Big fan of the Calphalon triply here. Works great for most purposes but not for everything. I started picking up pieces of the Calphalon 'Commercial' (?) triply a couple years ago at TJ maxx and the like. Calphalon customer service told me it had been discontinued, and to grab what I could as it was quite popular. I did and use 10 and 12 inch pans (straight sided), a small and a larger sauce pot just about daily. Love them.

I do NOT use the smaller sauciers, or the 8, 10 or 12 in omelette pans (curved sides). I don't use any of the nonstick, except a small omelette pan for omelettes. Or the 'everyday' pan that looks like a wok. I just don't.

If I am boiling pasta I use an old lightweight Revere pasta pot (boils faster, weighs less). If I am making soup I use a no name stockpot, equally shiney. If I am browning, I use anodized (better browning) or cast iron. If I am slow braising I use a Le Creuset (just cause).

My point, and I do have one, is that sets in the same material won't give you the performance range that different materials will. That said, I do love the triply. 4 or so pieces of the triply covers most of my bases, and I shouldn't have acquired so many. You similarly would be paying for extra pieces there, especially the large pot. Look around and you may find you can cobble together a better range of materials for the same price. But if you don't care to do that and a set suits you, I do heartily endorse the triply.

HTH.

I got Tri-Ply as an engagement gift about six years ago. I do love it as a good base set of cookware. It heats up well, performs well and cleans up well. It still looks new after six years of heavy use. The stuff is nearly impossible to destroy, which is important to me, and it works with induction, which is a plus.

All that said, I've been adding cast iron pieces lately. I just find that with high heat cooking, it gives a better, less mushy finish.

So I definitely recommend the Tri-Ply as a starting point, but I don't think a complete solution to all your kitchen needs.

celticmoon is right-TJMaxx is a great place to pick up individual pieces. I've bought a couple of stainless pans to add to my older, anodized Calphalon pieces and like using them all. I have a 12" straight side stainless steel All Clad that I use every day, and a 4.5 qt stainless Calphalon sauce pan with glass lid that I use a lot too. I look forward to looking for the triply on my next trip to TJMaxx.This is unrelated to Calphalon triply, but my favorite "slap-my-head-go-figure-who'd've thunk it" cooking pan has turned out to be my All Clad electric fry pan (glass lid) that I used for the 10 months (and continue to use) that I didn't have a stove!!

I just bought the all-stainless 10" and 12" skillets at Marshall's; the 10" was list price, but the 12" was 50% off list. I've used both a few times now, and I'm quite happy with them. I've seared scallops on them. I even made a frittata that went from stove to broiler for top browning, and nothing stuck to the pan bottom--I fully expected the mixture of eggs and cheese to stick to the stainless, but it didn't.

Some folks who have posted on Amazon say that the Calphalon Tri-Ply compares well to the all-stainless All-Clad. I must say that I find the Calphalon handles to be more comfortable than the All-Clad handles. Even though the handle shapes are similar, the edges on the Calphalon seem more rounded and, therefore, more comfortable to grip.

Yes, I love the Tri-Ply handles, they are very comfortable. Another neat feature is that they have a groove for holding a spoon so you don't need a spoon rest.

Ooops! Having just finished washing my electric fry pan, I see that it is Cuisinart, not All Clad. Still, it's my favorite new tool.

kitchen1921: Is that what the handle groove is for--holding a spoon? I never would have guessed. Thanks!

Marciab10: If you Google "Calphalon Stainless Steel Tri-Ply" you'll find links to lots of cooking forums where the merits of this line of cookware are discussed. Everyone seems pretty positive about it.

I saw a great tri-ply set in a J.c.Penney's flyer. I think they had one for $150 and a larger set for $199. Let me check-

Here's the smaller set

and here's the bigger one

Here is a link that might be useful: Larger Tri-ply set at Penny's

Thanks everyone! Especially Alexr!!! you just saved me $150!

Based on all your great suggestions, I have definately decided on the Tri-ply, but I think I am going to go with the smaller set(10 pieces instead of 13) Difference is also smaller pieces, 6qt instead of 8qt stockpot, 3 qt sauce & saute pan instead of 4. Since I am usally only cooking for me and DH, smaller stuff makes more sense! And then I am going to take a few of your suggestions and look for other pieces to supplement. Will check out Marshalls and TJMax.

Lesson learned: just because there is a going out of business sale.. it is not always the best price! They are at 25% off now, would have to go to 50% to be same price as Pennys sale, and by then I bet they would all be gone.

Triply seems to be a generic term and the Penny's set may not be Calphalon. Looks identical though and may perform as well. Check the feel, finish and heft, and if all is well, go for it!

Celticmoon is right; you should call Penney's about the manufacturer. I looked at the pictures, and it appears that the smaller pans have only two rivets in the handles. My Calphalon Tri-Ply handles have three rivets.

I don't want to put to fine a point on the rivet question, except to say that the number of rivets does not make the pan. Stainless handles and stainless tri-ply is not going to tear away from the rivets. All Clad uses only two rivets. It really depends on the pan and handle thickness and size of rivets as well.
The only rivet I ever had get loose was on a thin sided disk bottomed pan. It is because the the stainless is so thin it can flex and work loose.

Most of the really good copper pans with iron handles use three rivets, but Mauviel's (French) Cuprinox 'style'- with stainless handles also use only two rivets and it is very expensive, costing several hundred dollars per pan.

I guess I wouldn't be too concerned about the number of rivets, anyway, they can be squeezed and re-tightened.

By the way, I noticed that Penny's open stock on their 'cooks' tri-ply is also on sale.

I'll also mention that if I had to have only one pan it would be a curved saucier, or sometimes called a curved saute pan. It's perfect for risotto (rice), reducing sauces, frying, sauteing, etc. the 24 cm (9 1/2") is a good size for small to medium meals- (2 persons). That and a stock pot for boiling veggies or pasta would allow a fair amount of cooking to get done.

Calphalon Tri-ply is nice - I have some pieces as well as All-Clad and like them both. If you are going to get a set as a starting point, I would get a smaller set and think about adding some pieces of other types to it (a non-stick skillet, cast iron skillet, etc).

I think you are right -- the prices at LNT are nothing special right now. You can find as good a deal, maybe better, elsewhere.

marciab10, this is off topic, but i've admired your kitchen in other posts and can't find any details about your finishes... did i miss your finished kitchen post? if not, would you mind sharing your cabinet, island (black), and kitchen wall colors? you really nailed the perfect combination!!

madaboutkitchens~ I haven't done a finished kitchen post yet, since its not quite finished .. almost..we were owner/GC, and are doing the majority of last detail items ourselves.. taking a little longer than expected. And we are in the midst of moving.. hope to FINALLY be in our new home next week. I am so happy with the way everything finally turned out, I will be posting lots of pix when we are in and settled!

The kitchen wall color is Benjamin Moore Oakwood Manor -1095. My cream cabinets were made by Hamphsire Cabinets in Ohio, it is a custom color. My islands were made by a local cabinetmaker, I will ask him what color he used on the black island. It has a slight rub through, that matches the alder island.

back on topic- i went ahead and got the Calphalon set from LNT for 30% off. Am looking forward to cooking again!

thx for the info- can't wait to see your finished kitchen! good luck with the move!