The eternal debate between Cuisinart and Calphalon continues to rage on, with each of the two brands vying for the top spot. But this is no contest. Calphalon is undoubtedly the superior cookware brand! Let’s take a closer look at why that’s true.
How they differ
1. Calphalon has better performance
While the performance of both brands is impressive, Calphalon outperforms Cuisinart in numerous areas. The key to this superior performance is the fact that Calphalon uses an aluminum base in its cookware, where Cuisinart uses stainless steel. Stainless steel reacts with acidic ingredients like tomatoes and vinegar. This results in discoloration of your pots and pans, or worse yet, burnt food. Worse still, this reaction between the metal and the food will leach into your cooking! Calphalon’s All-Clad line avoids this problem by using hard-anodized aluminum for its base. This aluminum is not only non-reactive with food, it doesn’t react with acidic cooking liquid either. You can even use pot-scrubbers with your Calphalon pans.
2. Calphalon has better weight distribution
The weight of your cookware will have a big effect on the performance of your pots and pans. Too much metal in the dishwasher and you’ll end up with burnt food and a less than perfect end result, but too little and you’ll end up with porcelain stains and cracked pots! You’ll want to find cookware that evenly distributes its weight throughout its body. Calphalon’s Corelle Core collection does this while Cuisinart’s ceramic line doesn’t.
3. Calphalon has better heat conduction
A quality frying pan can be a useful tool, but a poor one will be a source of frustration and disappointment. With the former, you’ll get perfectly browned sear marks and evenly cooked food. The latter will leave you with burnt food, uneven cooking and scorching hot handles. A great cookware brand will have a good balance of weight and design, so that your pans distribute heat evenly without being too heavy or too light for your stovetop. Cuisinart’s Copper Core is clearly inferior in this regard, having been designed for stoves with less powerful burners than most modern ranges have.
Calphalon, on the other hand, has a better-designed and -balanced line. This is particularly noticeable in the Calphalon Commercial Hard Anodized line, which outperforms Cuisinart’s cookware in every respect.
4. Calphalon has better design
While both of these brands produce some very attractive products, there’s no denying that Cuisinart lacks the stunning design that makes Calphalon such a hit with its customers. Top-of-the-line Calphalon cookware doesn’t just have great performance—it also looks amazing! Copper accents and clean lines give it a modern look without being too minimalist or too futuristic. Cuisinart, on the other hand, is a bit of a departure from the traditional cookware designs we’ve grown accustomed to. It’s very sleek and modern, but quite frankly doesn’t look like something you’d actually use.
5. Cuisinart is more durable
While both of these brands are fully capable of withstanding high heat, Cuisinart’s hard anodized copper exterior is more likely to succumb to this type of abuse. This is especially true in ultra-high heat situations, where you might need to use your pots and pans for steaming, baking or any other type of cooking where they’ll be exposed to extremely high temperatures.
Calphalon’s All-Clad Commercial Hard Anodized line, however, has the sturdiest construction with its 5-layer aluminum core. It can withstand temperatures up to 500°F without losing an ounce of quality or performance.
6. Calphalon is better at resisting warping
Warped cookware is a major problem for most people, and it’s even worse when the reason is your cookware. This happens when your pots and pans warp during the heating process. Warping can be caused by uneven heating, but also by exposure to chemicals like soap and detergents. Neither brand wins this battle, but Calphalon does a little better than Cuisinart in this department.
7. Calphalon has better appearance retention
The appearance of your pots and pans is important for many reasons, not least of which is storage space. You’ll want to get rid of any cookware that you’re not using, but if it looks too ugly to even be in your cupboard, putting it in the attic is also out of the question!
Cuisinart’s Copper-Core line is especially prone to this. It has a porous exterior with copper mixed in with its ceramic. Because copper naturally oxidizes, this means that your pans will end up looking pretty bad in a relatively short amount of time. To make matters worse, salty foods can cause permanent discoloration. This might not be a problem for most people, but if you’re particularly sensitive to aesthetics you’ll want to steer clear of Cuisinart.
Overview of Calphalon
To be honest, Calphalon is pretty much without flaw. It has the same great performance that Cuisinart has, but looks even more modern and stylish at the same time! It has better weight distribution, so you’re less likely to have issues with burnt food. It also distributes heat more evenly, so you’re less likely to have any problems with scorching hot handles.
Calphalon’s All-Clad line is the only one that gives you a 5-layer aluminum core and hard-anodized exterior for superior durability and heat conduction. Everything about it is superior:
- Solid 5-Layer Construction (dual layer bottom and 3 layer sides)
- Superior Heat Distribution (pointed end vs. flat base)
- Super-Durable (5 layer construction)
- Beautiful Aluminum Finish (hard-anodized, 5 layer construction)
- Excellent Ergonomics (very well balanced, great weight distribution)
- Looks Good (clean lines, beautiful aluminum finish)
- Less Likely to Warp (5 layer construction, copper base)
Overview of Cuisinart
Cuisinart has better heat conduction, but it has a porous interior and a copper exterior that’s prone to warping. This makes it more difficult to clean and much less durable than Calphalon’s All-Clad Commercial Hard Anodized line or Calphalon’s Corelle Core collection. If you’re looking for the best cookware for everyday use, then you’re better off sticking with the Copper Core collection from Calphalon!
What cookware is comparable to Calphalon?
Brands like All-Clad, Sur La Table’s Cuisine, and Tramontina are the closest competitors to Calphalon. All of them are durable with excellent heat conduction. They’re also coated with triple-layer nonstick coating that makes cleanup much easier.
But they’re not quite as durable or long-lasting as Calphalon’s commercial-grade cookware. They also aren’t quite as easy to clean either! But they’re certainly worth taking a look at if you don’t want to spend the extra money on Calphalon.
Is Cuisinart high end?
No. Cuisinart is a mid-range brand that’s much cheaper than Calphalon and other similar brands. It’s average when it comes to heat conduction and cooking performance, but it’s much easier to clean than the All-Clad Copper Core line!
What makes Cuisinart cookware expensive?
Cuisinart has a really high markup compared to other brands. In other words, you’re paying for the brand name instead of the quality. The company’s products aren’t made from the best materials or with the best manufacturing methods in mind.
Is Cuisinart a reliable brand?
Cuisinart is a pretty reliable brand. Don’t worry about taking it out of the box and having it break. But sometimes parts can fail, so be sure to check the warranty information before purchasing!