Best Cookware Sets

Top 10 Rated Cookware Sets2024

By Brittany Rowland

Cookware pieces come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Some of the most common and popular materials for pots and pans are stainless steel and hard anodized aluminum with a non-stick surface. We looked at a number of cookware sets and selected our top 10 based on the following factors:

1. Ease of cleaning—either dishwasher safe or easy to wash by hand with little sticking
2. Even and fast heating with no hotspots
3. Durable, sturdy construction
4. Easy-grip handles that stay cool to the touch
5. Good value for the price
6. A comprehensive mix of saucepans, pots, skillets, and other assorted tools
7. Safe to bake in the oven
8. No warping or staining
9. Tight-fitting lids

Cookware Set Buying Guide

Tips for Buying a Cookware Set

These days, people seem to be divided along the line of stainless steel vs. anodized aluminum, non-stick cookware sets. Both materials have their pros and cons, and both are popular. You need to decide what other features are important to you so you can select the best quality set for your budget.

Price

Most decent cookware sets start out at about $100. If you go too cheap, you could wind up with a low-quality set that warps, stains, and falls apart after regular use.

Versatile functions

A cookware set is a worthwhile investment because you get all the essential kitchen pieces you need for a reasonable price. The trick is to make sure the set you buy has the most important cookware items and not too many extraneous pieces that merely raise the price. Look for sets with a lidded saucepan, a skillet/frying pan, and a stockpot. A straight-edged saute pan is also useful. Sometimes the set offers a Dutch oven instead of a stockpot, but they both serve many of the same functions.

You don’t necessarily need multiple sizes of the same thing unless you’re an avid cook and you like to have a lot of pots and pans going at once. After you have all the essential tools in a set, any additional pieces either sweeten the deal or jack up the price, depending on your perspective. Compare sets and prices to get an idea of what’s a fair deal.

Material

Stainless steel is the most versatile material for cookware. It’s highly durable, not likely to warp or get dings if you set it down hard. Stainless steel also doesn’t pit or react to acidic and alkaline ingredients. But it has its downsides, too. Unless the pots and pans have an aluminum core or a base of aluminum or copper, the stainless steel won’t conduct heat very efficiently.

Aluminum is another common choice because it’s an effective conductor. You’ll see some cookware sets described as hard anodized, which means the aluminum went through a special process to be reinforced and made stronger. Some aluminum cookware have non-stick surfaces, which are ideal for easy hand washing. That’s a good thing, because putting aluminum cookware in the dishwasher normally isn’t advised.

Quality design

It’s the little things that make a big difference when it comes to cookware. You want the pots and pans to be heavy and sturdy enough to feel durable, but you don’t want them so heavy that they’re hard to maneuver on the stovetop.

Handles should stay cool to the touch even while you’re heating the pots to a boil. Contoured, easy-to-grip handles are beneficial for safety and comfort reasons. Lids should fit securely over the pots and pans to trap the heat, moisture, and nutrients of the food. If you have a pot rack, look for cookware with hooks on the handles so you can hang them up.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to spring for the highest-quality set you can afford. Cheap pots and pans of poor quality will only cost you more in the long run when you have to replace them. Also consider saving up for specialty cookware items, such as stir-fry pans or cast-iron skillets. The more you build up your cookware collection, the more versatile cooking tasks you’ll be able to perform.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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