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To realize your full culinary potential, you&#;ll want a full set of great cookware. You can build a set yourself, but researching the best pots and pan sets takes time. And piecemealing a set costs way more money than buying one (especially if it's an affordable cookware set. But finding the perfect cookware set is complicated, too.
We've spent years testing dozens of the most popular pot and pan sets around, and our current favorite is the GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set (available at Amazon) . With everything from skillets to a stock pot with a steamer insert, it's everything a home cook needs. And despite being a nonstick set, it's made with PFAS-free ceramic materials and boasts a durable build.
Our former top pick, the Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Set (available at Amazon), is still a great option, and our favorite value pick.
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Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
The GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set includes all the essentials for home cooks.
Best Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set
GreenPan was the first company to produce ceramic nonstick pans, and they have dozens of cookware sets to choose from. We tested the 11-piece Valencia Pro set because of its ceramic nonstick coating and variety of useful pieces.
Some of the premium nonstick sets we tested were skimpy on pieces, but not this one. You get seven well-built pots and pans, plus lids and pan protectors to separate skillets in storage. The nonstick properties are top-notch&#;you won't need to use much oil when cooking in them. And the pans include small details that we appreciated, like rounded, stay-cool handles and well-fitting lids.
Plus, a ceramic nonstick coating means you don't have to worry about certain chemicals present in traditional nonstick cookware.
Sears well
Cleans easily
Durable
Induction-comaptible
Edges show wear over years of use
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
This Cuisinart cookware set is the best choice for top stainless steel cookware on a budget.
Best Value Cookware Set
The Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Set is our former pick for the best cookware set overall. It offers incredible performance at a great value.
The medium-sized sauté pan comfortably fit four chicken thighs and seared each one to perfection. The large stockpot is well-sized for making soup, cooking pasta, or blanching vegetables. Plus it's dishwasher-safe for an added bonus.
In addition to their performance and quality, these pans are easy to use. The triple-ply construction conducts heat excellently.
The anodized aluminum core makes them light enough handle easily. It&#;s a fraction of the cost of our new top pick, and big retailers often put it on sale. That made it a no-brainer for our Best Value pick.
The set includes everything you need to cook a meal. And all pieces include comfortable handles and a nicely-balanced design that's easy to hold.
Great value
Easy to use
Sears meat perfectly
Nothing we could find
Credit: Reviewed / Jill Bernardini
The All Clad cookware set is the best stainless steel set we've tested.
Best Stainless-steel Cookware Set
The All-Clad D3 Everyday Stainless-steel set exceeded all of our testing expectations during testing. Its ultra-durable tri-ply construction and wide cooking surface area yielded excellent results in the kitchen. Plus, the handles make for comfortable maneuverability and stayed cool during the cooking process.
The set includes a wide range of shapes and sizes to fully stock any kitchen and deliver on a wide range of recipes.
We appreciate the inclusion of interchangeable lids. They are tight fitting and contain double rivets, which yields even cooking in rice and braises. Plus, each pot and pan is oven-safe up to 600°F, and they're all induction-compatible.
Given its price point, this stainless-steel set is a great choice for anyone willing to invest in something that will last for years.
Read the full All-Clad D3 Everyday set review
Distributes heat evenly
Durable build
Easy to handle
Lid handles can overheat
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Our favorite nonstick cookware is the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set.
Best Traditional Nonstick Cookware Set
If you&#;re specifically after a great nonstick set, the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set has your back.
It aced our tests in style with a sleek, black finish and shiny metal handles. The handles are long enough to create a perfect balance with each pan. And All-Clad&#;s signature concave shape makes them super comfortable to hold.
The pans are a little heavier, because they&#;re well-built with durable, heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum. All-Clad also coats them with three layers of PFOA-free nonstick material. This creates a slick finish that helps the food release easily.
They perform well, too. The lid fit tightly onto the saucepots, trapping steam inside to create some of the best rice in the testing group. We were also impressed at how crispy our chicken skin became. This set creates a hard sear most nonsticks can&#;t touch.
Put it all together, and this set became the clear choice for anyone who prefers nonstick. Our only major complaint was the pans don&#;t nest very well, making storage more difficult.
This hard-anodized nonstick set seems expensive at first glance. However, its wide variety of pots and pans makes it worth every penny.
Lids fit tightly
Easy to clean
Durable build
Heavy
Hard to store
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
HexClad cookware was the best hybrid cookware set we've tested.
Best Hybrid Cookware Set
These pans differ from most nonstick options. They can&#;t cook an egg without oil, for instance. But they heat up quickly and evenly like nonstick should, and they exhibit nonstick properties when seasoned and used with a little cooking oil. The tough, laser-etched hexagon top holds its own against metal utensils, unlike most nonstick.
Our chicken thighs had some of the most even, gorgeous searing of any skillet we&#;ve used. Cleanup is easy because any build-up wipes away easily with a paper towel.
The pans feature tri-ply construction (like multi-clad stainless steel pans), but they&#;re significantly lighter. We could toss vegetables with ease, and the ergonomic, rounded handles felt great to use. The saucepans also have a bowl-like shape on the interior. That makes it much easier to stir into the edges and keep sauces from burning.
This set is not inexpensive, but whether you&#;re building a starter kitchen or refreshing, it has everything you need. Plus, the inclusion of a magnetic layer makes them compatible with induction cooktops.
Read the full HexClad Cookware Set review
Suitable for high-temperature cooking
Reliably nonstick
Oven-safe, dishwasher-safe, metal-utensil-safe
Frequent staining after high temperature cooking
Heavier weight with bulky handles
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
We were impressed by the exceptional performance of the Hestan NanoBond 10-piece cookware set.
Best Upgrade Cookware Set
While we know every shopper can't justify the price, Hestan's NanoBond is exceptional and worth the dough if you have it.
It&#;s gorgeous to look at, feels good in the hand, and offers the kind of performance you&#;d expect at this price. This includes even heating, steady simmering, and lack of burning at the bottom or in the corners.
Nanobond bonds thousands of titanium-based nanolayers to its cookware&#;s stainless-steel surfaces. They claim this makes it 400% stronger than traditional stainless steel, and more resistant to staining and scratching. These pieces can even take heat up to °F!
This line offers just about every performance and ease-of-use feature you could ever want.
Read the full Hestan NanoBond Titanium Ultimate Set review.
Beautiful
Distributes heat evenly
Very durable&#;heat resistant up to °F
Very expensive
Requires polishing
This comprehensive set includes all the basics for everyday cooking&#;whether you're cooking for yourself or a crowd. The interior is made from a PFAS-free nonstick ceramic coating. Ninja claims its durable enough to withstand five years of regular use.
And during testing, we were impressed. This cookware boasts a slick nonstick interior that releases delicate eggs and sticky sauces with minimal oil and effort. It also heats evenly and withstands temperatures up to 550°F.
This means we achieved an even sear in this pan and even use it to bake foods in the oven without worry of it harming the pan. Plus, each piece of cookware is easy to maneuver, thanks to the comfortable handles and lightweight design.
To get the most longevity out of these pans, the brand recommends avoiding putting this set in the dishwasher. We also found that the handles' ergonomic design means they're also susceptible to dirt build-up.
But keeping up with appropriate cleaning means this set is worth adding to your kitchen&#;especially given its price point.
Read the full Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-Piece Cookware Set review
Consistently nonstick without PFAS
Lightweight, well-made, and durable
Dishwasher and oven safe
A larger mid-size pot would be ideal
Handles can get dirty easily
Made In cookware provides restaurant-quality cookware through a direct-to-consumer model. Its design makes it more accessible to the average consumer. During testing, we could confirm that these pots and pans made us feel like pros.
The durable, ultra-slick interior easily released everything from eggs to sausages with minimal effort. And thanks to the 5-ply construction and stainless-clad core, these pieces retain heat better than most nonstick cookware we&#;ve tested. They also sear well for nonstick pans.
Unfortunately, that multi-layer construction that makes for efficient heating also results in a heavy build. We struggled to flip veggies and eggs in the frying pan due to its weight. And the narrow handles also forced us into a bit of a learning curve. But the more we used these pots and pans, the easier we found ourselves handling them.
Read the full Made In cookware set review
Slick, nonstick interior
Great for searing
Attractive design
Heavy build
Limited items in the set
Hestan ProBond is great-looking and high-performing cookware, similarly priced with stainless steel cookware sets from All-Clad. While not as durable as the NanoBond line, these pieces are similarly well-constructed. The set offers even heating, flush rivets, and a good weight.
The 10-piece set offers a solid assortment of basics at a better price than buying individual pieces. You can supplement your set with ProBond nonstick skillets, but you&#;ll have to look to another brand for a Dutch oven.
Beautiful
Distributes heat evenly
Comprehensive set
Expensive
Requires polishing
There's a lot to love about this gorgeous stainless steel cookware set. Made In's signature stainless-clad material consists of five layers of materials. This includes aluminum alloy in the center, then two layers of pure aluminum, followed by a layer of pure stainless steel on the interior. Lastly, high-grade ferritic steel on the exterior protects it from corrosion.
This unique design makes for impressive cookware that heats quickly and evenly. Every test we threw at it&#;from boiling water to shallow frying to searing chicken thighs&#;impressed us. We were wowed by the even heat retention and stay-cool handles. And the provided lids do a fantastic job of keeping heat and moisture locked in.
But similar to its nonstick counterparts, these pots and pans are heavy. Don't expect to easily toss veggies and stir-frys with the flick of your wrist&#;at least not without a learning curve.
No hot spots
Evenly distributes heat
Beautiful design
Heavy
For an inexpensive nonstick set, look no further than the T-Fal C561SC Titanium Advanced Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set. Like most nonstick cookware, it&#;s easier to clean than regular pans, especially after frying.
While pans with nonstick coatings will rarely rival stainless steel for searing meat, this set performed admirably. It cooked eggs perfectly without requiring any extra oil, and the saucepots simmered sauces and cooked rice without scorching. To top it all off, the stockpot boiled water faster than any others in our test group. The pans heat quickly and evenly, and the padded handles stay cool.
This nonstick set covers all the bases and includes some extras.
Cooked eggs and simmered sauces perfectly
Fast water-boiling speed
Comfortable, padded handles
Can't sear meat as well as a stainless set
Included in the set: 1.5- and 3-quart saucepots with lids, 8.5-quart stockpot with lid, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 8.5-skillet, 12-inch skillet with lid
Material: Hard-anodized aluminum
This Advanced Home 11-Piece Cookware Set from Anolon blows its predecessor out of the water.
This upgraded version has an enhanced nonstick finish that performed much better on our tests. The eggs flipped with ease, and the rice simmered perfectly without browning or sticking to the bottom of the pan. We also loved the soft, ergonomic handles, and were thrilled when they didn&#;t get hot after extended use.
On the flip side, the pans didn&#;t heat as evenly as multi-clad stainless steel. They also struggle to produce a hard sear on the chicken thighs. Still, if you want a nonstick pan set, this one won&#;t disappoint.
Food doesn&#;t stick
Easy to clean
Comfortable handles
Doesn&#;t heat evenly
Doesn&#;t sear as well as stainless
If the aesthetic of the Caraway Cookware Set doesn&#;t make you want to buy it, the attention to detail may convince you. The set comes with four pans, three lids, and two specially designed storage pieces. The modular racks house the pans on their side so they&#;ll easily fit inside a cabinet. And the genius canvas lid holder can hang on the inside of the door.
The pans&#; performance absolutely met our expectations. The lid features a small hole to allow steam to escape, producing some of the better rice in the group. It also passed our nonstick tests, allowing eggs to slide around without any cooking oil.
That said, the set lost some points because it doesn&#;t contain a full array of pots and pans, despite the high price tag. And we have noticed consumer reports of serious damage and wear-and-tear after months of usage.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of custom pots and pans. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Read the full Caraway Cookware review
Beautiful appearance
Easy to store
Includes a Dutch oven
Doesn't offer a variety of cookware sizes
All-Clad is well known for top-of-the-line (and expensive) cookware. The All-Clad BD-R D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded 10-Piece Cookware Set is no exception. These 5-ply, bonded stainless-steel pans offer superior heat distribution and performance. However, a few shortcomings pushed them down in the ranks.
First, the very hefty price tag is hard to swallow. The heavy material makes it harder to flip vegetables or pour out contents. The straight, stainless steel handle design doesn&#;t help either, throwing off the balance and making you really feel the weight of each pan.
That said, if you&#;re willing to shell out the money this stainless steel set will last a lifetime.
Superior heat distribution
Long-lasting
Hefty price tag
Too heavy
Straight-handle design
If you regularly make large amounts of soup, consider buying the 12-piece cookware set from Tramontina. It&#;s the only set that came with a 12-quart stockpot. That's overkill for boiling pasta or blanching vegetables, but perfect for larger batch recipes.
The wide handles were comfortable to hold, and the tri-ply construction provided even heating. This results in perfect sears in chicken breasts and scorch-free sauces.
You&#;ll get some larger-sized pots and pans with this set for a great price. (But if you&#;re looking for small 1-quart saucepans, this isn&#;t the set for you.) The roomier pans are nice, giving you more space to cook larger quantities while still fitting on a standard range top.
Even heating
Large enough
Roomier pans
Lacks smaller pans
Each pan in the Circulon Symmetry Black 11-Piece Cookware Set has raised, concentric circles on the nonstick surface. However these ridges came to be a Circulon signature trait, they definitely work to keep food from sticking to the pan.
In addition to acing the nonstick tests, the Circulon pans performed well overall. The main exception is that the tall-and-skinny stockpot took the longest in the group to boil water. Overall, these were some of the more comfortable pans we used, with well-thought-out, padded handles and nicely balanced weight.
Food doesn't stick
Comfortable handles
Boils water slowly
From a performance perspective, we really liked the pans included in the Great Jones Family Style Set. The small nonstick pan is one of our favorites. We love the measurements etched into the side of the saucepan for easy measuring. Its handles weld to the pans, which makes cleanup so much easier than scrubbing around traditional rivets.
The pans passed our tests with flying colors, but the set itself doesn&#;t contain all the items we consider essential. For example, we&#;d really like to see a small saucepot and a 12-inch skillet in the mix.
The price seems high for a set that&#;s missing so many pieces. That said, it does include a Dutch oven, which is a big selling point.
Includes a Dutch oven
Distributes heat evenly
Easy to clean
Doesn&#;t include several essential pieces
Handles get very hot
Unfortunately, there&#;s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pot or pan. Each cooking task requires a specific size. You wouldn&#;t want to boil pasta in a 1-quart saucepot because it won&#;t fit. It also wouldn&#;t make sense to cook a cup of oatmeal in an 8-quart pot.
Cookware companies try to anticipate your needs by providing a variety of sizes in their sets. Considering your own cooking style can help you determine what&#;s important to you in a set. Your favorite foods determine which pieces of cookware to prioritize. Whether you cook for yourself or a group can affect how many pieces you need.
We recommend a set with at least two saucepots, one large stockpot, a small fry pan, and a large skillet. (All oven-safe, of course.) Anything extra, like being dishwasher-safe, is a bonus.
Most sets come with a lid for every saucepan, stockpot, and sauté pan. Sets often count these lids as pieces to increase the count. The above set would have five pots and pans, but will be called an 8-piece set.
While we&#;re on the topic, try to look for metal lids. Yes, that means you can&#;t see what&#;s going on inside the pot, but glass lids always fog up anyway. Metal lids will never drop and shatter, giving them a longer lifespan than the glass variety.
Credit: Reviewed / Jill Bernardini
We ran these cookware sets through multiple recipe tests, including searing chicken thighs.
Similar to sizing, there's no one-size-fits all when it comes to cookware materials. Each variety comes with its own set of pros and cons. It all depends to what you prioritize and are most comfortable with in the kitchen.
Stainless steel is great for searing meat, leaving behind those delicious food bits that make the perfect start to a pan sauce. It won&#;t affect the taste of your food, and it heats up quickly.
Stainless steel cookware also tends to last longer than nonstick. Unfortunately, it&#;s harder to clean. Also, without help from an aluminum core, it doesn&#;t distribute heat as evenly.
Here's more on how to cook with stainless steel&#;successfully.
Nonstick cookware is great for beginners. It&#;s affordable, easy to cook with, easy to wipe down and maintain, and has fewer hot spots. However, nonstick shouldn&#;t go in the dishwasher, and scratches more easily.
Some nonstick chemicals like PFOA and PTFE (Teflon) may also be harmful. When they degrade due to chipping or excessive use of high heat, they may flake into your food or release fumes. Other materials like hard-anodized aluminum or ceramic present safer nonstick options.
Ceramic cookware can mean either genuine ceramics or aluminum with a silicone finish.
The ceramic coating is nonstick but without any harmful chemicals. They can be eco-friendly to produce and more affordable than stainless steel. Plus, they handle high heat well and offer a variety of colors.
Ceramic shares some of nonstick&#;s drawbacks, however. It won&#;t last as long as stainless steel or cast iron cookware, and the nonstick abilities will fade in time. They should also never go into the dishwasher.
Aluminum cookware comes in regular (lightweight, affordable) and anodized (a little more durable). Aluminum can be easy to handle, and heats up well. However, regular aluminum can wear out quickly, and may react with some foods.
Anodized aluminum solves aluminum&#;s problems. Unfortunately, it costs more and doesn&#;t heat up as fast as raw aluminum.
Carbon steel offers similar heat retention and searing to cast iron. Ironically, it has less carbon than cast iron, making it thinner, lighter, and relatively nonstick.
The downsides? You have to keep it seasoned, it&#;s not dishwasher safe, and it may react with more acidic foods. Depending on the construction, the handles may get hot. You tend to see carbon steel in restaurants more than homes, but there&#;s no reason you can&#;t put it in your kitchen, if you want.
Cast iron is a classic for a reason. It&#;s heavy-duty, old-fashioned, and incredibly durable. Cast iron can help bring out the best flavors in whatever you cook in it. Expect great heat retention and even heating
On the other hand, it&#;s about the heaviest cookware you can get, making it hard to handle. It&#;s also high maintenance. You need to season it, and cooking acidic foods can strip the seasoning.
You also need to maintain it carefully to avoid damage and rust. Here's more on how to clean a cast-iron skillet.
All of that said, it's smart to have a mixture of cookware materials to reach for for everyday use.
Stainless steel is essential if you're looking for long-lasting cookware, especially for tasks that don't call for a nonstick surface&#;like boiling pasta water and simmering tomato sauce. This type of cookware is typically dishwasher-safe and doesn't call for any regular seasoning, like cast iron or carbon steel, making it low maintenance. It's also great for searing meat, since it can reach high temperatures and go from stovetop to oven when needed.
Nonstick pans are also important to keep on hand, because cooking delicate foods like eggs and pancakes without a helpful nonstick coating can be difficult, especially for beginners.
And a trusty cast-iron skillet is always good to have because it's incredibly sturdy and churns out unmatched cooking results when it comes to searing flavorful burgers and steaks. It can also benefit from nonstick properties when it's been properly seasoned, but it comes with more heft and a laborious upkeep.
Credit: Reviewed /Lindsay D. Mattison
We cooked a complete meal using multiple pots and pans to help determine each set's performance.
After selecting over a dozen top-rated cookware sets, we cook a multi-component meal using each set.
To function in everyday life, pots and pans should be sized properly to cook dinner for one. We also want to know if you could easily cook a larger meal (like Thanksgiving dinner) using each set.
To earn our seal of approval, at least two saucepans, one sauté pan, and a stock pot have to fit on a standard cooktop range at the same time.
We design the tests to evaluate performance, ease of use, and value. We sear chicken thighs in the sauté pan and toss vegetables in the skillets.
We also simmer sauces and cook rice in the saucepots. Lastly, we blanch vegetables in the stockpot. If the set came with nonstick gear, we fry a few eggs without oil to see how well the coating works.
Finally, we monitor for any noticeable hotspots. We also conduct a taste test to see if one set made a tastier meal than the others. None of the products completely failed, but we did have a few favorites.
Over the past two years, our Lab's dedicated test kitchen has tested 131 sets, including stainless steel , ceramic , and nonstick cookware. We put each set through its paces, using the pots and pans for a variety of everyday tasks. In the first half of , we re-evaluated our previous selections, while also testing newly released models and additional categories. We stand by our current recommendations and will continue to try out new cookware sets as they are released. We've also tested some sets long-term in the kitchens of our experienced at-home testers.
To help us determine the best, we've seared, cooked, sautéd, and more on the top-rated cookware sets, some of them multiple times, to see how well they really perform.
You can get away with only owning a pot and a skillet, but for most people, you'll need a full array of cookware to get by in life. When you're searching for the best cookware to outfit your kitchen, there are some advantages to buying a complete set. First, a set can be less expensive than buying individual pieces, so you&#;ll save money. Second, different cookware materials can behave differently on the stove, but when all your cookware is the same, you&#;ll be familiar with how they heat up and respond to temperature changes.
The price is reasonable considering the number of pieces, the versatility, and the fact that it can last for generations. The pieces are pre-seasoned so you can use them right out of the box, although, additional seasoning and continued cooking will make the slip of the surface even better&#;all our baked goods flipped right out after the pans were well-seasoned.
While cast iron is slower to heat up than aluminum or stainless steel, these pans retain heat extremely well. This makes the set great for braising, baking, and searing meat. When cooking on the stovetop, be sure to turn down the heat a little when your pan comes to temperature, or you risk it being too hot.
We used the 8-inch skillet for a frittata that browned nicely on the bottom, and then we put it under the broiler to finish cooking with no worries about damaging the cookware. It flipped right out with no sticking. The larger skillet is perfect for braising chicken thighs. The griddle does a great job with pizza, bread, and buns. We used the Dutch oven to make bread, boil potatoes, and bake beans.
Cast iron is incredibly durable, so you can use these pans on the stove, in the oven, under the broiler, on the grill, and even over a campfire. With both 8-inch and 10.25-inch skillets, a 5-quart Dutch oven, plus a 10.5-inch griddle, this minimal set is functional for everyday cooking, and it performed extremely well in testing.
It is recommended that you wash these pieces by hand, keeping in mind the care required to maintain the nonstick surface . While the coating held up during home testing, we did notice that it was less effective over time, as is typical with most nonstick cookware.
This set has an excellent nonstick performance with its ceramic coating, including when a fried egg slid off the pan easily. The pans efficiently conduct heat, but they also tend to run hot, which could potentially be a problem for foods that require slower, even heating, like long braises or stews. On the plus side, they are fairly lightweight and easy to maneuver, and would work well for someone who wants an affordable, well-curated set made with ceramic nonstick. You'll just have to be careful with sharp utensils, as they could damage the slick coating,
Made from hard-anodized aluminum, the cookware is responsive to heat changes while the stainless steel handles stay cool during cooking. The included lids are glass, so you can check on the food without releasing the heat, and the handles are generously sized, so they&#;re easy to grab and hold.
Sturdy, riveted stainless steel handles give you secure handling, and the entire pot is ovenproof up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Hand washing is required for these gorgeous pieces, and some additional upkeep is necessary if you prefer a shiny look versus the patina finish that will develop over time.
We found that this set excels in heat distribution. For instance, tomato sauce developed an even simmer throughout after a few minutes. Due to the copper, our infrared thermometer detected consistent temperature through the bottom and center of the pan while the walls stayed a bit cooler. Though the frying pans require oil to make a fried egg without sticking, the resulting egg was delightfully even and beautifully cooked.
The hammered copper exterior of this classic French-style cookware set from Lagostina is absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it also serves a greater purpose: Copper heats five times better than cast iron and up to twenty times better than stainless steel. This exceptional heat conduction spreads heat faster and more evenly than other types of material, giving you better responsiveness when trying to control the temperature of your pan.
Throughout testing, we noted the balanced feel of the pots and pans, though they do feel a little on the lower quality side compared to the higher-end sets. But the overall value of having a full set of cookware plus utensils trumps that, especially if you're a newer cook who isn't quite ready to commit to a more expensive set.
We were also pleasantly surprised to see how evenly the pans distributed heat, though they do tend to run hot. The nonstick surface makes these easy to clean by hand, though you might have to pay extra attention to around the handle rivets to scrub away any food particles that may have gotten stuck.
This lightweight, nonstick 15-piece set offers great performance and includes all the necessary pieces while staying within a budget. We found that rice pilaf and sauce turned out beautifully with nothing left behind in the pan. When using the 10-inch frying pan to make an omelet, it rolled smoothly out of the pan, though some did get stuck in the rivets for the handle. Fried eggs and scrambled eggs also slid very easily off the nonstick surface in our second round of testing.
The unique handles stay cool, though some might find the groove slightly uncomfortable. You should also be aware that the 5-ply construction translates to heavier cookware. While this set is definitely not cheap, you get what you pay for with All-Clad&#;it's a set of cookware you won't have to replace for years, if ever.
Our testing proved that these pans are excellent for high-heat cooking, like searing meats and sautéing vegetables. The thick construction does mean that it takes a few moments to heat up than thinner pots, the heat does eventually spread to the edges of the pan and provides steady, even heating during cooking. We did notice a bit of scorching while simmering tomato sauce and browning mirepoix, but gently stirring every so often should help avoid any hot spots as the pan heats up.
When it comes to high-quality cookware, All-Clad has built a reputation of trust among amateur and professional cooks alike. The d5 series is made of five alternating layers of stainless steel and aluminum for durability and optimum heat distribution and is built to last.
Throughout our testing, we've been very impressed by how quickly this set heats up, and how evenly it distributes and retains that heat. The heavy-duty pans have a good thickness and weight to them, with one tester stating, "this feels like professional cookware." We did notice some food getting caught around the interior rivets, but overall, the nonstick coating performs outstandingly and the cleanup was short and sweet. The extra-long stainless-steel handles can get hot to the touch, so be sure to use a mitt when cooking.
Made of hard-anodized aluminum (a process that makes it very durable), this Calphalon set has been one of our favorites for years. This 10-piece set is a bit pricey, but it has everything you need and, since it's so durable, it'll be years before the coating wears out. It's tough enough that it's safe for the rare metal utensil to be used while cooking.
Unlike other cookware sets on the market, this one comes with a magnetic pan rack and a canvas lid holder that can be attached to the inside of your cabinets for convenient storage . They are oven- and dishwasher-safe, although hand washing is recommended to keep them looking their best (most foods will glide off with a little soap and warm water).
Every time we've tested this, Caraway proves that it is more than just a pretty cookware set. These pieces display controlled and even heat distribution, giving a subtle sear to meats and a gentle buildup of color on sauteed onions without scorching. In our tests, the nonstick surface demonstrates its ability to evenly cook eggs without sticking, and it also makes cleanup seamless each and every time. The pots and pans are generously sized and perfect for large-batch recipes, though we do wish there were one more small fry pan included for quick, small tasks. (You can get one separately , though.) The handles do get hot when in use, but that's nothing an oven mitt or kitchen towel can't help with.
This 7-piece cookware set from direct-to-consumer brand Caraway is the perfect blend of performance and design. The selection is thoughtfully curated, and each set is available in a variety of stylish hues with a modern silhouette that looks great on any stovetop.
A few of us did find the pots to be a little unbalanced, with the weight focused on the center of the pot. We also repeatedly noticed that the set doesn't stack easily for storage. Regardless, it's a great set to have, with an 8-piece and a 12-piece version if you need more or less pans, all coming with a lifetime warranty.
We've cooked everything from delicate scallops and omelets to boiling water for pasta, and every tester has noted how well it heats up, browning food perfectly which included leaving a great crust on seared steak. The handles are very ergonomic, though they can get a bit warm to the touch when over high heat. This cookware even survived our warp test&#;if you accidentally place a hot fry pan in cold water, it shouldn't be damaged at all. A few times during testing, fond got a little too burnt-on which led to a few swipes with a steel wool, but overall, the set cleaned up nicely.
This Tramontina cookware set proves that you can get amazingly great pots and pans for an affordable price. Made from 18/10 stainless steel, each piece has an aluminum core that distributes the heat evenly, and they're all magnetic so you can use them on any induction cooktop. We've tested this line three times, and each time it performs better than the last.
The Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 10-Piece Stainless Steel Set is our top choice for overall design, performance, and versatility. Looking for a more stylish option? We also love the Caraway Cookware Set.
The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Causey
About Our Testers
The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Causey
Other Options We Tested
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
What To Look for in a Cookware Set
Material
Material is the first thing to consider when buying cookware since it affects both the price and the performance. Most cookware is made from some type of metal, with stainless steel, aluminum, and copper being the most common. And it's not unusual to find cookware made from two or more materials.
The type of material the cookware is made from will dictate the way it's maintained. Some materials are more finicky than others, and when it comes to cookware performance, different metals react differently when heated. From copper which is super responsive, to cast iron which retains heat extremely well, each metal has its own special heating property.
Responsive metals gain and lose heat rapidly as you adjust the stove temperature. That responsiveness is desirable when cooking foods that can overcook quickly, like homemade crepes. It&#;s also useful for making jam or candy when it&#;s important to stop the cooking process at a specific temperature. Cast iron retains heat well, which means that it stays hot for a long time, even after the stove is turned off, and it also heats evenly, so you won&#;t get hot spots above the burners. Stainless steel and aluminum fall between copper and cast iron in terms of heat retention and responsiveness.
Coatings
Traditional and ceramic nonstick interior coatings prevent your eggs from sticking and make cleaning easier, while uncoated cookware tends to be better for searing meats and for handling high heat on the stove and in the oven. While anodizing isn&#;t technically a coating, it creates a hard outer surface on aluminum cookware that looks attractive and resists stains and corrosion. Cast-iron cookware can have an enamel coating so it doesn&#;t need seasoning the way that uncoated cast iron does. Coated cast iron is resistant to corrosion and can handle acidic foods with ease. The downside to any coating is that it can be damaged, which can render the pan useless.
Size
When it comes to cookware sets, size always makes a big difference. A small frying pan is great for cooking one or two eggs, while a large stockpot is exactly what you need for cooking large batches of soup stock. There&#;s no right or wrong answer when it comes to the perfect combination of cookware sizes. It just depends on how many people you're trying to cook for, and what you'll need for regular cooking. At the very least, a fry pan or skillet, a saucepan, and a stockpot or Dutch oven will all be handy in the kitchen.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Accessories and Warranties
When selecting the perfect set, it&#;s important to consider what you cook and in what quantities. A small frying pan may be perfect for a single person, but much less useful for a family. If a set is almost perfect but is missing a piece, most manufacturers sell open stock cookware, so you can get that huge stock pot or grill pan you&#;ve been coveting.
Some sets do include valuable extras, like steamers, pasta inserts, double boilers, or frying inserts that fit specific cookware pieces in the set. When you&#;re buying a set, it&#;s wise to count the pans rather than the lids and extra pieces. Also, you can find plenty of accessories online, including universal lids, silicone handle covers for cast iron pans, roasting racks, and a multitude of options for steaming, frying, and draining.
Cookware warranties vary widely, from short-term warranties on single nonstick frying pans to lifetime warranties on higher-end cookware. While a lifetime warranty sounds like a great deal, most have caveats, like excluding commercial use or cookware abuse. Since cookware has no moving parts, defects and breakage are not common, with the worst fault being defects in nonstick coatings.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Types of Cookware
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel cookware is one of the most common types you&#;ll find, and for good reason. It won&#;t rust or stain, and it&#;s not reactive when cooking acidic foods. It can also handle high heat and can be used on induction cooktops. While stainless steel tends to be on the pricier side, pots can be made less expensive by making the sides of the pots thinner, while high-end pots tend to have thicker sides and are heavier overall.
Some high-end stainless steel is actually a clad material, with layers of other metals sandwiched inside the stainless steel to provide the cooking benefits of those metals with the ease of stainless steel. Some stainless steel cookware has a disk attached to the bottom of the pot that provides some of the same benefits of clad cookware at a lower price point. While stainless steel is typically dishwasher safe, you should refer to the manufacturer&#;s cleaning instructions to be sure.
Coated Aluminum
While uncoated aluminum is not a desirable material for cookware, coated aluminum is ideal because nonstick materials bond easily to the metal, protecting the aluminum and making the coating more durable. Besides having nonstick interior coatings, some aluminum cookware has an anodized exterior, which hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the exterior from stains and corrosion. Anodized cookware usually has either a nonstick-coated interior or a thin layer of stainless steel on the interior, so none of the aluminum is exposed. Aluminum can&#;t be used on induction cooktops unless the cookware has a stainless steel disk on the bottom to allow the induction cooktop to recognize it. While some nonstick aluminum cookware is dishwasher safe, you should check with the manufacturer to be sure.
Cast Iron
Cast iron retains heat well, making it ideal for searing, frying, baking, and braising, and it will keep food warm after cooking is done. It&#;s also very heavy, so it&#;s not as easy to move on the stove or to get in and out of storage. Cast iron cookware can be either coated or uncoated, but both are induction-cooktop friendly.
Uncoated cast iron cookware needs some special care and cleaning, but it often arrives pre-seasoned, so it can be used right away. Further cooking and seasoning will make it even more nonstick over time. Uncoated cast iron typically shouldn&#;t be used with acidic foods like tomatoes, but thoroughly seasoned pans can tolerate some acidic foods for short times. Uncoated cast iron cookware is nearly indestructible, and can usually be used on a stovetop, in the oven, on a grill, and perhaps even over a campfire, but it should be washed by hand and may need occasional reseasoning.
Coated cast iron cookware, usually coated with layers of an enameled material, never needs seasoning, and it&#;s safe for use with acidic foods. Some cast-iron cookware has a shiny colored enameled exterior with a rough matte interior that resembles uncoated cast iron but is impervious to acidic foods. Some coated cast iron cookware is dishwasher safe, but you should check with the manufacturer to be sure since dishwasher detergent could harm the coating
Copper
Copper is a highly heat-responsive metal, so it heats and cools quickly. Unfortunately, it&#;s also reactive to acidic foods and will discolor with use and time, so it requires maintenance to keep it looking shiny. Some copper cookware has only a thin layer of copper on the outside of the pan that is purely for looks, but high-quality copper cookware is made entirely from copper, often with a thin coating of tin or stainless steel on the interior so it can be used with any type of food. True copper cookware is not compatible with induction cooktops, but stainless cookware with a decorative copper coating should be induction-compatible.
Steel
While steel pans are not as common as other materials for home cookware, carbon steel, and blue steel is sometimes used for woks and other specialty pans. The cookware needs to be seasoned before use and oiled after cooking to keep it from rusting in storage. Enameled steel cookware is not as common today as it was in years past, but speckled enamelware can still be found occasionally, particularly in large pots used for water bath canning. The enameled coating protects the steel from rusting, but if the coating chips or cracks, rusting can occur. Steel cookware should be induction-compatible, but if the material is extremely thin, the induction might not recognize it properly.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Ceramic
Ceramic cookware typically includes one of two types of cookware: those that are completely made of ceramic, and those that have an aluminum body bonded with a magnetic, silicon-based nonstick coating (this coating is called "ceramic" because the coating is made of sand).
Since ceramic is non-conductive, meaning it reacts slowly to heat and retains it well, it's ideal for slow, steady cooking. Thus, fully ceramic cookware typically comprises roasting pans and casserole dishes that are intended only for oven use. Completely ceramic cookware are made of either porcelain, earthenware, or stoneware, and they're typically dishwasher-safe.
Ceramic nonstick pots and pans, on the other hand, are designed to be used on the stovetop. Their aluminum core allows for quick, even heat distribution, while their nonstick exterior also resists scratches and is compatible with all kinds of stovetops (including induction). Ceramic nonstick pots and pans are generally safe in the dishwasher, but for them to last longer, hand washing is recommended, as well as only using wooden or silicone utensils when cooking with them.
FAQs
What type of cookware is induction compatible?
Cookware for induction cooktops (or portable induction burners) contains ferromagnetic materials, meaning either it has iron or a layer with magnetic properties. Cast iron and magnetic stainless steel sets are induction compatible, but aluminum, all-copper, and glass sets are not&#;unless they have an added layer on the bottom with magnetic properties. Be careful when it comes to stainless steel as it can be made with a variety of materials that may block the magnetic field. Most manufacturers will specify on the packaging or pans themselves if they are induction-compatible.
What is anodized cookware?
An anodized exterior, which is sometimes found on aluminum cookware, hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the pans from stains and corrosion. You should be able to use any type of utensils with anodized cookware and not have to worry about scratches. However, you should note that all anodized cookware isn&#;t necessarily nonstick.
The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Donna Currie is a cookbook author who reviews products and writes roundups for The Spruce Eats. Her passion for quality cookware started when she toured a cookware manufacturer and saw how pots and pans were made. She uses two of our sets in her home kitchen and has used individual pieces from many of the other featured sets.
This piece was updated by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, an L.A.-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a 2-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
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