We took the advice of our pros and looked at many cookware sets in person before testing, to get a feel for the weight and actual size of the pots and pans. It’s difficult to get a sense of each set just by looking at pictures online. In addition to your main set, you can always purchase other essential pieces, such as a Dutch oven, a cast-iron skillet, and a nonstick pan. Ultimately, those pieces won’t see much use and will only clutter up your kitchen. Our experts agreed that you’re better off getting a set with fewer, better-quality pieces that you’ll reach for again and again. The pots and pans in the Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set heat evenly and are a comfortable weight, so they aren’t cumbersome to lift.
The secret lies in its airtight glass lid that keeps steam and moisture in while cooking, releasing air while preserving flavor. Cook everything from chicken curry to brussels sprouts and creamy mashed potatoes in minutes with Anyday. The Pioneer Woman’s Cookware Sets Fancy Flourish cookware setfeatures Ree Drummond’s signature floral print. Copper is not as standard nowadays, but it provides cooking with quick heat up. Since copper is an excellent conductor, novices might find it hard to maintain temperature.
It can be stored or left on display to elevate your kitchen’s decor. There are even attachable rubberized bumpers to protect this beauty from scratches. Store your pans with organizers to avoid stacking the pans, which may inadvertently scratch or chip the cooking surface and can remove the non-stick. Only use low to medium heat with ceramic cookware, as higher heat settings will reduce the coating’s longevity. But they are generally going to have lots of pots and pans in a range of sizes that you probably won’t use.
Nonstick pans come with PTFE coating, which might require replacement after frequent use. When cooking with coated cookware, you should use silicone, plastic, or wooden utensils. They have high retention and even heat distribution, so you can cook food efficiently.
The lids are clear with stainless steel handles that are designed to stay cool. Plus, the handles feel comfortable to hold and protrude a bit to fit comfortably in your grip while cooking. One perk is that the pan comes with protectors to help prevent scratching when storing. Even so, its cute light-colored interior prevents any nicks and scratches from being too noticeable.
I wasn’t quite sure what I could make with the 1-quart pot other than reheating a single serving of soup or melting a stick of butter (other sets have a more versatile 2-quart pot). And the sauté pan was small, too; it won’t fit more than two large Cookware Sets chicken breasts. If you have a family or like to batch cook, this set probably won’t work for you. But consider T-fal if you’re on a budget, need a little help with cooking and cleaning, have a small kitchen or stove, or have fewer mouths to feed.
Donna Currie is a cookbook author who reviews products and writes roundups for The Spruce Eats. Her passion for quality cookware started when she toured a cookware manufacturer and saw how pots and pans were made. She’s personally reviewed two of the featured cookware sets for The Spruce Eats and has used individual pieces from many of the other featured sets. Besides having nonstick interior coatings, some aluminum cookware has an anodized exterior, which hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the exterior from stains and corrosion. Anodized cookware usually has either a nonstick-coated interior or a thin layer of stainless steel on the interior, so none of the aluminum is exposed.
In the Wirecutter test kitchen, to remove burnt-on oil or discoloration we often use a slurry of baking soda and warm water, along with a sponge and a little elbow grease. For other cleaning options, refer to our blog post and video on the subject. As with most of the sets we tested in this price range, the Tramontina skillets tarnished slightly after normal use. Although we easily removed burned-on oil and food bits using a combination of baking soda and warm water, the pans retained a noticeable tint after cleaning. Because the discoloration in no way affects the cooking performance, we’re willing to forgive this minor drawback. Cookware manufacturers often sell variations of the same cookware set to different retailers.