Calphalon Signature vs Premier: Which is the Best for You?

Once you get into the world of cookware, you will soon realize just how big it is! One cookware brand has so many collections under its belt. Take Calphalon as an example. If you consider this brand, don’t be surprised if there’s a Calphalon Signature VS Premier battle going on!

What’s Calphalon?

If you are looking at different cookware brands, you might come across Calphalon. It’s a brand based in Perrysburg, Ohio, in the United States.

The company was founded nearly 60 years ago, in 1963. Before expanding its cookware and other product lines for home kitchen use, they sold their products to professional kitchens.

In 1968, the founder of the company, Ronald M. Kasperzak invented something that would revolutionize cookware and kitchenware.

He developed hard-anodized aluminum cookware. With this discovery and invention, Calphalon, called Commercial Aluminum Cookware then, expanded its reach.

Today Calphalon is one of the most trusted cookware brands by both professional and home cooks. Whether you are using them for your restaurant or home, there’s a Calphalon cookware item for you.

Calphalon 101: Signature vs Premier

Calphalon has various cookware collections. Two of their most popular collections are called Signature and Premier. Given these options, you might find it difficult to figure out which one you should go for.

Here’s a breakdown of both the Signature and Premier to make things easier for you. Hopefully, it will give you an idea of what they are all about and what makes them different from each other!

Calphalon Signature

Let’s kick things off with the Calphalon Signature. What can this particular line of Calphalon cookware have to offer?

The Materials

When looking at the Calphalon Signature cookware line, you can either get the Stainless Steel or Hard-Anodized Nonstick options.

The Hard-Anodized set is made from three layers of heavy-gauge and hard-anodized aluminum, coupled with additional two layers of stainless steel.

The Stainless Steel set also has multiple layers of aluminum in its core. It is fully-clad metal cookware with three layers of aluminum sandwiched between stainless steel.

With the combination of stainless steel and aluminum for these sets, it’s no surprise that the pots and pans from the Calphalon Signature line have good heat retention and distribution. When cooking, you don’t have to worry about your food cooking poorly.

Surface

While the core materials for both the Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel and Hard-Anodized sets are the same, they differ in surface finish.

The Hard-Anodized pots and pans are non-stick. Due to its non-stick nature, some people might wonder if it’s safe or not. While this is a valid concern, there is nothing to worry about. The surface is coated with a PFOA-free material.

If you have Calphalon Signature’s nonstick hard-anodized cookware, you don’t have to use a lot of oil while cooking. We can’t say the same for Stainless steel sets.

You might need to oil the pans well before cooking, and you have to apply proper techniques to make sure the food does not stick to the surface.

Heat Tolerance

The cookware under Calphalon Signature can withstand high temperatures up to 500°F. However, as with most pots and pans, make sure you monitor how high the heat is, or else you risk damaging your cookware.

You can use both the Stainless Steel and Hard-Anodized non-stick options on electric, gas, and glass stovetops. You can, however, use the stainless steel cookware in the oven.

Durability

Every single time you buy pots and pans, think of how long they can last. If you have Calphalon Signature, that won’t be a problem. The cookware line has been built to last. Due to their construction and nature, you will be able to use the cookware for a very long time.

Apart from the durability of the materials, how long a piece of cookware lasts depends on how you take care of it. The great thing about Calphalon Signature is it’s dishwasher safe.

There are some cookware brands out there that you can’t wash in the dishwasher. If you are washing the Calphalon Signature cookware manually, make sure you don’t overdo it. Any residue left on the surface of the Calphalon Signature would be easy to clean.

Calphalon Premier

Another popular offering from Calphalon is their Premier collection. What makes this line special, and what can you get from it?

Core Materials

When it comes to cookware, the core materials matter. The cookware pieces from the Calphalon Premier are made from durable materials that can last for a long time.

There are two options under the Calphalon Premier line. The first one is the Calphalon Premier Stainless Steel set. The exterior part and the handle are made from stainless steel.

However, its core is made up of three layers of aluminum. The aluminum core is perfect for different types of cooking, including browning, sauteing, searing, and so much more. It’s because this metal can distribute heat evenly.

The second option is the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware. The pieces under this line have a 3-layer nonstick interior made of Hard Anodized Aluminum.

The handles are of Brushed Stainless Steel. As this is also made of Aluminum, the distribution of heat is also pretty good.

Space Saving

One of the most distinctive features of the Calphalon Premier collection is its space-saving property. Just think of this line as the cookware version of the Russian nesting dolls.

If you get a couple of pieces from the collection, you can stack and nest them together. This is one feature that other cookware sets don’t have.

You can save about 30% of space if you stack them together. If you have limited storage spaces in your kitchen, the pots and pans from this line would be perfect.

Surface Coating

As its name suggests, you would automatically know the kind of surface the Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware has.

For some people, a cookware’s surface is very important. And anyone who is looking for nonstick ones would not be disappointed with Calphalon Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware.

With its three-layer nonstick interior, it’s perfectly safe for you to use metal utensils. You don’t have to worry about damaging the pan if you opt to use such kinds of utensils.

Safe Temperatures

Cooking involves high temperatures. However, there are some cookware out there that are not as receptive to high heat. It’s not the case with the Calphalon Premier.

The Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware and Stainless Steel are compatible with various stovetops. You can use them in the oven for up to 450F.

And as the pans and pots can be extremely hot after cooking, do not wash them as soon as you remove them from the heat. Wait for them to cool down before cleaning.

Lifetime Warranty

The brand has a Lifetime Warranty program, and it covers pieces from the Calphalon Premier line.

If you know how to handle and care for your Calphalon Premier, whether made of Hard-Anodized Nonstick Aluminum or Stainless Steel, you will be able to use them for as long as possible.

You can reach out to the company in case of defects. If they find something wrong with the workmanship or material upon assessment, they will gladly replace the Calphalon Premier item.

Should I Get The Signature Or The Premier?

Before shopping for any of Calphalon’s products, you should think about what you want and need in your kitchen. You should also think about whether they would fit into your home kitchen.

Perhaps one of the deciding factors is the price. You should go for the Signature collection if you are willing to shell out a little bit more.

While the prices of the pieces from the Premier collection aren’t cheap either, they cost a little bit less than the Signature ones. It’s because of the construction.

If you compare them, the Signature pieces have a 5-ply w/ 3-layer aluminum core. The Premier ones are 3-ply w/ aluminum core.

If you plan to get a 10-piece set from the Signature collection, then you need to be ready to spend more. However, don’t let the prices intimate you at all.

Calphalon guarantees that you would get your money’s worth. The stainless steel pieces from Signature are made in the USA while the Hard-Anodized Nonstick Aluminum are from China.

If you are looking for variety, then you should check out the pieces from the Premier collection. It has more pieces and sets compared to Signature. These are made in China. If you want a one-stop shop for your cookware, then you should consider Calphalon Premier

There’s A Calphalon For You

Choosing cookware should not be a difficult matter. The whole Calphalon Signature VS Premier thing should be a reminder that when it comes to cookware, you have plenty of options. It’s just a matter of choosing the ones that fit your kitchen and cooking style the most!