I’ve Been Using Made In Cookware Exclusively for a Year — Here’s My Honest Review (Plus, How It Compares to My All-Clad)
When it comes to cookware, I have been pretty loyal to my All-Clad for more than 15 years. So when I got my hands on some pots and pans from Made In, a new-ish direct-to-consumer cookware brand, I wasn’t sure how my test-drives would go. Tasked with reviewing the brand, I tried out their most popular pieces — and then I kept it all. As a pro-home cook who tests a lot of kitchen gear, I usually donate my extras to a friend or a charity in need, but this time, I just couldn’t part with my Made In!
Yup, I’ve officially added Made In to my cookware collection. I’ve used the pots and pans exclusively for almost a year, so I’ve got some thoughts. Here’s how it’s held up after months of cooking and cleaning — plus, what I reach for the most and how Made In’s cookware compares to my beloved All-Clad.
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My Honest Review of Made In Cookware
When I first started using Made In’s cookware years ago, I had the Sous Chef set, which included stainless steel, carbon steel, and nonstick pots and pans in various sizes with lids, as well as a tin of their Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax. This set allowed me to test a little bit of everything that Made In offered. However, the set has since been retired to make way for specific sets for stainless steel, nonstick, and carbon steel cookware. These sets all contain pieces that I’ve tested.
Over the years, I have found myself reaching for the 10-inch nonstick pan most often. It gets used regularly for scrambled and fried eggs, pancakes, and more, and still doesn’t have a single scratch or ding in the coating — the same cannot be said for cheaper nonstick skillets I’ve bought over the years.
The carbon steel pan I tested takes a little bit more work to season and care for (much like cast iron), but is now my favorite stovetop-to-oven pan.
My least-used pan from the set, though? The stainless-clad 10-inch skillet. It does the job, but I do have to blame my All-Clad cookware; I have a similar 12-inch pan that does a better job of handling large batches of food on the stovetop for my family, so I just reach for that instead. Another caveat is that the 10-inch skillet is what was in the set I tested, so if you want a larger size, Made In does make a 12-inch option.
As for Made In’s pots, they filled some gaps in my existing cookware collection. The 8-quart stockpot replaced a similar one I had from All-Clad. My old pot had a narrower design but was missing a lid, and the Made In version has a tight-fitting lid in a wider design, so it’s ideal for making triple batches of Rice Krispies treats, ragù, and more.
I have to admit that the three smaller pots from my set — a 2-quart, 4-quart, and 6-quart pot all with lids — see much less use. Their quality certainly matches their All-Clad counterparts — I just already had comparable pans in my cookware cabinet. That said, I’m still keeping them because I use them from time to time.
I’m even more impressed with Made In’s quality a year later than I was the day my set arrived. Every single piece of cookware has stood up to a year of heavy cooking and cleaning without staining or wearing. I can’t even say that about all my All-Clad cookware!
If you’re starting from scratch, I definitely recommend buying one of their sets. If you already have some great cookware and aren’t looking to replace your collection, I suggest filling in any gaps with Made In pieces (they’re a bargain compared to All-Clad!), like the carbon steel skillet (read my review of it) and carbon steel roasting pan.
Buy: ProCoat Non Stick Frying Pan, 10″, $99 (normally $129); 6-Piece Stainless Set, $499 (normally $626)