457573 Mon Nov 05 14:17:32 -0800 2007 3 41 Cookware 0 3097619 I HATE to shop and I need new cookware. I know its best to buy piece by piece but as I said I HATE to shop. Came across an All Clad sale today. 9 pce non stick cookware set, Actually its 5 pieces and 4 lids. Marked down from $1000 to $600. Should I get it? Mon Nov 05 14:17:32 -0800 2007 10426 shaebones 1 3097804 I love my All-Clad. I have a mix of non-stick and stainless surface pans. Non-stick isn't ideal if you want to brown meat, or create a fond for a pan sauce, etc. Depends how you cook. A small balanced set of cookware for me might include only 1 or 2 nonstick fry pans and the rest stainless interior. Here is a really inexpensive example for $479. http://www.factorydirect2you.com/all-clad-mc2-9-piece-set.html If I had to pare down to a small set I would want: 12 inch skillet, 10 inch skillet, 8 quart stockpot, 4 quart saucepan, 2 quart saucepan. Somebody posted this site that sells All-Clad irregulars for a discount. I haven't tried them yet. http://www.cookwarenmore.com/ Mon Nov 05 15:08:31 -0800 2007 3097619 77247 Romanmk 2 5108301 I'm also looking for replacement cookware, although I won't be buying a set. The problem for me with sets is that most of them contain at least one piece that I don't want and will never use. For example, it's common for manufacturers to put 8" and 10" fry pans in sets, when 10" and 12" pans would be much more useful. However, this is a great month to buy AC, as everyone is having sales on sets and open stock. If you want a good set (AC stainless steel), Metrokitchen has a 10-piece set with the following: 10" and 12" fry pans, 2 qt. saucier, 4 qt. saucepan, 4 qt. saute pan, and 8 qt. stockpot. IMHO, that's about as good as it gets for functionality in an available set. It is largely the same as what Romanmk recommends for the basics. I believe that Williams-Sonoma is also offering an AC set with the same pieces. If you decide you want individual pieces, you really should look at the cookwarenmore.com site recommended by Romanmk. They sell seconds, but I'm told that the blemishes are very minor. This month, you'll not only get the regular discount for seconds (32%), but an additional 20% for each item you buy. I'm still sorting out exactly what I want, but this is where I'll be purchasing the AC pieces. Fri Oct 16 10:50:56 -0700 2009 3097804 1114540 cheesemaestro 1 5108322 I just noticed that this is an old thread that another chowhound just revived. No doubt the OP has long since made a decision. I wish I had noticed the date before I gave such a lengthy reply. Hopefully the information will be useful to others. Sorry for accidentally beating a dead horse. Fri Oct 16 10:58:01 -0700 2009 3097619 1114540 cheesemaestro