All-Clad LTD 7-Quart French Oven

Distinguished among All-Clad's renowned cookware collections by its stylish, charcoal black, hard-anodized-aluminum exterior, the LTD line provides serious and professional cooks with all the virtues that make All-Clad's worldwide reputation unsurpassed. Key to its high performance is a three-ply, bonded construction. Sandwiched between the exterior and an 18/10 stainless-steel interior lies a thick core of pure aluminum that spreads heat evenly across the bottoms of pots and pans and all the way up the sides. The interior is highly polished, so it's stick- as well as corrosion-resistant. The striking exterior resists scratching, chipping, and peeling.

This 7-quart French oven makes clear why All-Clad's LTD cookware is so popular among contemporary cooks. Accompanied by a removable stainless-steel rack, the oven measures 15 inches long by 11 inches wide. The rack raises food 3/4 of an inch above the oven's bottom, so heat can circulate and the food doesn't boil in its own juices. Without the rack, the oven is ideal for braising on the stovetop or in the oven. Because the aluminum core extends up the sides, foods cook uniformly, even though the oven is 3-3/4 inches deep. And because the interior is nonreactive, tomatoes and other acidic foods won't taste metallic. Its lid and stay-cool loop handles are riveted for strength and won't be harmed by an oven's highest heat. LTD cookware carries a lifetime warranty against defects and should be hand washed. --Fred Brack