I can't comment on the above, but my friend loves her Cuisinart French Classic. I have used it at her home and it is beautiful and performs well on her induction cooktop. I think it's a great value for the price. It is NOT made in China, (made in France), which is a plus for me. I would definitely put it above the Cuisinart set you mentioned above. https://www.wayfair.com/Cuisinart--French-Classic-Stainless-10Piece-Cookware-Set-FCT10-L749-K~CUI1821.html?refid=GX173479451987-CUI1821&device=c&ptid=164279814556&network=g&targetid=aud-352581795326:pla-164279814556&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=9386157&fdid=1817&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoKzsBRC5ARIsAITcwXGjltm4vnUQpaVAJC6COSLC2XJ0cMuf3MG16M-Wo_561plXj1PB9FMaAmXEEALw_wcB

After exhausting research on Chowhoud, and Century Life, I would still go with the Cuisinart French Classic - Excellent reviews, made in France, not China, easy to clean, comfortable handles. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009W28FUY/ref=as_li_tl?imprToken=ttKZmUMPtZ6v7osfCUY9jw&slotNum=35&ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009W28FUY&linkCode=w61&tag=centuorg-20&linkId=7SIDMSIYYQXHFD4B

A downside of the Cuisinart French Classic is it does not have rolled edges and can make a mess pouring sauces/pasta water etc. Other than that it is nice cookware.

Kim G - Yes the edges aren't rolled but I've never had a problem with them over my old rolled edge pans. For me, I can deal with that over a product made in China (just me).

Between those two, I would choose the Cuisinart MC Pro. The French Tri Ply Classic is also beautiful cookware, a little more expensive than the MC Pro but nearly identical in performance. (Made in France, not China, thus the higher cost.) That Duxtop set is bottom-clad (the sides are stainless only with a disc of aluminum welded to the bottom), so the two options you give are kind of apples and oranges. There is good bottom clad/impact bonded cookware (Fissler, for example), but the Duxtop is not it. (I like some Duxtop products, but this cookware is very mediocre.)

Duxtop makes a set with full cladding, but I would choose the MC Pro over it. MC Pro/French Classic has a reputation for holding up and performing very, very similarly to All-Clad tri-ply.

If money isn't an issue, probably the best induction cookware on the market is Demeyere. The Atlantis is their top line, but Industry 5 is also really, really nice cookware (and comparable in price to All-Clad triply). Supposedly it's up to 30% more efficient on induction burners than other stainless cookware, but I can't say I've noticed a difference in my power bill. :-) Even so, I love it.

This article is a guide to induction cookware that may help you gain some insight on what to look for. I have mostly All-Clad and am slowly switching over to Demeyere. My Proline skillet is simply amazing.

hattiecarroll - Glad to know you are switching over to the Demeyere as that is what I'm thinking about. However, I believe the Atlantis (7ply) will be too heavy for me. I have one All Clad d7 pan that's only 2 qts and I find it heavy even empty. I was just going to go with All Clad triply, but people are warning against it on induction. I actually saw the d3 All Clad triply compact that I really liked as it has a different handle. It is the same handle that was on their d7 line which I personally find more comfortable. So I'm now looking into the Demeyere Industry5plus which I think has more aluminum up the sides of the pan. Can you comment on what you feel would be better. I'm not worried about cost, but I'm also not a terribly serious cook (although I do cook most nights). I haven't even tried the Demeyere handle for comfort yet. Costco also has a Demeyere 5 ply line called Intense which is interesting. Thoughts on any or all of the above. I am dead set agains anything from China.

Hi Brain, yes, the Demeyere Atlantis is fairly heavy cookware. The Proline is almost twice as thick as AC triply, with something like 75% more aluminum in it, so it's substantially more...substantial. Probably very comparable to D7 in weight though I have not owned any D7. If weight is an issue for you, you may not like the Atlantis/Proline cookware. I bought the big 13.4" skillet and I do wish I'd only gotten the 12" simply because of the weight. But I use it anyway because it's just so much better than my AC D3. IMO, no comparison!

As for the handles, I actually prefer the AC D3 handles to the handle on my Demeyere pieces. I think the Demeyere handles are too short for the weight of the pots. And I know people hate those AC handles, but I actually like them. I find the groove makes them really easy to handle. So I may not be the best person to ask about handles--I am clearly out of the norm.

Yes, the Industry 5 has more aluminum than ACD3 and also D5. I believe I-5 was introduced to the US market to compete with D5, but it is head and shoulders better cookware, unless you buy AC's marketing about how the internal layer of stainless is there to help with "lateral heat movement." IMO, more stainless = less performance. The whole reason stainless is there is to add durability. I don't know why they put it in the center. It belongs on the outside, not on the inside of the cookware.

Demeyere doesn't do this. The I-5 cookware has 3 inner layers of aluminum and adds up to more than D3 or D5. Weight wise, it will be less than the Atlantis but a little heavier than D3 or D5. As for the handles, you should try them out and see what you think. IMO any Demeyere is better than any AllClad, whether you like the handles or not.

That same website i linked to above has an article comparing AC to Demeyere. Maybe it will help you figure out what you want. It's been some time since I read it but I think it has all the stats you're looking for, ie, how much aluminum in each line and so forth.

BTW, my D3 works fine on induction. No problems at all. I've seen those compact pans and they seem like a nice option if you want to go with the AC. (It's not bad cookware, it's actually quite nice. It just isn't as good as Demeyere.)

I am also not familiar with the Costco Demeyere, but it's almost certainly identical to the I-5 possibly with small changes in design. It's probably a good deal IF the set has the pieces you want.

Finally, my advice is that it doesn't matter how "serious" a cook you are, you should buy the best cookware you can afford. Life is too short for bad tools! Having good cookware (and knives, but that's a different topic) makes cooking a pleasure. I'll be the first to admit that top of the line cookware is a want, not a need, but it sure makes cooking more fun.

Hattiecarroll - Thanks for the great information - it is much appreciated. I'm going to find the Demeyere to try out the handle and the weight. If I still feel it's too heavy or the handle is not comfortable, I may then go with the AC. I did like the looks and handle of the Williams Sonoma Thermo Clad line. I will have to see if I can find any info on the aluminum content of that one. I bought both my kids the Cuisinart French Classic for their apartments and they have been happy. My daughter has induction and has had no issues, but I am willing to spend more on myself. You're correct in that life is too short for bad tools.

Brian, according to an old thread on Chowhound, the W-S ThermoClad has 2mm of aluminum. This is quite a bit more than AC D3, which has about 1.7mm. They also have double-walled lids, a nice feature, and they're made in Italy. It looks like really nice cookware.

Hattiecarroll - Thank you. If the Demeyere doesn't work for me, I will then go with the WS ThermoClad.