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In-Depth Product Review: All-Clad D3 Armor

All-Clad D3 Armor review

All-Clad is a classic cookware set with lots to offer. It’s an investment, but having quality tools in the kitchen can take your cooking to a new level. If you’re ready for a new set or looking to stock your first kitchen, All-Clad is worth considering.

Let’s take a look at the All-Clad D3 Armor, a set with all the everyday items you need to perform a variety of kitchen tasks.

 

All-Clad D3 Armor Cookware – The Details

Here’s what you need to know about the D3 Armor.

Construction and Materials

d3 Armor Bonded matrixThe D3 Armor has a triply bonded construction with 18/10 stainless steel sandwiching an aluminum core. The aluminum is quick-heating, requiring less time to preheat. The steel protects the aluminum and ensures there’s no warping at high heat.

The steel cladding is found throughout the entire piece. The interior uses an “armor” piece that provides some element of nonstick performance without using toxic substances such as PFOAs. The texture should help to release food from the bottom without much effort.

The handles are steel and conduct heat much more slowly than the rest of the pans. They stay cool during cooking and are riveted to the sides of the pans for better durability.

Design

All-Clad D3 Armor

The design is a classic option with straight sides and enough of a curve to help you scrape food from the sides and stir efficiently. The polished steel exterior is a beautiful look, suitable for going from the kitchen to the table.

All-Clad is known for its classic designs. The lids are tight-fitting and allow you to control the amount of moisture in your dishes. The handles are also riveted to the lids for durability, and the entire lid is made of stainless with a flat top and molded sides.

Performance

All-Clad D3 Armor

The D3 offers the armor interior as a new feature, and if you know how to cook with stainless, it works. If you aren’t familiar with stainless cookware, you might be a little disappointed with the “nonstick” option.

If you preheat the pan before adding food and you oil the bottom completely, you’ll have far better luck. The food is far less likely to stick if you take the time to preheat and oil the pan before cooking.

The textured bottom does provide a better surface to help food release, but there’s still a risk that it could stick. This set is best for cooks with a bit more experience, particularly with stainless.

 

All-Clad D3 Armor – The Review

The set is excellent for those with experience cooking and handling stainless steel. It’s durable and offers so much potential in the kitchen. However, if you don’t know how to handle the materials, it might be a little disappointing.

The set is a good option for upgrading from a starter kitchen set. The D3 Armor doesn’t come in a complete set, but there are quite a few pieces in the collection. You can customize your set based on your storage space and needs.

It’s safe for all types of cooking and is induction compatible. It’s oven and broiler safe up to 500 degrees. When you’re done, you can throw it all in the dishwasher. It could help to deglaze the pan or handwash, particularly soiled pieces, but overall, it’s easy to clean.

 

What’s in the Collection?

Here are the potential pieces in the D3 Armor line:

A solid range of options is available with the D3 Armor. It would be nice to see a smaller sauté pan, but for things like stock, you really don’t need the armor coating. They’ve focused on pieces where food is most likely to stick.

Get the D3 Armor if:

  • you have experience cooking with stainless
  • you need a simple set
  • you don’t want to use nonstick chemical lining

Stay away from the D3 Armor if:

  • you’ve never cooked with stainless before
  • you have trouble with food sticking
  • you need a budget option

 

Choosing the All-Clad D3 Armor

The D3 Armor can be a great option for well-seasoned cooks. Its armored interior helps keep food from sticking while allowing you to cook on healthier materials. All-Clad’s option is a higher-end cooking set with plenty of durability.

If you decide to upgrade to the set, it’s a wonderful addition to your kitchen. It has all of All-Clad’s design elements with high-end materials. It should last throughout the rest of your cooking life. It’s the right set for seasoned cooks and those with experience with stainless. If you’re a beginner, it may not be the right time for this set.

Editor Rating: 3.5 out of 5

  • Price: $$$$
  • Weight: 4 out of 5
  • Performance:5 out of 5

Materials: Aluminum and stainless steel

Construction: Triply, polished stainless with an aluminum core

Handle: 100% stainless steel riveted

Warranty: Lifetime

Last update on 2021-05-29 / This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About the author

Jennifer Baron

My name is Jennifer Baron and I have a love and passion for cooking fresh, home-style, clean, healthy and nutritious recipes for 30 years. I’ve worked in the food industry since I was 16 years old

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