Review on 🍳 11-inch Black All-Clad Essentials Nonstick Hard Anodized Grill & Griddle Set by John May

You've probably heard all your life that All-Clad is the highest quality cookware for home cooks. It's important to note that as with most brands, there are many ranges and not every all-clad range is the same. Most people who claim that All-Clad is the best thing you can buy use the stainless steel D3 collection. This simmer and braising pan is part of the Essentials Collection, All-Clad's entry-level range of non-stick cookware. Do not get me wrong. I am by no means saying that this range of cookware is bad. That said, All-Clad isn't put on a pedestal in conversations with home cooks. I have ordered several items from this Essentials line. Considering the price, I was very impressed with this nonstick cookware. I've been using this grill and pan set for about 3-4 weeks now and I'm very impressed! As soon as you unpack it, you can see the quality of this dish. The pans are well constructed and heavy, but not so heavy that they are difficult to use. I've put this cookware through all the major tests (mostly I use the same tests for every cookware line I test) — frying an egg, making a very gooey gravy, frying a frozen chicken breast, and overcooking a piece of pork. until"burned" pan. I know better than using frozen meat in a hot pan, but I wanted to see how the pan would handle it. The same goes for overcooked meat. I was very impressed. The egg didn't stick, even without first spraying the pan or using oil. Even the frozen chicken breasts didn't stick (I used some oil). A piece of meat that I intentionally overcooked didn't stick. The pans were wiped down with a clean silicone sponge and a small amount of Dawn each time. In fact, after about a month of cooking all my meals with the pans, they still look brand new! I'm not obsessed with my pans, but I do my best to take care of them. I always heat the pan before adding butter, butter, cooking spray, etc. I always make sure the oil is hot before adding any other ingredients. I use silicone utensils. I don't put salt in pots until they are hot or the water is boiling. I wash pots and pans by hand, not in the dishwasher. I wash them with silicone sponge and dish soap. I dry them immediately by placing them on a hot stovetop so there are no streaks. After a month of use, I'm giving this All Clad cookware range 5 stars. I have my own D3 products and YES they are better. However, the quality of D3 cookware is very expensive. This range of cookware offers fantastic value for its price range. It heats up quickly, cooks evenly and is as easy to clean as non-stick cookware. Only time will tell if the non-stick coating on this cookware will hold up, but first impressions are very positive.