Cuisinart vs Calphalon (2022): Comparing Two of the Best Cookware Brands

For high-quality cookware, it’s hard to go wrong with Cuisinart or Calphalon. Both brands make some of the best nonstick and stainless steel pots and pans, including ceramic and cast iron skillets. Excellent heat distribution and retention are a given in their products, and most of them are even oven safe and dishwasher safe to boot.

It’s starting to look like the two are similar, but while they do share a lot of similarities, there are a few distinctions between them. On one hand, Cuisinart is considered as the more budget-friendly option that doesn’t skimp on quality. On the other hand, Calphalon is a bit more expensive, but its cookware lasts for years and is the definition of premium. Of course, that doesn’t paint the whole picture, so we compare the two on a couple of key fronts, from construction to cooking performance.

Cuisinart vs Calphalon Comparison Chart

Options

You’ll always find the cookware you need from Cuisinart and Calphalon.

Cuisinart and Calphalon offer a ton of products and a variety of collections, so much so that they’re just way too many to list. At any rate, both have cookware made from cast iron, ceramic, hard-anodized aluminum with nonstick coating, stainless steel and even copper. The two make fry, saute and sauce pans, Dutch ovens, griddles and stock pots, to name a few.

The takeaway here is you can rely on either one to get just about any kind of cookware you want to add to your arsenal in the kitchen.

Construction

Cuisinart has more newer-looking designs than Calphalon.

In terms of design, Cuisinart is arguably more modern with its textured surfaces and color options. Calphalon is relatively traditional, sticking with a simpler and more consistent design across its cookware lines.

For their nonstick products, both use hard-anodized aluminum, but Cuisinart uses a standard variant for some of its cheaper alternatives. Now Cuisinart’s nonstick coating is made in partnership with Whitford, while Calphalon uses Teflon. These kinds of compounds may have a bad rap, but for the record, they’re safe to use as long as they’re used properly (i.e., using plastic or wooden spatulas and avoiding high temperatures above 570°F).

When it comes to their stainless steel offerings, most are multi-clad. That means there are multiple layers of material at play, sandwiching a layer of aluminum between two layers of steel, for instance. They do have cookware with an impact-bonded base. In other words, its conductive material is on the base, making for a cheaper alternative to fully clad counterparts.

Cooking Performance

Cuisinart has nonstick collections that work on induction cookers.

It’s not easy to pin down which one has the better cooking performance overall because of their wide range of cookware, but both are similar in this regard. Generally, the more layers the cookware has, the better its heat retention and distribution will be. Take the Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel, for instance. It has a five-ply construction, making sure that heat is distributed evenly and retained for a long time.

Speaking of, the number of layers will also partly determine how durable the cookware will be. For example, Cuisinart’s MultiClad Pro Triple Ply will likely begin to warp sooner than Calphalon’s aforementioned Signature collection.

One thing worth noting is Cuisinart has nonstick options that are compatible with induction cookers, something that Calphalon doesn’t have.

As mentioned, they also have cast iron cookware, and they’re about as good as you’d expect. Each one has ceramic pans as well, promising reliable nonstick coating so you won’t have to add oil at all.

Pricing

You’ll have to pay more for Calphalon pots and pans.

Cuisinart cookware is usually less expensive than Calphalon’s, but that doesn’t automatically mean it gives more value for money. For the most part, Calphalon products last for years. Sure, they’re a pretty big investment, but they’re worthwhile considering how long they can last. That doesn’t mean Cuisinart cookware won’t go for years. For the price, its pots and pans can last really long with proper maintenance and care.

What Cuisinart really does well is warranty since most of its products come with a lifetime warranty. Calphalon usually throws in a lifetime warranty too, but for some products, it only includes between five or 10 years.

Other Considerations

Neither Cuisinart nor Calphalon is perfect.

One advantage Calphalon has is its cookware is made in the United States, while Cuisinart’s is made in China, save for the French Classic Tri-Ply collection, which is made in France. At that, it’s safe to assume Calphalon products go through rigorous quality control checks. That’s not to say that Cuisinart products don’t go through quality assurance tests, though. However, cookware made in the United States are typically better than those made in China.

In terms of nonstick coating, Cuisinart uses what’s called Eterna that claims to perform better than the competition, and to some degree, it lives up to that. It’s not rare to see Calphalon owners to complain about its nonstick coating starting to wear off sooner than expected.

However, Cuisinart’s stainless steel cookware tells a different story. According to its customers, its stainless steel products don’t really work as advertised since they do get stained eventually.

Verdict

Cuisinart and Calphalon are easy to recommend even to casual home cooks.

Both Cuisinart and Calphalon are excellent cookware brands. Either one you pick, you’ll get a reliable and long-lasting addition to include in your toolset in the kitchen, be it a pot or pan. 

The decision really boils down to your situation and needs. Cuisinart is the better pick if you want something relatively affordable with top-notch cooking performance. Meanwhile, Calphalon is better if you want something a bit more premium such as the five-ply Signature collection and cookware that’s made in the United States.

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