What is Cladding?
A cooking surface that heats evenly and retains heat is an important feature of any quality cookware. Ordinary stainless steel pans are not good conductors of heat, which makes them less efficient for cooking food when compared to pans made of highly conductive metals like aluminum or copper. Stainless steel cookware has a tendency to develop hot spots, resulting in unevenly cooked food. To get your food evenly cooked, you have to constantly rotate the pan to avoid hot spots.
To produce cookware that performs outstandingly, manufacturers use cladding in the manufacturing process. Cladding is a technique in which the layers of different metals are bonded together to improve the cookware’s durability and functionality. Each layer of metal has a specific purpose in the construction, resulting in cookware that has many advantages over classic single-metal products.
Some highly reactive metals, such as copper or aluminum, are exceptional heat conductors, but they don’t make good cooking surfaces. In contrast, stainless steel doesn’t react with foods or impart flavors, which makes it the perfect cooking surface. To prevent interactions between food and metal, the outside layer is made of an inert metal, while the inner core is made of a conductive material (aluminum or copper).
The outside layer of the pan is resistant to wear and easy to keep clean, while the induction-compatible bottom provides more versatility.
Although much more expensive than single-metal cookware, multi-ply cookware is a great long-term investment.
Common types of multi-ply cookware include 3-ply, 5-ply, and 7-ply.
5-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware
5-ply utensils are made of 5 layers of metal. The inside and outside surfaces are made of stainless steel, while three layers of conductive metal, like aluminum or copper, form the core. Different configurations may exist, but each configuration has an inner layer of thermally conductive metals and an outside layer of stainless steel to provide a non-reactive cooking surface, easy maintenance, and induction-compatible bottom.
Popular brands of 5-ply stainless steel cookware include All-Clad, KitchenAid, Viking, Cuisinart, Calphalon, Le Chef, USA Pan, Scanpan, Saber Cookware, Mauviel, Demeyere, and Made In Cookware.
Advantages of 5-ply Stainless Steel Cookware
- One of the main advantages of 5-ply over 3-ply cookware is its greater thickness, which makes it highly resistant to warping.
- 5-ply stainless steel cookware is more versatile compared to cheap non-stick cookware because it can withstand very high heat. These utensils are stove, oven, and broiler safe up to 500o Fahrenheit. The magnetic stainless steel exterior layer is compatible with all cooktops, including induction.
- The aluminum layers in the middle help to provide fast and even heat transfer throughout the cookware, eliminating “hot spots” and improving cooking performance. 5-ply stainless steel cookware contains more layers of heat-conductive metal than 3-ply cookware, providing better heat conductivity and greater heat retention.
- In addition, the stainless steel interior surface is ideal for cooking, as it does not react with food or alter flavors. Since it is non-porous, it is also easy to clean and sanitize.
- The 5-ply composition works well for dishes that require precise temperature control, such as delicate sauces, risotto, and pasta dishes. This cookware also keeps the oil at a consistent temperature for perfectly fried foods and provides the uniform heat required for properly seared food.
- Due to its incredibly fast heat distribution, 5-ply cookware uses less energy to reach desired cooking temperatures.
Made In Stainless Steel Cookware
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This high-end stainless steel cookware is handcrafted in the USA. Made In Cookware is constructed with 5 layers of stainless steel and aluminum, combining the best of both metals. The outer layers of premium stainless steel deliver great durability, a food-safe cooking surface, and induction compatibility. The inner core consists of three layers of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of steel, providing incredibly fast heat distribution.
Made In’s 5-ply cookware features life-long durability, a toxin-free non-stick cooking surface, and a great aesthetic. Every detail is meticulously crafted to satisfy customers’ everyday use.
The triple-cured, non-stick surface offers long-lasting, non-stick performance. Their non-stick pans require a short pre-heat time and offer fast and even heat distribution, making cooking a joy. The food-grade PTFE coating has excellent release capabilities and can withstand temperatures up to 500o Fahrenheit, making the cookware stove and oven safe up to 500 degrees.
The coating is highly scratch-resistant and has been shown to last up to 10x longer than some popular non-stick cooking surfaces like ceramic, which wears with every use.
Made In’s non-stick pans, pots, and cookware sets are very well built, highly functional, and remarkably attractive when displayed in your kitchen.
