Calphalon Unison Sear Nonstick 5-Quart Dutch Oven Set

A useful addition to any cookware collection, this 5-quart Dutch oven, which measures 16-1/2 by 15-1/2 by 11-1/2 inches, offers a spacious interior that easily accommodates a hearty batch of vegetarian stew, lentil soup, or Texas-style chili. Use it for cooking up the main course when hosting a dinner party or transport it to a potluck or picnic on a beautiful summer afternoon. Accessories include a black-and-white towel and a nylon stirring/serving spoon. The towel comes treated with an anti-microbial agent, which inhibits the growth of bacterial odors and helps prevent deterioration caused by mildew. The nylon spoon resists heat up to 400 degrees F and offers an easy-grip, stay-cool, soft-touch silicone handle with a hole at the end for convenient hanging storage. The set also makes a great gift idea for bridal showers or housewarming parties.

Constructed from heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum, the cookware heats quickly and evenly (no hot spots to worry about), plus it provides a specially textured Sear nonstick interior, which prevents food from sticking without the need for excess butter or oils. In addition to effortless food release, the Sear nonstick coating helps seal in flavor, offering restaurant-quality results for foods such as steak, pork chops, summer vegetables, and more. To protect the nonstick cooking surface, be sure to only use nylon, coated, or wooden utensils. Oven-safe up to 500 degrees F, the cookware supplies a domed, tempered-glass cover--complete with a stainless-steel rim and riveted handle--that helps retain heat, moisture, and nutrients, plus allows for checking on cooking food at a glance. The oven's stainless-steel side handles come riveted for strength and stay cool to the touch on the stovetop. When finished, the cookware cleans up easily by hand or in the dishwasher and carries a limited lifetime warranty.

Customer Comments
I've been using Calphalon cookware for about 20 years. Some of my pieces are pretty worn out and frankly, I was getting a bit tired of always having to wash them by hand. I have Professional Nonstick, Commercial Nonstick, Copper Triply, Stainless Triply, One, etc. etc. etc. Overall my pots and pans have served me very well and have taken an enormous amount of abuse. I lived in Mexico for several years and they came with me then and back again. I used to cook for 10-12 people every day, so they got a lot of use. I hadn't been too tempted to retire my old workhorses, especially since the newer Calphalon lines were far from great. I HATED the new 'commercial' nonstick that I bought a few months ago. The pans were lighter and flimsy. I saw the ads for Unison and was intrigued. Not so thrilled with the prices, but Amazon's great for comparison shopping. I got this little set on Kitchen Kapers for [...], a bargain indeed. And 100% dishwasher-safe? YES!!! So....Sear and Slide, huh? One of the biggest drawbacks to nonstick cookware is the lack of 'stickiness' necessary to achieve a truly great sear on meats and other foods. Does this new Sear stuff work? Last night I made my favorite pot roast recipe in this cute little 5 quart Dutch Oven. It's just big enough to make a braise for 2-4, a 3 pound chuck roast fit in it just right. Did it sear better than my other pots? Marginally. It did sear just fine, but so do my other dutch ovens. I refuse to put out a couple hundred dollars for LC and then have to hire someone to lift the thing off the stove for me. Does it create the classic 'fond' so loved by foodies? Nope. But then I've never really needed one to make fabulous food, either. It's a tossup. This little oven worked just great on top of the stove and in the oven. The only drawback to the entire line that I can see so far is that the lids do not fit well at all, they slide around too easily, allowing steam to escape and cause a burn hazard, as well as the potential to burn a pot dry. I double sealed the lid with parchment when I used it, but still feel that my braise came out drier than usual. I also have the 'covered omelet' (strange configuration) and its lid is just as loose. A bit disappointing, but overall, taking into consideration the new 'rougher' nonstick surface and the ability to wash it in the dishwasher, this line deserves a solid 4 1/2 stars, as long as you can get them for [...] or less.