Cuisinart77-10P1 10-Piece Chef's-Classic-Stainless Collection, Cookware Set

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am Italian and raised 5 children on daily home-cooked meals. The kitchen is the center of my home. So when my daughter got her own apartment out west and asked for a set of pots for Christmas, I wanted to make sure I got her a quality set that would last her for years and years. I knew what I wanted for her, but didn't know which brand to purchase. Non-stick was out (I have never liked it). The pots also had to be both dishwasher/oven safe, and I wanted the pot handles to be riveted into the pot. Off I went to the mall with my "specifications" in hand to look at the different brands and sets available. Boy was I amazed at how many there were! I took my time and examined each set. Not only did I look at the sets, but I also handled the sets. This is VERY important. Many of the quality sets were so heavy that I needed two hands to lift the larger pieces, and although I could lift the smaller saucepans, I had difficulty tilting them to the side to pour. Others had handles that were very uncomfortable to use. Then I came upon the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 10-piece cookware set. I was very impressed by the quality. They were heavy grade yet easy to handle. They also met my other specifications listed above AND they looked really nice as well. The price of $149 was quite unbelievable. I drove home and ran straight to my computer and ordered the set through Amazon. I got free shipping and had the set delivered directly to my daughter. I also used the holiday bonus coupon for $25 off my order. I was so impressed with the set and the deal Amazon was offering, a few days later I purchased a second set through Amazon for myself. I LOVE them. They cook beautifully on my gas range and clean up well in the dishwasher. The handles DO NOT get hot while cooking, which totally surprised me. Do be careful with the lid handles though. They will get hot if cooking on higher heat. I haven't had a problem with delicate foods burning due to the high thermoconductivity of the pans; however, my stove is a professional grade 6-burner unit. I don't know if that makes any difference or not. All I can say is this set looks great, cooks great, handles great, and sells at a great price. What more can you ask for?

I've purchased two sets about six months ago and had a chance to use every piece. I have to say that this set is a bargain, but noticed that Cuisinart Multiclad Pro is what I would prefer over this set (if money was no object). I've purchased the Multiclad Pro 3 qt saucepan and the 5-1/2 qt pan to compliment this set, and love the true triple ply and heavier gauge sides which prevents scorching. Can't compare this set to the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro set that cost two to three times as much (or All-Clad)...and I'm quite happy that I have purchased this set!As for the 10-piece set, I agree with the high praise from many already posted. This is a very good set for a resonable price. Would it last a lifetime? Probably not but I will get good use out of it for at least ten years. Sides of pan are a bit thin and will flex slightly (compared to the Multiclad models). If the pan fell from my hanging rack, it would probably dent. You can hang the pots with lids on, though one would have to be careful not to knock them off. One of the lids came off and hit the countertop then the floor, but survived the fall without any damage. My favorite is the 3 qt saucepan and the 3-1/2 qt saute.Cameo or Bar Keepers Friend does a good job of cleaning up residue that can't be cleaned up with standard dish washing soap or in the dishwasher. I have some pitting on the interior of pan from throwing salt from soft-boiling eggs or pasta. Pitting does not impact the performance, but a bit ugly looking (doesn't bother me as this set was inexpensive and I've purchased to use everyday). I've done a comparison between the 3 qt provided in this set compared to the Multiclad 3 qt. I was surprised that using same amount of water an at same size gas burners with switching the pans every minute to ensure even heating, Chef's Classic boiled water quicker than the Multiclad by at least a minute (I'm a professional engineer and a bit quirky that way).I've also purchased the anodized non-stick pans by Cuisinart and been using the glass lids from that set on the Chef's Classic. Since purchasing the stainless set, my non-stick pans are in storage and though they are fairly new, teflon started coming off from the top of the cookware where lid meets the pan. I realize the professionals use metal lids as it keeps in the heat better and easier to clean, but I do like to see what's going on inside the cookware when I'm cooking. I'm starting to get used to the metal lids. This set has also retired my Lodge cast iron cookware to use only on the grill, as the stainless base heat retention is great and much easier to clean and maintain.I would highly recommend this set to anyone who wants a long lasting cookware, likes to use metal utensils with their cookware as long as they don't mind superficial scratches(instruction manual states that non-metallic utensils be used), enjoys developing fond (brown bits) for making tasty sauces, or simply wants a cookware that one can abuse without having to worry about ingesting Teflon, this set would be very satisfactory. If you want the absolute best and spend considerable time in the kitchen, spend more for the Cuisinart Multiclad or All-Clad and don't complain about the little details. For most everyone else out there, this set would be quite adequate. Happy cooking!Other Info: As for interchangeability with Cuisinart Multiclad line, 3-qt line has different size lids as Multiclas line has deeper Saute pans. Frying pans are the same size. Pam or similar cooking spray should be avoided as they will bake on to the pans and will be difficult to remove. I've started to cook eggs on real butter mixed with olive oil. Wow! Eggs are so much better than cooked on the non-stick skillet with spray oil. Everything in moderation, but I've been learning to live a little and exercise more to make up.