Finally scored a large Tramontina SS saute pan, $29.99 @ Marshalls.

[thessalian]

I've been haunting every TJ Maxx/Marshalls/etc lately trying to find a large SS saute pan. Apparently this line is pretty good if you can't afford All Clad (I can't, particularly because I wanted a large pan), but Wal-Mart doesn't carry them in stores (only online order), Amazon doesn't carry the one I wanted, etc. Honestly I haven't even been seeing the usual All-Clad suspects in my local discount stores, just this same Calphalon 'sauteuse' everywhere, surrounded by smaller nonstick pans and a ton of dutch ovens.

Finally, in Marshall's over the weekend, I looked down, and there it was--the only large SS saute pan in the store, AND Tramontina (Tri-ply), and $29.99 vs the $70-$90 I'd been seeing online.

Well, I'm calling it a saute pan, but I think Tramontina calls it a 'jumbo cooker' or something. I mean the All-Clad type saute pan, with straight sides and a lot of flat cooking surface, 12" diameter.

I'd been using cheap nonstick for a while due to personal circumstances. I did some steak au poivre last night. I had completely forgotten what an amazing color you can get on your steak with a decent pan.

(Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to have the All Clad equivalent at some point.)

[Chemicalkinetics]

<I had completely forgotten what an amazing color you can get on your steak with a decent pan.>

I see you have used it. What is your first impression? Did yours come with a lid? Many TJ Maxx, Marhsall cookware miss their respective lids.

Is your saute pan fully triply or disc bottom?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tramontina-12-18-10-Tri-Ply-Clad-Stainless-Steel-Jumbo-Cooker/5716485

http://www.125west.com/images/Product...

[jgg13]

My understanding was that the triply was a walmart exclusive.

[Chemicalkinetics]

I see. Thanks.

[thessalian]

My first impression cooking with it was "swoon" (turned out some perfectly cooked filet au poivre with a beautiful, richly-colored crust). For background, I haven't had any experience with high-end SS. I had a cheap "Linens N Things" SS pan I used until it warped. Since then I've been using cheap IKEA nonstick for finance reasons. I don't have very good luck with cast iron, can't get the hang of forming and maintaining the season.

What I'm saying here is that while I love cooking, the bar was set pretty low for this pan to feel like it excels. =)

It does have a lid, but it's glass, and I can't find a similar Tramontina pan with this glass lid online. I suppose it's possible it's some sort of counterfeit? Heh.

It says:

5QT/4.7L
Jumbo Cooker
Stainless Steel Handles
Heat and Shatter Resistant Tempered Glass Lid
Dishwasher Safe

Tri-Ply Base System
18/10 Stainless Steel
Aluminum Core
Magnetic Stainless Steel

[unprofessional_chef]

I don't think anybody is going to go through the trouble to counterfeit a Tramontina. Someone at Marshalls was nice enough to find a random lid in the stock room that fit.

It is a real pleasure to cook with All-Clad. But a good cook can use any decent cookware to make awesome food.

[thessalian]

"Someone at Marshalls was nice enough to find a random lid in the stock room that fit."

Naw, it's listed on the packaging. "Heat and Shatter Resistant Tempered Glass Lid". I just literally cannot find this item (which is listed as a jumbo cooker) online anywhere. Their typical "jumbo cookers" have SS lid. No idea. I checked to make sure I wasn't hallucinating the brand name and had picked up a Calphalon or something, but no, Tramontina imprinted on it. Point taken about it not being worth counterfeiting. Maybe it's an old item.

[Chemicalkinetics]

<I don't think anybody is going to go through the trouble to counterfeit a Tramontina.>

I agree. Despite that Tramontina makes good cookware, it is still not very well know and on top of that it is already a budget cookware. It is almost like counterfeiting "One-Dollar" bill. It will be a losing business.