When comparing Duxtop SSIB-17 Professional vs Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro, the Slant community recommends Duxtop SSIB-17 Professional for most people. In the question“What are the best cookware sets under $300?” Duxtop SSIB-17 Professional is ranked 1st while Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Duxtop SSIB-17 Professional is:
This Duxtop set includes all the pieces that a home cook might need: 2 fry pans (8 and 10-inch), a sauté pan (5.5-quart) with a helper handle and a lid, 2 saucepans (1.6 and 2.5-quart) with lids, a casserole (4.2-quart) with a lid, a stockpot (8.6-quart) with a lid, a boiler basket, a steamer basket, 3 pieces of stainless steel kitchen utensils (a serving spoon, a slotted turner and a 2-prong fork).
Specs
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Pros
Pro Very good for cooks that need versatility
This Duxtop set includes all the pieces that a home cook might need: 2 fry pans (8 and 10-inch), a sauté pan (5.5-quart) with a helper handle and a lid, 2 saucepans (1.6 and 2.5-quart) with lids, a casserole (4.2-quart) with a lid, a stockpot (8.6-quart) with a lid, a boiler basket, a steamer basket, 3 pieces of stainless steel kitchen utensils (a serving spoon, a slotted turner and a 2-prong fork).
Pro Extremely durable, lasts for a long time
Made of high-quality 18/10 stainless steel, this set can withstand heavy everyday use. The cooking surface is resistant to scratches - the set even includes metal utensils. However, as with all stainless steel pans, using wooden or plastic utensils are recommended for increased longevity.
Pro Cooking surface heats evenly
Due to the encapsulated, impact-bonded, heavy-gauge aluminum base, every pot and pan in this set heats up quickly and evenly with no hot spots. Impact-bonded base means that the aluminum has been heated up to the melting point, then bonded to the bottom of the pan using very high pressure. This method has two main advantages as opposes to brazing (gluing with a brazing powder). First, it greatly diminishes the likelihood of the disc base separating from the pan. Second, the liquid aluminum spreads evenly and reaches the outer edges of the pan, so there are no cold spots along the cooking surface's inner edges.
Pro Easy to measure water/sauce level in the pots
The pots and pans in this set have measuring marks on the inside walls, so there is no need to use a measuring cup for liquid ingredients.
Pro No need to lift the lids to check on food
This set includes glass lids so there's no need to lift them to check on the food and lose heat or steam. The lids are also oven safe up to the 550° F, the same as the pots.
Pro Durable and long-lasting set
The set can withstand heavy use - the cooking surface is made from high-quality stainless steel (grade 18/10) and is resistant to scratches and rust. However, as with all stainless steel pans, wooden or plastic utensils are recommended for increased longevity. The outside is a little bit less durable: the manufactuer does not disclose the steel grade used for the outside and does not mark it as being 18/10. Most probably it is 18/0, without any nickel content, to strengthen the magnetic properties of the pans (for use on induction stovetops), but it is not confirmed by the manufacturer.
Pro Evenly heats the bottom and walls of the vessel
This set is Tri-ply whole-clad: the aluminum is sandwiched between steel to increase heat transmission, and it goes all through the pan up to the edges. This lets the pan heat up quickly and cooks the food not only from the bottom up, but also through the walls.
Pro Versatile set, covering most cooking needs
The Cuisinart MCP-12N set includes 12 pieces for everyday use: 2 fry pans (8 and 10-inch), a sauté pan (3.5-quart) with a helper handle and a lid, 2 saucepans (1.5 and 3-quart) with lids, a stockpot (8-quart) with a lid, a steamer basket with a lid.
Pro Drip-free pouring and sealed-in steam
The pots and pans in this set have a flared lip, which serves two purposes. First, it makes pouring less messy and more precise.Second, the stainless steel lids fit inside the lip very tightly and seal in the steam when cooking.
Cons
Con Takes more effort to clean than non-stick cookware
Stainless steel can discolor if overheated or have some stuck-on food after cooking. It takes more time and effort to clean than non-stick cookware. However, food can be removed by soaking the pan in water and scrubbing, while stains can be removed by using a cleanser.
Con No lids for frying pans included
This set does not include the lids for the frying pans. The lid from the stockpot fits the 10-inch pan enough to protect from the splatter, but it is not tightly fitted.
Con Pots take longer to heat up than whole-clad cookware
The pots are not whole-clad, the aluminum disc is attached to the base only. This means that the heat mainly comes from the bottom of the pot and does not transmit well through the walls.
Con Takes more effort to clean than non-stick cookware
Stainless steel can discolor if overheated or have some stuck-on food after cooking. It takes more time and effort to clean than non-stick cookware. However, food can be removed by soaking the pans in water and scrubbing and scrubbing, while stains can be removed by using a cleanser.
Con No medium-sized pot
The set does not include a medium-sized pot: there are a 3-quart saucepan and an 8-quart stockpot, but there is no pot in the 4.5-5.5-quart range.
Con Lid handles get hot easily
The lids are made of stainless steel, so the heat transfers to the metal handles easily and they can become very hot. It is recommended to always lift the lids with an oven mitt or a dishcloth.