A dishwasher-safe design and long, cool handles are just the cherries on top. In terms of design, the set received a near-perfect score as testers liked the glass lids and the included steamer pot attachment. They also appreciated the traditional design on this set and noted that the pieces feel substantial. Plus, another detail that makes this one of the best stainless steel cookware sets worth considering is that the inside of the pans has measurements, so even beginner chefs can cook up something. This set includes a 1.5-quart saucepan and 3-quart saucepan with lids, an 8-quart stockpot with cover, and a 10-inch skillet—all the basic pans you need in your kitchen.
Cuisinart offers a limited lifetime warranty to purchasers in the United States and Canada that guarantees its products to be free of manufacturing defects. For best long-term results, all Cuisinart collections should be hand-washed in warm water with a mild detergent. Right out of the box, I noticed several obvious dents and dings on cuisinart pots and pans set the handle, something you never see with high-end cookware. Although the Cuisinart pan performs well when it comes to everyday cooking, several other options heat more evenly, retain heat longer, and deliver better performance overall. Its other pans are coating with traditional PTFE-based coating that’s not reinforced with titanium.
Cuisinart hit the American market in 1973 when its founder, Carl Sontheimer, introduced one of the first residential food processors to the American market. I conducted the same test with GreenPan, HexClad, All-Clad, Calphalon, and Misen pans. Want to know when brands like All-Clad, Made In, HexClad, and KitchenAid go on sale? Join our free newsletter to get deal alerts, giveaways, and exclusive content. For example, the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic comes with a dark hard-anodized aluminum exterior.
Nonstick skillets are essential tools for delicate ingredients like eggs or fish, pancakes or crepes, and for fast cleanup of easy meals like grilled cheese sandwiches. When choosing the right one, look at how you will most often use the cookware. For example, if you want to be able to sear on the stovetop and finish in the oven, you’ll need one with oven-safe handles and finishes. You’ll also have to decide if you need lids or not since some nonstick cookware, especially skillets, do not necessarily come with lids. The Le Creuset pan design is streamlined with a durable, hard-anodized aluminum interior construction, giving it a professional look, and the set is also very easy to clean.
In our tests, the Tramontina 3-quart saucepan made perfect caramel without burning, though we had to swirl the pan more to distribute the heat evenly. This wasn’t the case with the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic stockpot, which required frequent stirring to prevent the sauce from burning. We excluded sets with glass lids because they can break or crack easily if dropped. Glass lids also offer little advantage over stainless steel lids because you can’t see through them when they’re covered with condensation. Lids should fit well but somewhat loosely, with just enough wiggle room to allow steam to escape. Because of its even heat distribution, fully clad tri-ply stainless steel is the best option for both pros and home cooks.
But, stainless steel is simply not non-stick, no matter how much it costs. For example, Aluminum is a great choice for the core of a pan, because it conducts heat extremely well. At the same time, aluminum isn’t very durable and also reacts poorly to acidic ingredients. That means instead of only a tri-ply base, they feature three layers of material throughout the entire piece of cookware.