Sardel vs. All-Clad Cookware: 9 Major Differences

Are you shopping for cookware but can’t decide between Sardel and All-Clad?

Which cookware is better? What are the differences?

In this comparison of Sardel vs. All-Clad, you’ll learn how their cookware differs in construction, design, performance, price, and more.

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Use the links below to navigate the article:

• Sardel vs. All-Clad: Comparison Chart
• Difference 1: Cookware Offerings
• Difference 2: Handles
• Difference 3: Sealed vs. Exposed Edges
• Difference 4: Non-Stick Cooking Surface
• Difference 4: Heat Conduction and Retention
• Difference 6: Where It Is Made
• Difference 7: Company History
• Difference 8: Price
• Difference 9: Downsides
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy Sardel or All-Clad Cookware?

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Sardel vs. All-Clad: Comparison Chart

The chart below lets you quickly compare Sardel vs. All-Clad across key categories.

	Sardel	All-Clad
Product Offerings	Stainless steel, non-stick, carbon steel (one collection per type)	D3, D3 Everyday, D5, Copper Core, HA1, Essentials, G5
Construction	5-ply fully-clad stainless steel, carbon steel	Fully clad stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum non-stick, steel with enamel coating
Design	Polished stainless with rounded steel handles and sealed edges	Polished or brushed stainless steel, copper exterior, black hard-anodized aluminum, or high-gloss colored ceramic
Induction-Compatibility	All cookware is induction-compatible	All cookware is induction-compatible except Essentials
Oven-Safe Temperature	Non-stick: 480°F Stainless & carbon steel: 500°F	Non-stick: 500°F Stainless steel: 600°F
Metal Utensil Safe	Yes (except for the non-stick skillets)	Yes (except for the H1 and Essentials collections)
Company History	Founded in 2019	Founded in 1971
Where It’s Made	Northern Italy	Stainless steel: USA Hard-anodized: China Enameled: Germany
Top Reasons to Buy	Sealed edges; polished finish; fair pricing	Durability, various collections with unique materials and design, non-slip handles
Top Reasons to NOT Buy	Rounded handles; unproven	Uncomfortable handles; expensive
Price	$$$ (Sardel or Amazon)	$$$$ (All-Clad or Amazon)

Difference 1: Cookware Offerings

One of the most notable differences between Sardel and All-Clad is the type of cookware each makes. Simply put, All-Clad has much more to offer than Sardel.

Here’s a breakdown of both brands’ product offerings.

Sardel:

• 5-ply stainless steel: This is Sardel’s primary product line. The interior and exterior are stainless steel with a 3-layer aluminum core for improved heat distribution.

• 5-ply stainless steel with a PTFE non-stick coating: Essentially the same as the 5-ply stainless steel, but with a non-stick coating for easy cooking and cleaning.

• Carbon steel: This option is a lighter alternative to cast iron. It heats up rapidly but requires seasoning and reacts with acidic foods (learn more about the pros and cons of carbon steel).

View all Sardel’s pots, pans, and sets on SardelKitchen.com.

All-Clad:

All-Clad offers a range of stainless steel, copper, and aluminum non-stick cookware. Here’s a quick overview of each collection.

• D3 Stainless: As All-Clad’s original and best-selling collection, D3 features 3-ply fully-clad construction with an aluminum core. The exterior is polished, and most pans have flared rims for easy pouring.

• D3 Everyday: This collection is a revamped version of D3 with a few design upgrades. For instance, the flat part of the cooking surface is larger, the handle is less concave and more comfortable, and the rims are flared on all pieces (some D3 pans don’t have flared rims). Check out this D3 and D3 Everyday unboxing video to learn more.

• D5 Brushed/D5 Polished: This 5-ply collection is available in two exterior finishes: brushed and polished. It’s All-Clad’s most even-heating collection due to its aluminum inner layers and steel core that diffuses heat transfer (learn more about this unique construction in this guide).

• HA1: This is All-Clad’s primary non-stick collection. It’s made of hard-anodized aluminum with a multi-layer PTFE non-stick interior. A steel induction plate is bonded to the bottom to make it warp-proof and compatible with all cooktops.

• Essentials: This collection is similar to HA1, but it doesn’t have a steel induction plate on the bottom, it’s not induction-compatible, and it’s less expensive.

• Copper Core: This is All-Clad’s most premium and expensive collection. It has five bonded layers with a copper core for rapid heat transfer.

• C2 Copper: With a 2-ply construction, this collection features a stainless steel interior and a copper exterior for quick and precise heat control.

Check out every All-Clad collection on All-Clad.com.

Difference 2: Handles

Another significant difference between All-Clad and Sardel is their handles.

Sardel’s stainless steel and non-stick cookware handles are smooth and rounded, while All-Clad’s handles in the D3, D5, and HA1 collections are straight and cup-shaped (the top side has a prominent concave groove).

There are advantages and disadvantages to both designs. Sardel’s rounded handles look nice and are comfortable, but they’re prone to slipping and rotating in your hand.

Let’s say you’re boiling pasta and grab the handle while wearing an oven mitt. When you tilt the pan to pour the pasta into a strainer, there’s a chance the handle will slip, and you could spit the hot water.

All-Clad’s handles are less comfortable, but the concave design locks it into your hand, providing much more control during tilting and pouring.

If you valve comfort and use caution when pouring or tilting, Sardel handles work fine. But if safety is your primary goal, All-Clad is the clear winner.

Difference 3: Sealed vs. Exposed Edges

Sardel’s cookware edges are carefully sealed to eliminate the risk of delamination or sharp edges. This design aspect might seem minor, but it’s a thoughtful touch that enhances safety.

With sealed edges, you don’t have to worry about layers becoming exposed, a risk that’s been particularly troublesome for All-Clad.

All-Clad’s edges are not sealed, allowing you to see the bonded layers. While some appreciate this as an aesthetic feature that showcases the quality of construction, it’s not without issues.

Some customers have found that the aluminum core layer in All-Clad pans can shrink in the dishwasher, causing the thin and sharp steel top and bottom layers to stick out.

All-Clad was sued for this and agreed to a settlement to replace certain pans with sharp edges. Since its legal trouble, All-Clad has declared its pans are not dishwasher safe.

Difference 4: Non-Stick Cooking Surface

Sardel’s non-stick pans feature a unique honeycomb pattern.

Sardel claims it “creates a highly effective and durable non-stick surface that’s also incredibly easy to clean.” But when I reached out and asked Sardel about this, they admitted the pattern is more about food release and doesn’t impact durability.

In my hands-on experience, though, I didn’t find Sardel’s food release any better than a traditional smooth non-stick pan like those from All-Clad.

In fact, the honeycomb pattern might even be a drawback. I found that it could make the surface easier to scratch, and food bits and oil got trapped in the grooves, requiring extra effort to clean.

All-Clad’s non-stick pans have a smooth 3-layer PTFE coating. This traditional approach makes cooking and cleaning easy without the potential issues I encountered with Sardel’s honeycomb pattern.

Difference 5: Heat Conduction and Retention

Every brand I review goes through two controlled experiments to measure its heat conduction and retention. Here’s how Sardel and All-Clad performed in those tests.

Heat Conduction

Heat conduction is about how fast a pan can reach a specific temperature. In this test, I poured two cups of cold water into both Sardel and All-Clad pans, set the stove to high, and timed how long it took for bubbles to appear and then for the water to boil.

Here are the results:

Pan	Time to First Bubbles	Time to Boil
Sardel fry pan	1 minute and 41 seconds	2 minutes and 46 seconds
All-Clad D3 skillet	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
All-Clad HA1 fry pan	2 minutes and 12 seconds	2 minutes and 58 seconds

I conduct this test with every brand I review. Here’s how Sardel and All-Clad stack up against the industry:

Pan	Time to First Bubbles	Time to Boil
Farberware	1 minute and 2 seconds	1 minute and 29 seconds
Made In stainless steel fry pan	1 minute and 40 seconds	2 minutes and 21 seconds
Anolon X pan	1 minute and 35 seconds	2 minutes and 22 seconds
Misen fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 25 seconds
Caraway	1 minute and 53 seconds	2 minutes and 26 seconds
Anolon Advanced fry pan	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 27 seconds
HexClad fry pan	1 minute and 40 seconds	2 minutes and 30 seconds
Made In non-stick fry pan	1 minute and 53 seconds	2 minutes and 31 seconds
Zwilling fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 31 seconds
T-fal fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Gotham Steel fry pan	1 minute and 58 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Rachael Ray fry pan	1 minute and 47 seconds	2 minutes and 36 seconds
Viking fry pan	1 minute and 42 seconds	2 minute and 39 seconds
Calphalon fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 40 seconds
Sardel fry pan	1 minute and 41 seconds	2 minute and 46 seconds
Pioneer Woman fry pan	2 minute and 2 seconds	2 minute and 46 seconds
Hestan fry pan	1 minute and 52 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
GreenLife pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
Our Place Always Pan	2 minutes and 2 seconds	2 minutes and 48 seconds
Ninja NeverStick Pan	2 minutes and 7 seconds	2 minutes and 49 seconds
Tramontina fry pan	1 minute and 53 seconds	2 minutes and 52 seconds
Circulon fry pan	2 minutes and 7 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
All-Clad D3 skillet	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
All-Clad HA1 fry pan	2 minute and 12 seconds	2 minute and 58 seconds
Demeyere Industry fry pan	2 minutes and 3 seconds	3 minutes and 10 seconds
Ballarini fry pan	2 minutes and 15 seconds	3 minutes and 12 seconds
Heritage Steel fry pan	1 minutes and 59 seconds	3 minutes and 15 seconds
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	3 minutes and 25 seconds
Xtrema fry pan	3 minutes and 41 seconds	6 minutes and 7 seconds

Heat Retention

Heat retention refers to the ability of a  pan to hold or maintain its temperature over time. It’s an important factor in cooking because it affects how evenly and efficiently food is cooked.

To find out which brand retains heat better, I measured the water temperature in Sardel and All-Clad pans at the five- and ten-minute marks after removing them from the heat.

As you can see in the results below, the All-Clad D3 stainless steel and HA1 non-stick pans retained heat better than Sardel.

Pan	Temperature After 5 Minutes	Temperature After 10 Minutes
All-Clad D3 skillet	111.6°F	100.9°F
All-Clad HA1 fry pan	117.9°F	98.1°F
Sardel fry pan	114.0°F	97.8°F

How do All-Clad and Sardel compare across the industry? Below are the heat retention results of the other brands I’ve tested:

Pan	Temperature After 5 Minutes	Temperature After 10 Minutes
Xtrema fry pan	142°F	113°F
Made In stainless steel fry pan	121.1°F	106.6°F
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	122.0°F	106.3°F
Made In non-stick fry pan	120.2°F	105.8°F
Ninja NeverStick Pan	130.5°F	104.8°F
Misen fry pan	118.6°F	103.4°F
Zwilling fry pan	121.1°F	103.0°F
Rachael Ray fry pan	126.3°F	102.7°F
HexClad fry pan	120.7°F	102.4°F
Circulon fry pan	133.3°F	102.0°F
Tramontina fry pan	118.5°F	101.3°F
Calphalon fry pan	112.8°F	101.1°F
All-Clad D3 skillet	111.6°F	100.9°F
Ballarini fry pan	120°F	99.9°F
Heritage Steel	120.1°F	98.2°F
All-Clad HA1 fry pan	117.9°F	98.1°F
Hestan fry pan	114.4°F	98.0°F
Sardel fry pan	114.0°F	97.8°F
Demeyere Industry fry pan	115.2°F	96.6°F
Our Place Always Pan	118.0°F	96.7°F
Caraway fry pan	116.6°F	96.4°F
Anolon X pan	114.1°F	96.0°F
Viking fry pan	106.6°F	95.9°F
Farberware fry pan	112.0°F	95.4°F
GreenLife fry pan	119.0°F	95.0°F
Gotham Steel fry pan	113.0°F	95.0°F
Anolon Advanced fry pan	112.7°F	90.9°F
Pioneer Woman fry pan	104.3°F	90.9°F
T-fal fry pan	108.7°F	88.0°F

Difference 6: Where It Is Made

All Sardel cookware is crafted in the northern regions of Italy, a country renowned for its culinary arts and high-quality kitchenware.

All-Clad’s manufacturing practices are more varied. Here’s a look at where All-Clad cookware collections are made (read this guide for more details):

Collection	Where It’s Made
All-Clad D3 Stainless	United States
All-Clad D3 Everyday	United States
All-Clad D5 Brushed	United States
All-Clad D5 Polished	United States
All-Clad D7 Stainless	United States
All-Clad Copper Core	United States
All-Clad G5 Graphite Core	United States
All-Clad Gourmet	China
All-Clad HA1	China
All-Clad Essentials	China

Difference 7: Company History

Sardel is a relatively young player in the cookware industry, founded by the Kamhi brothers in 2019. These brothers have backgrounds in investment banking, software development, and law, but none had experience in manufacturing or cookware.

To fill that gap, they partnered with a multi-generational family-owned manufacturer in northern Italy that’s been making cookware for over 100 years.

Although Sardel doesn’t have a long track record, reviews of the brand are overwhelmingly positive so far.

All-Clad launched in 1971 and has since established itself as the leading premium stainless steel cookware brand. It’s the choice of millions of home cooks and some of the best chefs worldwide.

In 2004, the French company Groupe SEB acquired All-Clad. However, despite the change in ownership, All-Clad continues to manufacture its cookware and operate the brand in the United States, just outside of Pittsburgh.

Difference 8: Price

Sardel offers quality cookware at mid- to high-end prices. All-Clad is considered a high-end brand, but since it has a wide range of collections, some products cost more than Sardel, and some cost less.

For example, All-Clad Copper Core, D3, and D5 pans are more expensive than Sardel, but the HA1 and Essentials collections are cheaper.

Compare current prices at the links below:

• Sardel on SardelKitchen.com or Amazon
• All-Clad on All-Clad.com or Amazon

Difference 9: Downsides

Let’s dive into the downsides of Sardel and All-Clad.

Sardel Downsides:

• Slippery Handles: If your hands are wet or greasy, Sardel’s rounded handles are challenging to grip securely. It’s a comfort-versus-control issue that you’ll need to weigh.
• Honeycomb Design: Though attractive, the honeycomb pattern on its non-stick pans can snag utensils, leading to possible damage. The grooves can also trap food, which requires more cleaning effort and shortens the lifespan of the non-stick coating.
• Carbon Steel Pans: Unlike most pans that are ready to cook with right away, Sardel’s carbon steel skillets need to be seasoned before the first use — other brands like Made In offer pre-seasoned carbon steel pans.
• Limited Variety: All its cookware has a similar aesthetic, and the brand doesn’t provide a wide range of sizes or collections.
• Sold Online Only: Since Sardel cookware is sold exclusively online, you can’t pick up and hold the pans before buying.

All-Clad Downsides:

• Uncomfortable Handles: Although the cupped design provides a steady grip, it is somewhat awkward and uncomfortable.
• Confusion About Where It’s Made: While advertised as American-made, lids and handles are produced in China and attached in the US. If you’re seeking fully American-made products, keep this in mind.
• Price: All-Clad’s quality materials and long track record of performance and durability come with a hefty price tag, particularly in the premium D5 and Copper Core collections.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy Sardel or All-Clad Cookware?

Before I offer my recommendation, let’s recap the main points of this in-depth comparison between Sardel vs. All-Clad cookware:

• Offerings: All-Clad offers a more diverse range of cookware collections, including various materials and construction types, while Sardel focuses on 5-ply stainless steel and carbon steel.
• Handles: Sardel’s handles are smooth and rounded. All-Clad’s cup-shaped handles provide more control but may be uncomfortable.
• Edges: Sardel’s cookware edges are sealed for enhanced safety. There are reports that All-Clad’s exposed edges can become sharp.
• Non-Stick Surface: Sardel uses a honeycomb pattern for food release, which may cause cleaning issues, while All-Clad employs a traditional smooth non-stick surface.
• Heat Conduction and Retention: Based on my tests, All-Clad retains heat better, but Sardel heats slightly faster.
• Where It’s Made: Sardel’s products are made in Italy, while All-Clad’s products are manufactured in various locations, including the United States, China, and Germany.
• History: Sardel is a younger brand founded in 2019 and works with a family-owned manufacturer in Italy. All-Clad, established in 1971, has a more extensive history and reputation.
• Price: Sardel is cheaper than All-Clad D3, D5, and Copper Core but more pricey than HA1 and Essentials.

If you’re still undecided, go with All-Clad. Why? Because All-Clad has more variety, safer handles, and a long track record of performance. I’ve thoroughly tested Sardel, and while it cooks like All-Clad, the slippery, rounded handles and unnecessary honeycomb non-stick coating drop it down a level.

If you’re a fan of rounded handles and can remember to use extreme caution when tilting, Sardel offers solid value. It’s similar in price to two brands I highly recommend: Made In and Heritage Steel. So, if you’re thinking about buying Sardel, check out those brands, too (MadeInCookware.com, HeritageSteel.us).

Learn more about All-Clad and Sardel by reading my in-depth reviews (All-Clad review, Sardel review) or check the current prices at the links below.

• Sardel on SardelKitchen.com or Amazon
• All-Clad on All-Clad.com or Amazon