The Best Cookware Set

Helper handles on the sauté pan and 11.5 inch skillet make transferring cookware to the oven much easier. The Cuisinart TPS Piece Cookware Set is the slightly smaller version of the best cookware set we tested. We originally reviewed the 12-piece set, but this 10-piece set is almost the same.

It’s strong and durable with stainless steel handles and can withstand high heat – up to 600˚F — which makes searing or browning food in the oven possible. In our tests, omelets rolled out of the pan, and steak browned nicely. The saucepan also performed well in our scorch test — barely any sauce stuck to the bottom of it. Thanks to the magnetic cuisinart knife base, this cookware set is also our pick for the best nonstick cookware set for induction ranges. The handles are riveted onto the base which is a guarantee that they’ll never fall off. D3 can be used in the oven up to 600 degrees F, so you can finish off a piece of salmon in the oven or crisp up a skillet mac ‘n cheese under the broiler.

Cookware Sets

Yes, this set—complete with a round Dutch oven, a 10-inch fry pan, and a 1.75-quart saucepan—is quite the investment. But its even heat distribution and up-to-500°F durability more than justify the price tag. Contains a 10-inch nonstick frying pan, 10-inch stainless clad frying pan, 2-quart stainless clad saucepan with lid, and 8-quart stainless clad stockpot with lid. Sometimes a single frying pan is all you need to achieve Top Chef glory. Other recipes require the full treatment—steaming, boiling, sautéing.

Keeping that in mind, we designed the tests to evaluate performance, ease of use, and value. We seared chicken thighs in the sauté pan, tossed vegetables in the skillets, simmered sauces and cooked rice in the saucepots, and blanched vegetables in the stockpot. It did include four saucepots—for some reason providing two 1.5-quart pots along with a 2- and 3-quart pot. The 5.5-quart stockpot was a little on the small end, too, but functional.

Even the stickiest foods, like fried eggs and pancakes, fall out of the pan, leaving the surfaces virtually spotless, even when you don’t use butter. While you may think of nonstick as best for frying, you’ll also appreciate how rice doesn’t stick to the pots. You can also cuisinart knife count on these pots and pans to brown burgers evenly and simmer a tomato sauce steadily. The body of the pan is anodized aluminum and the exterior finish, which comes in your choice of gray, indigo, bronze or black, is also nonstick for the ultimate in easy cleanup.

If you covet easy, nonstick cookware but are iffy on the chemicals often used, ceramic cookware is probably your best bet. Ceramic coating has become the darling of the amateur kitchen cookware world since it’s nontoxic and as easy to clean as any other surface. In the end, it’s best to look for a set that has at least two small saucepots, one large stockpot, a Cookware Sets small egg pan, and a larger skillet or sauté pan. Most sets come with a lid for every saucepan, stockpot, and sauté pan. Sets count these lids as extra pieces to increase the count, so the above set would have five pots and pans but will be called an 8-piece set. If you love to host, KitchenAid’s set is a straightforward choice for your guests’ favorite meals.

There are no extra-large pots included, but the 6-quart stockpot is plenty adequate for soups and pasta water and can also serve as a Dutch oven. Stainless steel pans are undeniably pretty, and they also deliver in terms of performance, as this metal is incredibly durable. If you’re partial to stainless steel, you’ll like this 12-piece cookware set from Tramontina, as it provides unbeatable heat diffusion and durability. Equipped with sturdy, ergonomic handles that fit a variety of hand sizes, this high-performance cookware is very comfortable to use.

All of your fundamental cookware needs in one perfectly designed set. Durable aluminum construction and superior non-stick provide wonderful, long lasting performance. A type of saucepan with short, curved sides designed for whisking and stirring. Bring back the nostalgia of cooking classic family recipes with mom (or grandma!).