• Cooking evenness: This model was very good at uniformly browning a pancake that covered the entire cooking surface. We expect all cookware in this set to perform similarly for this and other food.
• Food release: This model was fair in releasing multiple eggs from the frypan. Four eggs are cooked in the frypan consecutively. The pan is initially seasoned with vegetable oil prior to cooking the first egg. An Excellent score indicates that all four eggs slid off the pan without assistance; A Poor score indicates that scraping was needed to release any egg from the pan and some egg residue was left on the pan.
• Handle temperature: This set's handles were very good at keeping temperatures low enough to touch without a potholder when used on the stovetop. You'll definitely need a potholder for sets scoring Fair or Poor. We also consider the size and shape of the handle when scoring.
• Handle sturdiness: This set scored good for handle sturdiness, which gauges its resistance to bending or breaking under increasing force.
• Speed of heating: This stockpot in the set was very good in speed of heating, which gauges the amount of time needed for 4L of water to rise 190 degrees F. Those scoring Excellent require less time; those scoring Poor require much more time.
• Simmering Performance: This stockpot in the set was excellent in Simmering performance, which gauges how well the stockpot can hold tomato sauce at simmering temperatures. Those scoring Excellent can hold the temperature; those scoring Poor can not hold the temperature.
• Saute Performance: This frypan in this set was good in sauteing, which gauges how well the pan can saute foods. Those scoring Excellent require minimal time and effort; those scoring Poor require more time and effort.

The All-Clad Stainless-Steel is part of the Cookware test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Cookware Sets (Stainless Steel) models like the Stainless-Steel are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Set: Each set includes at least a saucepan, a frying pan, and a stockpot. Lids are typically counted as separate components in a set.

Cooking evenness: A thermal imaging camera is used to evaluate the heating evenness of the frying pan

Food release: Food release score reflects the qualities of a pan's interior by cooking four eggs consecutively with oil. An Excellent score indicates that all four eggs slid off the pan without assistance; A Poor score indicates that scraping was needed to release any egg from the pan and some egg residue was left on the pan.