All-Clad LTD2 2-Quart Sauce Pan

Best bang for your bucks!
My first observation is that the LTD2 cookware is not and should not be considered `black' in color. They are dark gray with a silver tone to them (for example, they do not look like a shiny black aluminum MagLite for example). The package came with an inspection tag, and judging by the completely flawless pan, I believe it was indeed personally inspected. The finish is first-rate, I can't see any way to improve upon it. In my case I bought a small 1.5qt but the heft of the pan is quite impressive. The pan IS heavy, but not uncomfortably so, more like just right. It exudes a sort of professional feel which is what I was hoping for. It is very balanced, it won't tip over on the handle side if empty. Speaking of the handle, it's MUCH better than the previous versions. I honestly didn't think the handle upgrade would make that much of a difference, but it has such a better feel to it that I'm convinced to only seek out their products with the new handle. The little 'bump' on...
Good Workhorse
This pan cooks like a champ. I've used it on gas and electric and it always heats evenly. Gas stoves normally leave a cold spot at the center of the pan. But in this pan, the spot vanishes. I like the LTD2s because the exterior of the pans are aluminum which is more conductive than the usual stainless steel. As a result, the pan soaks up heat around it very quickly. Even if you have an old electric stove, you'll be amazed how fast water boils--especially given how thick the pan feels.

The one thing that might surprise a new buyer is the length of the handle. It's very long. I like that two oven mitts fit on the handle easily so it's stable in and out of the oven. On the cook-top, the handle almost never gets too hot to touch. When pouring pasta into a strainer, my hands are so far from the pan there's little risk of a steam burn. The handle is a good design choice for a pan that holds a gallon of hot liquid. But storing it in a cupboard is awkward. I did it for a while by...
LOVE!!!!
The LTD2 collection by All-Clad is my first experience with truly gourmet cookware. There is one word that can sum up the experience. WOW! As a pessimistic consumer, I have come to expect very little quality from modern manufacturing. Even some of the time honored names have sold out their quality for the sack of earning a little extra profit. I have now collected the 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 quart sauce pan, and it is indeed worth the price! These pieces are thick with their five layers which beautifully distribute the heat and eliminates hot spots. The stainless interior is easy to clean. I usually would have trouble cleaning up my old pots after cooking starches (potatoes and pasta), but those "starch lines" are no problem with the LTD2.

Now some things that are not the best: The nub on the handle really helps when lifting these pots, but the 4 quart can be a bit awkward to handle if it is full due to its weight.

Also, I ordered the 3-quart from the amazon warehouse...
Click to Editorial Reviews