There are two things in every kitchen that qualify as heirlooms: cast-iron pans and All-Clad pots and pans. Okay, if you’re super fancy, copper pans make nice heirlooms too. But for most of us, there’s the great grandparents’ cast-iron skillet and the All-Clad pan someone gifted us long ago.
All-Clad makes some of the best, most durable, most reliable, and most expensive pots and pans you can buy. The trick is to get them without paying full price. That’s why now is the time to buy, during the All-Clad Factory Seconds Sale. It ends on Wednesday, June 14, so don’t wait too long. You can save up to 50 percent on All-Clad pans, pots, and some utensils. Most of these include All-Clad’s lifetime warranty, but read the fine print to make sure. You’ll need to enter your email address to access the deals, which is a little annoying. Also, keep in mind that all sales are final, and items ship in 10 to 15 business days.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a __1-year subscription to __WIRED for $5 ($25 off)**. This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.
What Are Factory Seconds?
The Factory Seconds Sale is run by Home and Cook Sales, an authorized reseller for All-Clad and several other cookware brands. The items featured in the sale have (usually) minor imperfections, like a scuff on the pan, a misaligned name stamp, or merely a dented box. Every product on the website lists details about the imperfection.
While the blemishes may vary, the merchant says all of the cookware will perform as intended. Should any issue arise, nearly every All-Clad Factory Seconds product is still backed by All-Clad’s limited lifetime warranty. (Electric items have a slightly different warranty; check individual product pages for details.) We’ve used a dozen Factory Seconds pots and pans, and they’ve all worked exactly as advertised. Just remember that all sales are final.
The Best All-Clad Factory Seconds Deals
Below, we’ve highlighted noteworthy discounts from the broader sale. The “before” prices are based on items in new condition. Also, check out our related buying guides, including the 7 Essentials for Every Kitchen, Best Chef’s Knives, Best Blenders, and Best Air Fryers, for more kitchen recommendations.
All-Clad D5
Photograph: Williams Sonoma
The Essential is one of our favorite pans. It’s, ahem, essential in the kitchen. We like that it works well for all kinds of tasks. Its high walls prevent grease from splattering on your countertop, and it can double as a flat-bottomed wok or even be a Dutch oven substitute. It’s also dishwasher safe.
I only own two All-Clad pans, and this is one of them. I love the steep side walls that make this a bit more like a saucepan, but in the shape of a skillet. That might sound odd, but trust me, it works. I use this thing all the time for everything from stir-fries to sauces.
This is the other All-Clad pan I own. Technically I have the 2-quart version, but this is the size I wish I had. All-Clad’s melding of copper, aluminum, and 18/10 stick-resistant stainless makes for one of the best heat-conducting pans I’ve used (aside from cast iron). I use my smaller version for sauces, boiling potatoes, making bourbon-bacon bark, and countless other tasks. This is a kitchen workhorse.
Everyone needs a good, large, stainless steel frying pan. It’s not nonstick, which does take some getting used to—make sure your grease or oil is hot before you add food—but once you get the hang of cooking on stainless you’ll never want nonstick again. Good quality stainless provides a more even heat, with fewer hot spots, and makes cooking easier once you master it.
This 10-inch skillet is much like the larger one above, but the copper core makes it a little less prone to warping. It also works great on induction stoves if you’ve got one.
