In our test kitchen, we long-term tested an older (now-discontinued) version of this set for two years, and all of the pots and pans distributed heat evenly. The skillets became a bit more discolored after searing meat over high heat, but their performance remained the same. We dismissed sets with plastic handles, since even those made to withstand high temperatures can deteriorate over time. Ideally, we wanted cookware that could safely withstand oven temperatures of at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit; that ruled out most cookware with plastic components. Several members of our staff have also seen plastic handles crack after they spent time in the dishwasher.
Now when you add cold food to this hot pan, the food saps energy from the pan. If, on the other hand, your pan is able to retain lots of energy (it has a high specific heat and a high mass), the temperature will remain high enough to sear. A more affordable option, this comes with large-sized pots and pans, perfect for when you need to feed a crowd. We especially like the flared edge for pouring and the riveted cast handles for holding. A core of heavy-gauge aluminum makes this cookware ideal for all stoves except induction burners.
The three saucepans (holding 1.25, 2, and 3 quarts) have long silicone handles that nestle together. The three pans below them (a 3-quart casserole, a 4.75-quart saucepot, and the 12-inch sauté pan) have side handles. All felt balanced and easy to hold when empty or full of a tasty meal.
The lids fit snugly, but not too snugly—my fear of a vacuum seal was unfounded. That’s thanks to two indentations under each lid’s silicone rim. The gaps are so small that rice cooked evenly, but the flat glass fogged up, clouding my view of the progress inside. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.
Tramontina has been making home cookware products since 1911 and is a well known Brazilian brand, but you might not have heard of them if you’ve been sticking with the usual from the department store. Fortunately, both pans meet all five of these quality standards. I’ve used my All-Clad intensely for around eight years, and my Tramontina set even more intensely Tramontina online discount store for the last year. Performance-wise, the Tramontina pan performed fairly identically to the All-Clad in our head-to-head tests. However, if price isn’t a barrier, you’ll certainly be happy with an All-Clad stainless-steel skillet. Item prices do not include fees for pickup, shipping or delivery (if applicable) unless noted in the item description.
In our tests, the pans heated incredibly evenly and didn’t discolor over high heat. However, the pans took almost double the time to preheat tramontina pans as our picks and were heavier than we’d prefer. We think this set is worth the steep price only if you’re looking for rivetless cookware.
Their products are about the middle of the road when compared to similar cookware. You can find comfort in their warranties and long-standing reputation across tramontina pans the kitchen and cooking space. If you’re a fan of cast iron, this beautiful blue gradated cobalt skillet can be used for sauces, gravies, and even soup.