All-Clad MC2 Fry Pans

1) Master Chef 2 finish - I love the brushed aluminum finish, which should age well, but for now, not everything is available in this finish, though the selection is pretty good.

2) This is an 8" pan, which I find a nice size for a lot of stuff, but it is "small" (of course, there is a 7", if you like tiny pans :^)

3) This is the stainless steel interior, not non-stick. While All-Clad guarantees their non-stick interiors, I love the stainless, no worries about scratching, you can get in there and scrape away when making sauces. But you will want to use a bit of olive oil or other fat whenever cooking; but then again, why wouldn't you.


Great looking, Greak cooking   February 25, 2004
James Earl Shagford (Alexandria, VA United States)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

All Clad make beautifully constructed pans that are built like tanks, and the Master Chef 2 finish ages beautifully. Some folks worry that the brushed aluminum finish will be impossible to clean, but cleans up fine with steel wool, with no worrying about scratching the shiny finish. Best of all, if you don't bother, its still looks great, because the brushed finish looks equally good with a well used patina.

And of course, it performs wonderfully too. The whole pan heats evenly and quickly, the stainless steel holds a fond well for making pan sauces, while cleaning easily when you're finished.

You might also want to check out the lid, which makes this pan even more versatile.


All-Clad is the best overall   February 9, 2008
Joshua G. Feldman (New York)
27 out of 29 found this review helpful

The ongoing debate over cookware at my house is over: All-Clad is the best cookware overall and is worth the extra money. Our coppers tarnish and require retinning. Our encapsulated disk cookware (Reverer and Farberware) suffer from loose and broken plastic handles and too-small disks which limit the cooking area of the fry pans. The biggest debate was between Calphalon and All-Clad. My wife really liked the lighter weight of Calphalon's anodized aluminum stuff. After living for both for several years, All-Clad has shown its overall superiority in the following ways:
1) Denser anodized finish. The All-Clad LTD finish is much denser and more even that that on Calphalon. This makes it more attractive and easier to clean. On the MC2 stuff the finish is not anodized, but it is tightly frosted and well made. It's quite attractive too. I've started to accumulate MC2 stuff because it's cheaper and performs just as well. The LTD stuff does look better on a rack mixed with Calphalon. It's tough to beat black aesthetically.
2) Greater heat sensitivity. You actually cook with the stove set to a lower temperature with All-Clad. It appears to register changes more quickly. Both types of pan are good in this reguard - but the All-Clad is noticeably better.
3) Bend proof - aluminum is soft and thinner areas can bend. All-Clad's steel cladding makes it tough as a tank.
4) Immune to interior wear-out. Anodized finishes eventually wear out - which on the interior of a pan can be a disaster (this is especially so if you use steel wool). The stainless steel interior of this pan is NEVER going to wear out.

As a fry pan, the All-Clad MC2 12" fry pan hits on all cylinders. It's big enough for a 4 egg omlette, or most of pound of bacon. It's battleship built, well balanced, even heating with great sensitivity. The handle stays cool and is angled so that you can lift the heavy contents without undue strain on your wrist. The MC2 finish is durable and very attractive. You can clean it very effectively with Ajax. The MC2 finish will yellow a bit over time. Real chefs just let it get brown. After using it for months and letting it get nice and brown I tried cleaning it with the 3M scrubby and Ajax/Comet cleanser I use with the LTD finish and it worked like a charm on the MC2. Just make a nice paste and power away the burnt on grease in moments leaving a nice buffy shine. Don't worry about scratches - the MC2 finish is a fine patina of minute scratches anyway! It looks great and is basically indestructible.


True Quality fry pan   April 24, 2001
L. Camuti (Oxnard, CA United States)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful

This fry pan has a fabulously-even heat distribution that cooks and sears meats to perfection while preserving the natural flavors thereof. Doesn't absorb the natural juices like some teflon/non-stick pans do. Beautiful stainless polished finish that will keep on shining with proper care/ stainless powder cleansers. When I really want the flavor to come through, I use this pan and it brings out the best of each meal!


The best pan I have ever owned   June 18, 2007
J. L. Sands (near Hilton Head)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I was a little disappointed when I first opened the box because there were some little grey marks on the rim of the pan - but they disappeared completely when I used a little Bon Ami on it. Had to wash the pan anyway before using it. I cooked some fried eggs in it and they were the best I've ever had. Then I cooked some chopped meat in it and the results were wonderful. Very easy to clean, beautiful to look at, and a real pleasure. And I like the handle although some people don't seem to. I am now going to buy another All Clad MC2 pot or pan every month since I can't afford to do it all at once, and then gradually get rid of all my Calphalon non-stick! Better late than never and I am very happy!