Customer Reviews

Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 8-1/2-Quart Saucier with Lid

5 star:		(205)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Like all Calphalon Commercial pieces, you are getting a high-performance, sturdily constructed tool that will make you a better cook.

This saucier is wider and shorter than a typical stockpot, ensuring maximum heat transfer from the burners. It's great for such dishes as making chicken stock -- You can brown the chicken on the stovetop, then deglaze with water, etc., for a darker stock. Great for making soups, cooking squash, chili, etc. (Consider topping with cheese and sticking under the broiler for a few minutes to brown -- it's over safe to 700!)
The combination of Calphalon's superior aluminum heat conduction and a wider top reduces liquids quickly, while cooks enjoy easy access into the pan -- something that can be tricky in a tall, narrow stockpot. Keep in mind that space can be an issue -- this stockpot can crowd out other pans on a small cooktop, and does take up an awful lot of space in your cupboard.

One caveat: As with all Calphalon, you can not put this in the dishwasher (even if you could fit it in). The machine will leach out the Calphalon coating, causing pits and discolorations and void the lifetime warranty to boot!

To clean, I find a little Bon Ami or Dormond cleaner and a Scotchguard green scrubber gets out anything without much fuss. Cleaning will be aided by proper deglazing. Also, you will find your food will stick less if the pan is preheated and if the food isn't ice cold when tossed in.

Enjoy!

I am not going to repeat what a lot of other people already said. It really is a very nice pot, cooks and cleans very well, BUT: you must realise that this is a very WIDE pot. I was not really prepared for quite how wide. I have a normal size, 4-burner stove - if anything, on the large side, not at all small. However, if I am using this pot I can NOT use the burner that is either in front of it or behind it. The pot is so wide that another pot wont fit with it. So if you think you'll be needing all 4 burners, this pot makes it a little difficult.
Also, since it is so wide, when I put it away, it naturally goes on the very bottom of the pot stack under my sink. Which makes it kind of a pain to get out and put away each time.
Other than this one issue, I like the pot very much. Cooks evenly, lid fits nicely, and goes into the oven without a problem. Nothing has ever burned in it for me so far (I've had it for more than 6 months). Washing in the sink is a little cumbersome because of the size, however. Luckily, it does not require a lot of scrubbing.

This is not my first piece of Calphalon and it certainly will not be my last. I wasn't sure how large this saucier would be when I ordered it, and I still haven't found a place to store it in my limited cabinet space, but I have honestly had little need to store it since it works so well for most anything. It has a huge amount of surface area so it works well for searing and braising, but it is somewhat shallow so it is perfect for poaching eggs. Plus, this is an amazing price. Worth every penny.

My husband and I like this pan so much we decided to buy a second one. Hey,if the pan gets your spouse to cook more-- what else can you ask from your cookware? For the price, you absolutely can't beat it! One of the most important features is that it is NOT non-stick. (We'll never buy a non-stick pan again-- we have thrown too many of them away, since the coatings eventually come off! With all of the research that indicates those coatings are bad for you--who wants to eat that stuff!) We like the fact that we can cook meat with bones or use metal utensils in the pan. The pan entirely covers the largest burner on our stove, and it is easily centered in the oven since there is no long handle that gets in the way. And even if we get a pretty good "crust" on the bottom of the pan sometimes, the pan comes clean very easily. We were amazed.

I bought this item 2 yrs ago when it was on amazon for $39.99 & it was a great deal at that price, so now at $20, a steal! Pan is listed as a saucier, so translate that for this particular pan to also mean a big, generously sized, 8.5 qt. dutch oven (definiton of dutch oven = width of item is about 2 times bigger than the height). Perfect for browning, braising & roasting to obtain a nice crust for deglazing. Follow directions & pan will perform perfectly (heat pan a little B4 adding oil/cold food) & it will give u little problems w/sticking. But remember, this is a stick resistant, not non-stick product, so you will get some brown bits, just add liquid to deglaze them. Also excellent for roasting, stewing & soups. It's not a stock pot, which is normally designed w/a narrow base, high sides, so liquids will take a little longer to heat up in this pan. And it's big, 8.5 qts is a lot of pan. This is an older Calphalon style, hence the price. It isn't a more cheaply made product, even though made in China (normal these days for new Calphalon too). Performs identical to my other Calphalon, which means it cooks beautifully. Some staining is common for all hard andonized cookware, so this isn't a flaw, but rather a normal occurence. Discoloration mentioned by others is normal for hard andonized products, not an indication that any "coating" is coming off. Buy this if u need a big braiser/dutch oven/roaster & you'll be getting the deal of a lifetime.

Excellent pan can go from stove top to oven with ease. Nice large size and recently when we were without power from Hurricane Isabel I took this pan outside and placed it on my propane Turkey Fryer, perfect fit for excellent meals outside! Cleanup is a breeze! I highly recommend this pan.

I purchased (from Amazon) the Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 8 1/2 qt. Saucier pan last Christmas as a gift to myself! It arrived prior to Christmas, so I used it to cook a beef roast on Christmas day. We were in temporary housing and even with having to cook the roast on the stovetop (oven not working), we couldn't have asked for better results. Then after our move, I roasted a hen in this pan in the oven; the hen was so moist and tender - my husband raved over it - the first time in 20 years that he's actually enjoyed a roasted hen. On top of that, the gravy made in this pan is the best - deglazing is so easy! This is a really large pan, but the heat distribution is so superb, there was not a bit of a problem even cooking on a small stove top burner. I LOVE Calphalon, and the Commercial Hard Anodized is my favorite line. Every few weeks I'm looking for another piece to add to my collection and replace my old stainless cookware. You just can't go wrong with cookware of this quality, and I know it will be passed down to my daughter becasue it just doesn't wear out. What a value!

The pan is large as some other reviews have pointed out and it may take up extra space on your cooktop. But when you need to make a large serving, you'll be glad to have it.

The pan conducts heat quickly and evenly. It requires just a quick wipe with a cloth or paper towel (do not use soap) to clean up afterwards.

Why spend $20 at Wal-Mart on junk cookware when you can have quality that will last years for the same price.

This is the most versatile pot in my collection. I use it for everything from making marinara sauce to roasting my Thanksgiving turkey (a 25 pounder). I love the fact that the handles are heat resistant (unless you use the pot in the oven, of course). Some reviewers have complained about the size of this pot and insufficient heating. I have a fairly small stovetop, so to sufficiently heat the pot before using it, I turn the (gas) burner on high and test the perimeter of the pot by sprinkling water on it to test the temperature. Then I turn the temperature down to cook. This method has worked for me for over a year.

We have owned Calphalon pans for nearly 20 years now, and we love this pan more than any of the others. We can cook a large chicken, a small turkey, a whole batch of marinara, a standing rib roast, anything we want. What I really like is that it is about the same volume as my 8 qt. stockpot, but much easier to use due to being wide and flatter. It makes stirring so much easier. My husband can brown a whole cut up chicken, then transfer the entire pan to the oven to bake it. Clean up has never been a problem with any of my Calphalon, even when the pan is not prepped properly. We will never own any other cookware. I don't like the so called "non-stick" coating - they scratch too easily, metal utensils are a no-no, and the coating wears off. And yes, food will stick to "non-stick" coating, if it gets scratched or worn. And, since we own parrots, anything with "non-stick" coating is out of the question. Overheat a "non-stick" coated pan and the fumes will kill a parrot!