Is the All-Clad D3 Sauté Pan Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Dec 2025). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen rated it Highly Recommended: it "browned meatballs evenly" and had "one of the widest cooking surfaces of all the pans in our lineup." But with "the lowest walls in our lineup," testers "lost some food over the edge when stirring," and it's "the only pan in our lineup that’s not dishwasher-safe." The Misen earned the same star ratings, goes in the dishwasher, and costs less. ATK's Best Buy, the Goldilocks, cooks as well but is sold direct and dents more easily.
Estimated cost per year of use
How we estimate lifespan
- All-Clad, ~25 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless has no coating to wear out, and America's Test Kitchen gave it top marks for cleanup/durability.
- Misen, ~25 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless with no coating; America's Test Kitchen called it "durable" and gave it top marks for cleanup/durability.
- Goldilocks, ~20 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless with no coating, but America's Test Kitchen found it "dented slightly when we whacked it against concrete."
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the All-Clad
5-Ply Stainless Steel Sauté Pan with Lid, 3 qt
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen gave it the same star ratings as the All-Clad: "Everything we cooked in this handsome, durable sauté pan turned out well." "Moderately tall sides contained the food well" where the All-Clad lost some over the edge, and it's dishwasher safe and oven safe to 800°F. The catch: "it’s one of the heaviest we tested."
| Criterion | All-Clad | Misen |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
3.5-Quart Sauté Pan
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy "offers outsize performance for its relatively low price" and rated higher than the All-Clad for ease of use: "Moderately tall walls contained splatters yet provided easy access for flipping meatballs or tossing spinach." The catch: "The pan dented slightly when we whacked it against concrete." Sold direct by Goldilocks, not on Amazon.
| Criterion | All-Clad | Goldilocks |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 2/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025), Goldilocks product page (price and SKU)
Common questions
Is the All-Clad D3 sauté pan dishwasher safe?
No. All-Clad says hand wash only, and America's Test Kitchen noted it was the only pan in its sauté pan lineup that isn't dishwasher safe. It's oven safe to 600°F and works on induction.
All-Clad D3 or Made In sauté pan?
America's Test Kitchen picked the Made In as its winner. Both browned food evenly, but the Made In rated higher for ease of use, has taller walls, and goes in the dishwasher.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
