What’s even better than a huge sale on really great cookware for the kitchen or outdoor grill? The option to get those sweet Amazon Prime Day deal savings whether you subscribe to Amazon Prime or not. Made In, which happens to be one of my new favorite cookware brands, is having a summer sale on premium cookware for up to 25% off at Amazon and on the Made In site. (Here are other awesome Prime Day kitchen deals we found, including 20% off this Braun immersion blender that I also adore.)
I recently snatched up this 12-inch carbon steel grill frying pan on a Memorial Day sale, and it’s been a dream on the grill, cooking up shishito peppers and other veggies that might otherwise threaten to get stuck in the grill grate.
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I also bought this 12-inch nonstick frying pan that I used this week for making quesadillas, and can confirm that the cheese that leaks out the edges and crisps up so deliciously is easy to wash off with a couple swipes of a soapy sponge under warm water. After a wipe with a clean kitchen towel, I pop it back on the stove to dry, then stack it up on top of my other nonstick pans in a reverse nest, so the smallest diameter pan is on the bottom, and the largest one is on top (my attempt to protect the nonstick coating).
Do I want this grill griddle for 22% off? Why, yes. Yes, I do. But while I contemplate that, let me tell you more about what hooked me on Made In products in the first place — and how I use them. (And here are the best Amazon Prime Days deals under $100.)
Why Made In’s pots and pans won me over
I’ve been gushing about Made In ever since I bought — and fell in love with — a 3-quart saucier pot just about two years ago. With its perfectly scooped-out body and heavenly fitted lid, this particular pot has become my daily driver for caramelizing onions, mashing buttery potatoes, sizzling cayenne-inflected carrots and stirring silky custards.
Thoughtful design elements and polished construction matter to me greatly as someone who cooks nearly every meal and often takes on semi-ridiculous weekend projects like, I don’t know, koji-marinated duck confit (delicious) and chocolate hazelnut gelato.
With two home cooks in my household, our combined cookware collection includes duplicate and triplicate pots, pans, Dutch Ovens, casserole dishes, cast iron slabs and stock pots of nearly every shape and size from venerable brands like All-Clad, Le Creuset, Staub and Tramontina. But none is used as heavily as my 3-quart Made In saucier, which — like other top brands — is also five-ply stainless steel.
Shape: I initially thought this pot was oversized because it isn’t just a circular base with straight sides that tower up (although some other Made In cookware does that). 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. Diced onion and garlic don’t get stuck in the corners and then soldered onto the sides, which I hate. 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 many other brands, 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 pictured above.)
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 Amazon Prime Day sales for the home, this Ninja Foodi Grill gets a big price drop and here’s one of our writer’s favorite backyard pizza ovens.
