I searched a long time for the perfect little saucepan -- and after using this for nearly a year now, I am convinced I found it. Walls thick enough for even heat distribution, but not too heavy in weight. Glass lid, graceful shape, well balanced, dishwasher safe. All in all, a delight to use.

For health reasons I am replacing my nonstick and aluminum pans with stainless and/or cast iron. I did a lot of research before I bought and was looking for a flat bottom stainless 2-qt saucepan with a full aluminum core. There are a lot of pans out there that meet that criteria, most of them pretty expensive. I was a little unsure about the size of this pan because it is not an exact replacement for the standard 2-qt saucepan but I bought it anyway because of the great price and reviews. I am thrilled to say it is even nicer than I expected and much more useful than the standard 2-qt style. The size is just right for a lot of everyday cooking and can work as a saute pan as well. The glass lid lets you see exactly when rice is done, whether the soup is simmering too much or too little or when the greens are wilted just right. The handle is well designed, not too long, and stays cool. The pan weighs enough to feel substantial but is still easy to maneuver with one hand. It sits well on my ceramic top stove and heats up quickly and evenly. It handles well, cleans easily and looks great. This is my pan of choice for most everyday cooking and it will get a lot of use. A really nice pan at full price, and a fantastic bargain at the sale price.

The pan is solid as well as beautiful to look at.

Depending on what you cook in it,it's sometimes not that easy to wash. I'm trying to steer away from Teflon.

Although not quite the quality as All Clad, it's close. And a much better bargain.

For those of you who have to have matching sets of pans I would recommend buying Calaphon Professional or Non-Stick instead.

I prefer the right pan for the job, and I don't think stainless steel or Teflon are good for frying. So I use cast iron for frying, Calaphon Professional for those foods which will stick, and the Calaphon stainless steel soup pot and saucepans for most everything else.

This is an excellent saucepan - cooks great and cleans easily. You can't beat it at this price.

I used it twice and it performed well. It did discolor slightly while boiling soup at 7 setting on jenn aire burner. No big deal but prevented me from giving 5 stars.

This line of stainless is great.(do not confuse the different grades of calphalon) Heats well, cooks well, good weight, good balance, cool handle. Best thing: dishwasher safe! Next best: all utensils safe to use. (FYI, I love the anodized everyday pan for searing, browning...but the convenience of cleanup makes these the pans for everything else.)

So far, I've been very happy with this saucepan. The size is perfect and it cleans easily. I recently decided to get away from non-stick cookware, and this pan has completely sold me on stainless. Great pan for a great price.

Regarding my background, I have considered cooking my hobby of choice for many years(20+). Since buy this pan, I have been looking for a calphalon set to replace my other pots and pans. It conducted the heat evenly and quickly. It is hard to actually impress me (just ask my wife!), but this pot did.

Quick disclaimer: I own no stock or have any financial interest in amazon or calphalon.

About a year ago, I purchased one of the anodized Calphalon skillets and was greatly impressed by the quality. This sauce pan definitely lives up to my expectations.

I don't think there's much to add that hasn't already been mentioned in the previous posts, but as I'm quite happy with this product, I feel I should reiterate. Starting with the bad news, I did find that the rivets were a little difficult to clean, especially over time, when gunk might build up in the tiny space between the rivet and the pan. The pan WILL stain over time, but this can be overcome with careful maintenance. Just remember that a product like this WILL require some maintenance if you want to keep its finish. I also wasn't a big fan of the handle; personally I found it a little too narrow and small.

On the plus side, even though this product requires a bit of work to keep the finish, careful and steady maintenance following the proper instructions has kept the pan in tip-top shape, even after constant use. It's my primary sauce pan, and I use it for flambes and oven cooking as well. Of course, the most important part is that is actually heats quickly and evenly. The no-drip edges are also fantastic. One other thing to keep in mind is that this pan is rather shallow, since it's designed as a sauce pan. Just be careful is you're looking for something more akin to a pot.

I've only had it for a few months now, but I'm confident that it will last a very long time.

We have two of these, always considering getting more, we use them daily, our All Clad pots get much less usage. Perfect size, just the right height. Great quality, heats quickly and evenly, nice pouring. Love the see-through glass lid. I don't think one can go wrong with this pot.

I love this pan!! My only complaint is that the lid slides around when upside down (that's how i store my pans).

I bought this because of the price and the unique size / shallow pan. I am transitioning from non stick to stainless and I have tried one or two pieces from All Clad, Simply Calphalon, and now this 2 1/2 quart Calphalon Tri-ply to try to decide what I would like to purchase going forward. I could not be happier and this is currently my favorite pan. I love the look of it and the versatiliy. It really does clean up easily and I could not believe how quickly it heats up and holds the heat. I have not had any problem with sticking. I am truly impressed, even more so than with the All Clad. I have used it both on the stove top and in the oven to make a small roast. The only down side or caution I have found is salt can pit the inside of ANY stainless steel pan, but a slight adjustment to when you add the salt seems to take care of that. I have heard that the lids to the Calphalon Tri-ply (the metal edge, of course - not the glass) dent easily, and the lids at the store display did show that, but so far I have not dented the lid. Of all the pans I have tried and / or looked at in the stores I like the handles on both the All Clad and this Tri-ply the best for ergonomic design. I notice a real difference, especially when you have a full pan - but this could be a matter of preference.

If you get the spots people have mentioned (which I find with all the stainless pans I bought due to iron in the water) just use a small amount of Lemon juice in the pan and then wash. This also helps when you over-heat the pan, which I have done frequently while getting used to the superior heat retention (and an overdeveloped desire for instant gratification!!)

Bonus - my husband is afraid to damage the pans so he uses extra care when he uses them!!!

I used to have 3 smaller Visions pots that I used simultaneously as well as a 2.5 quart pot so I know that little pans come in handy. 2 of my Visions were broken this year and the replacement prices on ebay after shipping are as much as Calphalon's try me prices for their smaller pots and pans.

I don't really understand the difference but I know I need at least two little pans.

Calphalon's explanation of the chef pan and sauce pan:



The chef's pan is many a chef's favorite silhouette! The gently curving sides accommodate a balloon whisk beautifully. Keeping up a constant stir is comfortable thanks to he lower profile. The wider mouth offers more efficient evaporation than a standard sauce pan --reductions take less time.



Whether you're preparing a delicate Bearnaise or a meaty marinara, Calphalon sauce pans are designed for maximum performance. heavy-gauge aluminum construction guarantees even, efficient heating. The cast stainless steel Cool V handle absorbs heat more slowly than cast iron handles, so it stays cooler longer on the burner. Plus, the rounded bottom perimeter helps you scrape every spot inside the pan so no tasty spoonful goes to waste.

The pan heats quickly and evenly and is extremely versatile. I was impressed by how easily it cleaned and resisted staining. It also is beautifully designed - the handle stays cool and though the pan is heavy it's not nearly as weighty as cast-iron. Add the fact that it's much, much cheaper on Amazon than anywhere else and you have a fantastic pan!

This pan rocks!! Top quality construction, see through lid, stay cool handle; what's not to like? The shallow design, making the pan wider than any other of this capacity has me using this to saute veggies, etc. far more frequently than I do in either of my smaller "saute" pans. The only pan I own that gets more use than this and my Calphalon non-stick chef's pan is my trusty 12" cast iron skillet.

Best saucepan ever. Cooks evenly, cleans nicely, perfect size. In fact, this is my second one (only because I did something stupid to ruin the first one). I LOVE this pan.

Perfect pan, top grade. Looks great, easy to clean and performs up to top Calphalon standard! Tough to beat these finds.. the glass lid is solid, and great for those of us who can't stand not giving a peek now and then!!Given proper care, this pot should be a permanent part of my kitchen for as long as I could possibly need it!

It's a solidly good pan to make practically anything in. It effectively retains the heat in when the lid is on.

I love to cook, and own several different brands of cookware, All Clad, Cuisinart, and Calaphone. This sauce pan didn't disappoint me. I love it!! The pan has a wider bottom than most 2 or 2 1/2 quart pans. This is great if you need to saute onions or peppers at the beginning of a sauce, or if you need a little extra room to stir something. I am very, very happy with this.

This pan is the perfect addition to my 4-yr-old Tri-Ply set. In 32 years of cooking, I've tried so many, Le Creuset, T-Fal, Analon, Scan Pan... none of them could hold a candle to Calphalon for cooking AND cleanup. My pans look as good today as when they were new. I just clean out the gunkies and toss them in the dishwasher. They SPARKLE! This pan can handle everything from the most delicate sauce to high-heat frying. At the price, you can't go wrong.

it's nice looking and sturdy, with $30, can't beat the craftmanship. however, food burns easily, need to add alot of oil and close attention is required!

This is a great saucepan. I bought it when the plastic handle on my cheap saucepan had a crack along the entire length. I have the calphalon nonstick work with the same type of handle, so I thought I'd get the saucepan with the same type of handle. The only problem is that when I make soups, the lid handle gets very hot that it requires an oven mitt to take the lid off.

This is a nice addition to one's stock of kitchen hardware, especially for the price. The construction is solid, the handle keeps cool, and the pan heats evenly. If you need a pan of this size, do not hesitate.

I bought this pan just to make rice but since it's a tri-ply you can do so much more with it. brown meats, onions, garlic anything right in the pan which save you having to use a fry pan. The shallow size works out fine and even better for reducing sauces than the regular size 2 1/2 quart sauce pan. Well worth the the cost, so much you can call it a steal!

This pan is the perfect size for heating soups and sauces. At this great price - everyone should buy this pan!! The handle stays cool, it has clear glass top, and I'd say it's close to 3 inches deep.
I bought this pan because I feel that stainless steel is healthier than using nonstick or aluminum pans. I was worried food would stick, but I haven't had a problem with that at all. I will continue to buy pans from this set.

We were looking for the 1 1/2 quart saucepan when we came across this 2 1/2 quart shallow suscepan. this is perfect because it offers a larger warming area (bottom) and the lower sides make stirring easier.

In my opinion, Calphalon Tri-Ply is just as good as All-Clad's Stainless line, except it's 3 times cheaper. With All-Clad, you're getting the same three-layered stainless steel with aluminum disk, but paying hundreds more. I was considering All-Clad for awhile, but there were two things that changed my mind. The only possible advantage of All-Clad Stainless over Calphalon Tri-Ply is that it utilizes magnetic steel, which may help if you have an induction cooktop. Add to that fact that I don't have an induction cooktop, and magnetic steel tends to be of lower quality as well.

1) It just seemed insane and stupid to have to pay nearly $100 for an All-Clad lid, and that's for the LID!! Can anyone say price inflation?

2) I like the glass lids on the Calphalons, because I can then look inside without having to open the lid.

Quality of the 2.5 quart saucepan is excellent. There are big rivets holding the cool-V handle in place, and I like the feel of the handle. I tried the All-Clad analogue, and the handle just wasn't very comfortable. The size of the saucepan is just right. I was a bit annoyed that the Amazon description does not include the sizes, but this pot is about 8" in diameter, and 3.125" deep. Perfect for making sauces (duh!), sauteeing veggies, cooking rice or oatmeal, etc... The glass lid is also very nice, and actually helps to channel the moisture back inside.

The mirror finish is just beautiful; I noticed that on some of the other tri-ply reviews, people were complaining about the pot not cleaning well and giving poor ratings. Morons I say. First of all, you should be purchasing a pot because you intend to cook in it, not because you want to leave it in a museum. Secondly, if they bothered to read the directions, you can maintain the original luster just by using Barkeeper's Friend.

The pot heats up very quickly, and quality control is excellent here. Furtheremore, the tri-ply line comes with a lifetime warranty. People have complained that just because it's not made in the US, and made in China, that it is of poorer quality. Get off your xenophobic butts people; the quality of this line is excellent AND easy on your wallets. Even accounting for increased labor costs in the US, there is no reason that All Clad needs to overcharge (in my opinion). I have no qualms about purchasing cookware in China, this is quite the exemplar.

I expect to use these pots for the next 20-30 years at least. The only downside of the tri-ply line is that there isn't a greater variety of pans/pots, and it's hard to find lids for all of them. Just a caveat about the lids- the glass lid for this 2.5 quart shallow saucepan is slightly greater than 8", so it will not fit the omlette/fry pan, which is annoying. However, I checked at a brick and mortar store, and the 8-quart stockpot lid is interchangeable with the 10" omelette/fry pan, and 3 quart sautepan. But, it does NOT fit the 10" stir fry pan, arrgh!

***EDIT***: I've used this pot enough that I can comment some more on it. One feature that I especially like is that the pot is oven safe to 700 degrees F, and the lid to 450 degrees. Therefore it's so easy to mix up some batter in the pot, then transport directly into the oven, and back out. Also, it's a shallow saucepan, and the walls are just deep enough for making your favorite reduction sauce, or baking a nice apple crisp.
I've been very satisfied- also, the 'dripless' rim is great! Has prevented many potential messes so far.

Additionally, the lids enable moisture to collect, and drip back towards your food, resulting in much less dry victuals. After having also purchased the 3 quart saute pan (hard to find as an open stock since it's only in the sets now), I must add that this 2.5 quart saucepan doubles as a smaller version of the saute pan. The diameter is large enough, ~8", and deep enough to function as a saute pan, so this pair of pans is unbeatable!

A note about cleaning- after extended use, there will be tarnishing and brown blemishes (at least on my gas range). To get rid of these, do NOT use Bon Ami because it's too gentle- doesn't get rid of stains. Best way to go is Barkeeper's Friend, ($2.50 at your local supermarket), or Cameo Stainless Steel Cleaner (~$1.29). However, Cameo is more abrasive than Barkeeper's Friend, and WILL reduce the mirror polish of these pans. Barkeeper's is the way to go- remember to ALWAYS rub in a circular manner- back and forth will scratch the surfaces.

** 2nd EDIT **
I've had these pots and pans for 2 years now, and have steadily added to my tri ply collection. I'm still very pleased with them.

- They have still retained their mirror finish on the exterior.
- Cleanup is a breeze- just rub a bit of barkeeper's friend (I'd like to shake the hand of whoever invented that- best thing since sliced bread).
- The moisture channeling from the lids is very much appreciated- everything I cook is definitely juicier.
- I was amazed at the quality of material- I boiled some eggs in a pot one day, and 14 hours later, I kid you not, the water was still warm, not lukewarm, but warm!

The biggest complaint I have about the pots, and the sole complaint that I can think of, is that the handles on the lids do get a bit hot when cooking. Just do yourself a favor and grab a pot-holder when cooking.

Otherwise, I'm still very satisfied with them!

I have been shopping around for the best buy on Calphalon for several months. This pan is worth the price and some. It cooks evenly, heats in a jiff. The glass lid is a plus and fits snug on the pot. The handle is sturdy and stays cool. You wont have to worry about it coming off like the cheaper brands. I read other comments about the rivets and cleaning them. That is a small minus when you think about the quality and cooking performance of this cookware line. I have hard anodized and stainless steel pieces all are great. I do advise looking for discount prices. Another great tip is cleaning with the distilled vinegar when the stainless steel gets discolored. This works instantly. Whether you cook a little or alot, gourmet or not, you NEED this pot in your cabinet.