All-Clad Vs Viking: Which Cookware Is Worth The Investment?

If you're looking for a premium cookware set, you may be considering All-Clad or Viking. Both brands are known for their high-quality, multi-ply cookware, but which one is the better choice?

All-Clad has been a leading brand in the cookware market for decades and is known for its American-made, high-performing, and elegantly-designed products. Their cookware is constructed with multiple layers of high-quality steel, aluminum, and/or copper, offering options such as 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply construction. While All-Clad comes with a hefty price tag, their products are built to last a lifetime.

Viking, on the other hand, is widely known for its professional-grade stoves and ovens and has established itself as one of All-Clad's top competitors in the high-end cookware market. Viking's cookware is also constructed with multiple layers of high-quality materials and offers both 3-ply and 5-ply construction. While Viking may not offer as much variety in their collections, their products are of exceptional quality.

When comparing the two brands, it's important to consider your specific needs and preferences. Both All-Clad and Viking provide excellent heat distribution and durability. However, All-Clad tends to be more expensive, especially for their top-of-the-line collections. Viking, on the other hand, offers a wider range of prices and has collections made in China, which may be more affordable.

Ultimately, the decision between All-Clad and Viking depends on your budget and specific needs. Both brands offer high-quality cookware that will enhance your cooking experience.

Construction and Materials

Both All-Clad and Viking construct their cookware with multiple layers of high-quality steel, aluminum, and/or copper. All-Clad offers more options, including 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply construction, as well as cookware made with a copper core for quicker heat conduction. Viking only offers 3-ply and 5-ply construction with aluminum core layers.

All-Clad's D3 line is made of tri-ply stainless steel, with an aluminium core sandwiched between layers of stainless steel. The D5 line is 5-ply, with an aluminium core surrounded by two layers of stainless steel on either side. All-Clad also makes a Copper Core line, which has five layers, with a copper core surrounded by aluminium, which is in turn surrounded by stainless steel.

Viking's 3-ply line is made of stainless steel and aluminium, with a stainless steel cooking surface. Their 5-ply line is similar, but with an additional two layers of aluminium.

All-Clad's cookware is fully-clad, meaning the layers extend all the way to the rim of the pan. This is superior to pans with encapsulated bottoms, where a tri-ply disk is welded to the bottom of the pan. However, if you have an induction cooktop, cookware with encapsulated bottoms will perform better than fully-clad tri-ply cookware.

Viking's 3-ply and 5-ply lines are also fully-clad. Their Hard Anodized Nonstick line has a hard anodized aluminium exterior, with a thick layer of aluminium inside, and a PTFE nonstick coating.

All-Clad's cookware is made in the USA, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Viking's 5-ply Professional line is also made in the USA, but their other lines are made in China.

Price

Both All-Clad and Viking are expensive brands, but All-Clad tends to be pricier, especially its top-of-the-line collections.

All-Clad's D3 10-piece set costs around $700, while Viking's 3-Ply Contemporary 10-piece set costs around $280.

All-Clad's Copper Core 10-piece set costs around $1,100, while Viking's 5-Ply Professional 10-piece set costs around $1,000.

All-Clad's D5 Brushed 10-piece set costs around $1,000, while Viking's 3-Ply Hammered Copper 13-piece set costs around $250.

All-Clad's HA1 10-piece set costs around $400, while Viking's Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-piece set costs around $120.

All-Clad's Essentials 10-piece set costs around $300, while Viking's Tri-Ply 13-piece set costs around $300.

Pros and Cons

All-Clad Pros:

• Stellar reputation in the cookware industry.
• Pioneer of fully-clad pots and pans, which are known for their exemplary cooking performance.
• American-made, with a proven track record of excellence.
• Offers a much wider selection of materials and designs than Viking.
• Longer-lasting and high-performing.
• Elegant and thoughtfully engineered design.

All-Clad Cons:

• Comes with a hefty price tag.
• Food may stick to the surface, requiring extra effort to clean and maintain.

Viking Pros:

• Impressive design and performance.
• Offers a wider range of prices compared to All-Clad.
• Viking is known for its professional-grade stoves and ovens.
• Viking's 5-ply Professional collection is handcrafted in the USA.
• Viking offers a limited lifetime warranty.

Viking Cons:

• Viking is still a newcomer to the cookware market.
• Some reviewers complain about the absence of lids for fry pans and design issues, such as heavy handles that don't allow pans to lay flush on cooktops.
• Viking cookware is generally expensive.

Viking vs All-Clad: Performance and Handling

Viking and All-Clad are two of the top premium brands in the high-end cookware market. Both brands offer multi-clad cookware made with high-quality steel, aluminum, and/or copper.

Viking Performance and Handling

Viking is known for its professional-grade ranges and cookware. Its cookware is made from three layers of stainless steel and aluminum, which provide superior heating and durability. The handles are comfortable and provide a secure grip, and the cookware is dishwasher-safe. The Viking 13-piece set includes a large 10" fry pan, saucepans, a sauté pan, a stockpot, and a stainless-steel colander strainer. The cookware has flared edges, which make it easier to stir the contents and reduce sticking and cold spots. The lids are see-through and vented to prevent boil-overs. The pots also feature volume markings inside for easier measuring.

All-Clad Performance and Handling

All-Clad offers long-lasting, American-made, high-performing, and elegantly-designed cookware. It is known for being the pioneer of fully-clad pots and pans, which are known for their exemplary cooking performance. The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set includes skillets, saucepans, a sauté pan, and a stockpot. The pieces are extremely durable and an ideal weight for holding. The pans heat evenly and are comfortable to hold, tackling every cooking job without any issues. The set is dishwasher-safe, induction-compatible, and oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Comparison

Both Viking and All-Clad cookware sets offer superior performance and handling. The main differences lie in the price and the variety of collections offered. All-Clad tends to be more expensive, especially its top-of-the-line collections. Additionally, All-Clad offers more options, including 2-ply, 3-ply, 4-ply, and 5-ply construction, as well as cookware made with a copper core for quicker heat conduction. Viking, on the other hand, only offers 3-ply and 5-ply construction with aluminum core layers. While both brands are compatible with all cooktops, it is worth noting that the Viking 3-Ply Hammered Copper collection is NOT compatible with induction cooktops.

Viking vs Cuisinart

Viking is a well-known brand for its professional-grade stoves and ovens. They are one of the top competitors of All-Clad in the high-end cookware market. Viking offers a variety of stainless steel sets, including brushed and polished stainless steel, hammered copper, hard-anodized aluminium, and cast iron.

Viking's 5-ply Professional line is the only line that is made in the USA. The rest of their lines are now made in China. Viking's 5-ply Professional line is also one of the most expensive lines.

All-Clad, on the other hand, is an American-made brand that offers a wide range of materials and designs. Their products are also long-lasting and high-performing. All-Clad is also compatible with induction cooktops, unlike Viking's 3-ply Hammered Copper collection.

All-Clad is hands-down one of the most expensive cookware brands in the market. However, their products are worth the price because they are proven to be durable and can last a lifetime.

Overall, both brands offer high-quality products. But if you are going to invest in a premium set of cookware, go with All-Clad.

Frequently asked questions