I purchased this about 2 years ago at an well known kitchen supply store in Napa, Ca. I trusted their recommendation and I really liked this piece (at less than half the price of the All Clad) until...I baked some Paella in the oven at 375. The handle came loose at the rivets and, with a lifetime warranty, I returned the piece to Cuisinart (owned by Conair)in New Jersey. You will pay to ship the piece to and from depending on where you live which can be $20-30 due to the weight and size.
The note that came back with my new replacement said that "We strongly recommend low to medium heat be used on all Cuisinart cookware."
I was very surprised that 375-400 was not low to medium. So...if you want a versatile piece look elsewhere...do not use this to bake

This model of Cuisinart's saute pan is the same design as the 3 1/2 quart version. The pan is well built and attractive.

I was first worried about how light weight this saute pan was for the size. I was concerned that it would not be durable. But so far it has been very durable and very easy to clean up. The 5.5 Qt size is perfect for large meals. Very good purchase.

I bought this pan 7 years ago back in '02 and it is a great value. Mine has a copper core, not aluminum and the heat transfer is excellent. I do not think there is a very big difference between copper and aluminum cores, but I think copper has the edge. I find it does compare well to Calphalon One and All Clad but is not quite in the same league. Of course the All Clad Saute Pan with a copper core retails at $500, so the price is right with the Cuisinart. The other two show more attention to detail and better craftsmanship and better customer service and do boast a Lifetime warranty which they do back up. With another item I found Cusinart's customer service to be poor. However the price difference is substantial and makes the Cuisinart pan a great value.
This is a very nice, solid, good looking pan at a great price and compares well to the other two. It is heavy, well made and conducts heat extremely efficently and you will use less gas/electric cooking with it. You will have to turn the heat down since this pan is so efficent. I find it cooks almost as well as the All Clad with the copper disc and at a fraction of the price. I've been using this pan for over 7 years and I'll bet I'll still be using it 10 years from now. I have both the 5.5 and the smaller 3.5 saute pans.

It is also versitle and a cook can use it for much more than mere sauteing. This takes the place of many pans. I'd recommend this pan for anyone looking for a large superior pan at a great price. If you have been cooking with inferior cookware you will immediately experiencee the difference. Bon Apetit.

This saute pot/pan is very nice. It is not as nics as a All Clad pot though. However it dose not cost nearly as much. Amazon - and other retailers normaly had this pot priced at $140.00. But Amazon had it on sale for about $56.00 - GREAT PRICE. Because I signed up for the Amazon credit card, I saved even more. It was $30.00 off which brought the price down to $26.00.
Ye haw!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Amazon