized aluminum pots, pans, and even cast iron sets.
However, the brand is most well known for developing the very first fully-clad cookware sets for home use. That is, multi-layered 5-ply stainless steel cladding surrounding an aluminum core.
The significance of this revolutionary product was the optimization of heat conduction through the hyper-conductive aluminum core materials. This was combined with the stainless steel layers’ durability and heat retention properties.
Since then, All-Clad has expanded its cookware collection to include copper core cookware and hard anodized aluminum non-stick cookware.
One of the great things about All-Clad is its product offerings surrounding its stainless steel collection. They are one of the only brands of cookware that offer everything from 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply construction for their pots and pans.
In addition, All-Clad cookware is known for its supreme beauty in design and aesthetics. They offer polished and brushed stainless steel finishes with their cookware sets.
How are they different?
Materials
One of the key differences between All-Clad and Made In cookware is their product offerings, with each brand manufacturing specific types of cookware made of different materials. For instance, Made In has a reputation for its carbon steel cookware pieces range, whereas All-Clad does not manufacture carbon steel pans or pots.
All-Clad cookware covers all types of stainless cookware, including 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply construction. Whereas Made In only offers 5-ply stainless steel construction. They do not offer as much variety in terms of the cookware’s core materials and finish types, such as polished or brushed stainless steel.
Manufacturing
Another significant difference between these two cookware brands is that All-Clad has been manufacturing and distributing culinary tools since the 1970s. On the other hand, made In is far newer, having only been around for less than a decade.
Another significant difference between All-Clad and Made In is their handles. While both are indeed ergonomic and comfortable, they come with their own differences that cater to specific preferences.
For instance, Made In’s handles typically come with a flat, rounded design that reduces fatigue on the hand. A divot is also located in the center of the handle to improve the user’s grip.
For this reason, it is common to see users lean towards Made In for handling ergonomics as it is easier to use and more comfortable. This is particularly true when you consider the small notch near the base of the handle for your index finger to rest on and give you a better grip.
On the other hand, All-Clad uses a U-shaped curve that creates two parallel edges that dig into your hand for a more secure grip. Although, some users would argue that this security comes at the cost of comfort.
However, remember that this unique handle shape prevents your pot or pan from sliding from side to side while cooking. Its position is locked into place, allowing you to take more control over how you manoeuver your cookware.
Special Features
Users also report a greater level of stay-cool benefits with the All-Clad handle. In addition, many claim they have never needed to use oven mitts to handle All-Clad cookware.
All-Clad has more experience in the field and greater attention to detail, particularly with the stainless steel cookware collection. As a result, they are unsurprisingly priced significantly higher than Made In, often coined as a prestigious and “high-end” brand of cookware.
Despite the price difference, many find it a worthy investment because of All-Clad cookware’s premium top-tier steel suppliers. They are sourced from the best metal manufacturers in the United States.
Affordability
One of the key reasons for this price gap is that All-Clad is higher than the average cookware set, and Made In is cheap in its own right. They do what they can to make premium cookware approved by Michelin-star chefs more affordable.
One of these strategies is a direct-to-consumer business model, which is a crucial marketing point in setting their prices so low. Rather than having a physical store, this model cuts out costs like employees, renting, and mailing confirmation. This means you pay exactly what the product is worth rather than combining all the hidden fees.
Another interesting difference between these brands is that All-Clad manufactures its materials solely in the USA. On the other hand, made In is a little more diverse. It has manufacturers across the USA, Italy, and France connected to family-owned businesses.
While some American citizens may see the USA as being the sole manufacturing channel to be an advantage, others recognize European countries like France and Italy as having their own merits. Both have a level of prestige that is rarer to come by in their home country.
How are they similar?
The most apparent similarity between All-Clad and Made In cookware is their shared reputations as premium cookware brands in the United States. In addition, both brands deliver high levels of customer satisfaction, earning many 5-star ratings.
Of course, All-Clad and Made In also share the fact that most of their products are made from materials sourced in the United States. They both offer the best in premium-level craftsmanship and Michelin-star standards.
While they differ heavily in their product offerings, All-Clad and Made In also share many similar cookware categories. For example, both brands offer stainless steel collections, nonstick coating cooking surfaces, and copper core cookware.
You will also find a hefty range of kitchen knives offered by both brands. These consist of durable stainless steel blades made of corrosion-resistant steel and sharpened to perfection.
Furthermore, you can also enjoy the comfort of ergonomic stainless steel handles with both. They each provide secure grip handles that are well-distanced from the heat and stay nice and cool under high temperatures.
While made with slightly different designs, both handles provide a secure grip to give you more control over your cooking safely and comfortably. Additionally, they both provide PFOA-free cookware that is free of harmful chemicals and promotes environmental sustainability.
They both offer free shipping and free returns across the USA. Plus, both All-Clad and Made In cookware back their products with a limited warranty. This entitles the customer to a full refund within 45 days of delivery, allowing you to purchase with peace of mind.
What’s better about Made In?
One of the clear advantages of going with Made In instead of All-Clad is the access to unique cookware products that its chief competitor does not offer. A classic example is the availability of the carbon steel frying pan. It’s one of Made In’s signature products, offering greater heat conduction and even heat distribution than most other materials.
In addition to carbon steel frying pans, the brand also offers carbon steel griddle plates, carbon steel woks, and even a carbon steel roasting pan rack. This gives you a solid range of carbon steel cookware pieces.
Materials
Many of Made In’s cookware also comes with carbon steel seasoning wax. This helps you maintain the cooking surface and exterior layers of your pots and pans, giving you a hand in the maintenance process.
In addition, Made In cookware is compatible with oven use. Many of its products and sets feature oven-safe temperatures from a minimum of 500 degrees F up to 1200 degrees F.
This means you can freely use your pots and pans in the oven for almost any amount of heat. Feel free to whip up dishes such as lamb roasts, banana breads, cakes, and more without worrying about damaging your cookware (1).
Compatibility
Another fantastic benefit of Made In cookware is that all of their products across their collections are compatible with any stovetop. This includes gas, electric, halogen, and induction cooktops.
While All-Clad cookware is mostly the same in this regard, you’ll be disappointed to know their Essentials collection is not compatible with an induction cooktop. This aspect exposes the brand’s lack of innovation and “keeping up with the Jones’.”
Unsurprisingly, many would prefer 5-ply stainless steel cookware over 3-ply or lower. The more durable choice is guaranteed to last longer than any other type of cookware.
While many argue that Made In lacks variety in their stainless steel collection, on the contrary, they have chosen only to offer what they deem to be the best type of stainless steel on the market.
It has three layers of stainless steel surrounding a double-layered aluminum core. Made In’s stainless steel range ensures you get a set of pots and pans that are long-lasting and resistant to scratches and corrosion, not to mention highly efficient in heat retention and even heating.
Affordability
Of course, we cannot discuss Made In’s edge over All Clad’s cookware without mentioning the price differences. As mentioned earlier, Made In uses a direct-to-consumer business model which avoids retail markups by cutting out the middlemen. This has resulted in them cutting down the costs of their products, sometimes resulting in half the price of an All-Clad equivalent.
Another reason for this disparity in price is that Made In sources its materials from regions outside of the US and locally. They extend their reach to family-owned businesses, allowing them to get better deals and run their supply chain more cost-efficiently.
What’s better about All-Clad?
All-Clad cookware is the high-end premium cookware “go-to” of the last few decades. This includes the general population of home cooks as well as professional chefs of the highest culinary industries. The brand has been in the business for over half a century, and their experience crafting high-quality cookware sets out of premium materials is simply unmatched.
The All-Clad collection of stainless steel cookware features the revolutionary 5-ply range where it all began. The brand was the first to come up with the concept of a core made of aluminum sandwiched between layers of stainless steel for superior thermal conductivity and greater durability.
As such, All-Clad has truly perfected stainless steel cookware. Their range is among the best in the world regarding material quality and lasting results, as well as offering a diverse range of products.
In particular, All-Clad offers 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply stainless steel construction, giving you the full range of clad cookware to appeal to preferences of all types.
While some may say there are no benefits for anything less than 5-ply, in truth you get significantly faster heat-up time with 3-ply and under. This makes it more appealing for home cooks that like to get their food in them as quickly as possible.
Materials
One of the great advantages of All-Clad over other brands of stainless steel cookware is their superior corrosion-resistant steel. It is not only immune to rusting but also resistant to the detrimental effects of high heat levels.
This means no matter how strong your stove is, you’ll never find burn marks or warping with your All-Clad stainless steel pans and pots. This makes it a suitable choice for professional and home chefs alike.
Furthermore, you’ll find a greater abundance of choices regarding the various metal cores offered by All-Clad. These range from hard anodized aluminum core options to copper core, stainless steel cores, and even graphite cores. Meanwhile, Made In only offers stainless steel aluminum cores and iron-carbon cores. All-Clad has double the amount of options available.
Safety
Both brands have multi-layered coatings of Teflon that are PFOA-free for quick food release that is free of harmful chemicals.
However, All Clad’s non-stick cookware are dishwasher safe while Made In’s non-stick cookware is not. You have more cleaning options with All-Clad that could save you time and energy.
This also tells of the quality of non-stick used by each brand. All-Clad has the better choice for corrosion resistance as it can withstand longer periods of time submerged in soapy water.
Without a doubt, ergonomics and user experience are vital when deciding between cookware brands. Performance excellence should never come at the cost of your own suffering.
For that reason, All-Clad cookware is an exceptional choice that provides comfort and security with the handle grip. It uses a U-shaped design that better secures your thumb in place when in use.
All-Clad cookware also comes with more variety of exterior finishes. This includes polished, brushed, copper, and hard-anodized dark gray, while Made In only offers brushed stainless steel finishes.
Who should get Made In?
First and foremost, if you happen to be after blue carbon steel cookware, only Made In manufactures this type of cookware among the two brands. Of course, that is not all they manufacture. You’ll find an incredible range of pots and pans to choose from in Made In’s most popular and high-rated Sous Chef Kit cookware set.
This bundle comes with the full spectrum of cookware pieces and is a great way of tasting all of what Made In has to offer. It includes non-stick pans, stainless steel clad cookware, and their iconic blue carbon steel frying pan.
Materials and Performance
Thus, even if carbon steel is not a priority for you, you could still benefit greatly from the Sous Chef Set. It provides all the essential pots and pans to get you started while giving you the full range of induction-compatible cookware in a variety of builds.
With that said, owners of induction stoves should definitely consider Made In cookware as there are no limits to your products. This is unlike All-Clad cookware which includes items not compatible with induction stovetops.
On the topic of heat conduction, Made In is surprisingly very quick in how it heats up when putting their stainless steel cookware to the heat test. Despite being made of 5-ply construction, it was found that Made In actually conducts heat faster than All Clad’s 3-ply stainless steel range.
You can get excellent heat control and fast heat-up times with Made In. All while retaining a whole lot of the durability and lasting strength with its iconic 5-ply stainless steel.
Features
Another amazing feature of Made In cookware is their excellent heat retention among their 5-ply stainless steel range. This makes it highly suitable for those who wish to cook on lower temperatures or retain the heat of their stock pot long after the heat source has been switched off.
In addition, Made In cookware is generally much more resistant to heat than All-Clad. Some of their cookware pieces reached record heights of 800-1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
This makes it possible to cook on commercial grade, industrial level stoves without sustaining damage to the cookware’s structure. This makes Made In a great choice for professional Michelin-star chefs and everyday home cooks.
Affordability
For those on a budget, you will insist on an affordable cookware set that gets the job done. While Made In is certainly not built for bargain-seekers specifically, it certainly has a greater appeal as far as cost-efficiency goes when compared to All-Clad cookware.
By cutting up retail markups and eliminating the middleman through its direct-to-consumer business model, Made In can set its own prices.
In addition, Made In partnered with their family-owned businesses across Europe and their USA suppliers to create an even more cost-efficient supply chain. This brings the price tag of their products down even more.
As such, you get affordable high-quality cookware with Made In that can rival the experienced All-Clad. It’s a fantastic choice for those looking to maximize quality per dollar paid.
Of course, you’ll also love Made In’s shipping and warranty policies, which provide free shipping for orders over $49. In addition, they have a limited lifetime warranty, covering any manufacturer defects discovered upon arrival of the cookware order.
Who should get All-Clad?
All-Clad is for those willing to spend much more for the ultimate premium cookware experience. The brand is unmatched when it comes to offering a complete stainless steel collection of the highest quality.
All-Clad metal crafters are all based in the US, and you’ll find the quality of their materials to be the best in all of America. John Ulam founded All-Clad Metals over half a century ago in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where the company has grown into the cookware beast that it is today (2).
For that reason, it is hard to compete with the brand in the area of stainless steel cookware. You likely won’t find a longer-lasting, better-performing collection of steel pots and pans anywhere else.
Thus, if you are looking for the best of the best stainless steel cookware, you won’t be disappointed with All-Clad. Its items feature fully clad cookware that encompasses aluminum layers that conduct heat exceptionally well for superior heat control and fast heat-up times.
Materials and Performance
In addition, the brand offers more variety in the type of core used, including stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, copper, and graphite. In contrast, Made In only offers two types of cores to choose from, so you certainly get more options for stainless steel cookware when you go with All-Clad.
On that note, All-Clad has an exceptional variety in the products they offer and the customized options they come in. For instance, the All-Clad D3 and D5 stainless steel cookware range features brushed stainless steel and polished finishes. It gives you the choice between a shiny exterior that reflects the light brightly or a matted finish that is great for hiding fingerprints and smudges.
Also, if you went for the copper core range of All-Clad stainless steel cookware you will have even more options such as a bronze copper exterior with a beautiful polished finish.
Another of All-Clad’s great appeals is its unique flared rims among its stainless steel range. It features a subtle but effective curve that pans out of the cookware to enable easier pouring while preventing saucy foods from spilling out during the cooking process.
If this is a feature that appeals to you, then you should know that Made In cookware does not offer flared rims, so you’ll definitely want to consider All-Clad in that regard. Also, All-Clad’s flared edges are a perfect fit for the stainless steel lids included in the collection, allowing you to safely secure the heat and moisture during cooking for a more tender result with your dishes.
Features
Speaking of lids, the All-Clad lids come with a trapezoid-shaped handle. This is intentionally designed to provide a more secure grip that is less likely to slip out of your hand when operating. Moving onto handles now, we can also see that All-Clad is generally more secure and comfortable in its U-shaped handles for its frying pans.
These handles stay cool under immense temperatures and allow your thumb to rest comfortably and securely in the little dip provided along the handle. Resulting in a more stable control over your cookware that is less likely to slip out of your hand.
All-Clad is an exceptional choice because of its stainless steel collection’s elite range, performance, and durability. Not just that, but also for the enhanced user experience that combines comfort and ergonomics with safety and security.
From its flared edges to its U-shaped handles and trapezoid design lid handles, every detail is accounted for in delivering a pleasant cooking experience for the user. Hence, it would make perfect sense for customers who value comfort and user experience to go for All-Clad cookware over Made In, as you will be thoroughly impressed with the feeling this cookware offers.
Features
Materials
While All-Clad sources its materials solely from the United States, Made In also includes European countries like Italy and France in their supplier arsenal. They partner with their own family-owned businesses for an efficient supply chain network.
While All-Clad indeed does not offer blue carbon steel cookware like Made In. It makes up for this by providing more in other areas, including copper, graphite, hard-anodized aluminum, and just about any type of stainless steel construction imaginable.
The quality of these materials is also arguably superior because of the reputation of their suppliers as being the best in American steel crafting. As such, it is only natural that All-Clad are the clear winner when comparing cookware materials.
Winner: All-Clad
Performance
Both brands perform exceptionally well in cooking delicious food and tackling complex recipes. Both All-Clad and Made In provide excellent heat conduction, heat distribution, and long-lasting durability with their cookware sets.
As such, the key difference comes in the unique benefits each offer. For example, the greater variety of stainless steel cookware with All-Clad offers 5-ply as well as 2-ply, 3-ply, and 4-ply clad cookware. This offers more variety and lets users balance heat-up time with retention and durability.
Furthermore, All-Clad is known to have a more durable non-stick layering for selected options, with a solution that is less likely to wear off over time. For that reason, All-Clad’s nonstick cookware is also dishwasher safe, whereas Made In’s is not. This makes maintenance far more effortless with All-Clad.
Thus, the high-end All Clad is once again the winner, at least regarding performance.
Winner: All-Clad
Product Offerings
As mentioned, All-Clad far outclasses Made In when it comes to offering more stainless steel cookware options. They feature everything from 2-ply up to 5-ply construction. However, Made In offers more choices of material in their sets, including blue carbon steel pans and pots.
In particular, the Made In Sous Chef Kit comes with various cookware pieces, including carbon steel pans, stainless steel pots, and non stick cookware for the full range of options.
Made In trumps All-Clad’s ability to produce more versatile cookware sets. They are also more appealing to those looking to experience the benefits of all types of materials and craftsmanship.
Winner: Made In
Ergonomics
The area of ergonomics is complex as every minor detail counts, but it is also among the most important in determining the best cookware for yourself. For example, all-Clad and Made In cookware are comfortable as they feature highly ergonomic handles that stay cool under high temperatures.
However, All-Clad goes a step further and offers a U-shaped handle to rest your thumb on. This makes it a comfortable and logically safer option, giving it a slight edge over its chief competitor.
Winner: All-Clad
Cost
Of course, All-Clad is significantly more expensive than Made In, and you can typically expect to pay more than double for the brand for a similar cookware set. Made In can cut costs by partnering with its family-owned businesses across Europe using a direct-to-consumer business model.
Hence, Made In is the clear affordable winner, making it highly appealing for budget buyers and bargain seekers.
Winner: Made In
Made In vs. All Clad FAQ
Is All-Clad made in China now?
All-Clad is mostly made in the United States, however, some specific parts such as lids and handles are often imported from China as per the company’s policy.
Is Made In cookware made in China?
Made In cookware sources its materials from the United States as well as regions of Europe including France and Italy. Made In currently does not import any products, parts, or materials from China.
Are All-Clad pans better?
All-Clad pans offer maximum durability and heat distribution as well as ergonomic handles for a comfortable grip and flared rims for safe pouring. They certainly excel in stainless steel pans. however, you may prefer Made In for their blue carbon steel pans which heats up faster than cast iron.
Is Made In cookware made in America?
Made In cookware is partially made in America and partially in regions across Europe including France and Italy. The brand partners with family-owned businesses and uses a direct-to-consumer model to cut down the price of their products.
Sources
(1) – https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bananabread_85720
(2) – https://www.canonsburgboro.com/
