Is All-Clad G5 Graphite Core Worth It? My In-Depth Review

In 2021, All-Clad released G5 Graphite Core, a cookware collection that took over six years to develop. 

The innovation lies in its patented graphite core, which the company claims heats faster and more evenly than copper while maintaining a much lighter and easier to maneuver design.

But does this technological advancement actually make a difference in the kitchen, or is it just marketing hype? To answer this question, I put the G5 Graphite Core cookware to the test.

In this comprehensive review, I’ll show you how All-Clad’s G5 Graphite Core performs and how it stacks up against the competition. By the end, you’ll understand why this cookware might be perfect for some home cooks — while others should probably avoid it.

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Use the links below to navigate the review:

• Construction
• Performance
• Design
• Price and Availability
• Bottom Line: Is All-Clad G5 Graphite Core Worth It?

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Construction

To understand what makes the G5 Graphite Core collection revolutionary, it helps to understand how traditional multi-ply cookware is constructed. 

Typical stainless steel cookware uses either aluminum or copper as a core material sandwiched between layers of stainless steel. This layering exists because while stainless steel is durable, corrosion-resistant, and food-safe, it’s a poor heat conductor on its own. 

By adding highly conductive metals like aluminum or copper in the core, manufacturers create cookware that combines the practical benefits of stainless steel with better heat distribution.

The G5 Graphite Core takes this concept to another level with a truly unique 5-ply construction. From outside to inside, the layers consist of:

1. Stainless steel exterior (cooking surface)
2. Aluminum layer
3. Perforated pyrolytic graphite disc (core)
4. Aluminum layer
5. Stainless steel exterior (bottom surface)

What makes this construction special is the use of pyrolytic graphite as the core material. According to manufacturing experts, pyrolytic graphite’s thermal conductivity is approximately four times that of copper and three to seven times greater than aluminum. This exceptional conductivity allows heat to spread rapidly and evenly across the cooking surface.

One distinctive feature you might notice when examining G5 cookware is the slightly bumpy texture of both the cooking surface and exterior bottom. This is due to the perforated nature of the graphite disc at the core. But why is the graphite perforated?

I spoke to a product expert at All-Clad and she said, “Graphite does not bond with the metal layers. The perforation allows for bonding of the metal layers through the graphite while also giving the improved thermal performance.”

This engineering solution, detailed in All-Clad’s patent (US10081163B2), creates a secure metallurgical bond between the stainless steel and aluminum layers through hundreds of small holes in the graphite disc, while still allowing the graphite to distribute heat rapidly.

Another important detail: the graphite core only extends across the bottom of the pan and doesn’t run up the sides. This strategic placement concentrates the advanced heat distribution properties where they’re needed most—the cooking surface—while keeping the sidewalls lighter.

The result is cookware that offers exceptional thermal performance with significantly less weight than comparable high-end pans, representing a genuine innovation in cookware construction.

Performance

The number one claim All-Clad makes about the G5 collection is that it heats up fast and efficiently. So that’s the first thing I tested. 

First, I heated the 12.5-inch frying pan on medium and measured the center with a surface thermometer. After one minute, the G5 pan was 427°F, and after 2 minutes, it was 507°F. 

I let the burner cool down completely and ran the same test with the All-Clad Copper Core pan. This pan did not heat as fast. It was 358°F after one minute and 473°F after two minutes. 

I run this test with all the pans I review and so far, All-Clad G5 is the second fastest heating pan after 1 minute and 3rd fastest after 2 minutes. 

Pan	Type	Temperature After 1 Minute	Temperature After 2 Minutes
de Buyer Alchimy 11-inch	Stainless Steel	563°F	Too hot to measure
All-Clad G5 Graphite Core 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel (Graphite Core)	427°F	507°F
Made In Stainless Steel 12-inch	Stainless Steel	415°F	529°F
de Buyer Prima Matera 12.5-inch	Copper	413°F	512°F
Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel 12-inch	Carbon Steel	395°F	514°F
Made In Carbon Steel 12inch	Carbon Steel	393°F	484
Misen stainless steel 12-inch pan	Stainless Steel	390°F	502°F
Goldilocks 12-inch	Stainless Steel	386°F	434°F
Strata Carbon Clad 12.5-inch	Carbon Clad (Stainless/Carbon hybrid)	378°F	455°F
All-Clad D3 12-inch	Stainless Steel	376°F	457°F
de Buyer Affinity 5-Ply 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel	362°F	479°F
de Buyer Inocuivre 12.5-inch	Copper	359°F	457°F
All-Clad Copper Core 12-inch	Stainless Steel (Copper Core)	358°F	473°F
Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-inch	Stainless Steel	356°F	450°F
Heritage Steel Eater Series 12-inch	Stainless Steel	332°F	413°F
de Buyer Mineral B 12.5-inch	Carbon Steel	331°F	484°F
Lodge Carbon Steel 12-inch	Carbon Steel	322°F	457°F
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 12-inch	Stainless Steel	314°F	403°F
Carote 10-inch	Non-Stick	307°F	428°F
de Buyer Mineral B Pro 12.5-inch	Carbon Steel	303°F	501°F
Henckels Clad H3 12-inch	Stainless Steel	303°F	410°F

To see how it performs in a more real-world scenario, I poured 64 ounces of water with an initial temperature of 52°F into a 4-quart All-Clad G5 saucepan and turned the heat to high. I did the same thing with the 4-quart Made In saucepan. The Made In pan has a standard aluminum core without any graphite.

After about 6 minutes and 40 seconds, the water in the All-Clad pan started to boil. At that point, the water in the Made In pot was still simmering. It didn’t start boiling until about 7 minutes and 20 seconds. 

I ran the same test on an induction cooktop with the heat set to 400°F. This time, the All-Clad and Made In pots performed about the same. The water started boiling in both pans around the 7-minute and 50-second mark.  

I also tested the G5 Graphite Core frying pan on the induction cooktop against two other All-Clad models. This time, the results showed notable differences:

• All-Clad G5 Graphite Core 12.5-inch: Reached 212°F at 4 minutes and 23 seconds, and continued climbing to 220°F by the 5-minute mark
• All-Clad Copper Core 12-inch: Reached 212°F at 4 minutes and 46 seconds, and plateaued at that temperature through the 5-minute mark
• All-Clad D3 Everyday: Reached 212°F at 4 minutes and 45 seconds, and barely reached 214°F by 5 minutes

Another claim All-Clad makes is that the G5 collection is more responsive. In other words, it not only heats up fast but it also cools down fast.

To test responsiveness, I heated the G5 pan to 400°F and immediately took it off the burner. After 5 minutes, the surface temperature had dropped to 115°F.

Out of 17 other stainless steel pans I tested using the same method, the G5 pan tied for the fastest cooling pan.

Pan	Type	Temperature After Cooling for 5 Minutes (Starting at 400°F)
All-Clad G5 Graphite Core 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel (Graphite Core)	115°F
Hestan ProBond 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel	115°F
de Buyer Alchimy 11-inch	Stainless Steel	123°F
Made In Stainless Steel 12-inch	Stainless Steel	123°F
Heritage Steel Eater Series 12-inch	Stainless Steel	123°F
Henckels Clad H3 12-inch	Stainless Steel	123°F
Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-inch	Stainless Steel	124°F
Goldilocks 12-inch	Stainless Steel	126°F
Hestan CopperBond 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel (Copper Core)	127°F
Hestan ProBond TITUM 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel (Titanium)	127°F
Misen stainless steel 12-inch	Stainless Steel	128°F
All-Clad Copper Core 12-inch	Stainless Steel (Copper Core)	128°F
All-Clad D3 12-inch	Stainless Steel	132°F
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 12-inch	Stainless Steel	133°F
Hestan NanoBond 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel (Molecular Titanium)	134°F
de Buyer Affinity 5-Ply 12.5-inch	Stainless Steel	154°F
Demeyere Altantis 12-inch	Stainless Steel	159°F

The other major claim that All-Clad makes is that this cookware heats evenly. I’ve been cooking with these pans for months, and this is definitely true. But the same thing is true for stainless steel cookware without a graphite core.

To see if there were any major differences, I re-ran my first test, but instead of measuring the center, I measured the edge. After 2 minutes of heating, the difference between the center of the pan and the edge was about 60°F. That’s about the same as other aluminum core pans I tested and slightly better than All-Clad Copper Core.

I also tested the G5 pan using an infrared camera as it heated up. The heat spread evenly, with only about a 40°F difference between the center and the edge. However, take these results with a grain of salt because infrared cameras aren’t completely accurate on shiny surfaces.

The key takeaway with all of these tests is that, yes, All-Clad’s claims are true. The G5 pans heat up and cool down really fast.

However, this can be a good or bad thing. On the positive side, when you’re cooking rice or pasta, and it starts bubbling over, you can lift it off the heat or turn the dial down, and it will quickly cool. Or if you’re cooking something delicate like eggs and realize the temp is too high, you can turn it down and it will quickly correct. 

But it can also be a negative because you’ll need to pay closer attention while cooking. The temperature can spike quickly and burn your food or set off your fire alarm. This is why thick, heavy stainless steel and cast iron cookware exists – some dishes benefit from pans that retain heat longer and respond slower. 

Thicker pans maintain consistent temperatures even when you add cold ingredients. They allow you to step away from the stove without constant monitoring. With the G5, you’re trading that stability for precision and quick adjustments, which may or may not match your cooking style.

Design

Besides performance, there are a few design details you need to know before deciding whether to buy this cookware. 

First and most important is its weight or lack thereof. The 12.5-inch fry pan weighs only 2.7 pounds.

For comparison, the All-Clad Copper Core pan weighs 3.7 pounds, and the All-Clad D5 pan weighs 3.2 pounds. The All-Clad D3 pan weighs almost the same as G5, but G5 is a half-inch larger.

Another design element I really like about this cookware is the handles. Instead of the uncomfortable U-shaped handles that you’ll see in All-Clad’s D3, D5, and Copper Core collections, G5 handles have a much more subtle groove on the top. You still get good control when tilting, but the edges are smoother and don’t dig into your hand. 

The helper handles are also noticeably larger than All-Clad’s other collections. You can comfortably grip them with plenty of room for oven mitts or pot holders. 

One thing to note. When All-Clad first came out with this collection, the handles had a small cutout to disperse heat. The units they are making now don’t have this cut out. It doesn’t make much of a difference, but the cutout gave it a more distinct look.

Another change they made from the original release to now is the exterior finish. At first, the finish was brushed, but now all G5 pans have a beautiful, polished exterior with a mirror-like finish.

Fingerprints and smudges are more noticeable on the polished finish, but it looks great when it’s clean.

Price and Availability

The main downside of this cookware is the price and availability. At $250 for the 12.5-inch fry pan, it’s significantly more expensive than brands like Made In, Misen, and Heritage Steel. And it’s also more expensive than All-Clad’s D3 and D3 Everyday collections. 

Besides price, it’s also not widely available. You can find it at Williams Sonoma and on All-Clad’s website, but I’ve noticed that many pieces are often out of stock. 

And since it’s one of All-Clad’s newer offerings, they don’t make as many shapes and sizes as they do with their more established collections. Maybe that will change in the future. But for now, it’s limited to the essentials. 

Bottom Line: Is All-Clad G5 Graphite Core Worth It?

So, is All-Clad G5 Graphite Core worth the premium price? The answer depends on your cooking style.

If you want highly responsive pans that heat and cool faster than copper and weigh a lot less, G5 is a good option.

However, the advantages over standard aluminum-core stainless steel pans aren’t that big. You might save yourself a minute or two when boiling water or preheating your pan. And because it cools so fast, it might save some meals from overcooking. But it’s not going to revolutionize your cooking or make you a better cook overnight.

While I really love how G5 pans perform, the All-Clad D3 Everyday collection has nearly identical design features with only slightly less responsiveness at a much lower price point. And if you prefer more forgiving cookware that maintains steady temperatures, you might be better off with something heavier like Demeyere Atlantis.

If you want to try out G5 without committing to a full set, I recommend starting with the 4-quart saucepan. With this pan, those small time savings can actually make a difference – especially when you’re boiling water for a quick mac and cheese or pasta for impatient kids. 

Ready to explore All-Clad G5 Graphite Core? Visit All-Clad.com to check current prices and availability.