All-Clad Factory Seconds: 4-Qt BD5 Sauce Pan $81, 8-Qt Stockpot Expired

I've never had to agree to arbitration to buy a pot. Gonna be a pass for me. Seriously what is that?

Need some clarification. Im not sure I will buy it but I want to understand the difference between the 4-Qt. Saute Pan W/Lid /SD5 pan and the 4-Qt. Saute Pan W/Lid / Stainless... seems that "SD5" means something but what?

Need some clarification. Im not sure I will buy it but I want to understand the difference between the 4-Qt. Saute Pan W/Lid /SD5 pan and the 4-Qt. Saute Pan W/Lid / Stainless... seems that "SD5" means something but what?

What's the difference between D3, D3 Everyday, D3 Compact, D5, Copper Core, Collective, G5, Anodized, Fusiontech, MC2, and Emerilware by All-Clad?
Notice some of these lines are exclusive to a specific retailer. Why? It prevents comparison shopping.

The D3 line is All-Clad's classic stainless steel tri-ply pans with the aluminum core that have won accolades for decades from everybody from Cook's Illustrated to Consumer Reports to Wirecutter. All-Clad D3 has uses a 1.7mm aluminum layer, and this has become the standard to which all other brands of clad cookware are compared. This is enough aluminum to create fast, even heating, but not so much that the pans are overly heavy (Note: All-Clad markets the D3 line as "3-Ply," because it has 3 visible layers, but technically there are 2 more super-thin non-visible layers of a slightly different grade of aluminum that act as a binder between the 3 visible layers. Other brands like Misen that use the same construction call their pans "5-Ply"). In recent years, All-Clad stopped using American steel in the D3 handles and lids, to keep prices down, but still assembles them in the U.S. These pans have classic All-Clad handles, with a deep groove for your thumb. This lets you grab even large pans with oven mitts and tilt/pour without the pan slipping from your hand. Pans and handles have a polished finish. Most other versions of All-Clad stainless (see below) are the result of All-Clad trying to boost profit and/or fend off competition in various niches.

D3 Everyday is a newer version of the D3 line with a much smaller variety of pieces. The shapes are modified slightly from the classic D3 pans, with slightly larger surface areas, a redesigned handle that's wider and not as deeply grooved (for those who find the traditional handle ugly or uncomfortable), and flared sides for the sauce pans (D3 saucepan sides are straight). The flared rims make the diameter of D3 Everyday saucepans a little wider. If you'd like to see D3 and D3 Everyday side-by-side, here's a short video [youtu.be].

D3 Curated is a version of the D3 line created just for Crate & Barrel, usually sold as sets. The finish is brushed rather than polished, but otherwise it appears to be very similar to the D3 Everyday line, with a rounded, curved handle that has less of a thumb groove than D3, and taller, flared sides to the pans.

D3 Compact is a version of the D3 line created just for Williams-Sonoma, sold as sets. Similar to the D3 Everyday line but with really short handles (most pieces have only helper handles instead of long handles). Sets are overpriced.

D5 is five-ply stainless/aluminum instead of 3-ply (with an extra layer of stainless steel sandwiched in the middle of the aluminum, but in the same overall thickness, so D5 actually looks identical but has less aluminum than D3. As you might expect, D5 is heavier than D3, heats more slowly, and retains heat a little better, so it will be more forgiving and perhaps less prone to warping on induction cooktops, more like a cast iron pan. To be clear, both D3 and D5 are pretty indestructible and warping should not be a problem on either, but if you have a newer induction cooktop with rings that get crazy hot, crazy fast, heavier pans may be a safer bet. In terms of performance, long-simmering dishes or high heat searing are where the D5 could have a slight advantage. D5 has two other differences vs D3: The lids have taller, beefier handles, and the saucepans have flared edges, which makes for easier pouring. Because of the higher price and heavier weight, I don't love D5 for most if any pieces, and the testers at Cook's Illustrated agree [youtu.be], but it's popular. It was first made available only in a brushed finish, which was part of the appeal, then All-Clad discontinued it, then brought the line back recently in both brushed and polished finishes. (You'll see D5 brushed finish model numbers as D5 or BD5. You'll see polished listed as SD5.)

D7 was discontinued in 2018. D7 was a (gasp) 7-layer sandwich of alternating stainless steel and aluminum used for heavy 6- and 8-quart pots, plus a few other pieces, presumably to compete against cast iron dutch ovens. The design of this line was different as well, and was not well-reviewed.

Copper Core has traditionally been All-Clad's top-of-the line collection (though G5 Graphite has now taken over that spot). All-Clad Copper Core is similar in design to the D3 line but for a few distinctions: The middle layer is 1mm copper with 2 super-thin protective layers of aluminum instead of 1.7mm of aluminum, so the pans are thinner than D3, but because copper is more dense than aluminum, they are still significantly heavier than D3. Because the middle layer is exposed in a ring that extends around the base of the pan, All-Clad Copper Core has a distinctive, fashionable upscale look. The benefit of the thinner copper layer over aluminum is that it conducts heat more quickly, therefore these pans will heat up a little more quickly and respond more quickly to changes in temperature (in either direction). The difference in performance is marginal but real. Most cooks won't notice much of a difference, but serious chefs who make delicate sauces may find that difference valuable, particularly for their smaller saucepans where they might traditionally have used an all-copper pan. The drawbacks of Copper Core are the price (it's typically a lot more expensive than D3), the weight (which can be meaningful on the bigger pans), the cleaning (that exposed copper strip can collect grime and tarnish, so the pans need to be polished to keep that gorgeous look), and finally, the superior conductivity has it's pros and cons -- it makes the larger Copper Cores slightly more prone to hot spots (which is why Cook's Illustrated still rates the D3 as their top-performing skillet). Based purely on functionality and value, I don't usually recommend Copper Core, except perhaps for one saucepan in your collection. However, there are other reasons to buy pans, and you might find the beauty and prestige and responsiveness of having Copper Core in your kitchen to be worth the price. This guy made a nice video comparing Copper Core to D3 [youtube.com] and a follow-up test [youtube.com] where he found no difference in consistency.

Collective is a line of All-Clad sold exclusively at Williams-Sonoma. It features new handles and flared rims (like the D3 Everyday line), and thicker lid pulls, but on a variety of different brushed-finish pans (the skillets are D5, the sauce pans are Copper Core, and the sauté pans and rondeau are D3). The idea is that if you want some pieces D3, some pieces D5, and some pieces Copper Core, you could now get "Collective" versions as Williams-Sonoma that all look like they are part of the same set. This would be an interesting concept except for the fact that they charge a huge premium for these pots, and let's be honest -- if you really wanted to pay a premium to have the perfect pan for each purpose, you wouldn't necessarily be buying D5 and Copper-Core. You've have some cast iron pieces, some nonstick, and maybe a Deymyere skillet and a G5 Graphite saucepan.

G5 Graphite is the newest (2021) innovation from All-Clad. Think 5-ply Copper-Core, but with a lightweight carbon graphite disk replacing the copper layer. By all accounts these pans are very lightweight and highly conductive -- moreso even than copper. All-Clad claims to have eliminated compromises with this line, achieving the once-impossible trifecta: weighing less than aluminum, conducting heat faster than copper, and heating more evenly than cast iron without hot spots. But there's always a compromise, and heat retention is the compromise here. They heat quickly and they cool down quickly, making them not great for high-heat searing tasks (drop the steak in the pan, and the temperature crashes immediately -- it comes back fast, but that's why you still get a better sear in a cast iron pan for a fraction of the price). G5 pans can weigh as much as a pound less than their Copper Core counterparts (and a little less than D3), and appear to outperform them in most every way, though it stands to reason they'd be more prone to hot spots depending on the cooking surface. The design is brushed, with polished handles. All-Clad owns several patents on this new technology so don't expect bargains any time soon, and the variety of pieces is still limited.

MC2, "Master Chef", and LTD2 are discontinued budget lines that look like D3 Stainless but have only a stainless steel interior with two layers of aluminum including a brushed aluminum exterior that helps with even heating but is soft and does not wear well over time. This line was created to offer sets at department store chains at competitive price points. The MC2 exterior scratches easily, does not hold up to harsh cleaning, and does not work on induction cooktops. Avoid unless you want the lightest weight pans possible and are willing to sacrifice durability for price/lightness.

Emerilware by All-Clad is a budget line of tri-ply stainless cookware that is manufactured in China and cuts a lot of corners to meet a competitive price point. The quality is better than a lot of budget cookware, but expect smaller cooking surface areas, steep sides, and generally inferior ergonomics and performance compared to D3. if you're looking to save money, I'd recommend buying just 1 or 2 quality D3 pieces instead of a bargain set of MC2 or Emerilware.

This sale happens regularly and the questions tend to repeat themselves.

So as a reminder I created the All-Clad Sale Pots & Pans Advice sticky thread over on the SD product forums.


You'll find answers to every common question that gets asked about this sale, and about the different All-Clad lines, and more. If you have any suggestions to improve it, please jump in!

Also FYI for this sale, note that the steamer insert is in stock [homeandcooksales.com], and at $36 after coupon, is at a very good price. This item hasn't been available at the outlet in a long time and I highly recommend it as an accessory for your 3 quart sauce pan.

This sale happens regularly and the questions tend to repeat themselves.

So as a reminder I created the All-Clad Sale Pots & Pans Advice sticky thread over on the SD product forums.


You'll find answers to every common question that gets asked about this sale, and about the different All-Clad lines, and more. If you have any suggestions to improve it, please jump in!

Also FYI for this sale, note that the steamer insert is in stock [homeandcooksales.com], and at $36 after coupon, is at a very good price. This item hasn't been available at the outlet in a long time and I highly recommend it as an accessory for your 3 quart sauce pan.