All-Clad D3 Fry Pan

The All-Clad D3 12-inch sauté pan is the MVP of our kitchen.

This is the pan we reach for when we want beautifully browned chicken, crispy-skin fish, a quick pan sauce, or pasta finished in the skillet – which is to say that we use it a lot.

It is especially good for searing. Preheat it, add a little oil, and chicken develops the sort of deep brown crust that is impossible to achieve with nonstick cookware. Once you remove the food, the browned bits left behind are exactly what you want for deglazing with wine or stock and building a pan sauce.

This pan is equally great for sautéing. Throw in a little olive oil, a little butter, fish filets or vegetables, and a spritz of lemon, and you have a restaurant quality meal in a flash.

Here’s what makes the pan a winner: All-Clad’s classic tri-ply construction sandwiches a responsive aluminum core between layers of stainless steel, so the pan heats quickly and evenly from the center all the way to the rim.

At 12 inches, it is large enough to be useful without becoming unwieldy. The flared rim makes pouring easier, the riveted handle feels reassuringly substantial, and it can move directly from the stovetop into an oven or broiler up to 600°F. It also works on induction. 

It is not inexpensive, but you’ll have it the rest of your life. All-Clad backs the D3 with a limited lifetime warranty, and the company still manufactures this line in Pennsylvania.

It’s a kitchen must-have. Buy it now.