Cuisinart is one of the most recognized kitchenware brands in the world, best known for food processors, blenders, coffee makers, and other small appliances.
If you’re in the market for new pots and pans, you might be wondering whether Cuisinart is any good.
In this in-depth review of Cuisinart cookware, I reveal its pros, cons, and everything you need to know.
By the end, you’ll have all the facts necessary to decide if Cuisinart cookware belongs in your kitchen.
A: Cuisinart products are primarily made in France and China.
Uneven Heat Distribution
As my test results revealed, Cuisinart’s impact-bonded stainless steel cookware does not deliver consistent heat to the pan’s sides. Furthermore, its thin sides are more likely to warp.
Is Cuisinart Cookware Worth Buying?
Cuisinart cookware gets the job done at a fair price. But I have reason to question the brand’s quality control. Also, the impact-bonded stainless steel collections, like the Professional Series, aren’t as durable or high-performing as its fully-clad cookware, like the MultiClad Pro collection. If you want top-quality, long-lasting cookware, I recommend brands like All-Clad, Made In, and Calphalon over Cuisinart. And if those brands are too expensive, consider Misen, Goldilocks, and Legend.
Read more reviews and check the current prices of Cuisinart pots and pans on Amazon.
The first thing you’ll notice when researching Cuisinart cookware is its classy and functional design.
It’s not the flashiest cookware, but it’s not dull and boring either. It’s the type of cookware that goes well in any kitchen and could be mistaken for a premium brand like All-Clad or Made In.
Cuisinart offers several collections, all with unique design elements. But in this section, I give you an up-close look at one of their most popular collections, the Cuisinart Professional Series.
I’ll also give you an overview of the other collections’ designs, so you’ll get a good idea of the Cuisinart cookware brand as a whole.
The brilliance of the stainless steel on the Cuisinart Professional Series is a showstopper, and as photogenic as this fry pan is, its polished exterior looks even better in person.
It features the Cuisinart PowerBond base, which is a heavy-duty disc on the bottom of the pan. The impact-bonded (cladded) disc makes the cookware induction compatible and keeps the pan completely flat and stable.
While the PowerBond base is thick, the pan’s sides are thin (one-ply) and do not conduct heat as efficiently as the bottom (more on this in the next section).
The Cuisinart logo is etched into the center of the disc, which looks nice but can be hard to keep clean over time (without oven cleaning spray, as Cuisinart recommends to keep the exterior clean).
Other collections, including the Hammered, Copper Tri-Ply, Chef’s Classic, Black Stainless, and Mica-Shine, offer a mix of textures, tones, and colors to switch up the aesthetic on your cooktop.
For example, the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic comes with a dark hard-anodized aluminum exterior.
And, if you’re looking to make a statement, the Hammered collection features an elegant textured steel exterior.
The pan’s interior features high-gloss stainless steel with a fine, ingrained ripple pattern.
The sides of the pan have a gradual slope that builds out to a significant flare and tapered rims, excellent for pouring without making a mess.
Some Cuisinart collections feature interior measurement markings and strainer holes for more efficient cooking and overall convenience (you can stop searching for that colander or measuring glass).
The non-stick interiors are made from proprietary coatings: Quantanium® (traditional) or Ceramica® XT (ceramic) non-stick. I’ll share more about these non-stick coatings in the Cooking Performance portion of the Cuisinart cookware review.
The handles are polished stainless steel and riveted to the sides of the pan. The long cast stainless steel handle is contoured and designed to stay cool on cooktops.
The helper handle is angled for an easy grip and features the Cuisinart logo.
Although this fry pan does not come with a matching lid, there are similar options with lids, such as the Chef’s Classic skillet or the upgraded construction of the Multiclad Pro 12-inch skillet.
The lid handles on stainless and non-stick collections are stainless steel (some wrapped in silicone) and feature a rectangular shape with rounded corners.
The side grips, helper handles, long handles, and lid handles on other Cuisinart cookware collections are similar if not identical in shape and construction. They use a mix of stainless steel, heat-resistant silicone, or a stainless/silicone combination, such as the Cuisinart Advantage collection.
The Professional Series collection comes with oven-safe (up to 350°F) tempered glass lids trimmed in stainless steel.
Cuisinart also offers stainless steel lids as a part of other collections that are also oven-safe (up to 500°F).
Cuisinart lids (stainless and glass) are designed to fit tightly, creating a seal that locks in flavors and moisture.
Cuisinart offers a solid lineup of cookware collections, each with the versatility to handle the modern home chef’s needs.
You have a choice of non-stick for delicate foods like eggs and stainless steel for searing, browning, and overall versatility.
If precise heat control is your concern, the Cuisinart Copper Tri-Ply collection features a copper exterior, aluminum core, and steel cooking surface.
Since copper has high thermal conductivity, this cookware heats up fast and responds in seconds when you adjust the temperature.
Many home cooks don’t need this level of control, but it’s useful for recipes like fish, sauces, risotto, jams, caramel, and chocolate.
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FAQ
Is Cuisinart an American brand?
Is Cuisinart a good brand for cookware?
Are any pots and pans made in USA?