What Size Saucepan Should You Buy? Quick Guide

Wash the utensil with a cloth dipped in pure distilled vinegar to remove stains from non-stick cooking pans. When storing nonstick cookware, hang it Cookware Sets up rather than stacking or jamming it into cupboards or drawers. Additionally, it is the best cookware choice we discovered for induction cooktops.

Consumer Reports buys and tests stainless and nonstick , Dutch ovens, and a variety of frying pans, including nonstick, stainless, cast iron, carbon steel, and copper. Made of stainless steel with an aluminum core, they areinduction compatible, oven safe to 550 degrees, and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The varying sizes of the pans and the fact that they can all go in the oven contribute to this set’s versatility. The long handles stay comfortably cool during cooking and have hanging holes for storage, but our tester did caution that the side loop handles can get quite hot. Everything but the open skillets and the steamer insert come with lids.

There are many different kinds of cookware sets on the market, so choosing the correct one for your kitchen is crucial. A good omelet pan should also be able to respond to heat changes quickly and allow you to control the temperature precisely. For this reason, omelet pans are usually made from aluminum or hard anodized aluminum with a non-stick coating. A Dutch oven is a large, heavy cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid.

Cookware Sets

However, even if your pans are dishwasher safe, you can extend their life by handwashing carefully in warm, soapy water after each use. Remember to never use scouring pans on non-stick pots and pans. If you notice scratches or flaking in your non-stick cookware, it’s time to replace them immediately. Cookware Sets Dents and scratches in your other pans may be cosmetic, but they might also cause the food in the pan to heat unevenly. As for cast iron, even the most neglected, rusty cast iron can be revived, but if you aren’t going to take the time to do that, pass it along and replace it with a new set.

Once you’re done, these stackable pieces nest easily into one another. The Caraway Ceramic Coated Set is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional nonstick pots and pans — and it’s available in six attractive colors. The more pieces in the set, the more storage space you’ll probably need. With that said, if you lack space, either look for a smaller or stackable set. “In general, sets with larger pieces are better buys unless you cook in very small quantities,” noted Franke. The highlight here is Scanpan’s signature 5-layer nonstick—called “stratanium”—which had a slightly different feel than other pans and was highly effective at preventing sticks.