Is the All-Clad D5 12-Inch Fry Pan Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jun 2025). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen rated the five-ply D5 Recommended but put it below All-Clad's own three-ply D3: it's "a bit heavier and smaller and performs a little more sluggishly, transferring heat more slowly." ATK's conclusion: "For the price and with no lid, we don't see the point of choosing this model over the d3 pan." The D3 12-inch, ATK's longtime winner, comes with a lid and usually costs less. Tramontina's tri-ply 12-inch costs far less still, with a narrower cooking surface.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the All-Clad D5 12"
D3 Stainless 12" Fry Pan with Lid
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's winning stainless skillet, rated higher than the D5 for performance and ease of use, and it includes a lid. "We appreciate the wide cooking surface and low, flaring sides that encourage excellent browning and evaporation." "It resisted warping and withstood thermal shock and outright abuse with nary a scratch or dent." ATK on the D5: "For the price and with no lid, we don't see the point of choosing this model over the d3 pan."
| Criterion | All-Clad D5 12" | All-Clad D3 12" |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Stainless-Steel Skillets (updated June 25, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Stainless-Steel Skillets (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Tri-Ply Clad 12" Fry Pan with Helper Handle
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Rated Recommended with reservations by America's Test Kitchen, a notch below the D5 for performance (2 vs 2.5 of 3). "This sturdy pan barely dented and didn’t warp, making it a good choice, especially if you own a flat-topped stove." But "Its cooking surface was the narrowest in the lineup, so four steaks or eight pieces of chicken were crowded and didn’t cook as evenly." Like the D5, it has no lid.
| Criterion | All-Clad D5 12" | Tramontina |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 2/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 2.5/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Stainless-Steel Skillets (updated June 25, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Stainless-Steel Skillets (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
All-Clad D5 or D3?
America's Test Kitchen prefers the D3: the five-ply D5 heats more slowly, is smaller and heavier, and has no lid. ATK's verdict: "For the price and with no lid, we don't see the point of choosing this model over the d3 pan."
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Stainless-Steel Skillets (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
