All-Clad Stainless Cassoulet with Lid

Versatile and good-looking
This is essentially the All-Clad stainless steel 3 quart saucier fitted with 2 short handles. The "dutch oven" sold by All-Clad is a similar configuration of the 5 1/2 quart saucier.

This is a versatile stovetop pan--wide enough for frying, deep enough for liquids, good-looking enough to carry to the table. It can also slide into the oven when needed.

It may not be big enough to do a traditional 19th century cassoulet, with large hunks of meat and a gallon or so of beans, as one poster complained, but it functions quite well as an "everyday pan" for up to 4 persons. The dimensions of 9 1/2 inches by 3 inches (plus handles) fit the 3 quart capacity into a compact shape, with a rounded bottom for easy stirring.

If you are looking for a versatile "do-it-all" pan, this is a good choice.

Custom cookware for classic French dish
The Cassoulet is a classic French stew which, according to the Larousse Gastronomique is 'A dish, originally from languedoc which consists of haricot beans cooked in a stew pot with prok rinds and seasonings. A garnish of meats, which varies from region to region, and a gratin topping are added in the final stages'

This is a somewhat pricy piece of cookery for something designed to do a particular, somewhat complicated dish. I originally bought it with a gift certificate to a good cookware store because I wanted to be sure I had something both durable and distinctive. I have since found that the size and shape of the pot, aside from the superior All-Clad construction is excellent for both braises and thick gratins, two of my favorite types of dishes. It also happens to be just the right shape for whisking sauces and making baked pasta dishes and casseroles (note the similarity in name) such as macaroni and cheese. It is especially good for dishes where you want it covered...

It's not a saucier but it is handy
I have this pan and use it often and do like it. As far as I can remember it is different than the 3 qt saucier. I recall the saucier having a smaller bottom surface area with more rounded sides. I remember being unimpressed with the saucier for that reason.

I use this for blanching vegetables all the time...it's good for asparagus. Also smaller batches of pasta sauce and smaller type casseroles, mashed potatoes, etc. Overall it's a very nicely sized pan. This pan comes much closer to a true everyday pan then anything else all clad makes. The 10" & 13" "everyday pans" or braisers don't have high enough sides to be very useful IMO.

My dream pan would be very similar to this but larger. Maybe a 4.5 qt version. That would be big enough to make a sauce and add the pasta at the end, also big enough to brown, say 6 pieces of chicken and then braise them in the same pan. Too bad they don't make it. None of their other pans get it right either...if the sides...

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