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.
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.
How We Tested Cookware Sets
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 2023, 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.
We Observed
How evenly the pans heated: A cookware’s build can lead to evenly cooked meals or half-burnt dinners. How quickly and evenly a pan distributes heat is, time and time again, our most important factor. After recording a pan’s surface temperature with an infrared thermometer, we fried eggs, made omelets, and browned butter to check for hot spots. We also assessed how the material and internal cladding conducted heat.
How easy they were to maneuver when full of food: We know that if a skillet is uncomfortable move around the cooktop or if a pot gets too heavy when filled with water, it goes to the back of the cupboard. We found that the balance of a pan and overall weight is another incredibly important factor.
How useful were all the pieces: Will you have all the pans you need for a full meal? If not, are there more options readily available from the same cookware line? We analyze the array of sizes in each set, and how well the pots and pans available will work in a home kitchen.
We Rated
Heating Ability and Performance: We looked over how evenly food cooked and how well the cookware maintained heat during our tests. Those with well-cooked, but not scorched, meals that didn’t need constant fiddling with on the burner received higher ratings from us.
Durability: Will a pan warp or a coating be damaged if put into an oven or, if applicable, a dishwasher? Can the cookware survive an accidental drop? Cookware that survived all three tests flawlessly is worthy of a 5 out of 5.
Design and Ease of Cleaning: Was every piece in a set incredibly comfortable and thoughtfully designed? Did the handles get hot? Did we only need to wipe with a sponge and soapy water? If we could answer yes to these questions, a set was awarded higher ratings.
Best Overall
Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 10-Piece Set
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- Great performance when searing and browning
- Durable and well-built
- Affordable price
- Lifetime warranty
- Some might find pots unbalanced
- Pieces don’t stack together 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.
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.
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.
Material: Stainless steel | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Safe: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | What’s Included: 8-inch and 10-inch fry pans, 1.5-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3-quart braiser with lid, 6-quart sauce pot with lid
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Best Design
Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set
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- Rounded interior for easy sautéing
- Comes with storage
- Even heat distribution
- Could use an additional small fry pan
- Stainless handles can get hot
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.
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.
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).
Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 550 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Safe: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand wash recommended | What’s Included: 10.5-inch fry pan, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 4.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 6.5-quart Dutch oven with lid, modular magnetic pan rack, canvas lid holder
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Best Nonstick
Calphalon Signature Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set
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- Quick to heat
- Great temperature consistency and distribution
- Easy to clean
- Food can get stuck on inside rivets
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.
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.
Material: Hard-anodized aluminum nonstick interior | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Safe: No | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | What’s Included: 10-inch and 12-inch fry pan, 2-quart and 3-quart saucepan with lids, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stock pan with lid
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Best Heavy Duty
All-Clad D5 Stainless Brushed 5-Ply Bonded Cookware Set
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- 5-ply construction gives incredible heat distribution
- Very durable and high-quality construction
- Oven safe to 600 degrees
- Handles may not be very comfortable for some
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.
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.
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.
Material: Stainless steel and aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 600 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Safe: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | What’s Included: 8-inch and 10-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 5.5-quart Dutch oven with lid
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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.
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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). If you are looking for cookware sets for a glass stove, ceramic is a good choice. 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.
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