Now, you can easily match your favorite Smeg kettle or toaster to your cookware too. The line is 100 percent dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. You need to consider appearance, quantity, material, durability and cleanup.
While stainless steel is typically dishwasher safe, you should refer to the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to be sure. During both tests in The Lab, we enjoyed how versatile these pans are. Unlike traditional nonstick, they can be used on high heat, providing great, even heating on an induction burner.
The set was noticeably easy to clean, which is a plus given that it’s not recommended to put the pieces in the dishwasher. It’s worth noting that since the lids aren’t glass, you’ll have to lift them to check on your dishes as they cook. However, all of the pieces are dishwasher safe, so they’ll be easy to clean in case anything spills over. Unlike cuisinart knife other pans on this list, which feature traditional PTFE coatings, Caraway’s pans have a ceramic coating. These pans were truly nonstick in our tests, but you’ll need to cook with lower temperatures to preserve their coating. After years of cooking on PTFE nonstick, I didn’t expect much of a difference with ceramic—and I was quickly proven wrong.
This is partly what made us excited about our new budget pick, the Goldilocks set, which is one of the only sets we’ve seen lately that includes both 10- and 12-inch pans. Many sets also have 6-quart stockpots; these are too small for making large batches of stock (8-quart or larger stockpots are best for preparing stocks, and they provide ample room for boiling pasta). The main incentive for buying piece by piece is that most sets come with smaller pan sizes. 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 count on these pots and pans to brown burgers evenly and simmer a tomato sauce steadily.
The Always pan by Our Place is a real workhorse, doing the job of eight traditional cookware pieces–ideal for a cozy kitchen without an abundance of storage. Nonstick pots and pans are made from cuisinart knife aluminum, but have hard enamel porcelain exteriors that’ll look so glossy on your stovetop. You get the usual pots and pans, plus shatter-resistant glass lids, a slotted turner and a spoon.
When we tested this in The Lab, we found that this set excels in heat distribution. During our tomato sauce test, it began to bubble evenly around the diameter of the saucepan and developed an even simmer throughout after a few minutes. Because of the copper, our infrared thermometer detected consistent temperature through the bottom and center of the pan while the walls stayed a bit cooler. Though the frying pans require oil to make a fried egg without sticking, the resulting egg was delightfully even and beautifully cooked.
The pots and pans are warp-resistant, induction-compatible, dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 600 degrees . All-Clad products are made in the US and come with a limited lifetime warranty. The clad construction means it heats and cools quickly and evenly, resulting in more optimal temperature control. The marinara had a rich, deep flavor, and cleanup was easy even after a long simmer.
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.
Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers. Plus, a heavy-duty construction will even make for a better cooking gotham steel cookware sets experience. This article was updated in December 2022 to ensure all product picks tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab were up-to-date and in stock.
Piecing together your own cookware set gives you the freedom to customize your collection and allows you to buy only what you need. To avoid liability for damage caused by misuse, cookware manufacturers routinely advise against cooking over high temperatures. However, judging from our years of experience, as long as you reduce the heat after preheating your pan on medium or medium-high heat, you won’t damage your pans. Cast iron is heavy, reactive to acidic food, and more difficult to maintain.