Why You Can Trust CNET I Fell in Love With This Cookware Brand, and It's 25% Off During Memorial Day Sales
My first Made In purchase won me over and now I'm eyeing the premium brand's other pots and pans as part of my Memorial Day deals shopping plan. Here's why I think you'll love it, too.
My Made In 3-quart saucier is my gateway to this quality cookware brand.
It may not be the sexiest thing to gush over a stainless steel pot that's a visually understated kitchen workhorse, but my first Made In saucier made me a believer in the premium Italian-made brand. I found myself unabashedly monologuing everything I love about my Made In pot (including all the ways I use it) earlier this week with a cousin who's in the market for a new cookware set. When I saw that there was up to 25% off Made In's premium pots and pans as part of the mega Memorial Day sales right now, I audibly gasped and immediately shot my family member the link (you're welcome, cuz).
Whether you’re upgrading a single device or want to overhaul your entire home with a bundle, you can follow the latest Memorial Day appliance sales to get the best price.
See, I bought the 3-quart saucier 18 months ago on a similar sale and fell in love with its thoughtful design elements and polished construction. These are things that matter to me greatly as someone who spends hours a day cooking and often takes on ridiculous weekend projects like, I don't know, koji-marinated duck confit (delicious) and super eggy cinnamon stick ice cream.
Read more: The Very Best Curated Memorial Day Sales
This pot is now the one I pull out daily to sauté onions, steam rice pilafs, boil pasta, slowly heat ice cream custard bases... you name it. I can't recommend Made In highly enough, especially with the juicy promise of savings. Yes, I will be adding to my own Made In collection as well, shelf space be damned. (By the way, here are the six major shopping and deal bonanzas left in 2024.)
Why Made In's pot is my favorite this Memorial Day
So what do I like about this made-in-Italy brand? I'll admit, at first my saucier somehow seemed larger than I expected, but after the first time I used it, I quickly realized I was dead wrong.
Just as a point of reference, my cookware collection includes venerable brands like All-Clad, Le Creuset, Staub and Tramontina. My kitchen has duplicate and triplicate pots, pans, Dutch Ovens, casserole dishes, cast iron slabs and stock pots of nearly every shape and size. None is used as heavily as this Made In saucier, which -- like other top brands -- is also five-ply stainless steel.
I mentioned thoughtful design elements and excellent construction as two checkpoints that make my 3-quart saucier so awesome. Many of these design elements carry through the line, but since this is the pot I own, it's the one I'll be talking about in connection with Memorial Day sales.
Shape: One reason I initially thought this pot was oversized is because it isn't just a circular base with straight sides that tower up (although some other Made In pots are). The sides of this particular pot curve out, creating a more bubbly, rounded appearance. That means there's a natural arc for your wooden spoon, offset silicone spatula or whisk to go. Caramelized onions don't get stuck in the corners and then soldered onto the sides. On the contrary, food circulates around the base for a more even cook, the finished product is loads easier to scoop out, and the pan is consequently much easier to clean. A+.
Also on sale are items like Made In's enameled Dutch Oven and a seasoned carbon steel frying pan, whose curved handle caught my eye.
Handle: Unlike All-Clad and others, the Made In's signature handle design doesn't protrude straight out the side. On my saucier, there's a short 45-ish-degree stem (I didn't measure the exact angle; sorry) before the handle levels out at about 90 degrees. I don't have a lot of height or strength leverage so for me, the particular design results in excellent balance, making the pot easy enough and relatively comfortable to maneuver, even when brimming with hot water. It also fits easily into my short-height oven racks. The smooth, rounded handle is also way less biting on bare hands when I'm lifting the pot, compared to my All-Clad, which has a scooped-out handle that always seems to claw into my skin -- although I still like the cook on these pots and pans. (Other Made In designs have different handle shapes, like the curved frying pan.)
Lid: The stainless brush grain is appealing, but the real treat here is the fit. The bezels are beautifully designed for a tight seal, the lid is slightly domed to collect steam and the lid's handle is solidly attached and ergonomically designed for a comfortable pull when you're checking the mouth-watering contents within.
Construction: Everything about my Made In pot's fabrication feels sturdy, thick (contributing to even and diffuse heating), and up for any challenge. I never have to worry about it, and cleanup is easy with those sloped sides and brushed finish. If hot water, soap and a cheap plastic scraper doesn't do the job, then either plain white vinegar, baking soda or Bar Keeper's Friend will (separately, not together).
For more Memorial Day sales for the home, these are our top vetted deals on cordless vacuum cleaners, best smart home sales and best Memorial Day deals under $25.