What D3 and D5 mean
The number is the count of bonded layers, All-Clad says. D3 is stainless steel inside and out with an aluminum core. D5 is five: steel, aluminum, a steel core that spreads the heat, aluminum again, and steel outside. Both are clad all the way up the sides, not just in the base.
How they cook
All-Clad describes D3 as fast and even from rim to rim, and D5 as its most even, with the extra layers smoothing out hot spots and resisting warping. As with other three- and five-layer pans, D3 usually answers a little quicker when you turn the burner up or down, and D5 holds a steadier heat. The extra metal makes D5 slightly heavier, All-Clad says.
What's the same, and what else differs
Both lines are bonded, engineered and assembled in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, go in the oven and under the broiler up to 600°F, work on every stove including induction, and carry All-Clad's limited lifetime warranty. D3 has a polished outside; D5 comes brushed or polished. D5 also has larger helper handles and lid handles, All-Clad says.
The 10-piece sets differ by one pan. Both hold 8- and 10-inch fry pans, a 3-quart sauté pan and an 8-quart stockpot with four lids; D3’s saucepans are 2 and 3 quarts, D5’s 1.5 and 3.
All-Clad also sells D3 Everyday online: the same three layers with updated details. The D3 Everyday sauté pan we list is one.
Which one to buy
D3 suits most kitchens: it's the line All-Clad calls its classic, it's lighter, and it responds quickly. Choose D5 if your burners heat unevenly, you like a heavier pan that holds its heat, or you want the brushed finish that hides fingerprints.
How these comparisons are made
Questions about this choice
Is All-Clad D5 better than D3?
Not better, different. D5's five layers spread heat more evenly and resist warping, All-Clad says; D3's three layers are lighter and respond faster. Both are made in the same Pennsylvania factory with the same oven limit and warranty.
How can I tell D3 and D5 apart?
D3 is polished outside; most D5 is brushed. D5 feels slightly heavier, its helper and lid handles are larger, and you can see the extra layers at the rim, All-Clad says.