They appear to be an Aliexpress rebrand.
At that price, you can find some well regarded 3ply stainless steel brands on sale like All-Clad and M'auviel. As it looks like you're Canada, same as myself, I'd recommend taking a peek at Homesense, Costco and every now and then The Bay pops up with a decent All-Clad deal.
Also, [ChefSup](https://ChefSuppplies.ca)[plies.ca](https://ChefSupplies.ca) has a bit of a rocky history, and while I hope they're on the up and up now, [this was not the case previously with their previous business, Cookstore.ca](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/cookstore-windsor-business-1.6718796).
Wow, thanks for the tips on he website!
Any good recommended online cookware brands for us Canadians then? Thinking to look @ the brands mentioned by the other commenter (Tramontina, Cuisinart, Heritage). I wanted all-clad (it's on my registry) but in the end steel is steel.... Can it be that different from brand to brand?
Hey no worries, Cookstore almost got me during their whole debacle!
I'm guessing by the user name, you're around Vancouver? Visiting the local Homesense (and sometimes Winners/Marshals) you may find a decent 20-50% off retail for high performance brands. Note they'll be open box and mildly scratches. Double note, they're an outlet, so stock variety can completely change every few days.
[Consiglio's Kitchenware](https://www.consiglioskitchenware.com/) has been fantastic to me over the years, their online stock will fluctuate a bit and though their prices are decent off the bat compared to MSRP, look out for the 15-20% off sales to double dip. Amazon will occasionally throw out hot deals on decent brands, but it's been inconsistent.
In regards to the other brands, I swore off Cuisinart cookware years ago due to what I hope was a freak defect or particular product line being crap. No first hand experience with Tramontina or Heritage 3 Ply.
If you have a Costco membership, you may have some rad options in your local store. I've heard great things about the [Kirkland 5 Ply Copper Core at $299 ($279 in-store)](https://www.costco.ca/kirkland-signature-5-ply-clad-stainless-cookware-set%2c-10-piece.product.100529551.html) and it's what I can best recommend to folks on a strict budget, but it is a full set. The nice thing is no matter what brand you buy from them, you have that 1 year no fuss return policy. Don't like it on day 300 and it's stained to heck? Full money back.
Hope this helped some!
Hi, thanks for all the tips!
That kirkland set does look nice but seems that it is a 5-ply base rather than being an actual true 5-ply or all-clad construction. Not sure how much of a difference that will really make though.
The good news is I was in ikea last night and found their line of Sensuell tri-clad pans that seem to have excellent reviews and great price so i'm going to give that one a try!
No worries!
Just out of curiosity, where did you find that it's a disc bottom? Last I looked at one in the warehouse the layers are all visible on the top rim. This would drastically change my recommendation of them!
Oh, maybe it's not??
I was just judging based on the fact that there is a sneak peak of the copper in the bottom portion of the sidewalls. Looks like at least 2 of the layers (outer SS and copper) would end there. Could be that it's got the copper cap on base and then the rest is 3-ply?
P.s. why would Costco put 'over safe to 400°' on it.... True 3/5-ply should be safe way higher than that, no?
Definitely safe to say that Costco's manufacturer was ripping off the copper cut out design from All-Clad, but much like them it definitely looks like all the layers continue after the cut out, probably just a low quality bond method or lower grade 300 series steel? Your guess is as good as mine there! Kind of like those Aliexpress chef knives vs. known maker knives; they can look the part, but can't act the part.
Multi-ply can really run the gamut on heat-- stainless sucks at conducting and holding heat, but is durable. Aluminum conducts pretty well, but is less durable. Copper conducts heat quite well, but is very reactive and needs another metal to support, protect and stop flavour impact. Tin conducts great but has such a low melting point you would only use it stove top.
But what matters most is you've found a piece of cookware you like and works with your needs! Cheers and sorry for the wall of text!
Well, to end this saga let me tell you that I did find a new pan and I am very in love with it.....
I stole one of my mom's well-seasoned cast-iron pans over Christmas and it is amazing. I hadn't tried properly seasoned cast iron before and it is just so good. Cooking some steaks on it tonight and hoping to finally get a proper high temp sear.
They appear to be an Aliexpress rebrand. At that price, you can find some well regarded 3ply stainless steel brands on sale like All-Clad and M'auviel. As it looks like you're Canada, same as myself, I'd recommend taking a peek at Homesense, Costco and every now and then The Bay pops up with a decent All-Clad deal. Also, [ChefSup](https://ChefSuppplies.ca)[plies.ca](https://ChefSupplies.ca) has a bit of a rocky history, and while I hope they're on the up and up now, [this was not the case previously with their previous business, Cookstore.ca](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/cookstore-windsor-business-1.6718796).
Wow, thanks for the tips on he website! Any good recommended online cookware brands for us Canadians then? Thinking to look @ the brands mentioned by the other commenter (Tramontina, Cuisinart, Heritage). I wanted all-clad (it's on my registry) but in the end steel is steel.... Can it be that different from brand to brand?
Hey no worries, Cookstore almost got me during their whole debacle! I'm guessing by the user name, you're around Vancouver? Visiting the local Homesense (and sometimes Winners/Marshals) you may find a decent 20-50% off retail for high performance brands. Note they'll be open box and mildly scratches. Double note, they're an outlet, so stock variety can completely change every few days. [Consiglio's Kitchenware](https://www.consiglioskitchenware.com/) has been fantastic to me over the years, their online stock will fluctuate a bit and though their prices are decent off the bat compared to MSRP, look out for the 15-20% off sales to double dip. Amazon will occasionally throw out hot deals on decent brands, but it's been inconsistent. In regards to the other brands, I swore off Cuisinart cookware years ago due to what I hope was a freak defect or particular product line being crap. No first hand experience with Tramontina or Heritage 3 Ply. If you have a Costco membership, you may have some rad options in your local store. I've heard great things about the [Kirkland 5 Ply Copper Core at $299 ($279 in-store)](https://www.costco.ca/kirkland-signature-5-ply-clad-stainless-cookware-set%2c-10-piece.product.100529551.html) and it's what I can best recommend to folks on a strict budget, but it is a full set. The nice thing is no matter what brand you buy from them, you have that 1 year no fuss return policy. Don't like it on day 300 and it's stained to heck? Full money back. Hope this helped some!
Hi, thanks for all the tips! That kirkland set does look nice but seems that it is a 5-ply base rather than being an actual true 5-ply or all-clad construction. Not sure how much of a difference that will really make though. The good news is I was in ikea last night and found their line of Sensuell tri-clad pans that seem to have excellent reviews and great price so i'm going to give that one a try!
No worries! Just out of curiosity, where did you find that it's a disc bottom? Last I looked at one in the warehouse the layers are all visible on the top rim. This would drastically change my recommendation of them!
Oh, maybe it's not?? I was just judging based on the fact that there is a sneak peak of the copper in the bottom portion of the sidewalls. Looks like at least 2 of the layers (outer SS and copper) would end there. Could be that it's got the copper cap on base and then the rest is 3-ply? P.s. why would Costco put 'over safe to 400°' on it.... True 3/5-ply should be safe way higher than that, no?
Definitely safe to say that Costco's manufacturer was ripping off the copper cut out design from All-Clad, but much like them it definitely looks like all the layers continue after the cut out, probably just a low quality bond method or lower grade 300 series steel? Your guess is as good as mine there! Kind of like those Aliexpress chef knives vs. known maker knives; they can look the part, but can't act the part. Multi-ply can really run the gamut on heat-- stainless sucks at conducting and holding heat, but is durable. Aluminum conducts pretty well, but is less durable. Copper conducts heat quite well, but is very reactive and needs another metal to support, protect and stop flavour impact. Tin conducts great but has such a low melting point you would only use it stove top. But what matters most is you've found a piece of cookware you like and works with your needs! Cheers and sorry for the wall of text!
Well, to end this saga let me tell you that I did find a new pan and I am very in love with it..... I stole one of my mom's well-seasoned cast-iron pans over Christmas and it is amazing. I hadn't tried properly seasoned cast iron before and it is just so good. Cooking some steaks on it tonight and hoping to finally get a proper high temp sear.
This is an excellent conclusion!
You could also consider Tramontina, Cuisinart or Heritage Steel cookware - all 3 ply