I purchased this with the 10 pc set and I have to say that this is the pan I use most! I love that it has a domed cover and the helper handle make it so easy to pick this up when there's food in it. The long handle stays cool, the help handle get just a bit warm. As all the Cuisinart covers, the cover handles get hot so use a pad. The best thing about this purchase was the great price and it heats quickly and evenly!

The pan is very nice, although it had a slight defect on the side. However, the packaging for shipment was terrible. The retail box was simply placed in a plastic, unpadded bag to mail. The box arrived crushed, but the heavy pan survived. They should have at least put some extra packing inside the retail box.

I use this skillet for everything. It is great on top of the stove or in the oven. I love the pour spout on the side and the extra lift handle. It looks great even after all I have cooked in it. It cooks evenly and is a good heavy pan. I love it and you will too.

This pan, like all the Cuisinart pans, is my favorite to use when I need a 12" skillet. It's a heavy-duty even-heating pan like it's "sisters and brothers"! If you already have any Chef's Classic pots or pans, the lid that fits on any pan with item number ending in 30 will fit on this pan. (Item number is on the bottom). With all the Chef's Classic pans, you usually don't have to turn the heat up as high as a cheapy pan; instead of high, use medium-high, for example. Also, these pans heat up FAST so watch your food! If anything gets burned-on badly, the pans just need a little soaking (maybe an hour, not overnight). Or, add water to the pan and "boil" the burned-on food off. I also use Barkeepers Friend cleaner to keep them shiny and looking new! Take note: if you've ever purchased a set of Cuisinart from a discount warehouse (i.e. Sam's Club, Cosco) there are not individual pans available that will match your set exactly. I called Cuisinart and found out that particular pan style is available only in sets from discount warehouses. BUT, the Chef's Classic line matches very closely, it's the closest match available.

Even though this pan has the "disc" of aluminum in the base rather than all the way up the sides, it heats very evenly. You can't beat the price. It's big enough to be very versatile for major frying or lighter sautéing. It's also big enough to use a grill for small to medium items.

I do miss having a lid so on those rare occasions where I needed a lid, I just covered it with some aluminum foil. Hokey, I know, but until I purchased another pan for my dishes that need simmering, that was the trick I used.

As long as you watch the heat, cleanup is not too bad. I have rarely had to scrub this pan.

Since it would be great with a lid, I gave it 4 stars. This pan really should not be sold without one.