if you want to go with the smaller set and add on you might want to check out this site.. there may be others like it but they sell all-clad irregulars.. i actually have 5 pieces of all-clad irregulars and if you ask me I would have a hard time figuring out why they are irregular.. at worst they had a little scratch somewhere.. no huge dents or dings or anything functionally wrong..

http://www.cookwarenmore.com/index.php

http://www.cookwarenmore.com/display.php?cat=54&zid=1&lid=1&cartid=200812062360865

they are also having a 20% off special for buying 4 or more pieces..

poorowner, have you seen these and handled them? I have the smaller saute pan which I love and I think I would have trouble handling the larger one. I bought my SS AC on ebay at quite a bit less than Macy's price. Also does induction work like other ceran tops? Pan can only be so much bigger that largest ring? Have you compared the dimension of the big saute pan?

I would not recommend a set. You're way better off buying the pieces you will need and use.

favabeans recommendation on the irregulars is right on and the site recommended is a great one to work with.

Unless you love all pieces of a set or are getting a substantial discount, I recommend picking & choosing. Have you actually tried the All-Clad long handles? I do not find them comfortable. For saucepans & large saute pan, I chose Henckels Classic Clad stainless & have been very happy with them. A bonus is that the Henckels were half the price of All-Clad (online). I bought the All-Clad 4 qt. & 8 qt. dutch oven style pots with the two side handles & love them. We also use Lodge Logic cast iron skillets, some Chantal enameled steel pans, a LeCreuset 5 qt. french (dutch) oven, and a cast iron wok.

We have induction & gas, and all of the above work great with either. Make sure you test pan bottoms with a magnet--I was recently surprised that a Cuisinart stainless steel dutch oven does not work on our induction cooktop.

Hi thanks for your feedback. You could say I am getting a discount in a way, I have some giftcards and still don't know what to get at Macy's. Normally I found most things there overpriced/high markup but All clad has a standard price there.

We decided on induction cooktop our old aluminum set won't work. I have been using another brand's SS try ply clad and I am impressed how well clad cookware works and decided to go with All Clad. It's a chance to trade my plastic cards into something I actually can use in the new kitchen.

I agree the handle could be nicer but they don't bother me at all. They are still alot lighter than the heavy Kirkland ones Costco used to sell and I was even considering those. But we are going to Macy's to double check if it's a deal breaker or not.

Thanks for the link for the discounted seconds. It maybe worth while to spend what I have on giftcards at Macy's and get extra pieces from there. I don't think the imperfection would bother me, as long as the bottom is flat.

I could get by with 1 saute pan and 1 stock pot to handle my cooking needs, with a little creativity and extra washing. But I don't mind to have the right size for the job. The induction cooktop can detect the pan's size and apply power accordingly, but you can put a smaller pot than the circle, no heat is wasted. The large saute pan is 12" which will work fine on the largest circle of my cooktop.

I've had my induction cooktop just over a month and am IN LOVE! I hope you'll be as pleased with yours.

I decided to get the Emeril Pro Clad (which is 3 ply and made by all clad) because I liked the handles better. It was a really small set and was about $200. I decided not to put a lot of money into pots b/c I mostly just boil things in them. To me, the sets in general seem really heavy on the pots.

Then I've picked up open stock pieces of all clad (found a bunch at TJ MAXX) for skillets, saute pans etc...what I feel like are more work horse pieces.

Finally, I have several le creuset pieces that work great for roasting, soups, stews and things that may also go in the oven.

This system is really working for me. I hope you find what works for you. :)

please don't buy sets of pots/pans from department stores. just don't do it!

(what the heck is a 'chef pan' anyway??)

edlakin, why not ?

I got the 10 piece set of all clad recently and love it; I still need a grill pan and 2 non stick pans and I will see what else I want as time goes by.

chef pan is similar to a windsor, or a curved saute, or saucier, or evasee.

I am sure you will be very happy with the All Clad. I love my pieces.

If I were buying pans I'd buy All Clad SS but never their non-stick. I have one saute pan that gets occasional use. We ALWAYS wash it by hand, as the hang-tag instructed. None the less, the non-stick layer is peeling away from the base metal and we'll have to toss it as soon as that drifts down to the business area of the pan. I don't want to include teflon in my diet.

Cross_stitch, don't ditch that pan!!! Every All-Clad piece has a full lifetime warranty, even the "seconds". Just call All-Clad (1-800-ALL-CLAD) and tell them that you need to return your pan for a replacement. Easy, breezy and absolutely no hassle!

I LOVE my All-Clad. I have never had any trouble with ANY of mine, SS or non-stick, but of course, problems can occasionally occur. Let All-Clad make it right for you.

Lynn

edlakin, why not ?

i believe that sets of cookware and cutlery are a huge waste, as they always include pieces that you just don't need.

Hmm I just bought 1 all clad non-stick last week at a good discount.. (I only want to keep 1 non-stick for eggs, etc.), that's bad news that yours is peeling (I heard they have excellent warranty even on the non-stick).

Since the all clad is one of the fewer non-stick pans that has a magnetic body and will work with induction.. Does anyone know another non-stick frying pan that works with induction?

I think I will be happy with the contents of the set, I could really use those sizes and I had been using similar sizes from my old non-induction compatable cookware..

I have one All Clad SS with nonstick interior fry pan. It looks like new, not a scratch and I have been using it over 5 yrs. I do not use metal utensils in it and I hand wash.

The all clad 10 piece set is an excellent starter set, nothing is useless...

TFal makes a non stick induction compatible pans.