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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Stainless steel provides the most versatile functions in a cookware set. However, you need to know what to look for when you buy a stainless steel set, which is typically more expensive than other materials.

Even Heating

While stainless steel has a gleaming, mirror-like appearance, it’s by itself not the most conductive material. Unless stainless steel pots and pans have aluminum cores, they won’t retain and distribute heat evenly. You’ll get hot spots in some places and cold spots in others. Some cookware have layers of steel, aluminum, and copper in the base to maximize the heat distribution.

Quality

The quality of the stainless steel has a great impact on the durability—resistance to corroding, warping, staining, and denting. You’ll see some stainless steel labeled 18/10, which means it’s 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel. Chromium keeps stainless steel from rusting, and nickel keeps the pots and pans brilliant and shiny.

Cleaning

Stainless steel is pretty tough. It’s generally okay to run your cookware through the dishwasher as long as you remove it right after to dry it thoroughly with a towel. Water left on the cookware can cause spots.

Burnt-on food is a pain to scrub off, but it’s not the end of the world. Try soaking the pot or pan in hot, soapy water before brushing it with a nylon brush or pad. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive metal scouring pads. which can scratch and damage the stainless steel surface.

If your stainless steel has lost some of its luster, sprinkle some baking soda over the wet surface, rub it in with a synthetic pad, and then rinse and dry.

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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By Brittany Rowland

If you’re a cooking aficionado looking for professional-quality cookware, then look no further than the Duxtop SSIB-17, a 17-piece cookware set that is induction ready. Made of high-grade stainless steel and with bottoms of aluminum sandwiched between steel, these pots and pans are built to last for years and provide excellent cooking quality. We liked the design of these pots and pans, too, such as the measuring marks on the sides and the extra-deep skillets that hold more and cut down on spills. The gleaming stainless steel pieces look classy in any kitchen. This set is available for $249.99.

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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By Brittany Rowland

This T-Fal 12-piece cookware set comes with 3 covered saucepans instead of just 2, so you can cook a variety of meals all at once. The pots and pans have a good heft to them and appear very sturdy. The aluminum material heats evenly and quickly, and the hard anodized exterior is supposed to increase the durability. While the pots and pans aren’t built for dishwasher use, they’re easy to wipe clean because of the non-stick surfaces. The tempered glass lids have a small hole for steam release, but we still noticed them fogging up a bit. Regardless, we didn’t see any other major problems with this set, which is available for $92.97.

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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By Brittany Rowland

An attractive cookware set as much as it’s functional and practical, this KitchenAid 10-piece set is made of hard anodized aluminum with scratch-resistant, non-stick surfaces. While you can’t wash these pieces in the dishwasher, you won’t have too much trouble cleaning them by hand. The skillets are great for making omelets and crepes; the saucepans are deep enough to prepare whole meals. We appreciated the offer of a 1-year hassle-free replacement guarantee should there be any problems with the set. For $135.86, the pieces appear to be strong, durable, and resistant to warping.

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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KitchenAid Gourmet Hard Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set – $149.99 Retail Price: $159.99 You Save: $10.00

By Brittany Rowland

For a relatively inexpensive cookware set at $67.04, these aluminum pots and pans are sturdy and good quality. Their non-stick surfaces make cleanup easy, and the aluminum material distributes heat quickly and evenly. It’s also nice to get an assortment of kitchen tools—a spatula, pasta spoon, and various ladles—in heavy-duty plastic. The only problem we could see is that these tools can come out of the dishwasher with soap residue still visible in the crevices—the same goes for the grooved bottoms of the pots and pans. However, for the price, this durable set appears to hold up well with regular use and look nice on the stovetop.

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

Prices

By Brittany Rowland

This cookware set from T-Fal features copper bottoms that helps distribute heat evenly, reducing hotspots. Shiny stainless steel coats the aluminum core, ensuring both durability and good heat conduction. While these aren’t the non-stick type of pans, we didn’t notice any significant food sticking; the pieces were easy to wipe clean and put in the dishwasher. It’s convenient being able to transfer the pots and pans from the cooktop to the 500-degree oven for baking. The lids fit snugly and seal in the moisture and flavor. We felt the high-quality items you get for $109.99 make this cookset a worthy purchase.

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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By Brittany Rowland

Cuisinart consistently produces high-quality cookware for affordable prices. This 17-piece set, for $173.99, provides enough pots, pans, skillets, and steamer inserts to keep you happy even when you’re cooking big family dinners. The protective 18/10 stainless steel coating has a sleek mirror finish and caps the aluminum core that ensures fast, even heating with no hotspots. The contoured stainless steel handles stay cool to the touch and allow the pieces to go in a 450-degree oven. Even though food can stick to stainless steel, we were satisfied with how clean the pots and pans turned out after a run in the dishwasher. Overall, for the price, you get a high-quality cookware set built to last a long time.

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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Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set – $249.00 Retail Price: $259.00 You Save: $10.00

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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

Prices

By Brittany Rowland

Farberware has provided a great deal for families just starting out in a new home or looking to replace an old cookware set. This 17-piece set for only $114.54 includes 3 saucepans, 2 saucepots, 2 skillets, 3 nesting bowls, a cooking sheet, and a cake pan. The stainless steel surfaces are durable, don’t warp, and are easy to clean in the dishwasher. The tight-fitting lids are interchangeable and create a nice seal on the pots and pans. You can safely place the items in a 350-degree oven. With aluminum cores, the pieces heat evenly and don’t get hotspots. For such a reasonable price, it’s hard to pass up this attractive and functional set. It’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

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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By Brittany Rowland

Cuisinart’s multiclad 12-piece cookware set features a unique blend of aluminum on the inside and stainless steel on the outside for both fast heating and strength. As far as appearances go, these pots and pans are quite attractive with a brushed mirror finish that practically sparkles. The interchangeable lids effectively seal in the flavor and nutrients of the food within. The pieces are dishwasher safe and can go in the oven set at 500 degrees F. They are not too heavy but still feel sturdy, and they’re weighted on the bottom so they won’t tip over. Pricey at $216.99, they’re nevertheless well worth the cost because of their professional quality.

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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Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set – $299.00 Retail Price: $309.00 You Save: $10.00

By Brittany Rowland

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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

Prices