If you’d rather start with a few basics, you’ll be able to cook a lot with just a 3-quart saucepan, a 12-inch skillet, and an 8-quart stockpot. Time and time again, testing shows that All-Clad browns perfectly evenly and keeps stews and sauces at a perfect simmer. What that means to you is that you won’t have to vigilantly rearrange, stir and adjust the heat during cooking. All gleaming stainless steel inside and out, it has a core of aluminum that’s responsible for its great results. We love the sloped shape of the skillets which make it easy to roll out an omelet. In addition to considering how well pots and pans cooked and how easy they were to use and clean, we considered the assortment of pieces included in each set.
The lids are made with extra wide brims so you can place hot coals on top and cook from above. We ordered 25 different nonstick cookware sets to perform side-by-side testing in our kitchen. Our product testers spent hours examining each set’s design and performance with an omelet and rice pilaf test as well as a simmer and scorch test. They have straight sides, which help maximize the cooking surface area and slim lids. Their nonstick coating is applied at a very high temperature to help avoid chipping and scratching and is oven-safe up to 500˚F.
Creating heirloom-quality cast iron cookware in Tennessee since 1896. If you’ve been reading Kitchn for a while, you probably know that we don’t usually recommend buying cookware in sets. The thinking is that so many of the sets out there come with things that you just don’t need, and you can just assemble your own set based on how (and what!) you like to cook. The set is available in four aesthetically pleasing colors, all with gold handles. Your budget and needs will play a big part when you’re shopping for the best deals on cookware that works for you. If you don’t cook often, you don’t need professional chef-worthy gear.
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. cuisinart knife 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.
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.
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.
The skillets have become a bit more discolored after searing meat over high heat, but their performance remains the same. Buying a set of cookware can be a convenient and affordable alternative to tracking down pots and pans one piece at a time. The pans in this top-of-the-line fully clad tri-ply set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and an ideal weight for holding. If you prefer bright, cheery kitchen tools this set comes in shimmery shades of red, burgundy, teal, light blue, and yes, gray if you must. In spite of its very reasonable price, this set offers even heating and has an interior nonstick finish that makes it easy to scramble up eggs and then clean out the pan afterwards.
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 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.
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 gotham steel cookware sets 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.