Let’s face it: Most of us, regardless of kitchen size, stack cookware. Usually, it’s a teetering tower or precarious pile that is awkward at best and regularly toppled at worst. Cookware specifically designed to stack can change that, making your storage space tidy and functional.
Space-saving options vary widely. Smaller sets of pans, or sets with smaller pans, are often designed to sit in a single, stable stack. Larger, heavier pans may work best in two or three groupings. Some pots layer from largest up to the smallest, but others are interchangeable, letting you store your favorites on top.
As with all cookware, you have plenty of choices when it comes to materials, inside and out. Non-stick, stainless steel, copper, ceramic—there’s a stackable version for every preference. Many sets work on most, if not all, cooktops, including induction, and the pans can be safely slid into the oven to a certain temperature.
Best Overall
Tramontina Nesting 11-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set
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- Nests and stacks to maximize space
- Lids are stored within the pots
- Lightweight, yet durable
- Only oven-safe to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
When it comes to space-saving cookware sets, Tramontina tops the list with its innovative design: All pieces nest in a single stack that’s less than 12 inches tall and they’re super stylish. The company says the set takes up 50 percent less space than other cookware, and our tester really noticed the difference in comparison to her old pile of pots and pans.
When stacked, each tempered glass lid nestles below its pot, maximizing space. The lids are rimmed with silicone rather than metal, so they’re less likely to scratch the pots’ nonstick interior during storage. The lid knobs double as spoon rests, and the pots’ long handles lock together, stabilizing the stack and spacing the pots to reduce scratches.
This set comes in several stylish colors. It’s built from heavy-gauge aluminum, making it suitable for gas, electric, and glass-top stoves. The triple-coated nonstick interior makes the pans easy to use and clean. During testing, we made a white wine reduction for a mushroom pan sauce and curried sweet potatoes with perfect, crisped edges. All the food slid right off the nonstick interior and drips along the porcelain enamel exterior wiped off easily with a damp cloth.
The only downside? You can’t use this cookware for final browning in the oven. It’s oven-safe to a maximum of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
What’s Included: 1.25-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids; 3-quart casserole and 4.75-quart saucepot with lids; 12-inch sauté pan | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel, silicone, nonstick interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 350 degrees | Induction-Ready: No | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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Most Compact
Meyer Accent Series The Essential Set
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- Stacks neatly
- Protectors included
- Dishwasher safe
- Universal lids
- Boilover protection
- Would like even more color options
When space is limited, this cookware set fits. The pieces stack neatly, and soft pan protectors are included so the pots won’t scratch each other. The set includes four pots in useful sizes, along with two lids that each fit two pots. The pots are designed to thwart boil-overs, but the curved shape is also attractive.
The 5-quart stockpot is the only piece with a stainless steel interior, while the rest are nonstick coated. That stockpot is perfect for making soups and sauces and the unique shape makes it nice enough to bring to the table to serve. The chef’s pan can be used as a frying pan or a wide saucepan, where the width makes it efficient for reducing sauces.
The pot handles are silicone coated, so they stay cool, and the top handles on the lids also stay cool during short cooks—but a mitt is a good idea because the lids themselves get hot. This set is dishwasher safe, but hand washing is simple because of the nonstick, and is likely to preserve the look of the set. We tested the matte black color, which was attractive, but it also comes in Cinder & Smoke, which is shades of gray, as well as Spark, which is shades of yellows and oranges.
What’s Included: 2-quart saucepan, 5-quart stockpot, 10 ¼-inch chef’s pan, 11-inch nonstick skillet, large and small universal lids, 3 pan protectors | Material: Hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel, nonstick interiors (except stockpot) | Oven-Safe: Up to 445 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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Best Budget
T-Fal Stackable 12-Piece Cookware Set
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- Large yet affordable
- All-inclusive starter set
- Preheat indicator
- Only two pots have fitted lids
- Lids only oven-safe to 400 degrees
For stackable cookware at an affordable price, T-Fal offers one of the largest sets. The pots, sauté pan, and fry pans form a tall, yet stable tower when stacked with their lids. When the lids are stored separately, the cookware nests neatly, which T-Fal says gives you 45 percent more storage space in your cabinet.
Vented glass lids with easily graspable handles fit the two larger pots. A flat, plastic lid lets you refrigerate leftovers directly in the midsize pot. T-Fal is known for its built-in temperature sensor: When the pans are evenly preheated, the center turns a solid red, taking some guesswork out of cooking.
What’s Included: 1-, 2-, and 4.2-quart saucepots; 10-inch sauté pan; 11- and 12-inch fry pans; 3 lids; 3 utensils | Material: Aluminum, silicone, nonstick interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 400 degrees | Induction-Ready: No | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Stainless Steel
Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Cookware Set
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- Stackable in any order
- Hefty
- Works on all stovetops
- Fry pans are not broiler-proof
- Minimal flare to fry-pan sides
Calphalon wears its reputation for high-end cookware well, but it also offers midpriced lines for homecooked meals. The stainless steel, space-saving set from its Select collection features everyday pans with flat tempered-glass lids. Calphalon says the set saves you 30 percent more space compared to its non-stacking cookware. The pots and pans can be used on induction, gas, electric, and glass stovetops.
This set improves on many stackable cookware collections by letting you layer the pans and their lids in any order in two 8- and 10-inch-diameter stacks. They also hook into each other at the handle and opposing edge to keep the stacks from shifting.
What’s Included: 2.5- and 3.5-quart saucepans, 3-quart sauté pan, and 5-quart Dutch oven with lids; 8- and 10-inch fry pans | Material: Stainless steel, silicone | Oven-Safe: Up to 400 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Copper-Colored
Gotham Steel Stackmaster 10-Piece Cookware Set
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- Withstands high oven temperatures
- Interchangeable lids
- Works on all cooktops
- Straight-sided fry pans
- Handles can grow hot
E. Mishan & Sons, the company behind Gotham Steel and Granitestone, sells its Stackmaster series under both brand names in a range of materials and combinations. This copper-colored 10-piece set offers the best value, yet still saves space. Its sole accessory, a stainless steel fry basket, can join the stacked collection or be stored separately.
The pans’ nonstick surface is friendly to metal utensils, and three of the tempered-glass lids are interchangeable. The lids and pans can be stacked together in one tower or split into two shorter stacks, which Gotham Steel says saves 30 percent in space. The pans’ stainless steel base makes them compatible with all stovetops.
What’s Included: 2.75- and 3.5-quart saucepans, 5.35-quart stockpot, 8- and 10-inch fry pans, 4 lids, fry basket | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 500 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best for Microwave
Joseph Joseph 4-Piece Stackable Cooking Set
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- Interchangeable, multi-use pieces
- Compact
- Affordable
- Prone to staining
- Too small for family meals
Joseph Joseph’s product lines focus on functional, space-saving designs, and its M-Cuisine cooking set is no exception. Most microwave “cookware” is really aimed at reheating, which makes this set stand out even before you consider its stackability.
This cookware features four interchangeable components: pot, steamer, griddle, and lid. When inverted, the lid solos as a plate or sits as a base for the griddle. The cookpot has a decent 2-quart capacity when used alone. Or, you could go big, stacking all the pieces to cook a full, one-person meal. Built-in pot and lid handles make the cookware easy to move. The entire set sits just over 6 inches high.
What’s Included: 2.1-quart cooking pot with steamer, griddle, and lid | Material: BPA-free plastic1 | Microwave-Safe: Up to 900 watts | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Final Verdict
Tramontina’s Nesting 11-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set takes up half the space of standard cookware, but still carries a reasonable price tag. If you want a set that takes up even less space, we recommend the stainless-steel Meyer Accent Series The Essential Set.
How We Selected
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best stackable cookware sets on the market, evaluating their key features—like material, pieces included, and price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Other items were fully tested by reviewers in their homes for weeks to see how they stand up to everyday usage cooking and cleaning.
What to Look for in Stackable Cookware
Truly Space-Saving
Plenty of cookware sets are touted as stackable, but that could only mean the pot sizes vary enough that a smaller pot can wobble around inside a larger one or that every lid can be inverted to hold the next-smallest pot, letting you build a refrigerator-high tower. True space-saving sets should be short and stable when stacked or nested.
Stacks and Stacks
When choosing a space-saving cookware set, check how many stacks are recommended by the manufacturer. Some collections may work as a single stack, but if the manufacturer says two stacks are better, believe it. Forcing them into one stack may sound appealing until you have to lift the entire heavy load to get to the pan on the bottom. Even if you need two stacks, they’ll likely take up less space than your current setup.
Size
Stackable cookware tends to be on the smaller side, so consider the individual pot and pan sizes to be sure they’ll fit your needs. If you’re replacing your kitchen’s existing set, be sure that the new one includes your favorite, most frequently used pieces. You can always buy a stackable set with the basics and use the storage savings for the one-off pans you reach for the most. If you have a glass or induction cooktop, check that the cookware sizes align with your burner diameters to maximize efficiency.
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FAQs
How do you know a pan’s size?
Fry pans, or skillets, are typically measured across the top rather than the base. If a 10-inch fry pan has sloping sides, the diameter of the top rim will be 10 inches and the base will be smaller.
Pots are usually sized based on the volume they hold. If you measure out and pour 3 quarts of water into a 3-quart saucepan, it should be full to the brim.
Can you buy extra pans to add to a stackable set?
Add-on options vary for stackable sets. Even though many cookware companies sell individual pots and pans as open-stock pieces, space-saving sets are so streamlined that you may not be able to add your favorite size pot to a stack. Your best bet is to search the manufacturer’s website for extra pots and pans that are compatible with its stackable collection.
Do you need to protect pans when stacking them?
Stacking can mean you risk scratching an interior surface with a nested lid or pot bottom. Some stackable pans come with built-in protection, like locking handles or support plates. Other companies include pan protectors in their sets. When in doubt, check the manufacturer’s recommendations. If a pan’s bottom rests directly on a lower pan’s cooking surface, you can always play it safe and lay a cloth napkin or other protective layer between them.
