354 Reviews

432 out of 452 people found this review helpful:
A fine-performing 3 year pot

I bought this pot three years ago, and it was my first piece of "serious" cookware. I used it to make various pasta and other sauces, and its large surface area and even heat were very good. It was also easy to clean. Per the manufacturer's instructions, I cleaned it by hand, using a Scotch-Brite pad when needed. It was a beautiful pan. And, after three years, sauces started tasting funny, and I noticed that the inside was significantly lighter in color than the outside. A quick check with an Ohmmeter revealed that the anodized coating was gone, and I was effectively left with a plain aluminum pan. The other cooks I have talked to say that this is just what happens after a while, and the pans go in the sandbox for the kids to play with. Now, at the fantastic amazon.com price, it's not too bad to just buy a new one every three years, or you can mail the pan back to Calphalon and try for a warranty replacement. After this experience, I will certainly never use a Scotch-Brite pad on anodized aluminum. Still, a clad pan such as All-Clad offers similar performance and will last forever (15+ years), so I think that's what I will replace it with.

193 out of 204 people found this review helpful:
A great saucepan

I recently ordered this based on my appreciation for Calphalon products and the great price. This is a fantastic saucepan that can practically double as a saute pan. It is surprisingly large and roomy, and the extra diameter gives it plenty of room for fitting in two or three chicken breasts, a modest steak, or a handful of veggies. I love it for making coq au vin since it isn't too large and goes right in the oven.

Nothing sticks to this pan if you add just a dab of butter or oil, and it heats up and cools quickly. One great feature of pure aluminum cookware is the fact that aluminum dissipates heat quickly, so pulling the pan off the heat is a great way to regulate the temperature when making a sauce. This is a great product and a wonderful addition to my Calphalon cookware collection.

63 out of 67 people found this review helpful:
More a Sauteuse than Saucepan

This Calphalon Commercial Hard Anodized "Collector's Edition" 2 1/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan with Lid is a perfect "test" pan to see if you like cooking with this superior line of cookware. My first piece of Calphalon cookware, a 1-quart shallow saucepan, convinced me to buy a 7-piece starter set, and I have added more and more pieces over the years. As Calphalon rarely discounts their cookware, I have looked for their "specials" like this Saucepan.

Of all my saucepans, my 2 1/2-Quart one seems to get the most use. This shallower version of that same pan (with a larger diameter base) will be perfect for a sautŽ, such as making a mirepoix. It would also work for making a sauce because the sides are straight.

Hand wash this pan with a mild liquid detergent, and you will enjoy it for many years.

50 out of 55 people found this review helpful:
Try it to see the difference

Since Calaphon almost never makes significant discounts on their higher end lines, this saucepan is a great deal. As one of the other reviewers mentions, it is a great purchase for you to experiment with difference between high quality and average cookware.

The calaphon collector's edition is the same as the commerical hard anodized line. It has a heavy gauge bottom that provide nice even heating. It has a high grade Hard Anodized (not non stick) surface which will withstand the use of metal utensils and last for years. It is does not have the low conductivity handles, so you will have to use a mitt to shake the pan if it has been on the stove for several minutes.

I have seen some reviews that criticize the use of non stick surfaces (which is really a layer of paint) versus hard anodized (which is only "stick resistant"). Non stick cookware will not last a lifetime - more like 5-10 years if you use nylon utensils. Once the surface flakes you should throw the pan out.

Hard anodized is a different type of treatment altogether. It does not stick or burn like regular steel pans but it is not an oil free surface either. You can use metal utensils without damaging the cooking properties of the surface and they will last a lifetime. Professional quality, hard anodized pan are usually priced at 2-3 times the price of a good quality non stick set.

47 out of 49 people found this review helpful:
Great deal on Great cookware

If you own any Calphalon, you already know.

If not, you should. This is a great deal on a very useful pan. Once you've tried a calphalon hard anodized pan, you will probably never be satisfied with anything else. I currently own six pieces, lost two to my ex-wife. (They actually feature in our divorce agreement - I got computer, stereo, custody of our son, and 1/2 of our Calphalon... I miss the pans more than her... :^)

I've owned Calphalon, Anolon, Farberware, etc. The Hard-Anodized products from Calphalon are the best. I give this pan and a few others (like the 12-inch Everyday Pan) as gifts, almost universally appreciated. If you are serious about cooking, they are worth the $80-$100 and higher price tags. If you pick up one of the pieces that are on the frequent super-deep discounts it is a steal.

The heating characteristics of these pans are great - I refuse to make candy or fudge in anything else. (I make 20-30 pounds of fudge each December) As long as you keep the heat 1/2 to 1 step lower than you would use with another pan, cooking time is the same and it is difficult to burn things. If you DO manage to burn something, just let the pan cool off and wash with normal dish soap (NOT dishwasher!!) and a scrubby sponge, it will clean up almost perfectly with very little effort.

I've found the Pots'n'Pans and nonstick Calphalon products to be acceptable, but they can't compare to the Hard Anodized Aluminum product lines. Don't get distracted by 'nonstick' coatings, that require special utensils and usually start to flake and peel within a year. This product is solid Aluminum, subjected to an Anodizing process to harden it, with NO added coating. As long as you don't abuse it, cut in it with a sharp knife, or use dishwasher detergent on it, it will last a LONG time.

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