Sep 30, 2019
Sep 27, 2019
Sep 26, 2019
The Best Cookware Set for 2019
The Best Cookware Set
After researching more than 60 cookware sets and rigorously testing 17, we think the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set is the best because of its solid construction and affordable price. It’s also one of the few sets we found to include the larger pot and pan sizes our pros recommended, and it was the only set we tested that included a 12-quart stockpot.
Our pick
Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set
The best cookware set
This affordable 12-piece set has the largest pots and pans of all the sets we tested, giving you the most bang for your buck. Every pan distributes heat evenly and is durable enough to take some abuse in a busy household.
After a year of long-term testing various pieces from the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set in our test kitchen, they continue to heat evenly. The pots and pans in this set have a comfortable weight so they aren’t cumbersome to lift, and their rounded, ergonomically shaped handles are comfortable to hold. We’re confident that this durable and affordable cookware set will provide you with years of use.
After researching more than 60 cookware sets and rigorously testing 17, we think the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set is the best because of its solid construction and affordable price. It’s also one of the few sets we found to include the larger pot and pan sizes our pros recommended, and it was the only set we tested that included a 12-quart stockpot.
Our pick
Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set
The best cookware set
This affordable 12-piece set has the largest pots and pans of all the sets we tested, giving you the most bang for your buck. Every pan distributes heat evenly and is durable enough to take some abuse in a busy household.
After a year of long-term testing various pieces from the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set in our test kitchen, they continue to heat evenly. The pots and pans in this set have a comfortable weight so they aren’t cumbersome to lift, and their rounded, ergonomically shaped handles are comfortable to hold. We’re confident that this durable and affordable cookware set will provide you with years of use.
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Upgrade pick
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set
A buy-it-for-life cookware set
The pans in this top-of-the-line set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and the ideal weight to hold.
For superior-quality cookware that will last a lifetime, we recommend getting the All-Clad Stainless 10-Piece Set. The pros we talked to said that All-Clad tri-ply cookware is the best for both professional and home use because it’s so durable. In our tests, the All-Clad pans heated evenly, were comfortable to hold, and tackled every cooking job without any hiccups. Though the largest skillet measures only 10 inches instead of 12, this set will outfit your kitchen with all the other pots and pans you’re ever likely to need. And if you’re partial to keeping your cookware bright and shiny, note that in our tests this set was one of the few that looked like new after cleaning.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set
The best cookware set
This affordable 12-piece set has the largest pots and pans of all the sets we tested, giving you the most bang for your buck. Every pan distributes heat evenly and is durable enough to take some abuse in a busy household.
Buying Options
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set
A buy-it-for-life cookware set
The pans in this top-of-the-line set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and the ideal weight to hold.
Buying Options
Who should buy a cookware set
Buying a set of cookware is a convenient and affordable alternative to tracking down pots and pans one piece at a time. Cookware sets also make great gifts for weddings and graduations, or for anyone setting up their kitchen for the first time.
Perhaps you already own stainless steel cookware but it’s dented, warped, or inclined to cook unevenly—if that’s the case, you’re probably due for an upgrade. Or maybe you have a set of nonstick cookware. In that case, we think upgrading to a stainless steel set is worth doing because you’ll gain greater durability and longevity from your pots and pans—in some cases, they will last a lifetime. Nonstick cookware, on the other hand, needs to be replaced every few years once the coating deteriorates. (We make a thorough case for switching from nonstick to stainless steel cookware in our blog post “How to Keep Food From Sticking to a (Not-Nonstick) Pan.”)
Stainless steel is more versatile than nonstick cookware because you can cook over higher heat without damaging the pan, which is critical for getting a good sear on meats. Stainless steel pans will give your food a rich color and develop better fond (the caramelized bits that form on the bottom of a pan), resulting in more flavorful food. Stainless steel is also great for high-heat tasks like stir-frying and pan-frying. Many cooks love that it can go directly from the stovetop to the broiler. Also, stainless steel pans can go into the dishwasher; nonstick pieces can’t (heat and harsh detergents break down the nonstick coating).
One thing this guide doesn’t include is a cheap, basic cookware set that you might use to outfit a rental or vacation home, or to send with kids to college. After years of long-term testing, we don’t think you can get a quality set for under $250. If you want to spend less or don’t intend to cook often, we’d recommend getting only the essential pieces of cookware for your kitchen: a skillet, a saucepan, and a stockpot.
Most cookware sets include smaller pot and pan sizes, so they aren’t the best option for the experienced home cook who wants to prepare large meals. Though cookware costs more when sold separately, purchasing it this way allows you to acquire specific pieces that suit your exact cooking needs (see our guides to the best skillet, cast iron skillet, nonstick pan, saucepan, roasting pan, and Dutch oven).
How we picked
Because cookware is the cornerstone of any kitchen, we wanted to find sets that included the most useful pot and pan sizes. We also looked for sets that could retain and distribute heat well to allow you to cook without fear of hot spots. Additionally, we searched for cookware that was durable, yet still lightweight enough that it’s comfortable to hold. Here’s a list of the most important qualities we looked for (and avoided) when choosing cookware sets to test:
Optimal pot and pan sizes
Though most people are inclined to buy sets because doing so is cheaper than buying pieces individually, sets involve a compromise. Most manufacturers cut corners by including smaller pot and pan sizes in a set to reduce the overall price. But smaller pan sizes require you to cook in batches and can slow you down in the kitchen. Candy Argondizza, then vice president of culinary and pastry arts at International Culinary Center, told us, “Sets often sell you pieces that you don’t need. I like to pick and choose what I want. It might be a little more expensive this way, but space is a commodity in my tiny kitchen, so I choose what I need wisely.” Janet Crandall, a Los Angeles private chef and cooking instructor, agreed, saying, “I prefer to buy individual pans. Sometimes sets don’t always have the exact size I want.”.
Both Argondizza and Crandall gave suggestions for the best pot and pan sizes to look for. Note that the number of pieces advertised in a set includes lids, so you’re generally getting half the listed number of pots and pans. A good set should include the following 10 pieces:
- 1.5- to 2-quart saucepan with a lid: For reheating a small amount of soup or melting butter
- 3- to 4-quart saucepan with a lid: For making sauces or reheating stocks and soups
- 10- and 12-inch skillets: For searing meats and sautéing vegetables
- 3- to 4-quart skillet with a lid: For quickly reducing sauces, making roux, and preparing shallow braises
- 8-quart (or larger) stockpot with a lid: For boiling water for pasta, handling large-batch sauces, or making stocks, soups, and stews
That said, we found that most skillets in sets are only 8 to 10 inches, though we prefer 10- and 12-inch versions because they offer a larger surface area for cooking more at once. Many sets also have stockpots that are only 6 quarts, which is too small for making large batches of stock (8-quart or larger stockpots are best for preparing stocks and provide ample room for boiling pasta).
You can always purchase other essential pieces, such as a Dutch oven, a cast iron skillet, and a nonstick pan, in addition to your main set. Don’t be tempted to buy huge sets with lots of pieces. Most of the pots and pans in those larger sets are just filler. 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 but better-quality pieces you’ll reach for again and again.
Comfortable weight
The ideal weight and balance of cookware will be different for everyone. However, most of our testers preferred skillets that weighed between 2 and 3½ pounds, which were still light enough for tossing ingredients in a pan without placing too much torque on their wrists. 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 the actual size of the pots and pans. Getting a sense of each set just by looking at pictures online is difficult.
Additionally, we limited our search to cookware with sloped sides. Some skillets, such as this Viking Contemporary Frying Pan, have sharply angled sides that make tossing vegetables while sautéing difficult.
Durability and even heat distribution
Ideally, we wanted sets of fully clad tri-ply stainless steel, which has an aluminum core sandwiched between layers of stainless steel extending up the sides of the pan. Fully clad tri-ply stainless steel is the best option for both pros and home cooks because of its even heat distribution (aluminum heats up quickly and distributes heat well; steel is very durable and holds heat nicely). It’s also very durable and dishwasher safe. Unlike aluminum, stainless steel is nonreactive to acidic ingredients like tomatoes or vinegar, so it won’t leave behind a metallic taste. And unlike nonstick cookware, you can use stainless steel pans over high heat and move them directly from the stovetop to the oven. Bottom line: Good-quality stainless steel pans are buy-it-for-life items.
In addition to making tri-ply cookware, most high-end manufacturers produce sets that are made from five or more layers of stainless steel, aluminum, and sometimes copper. With each additional layer, the pans become more expensive. In most of our tests, five-ply cookware didn’t heat as uniformly as regular tri-ply cookware, or the differences were negligible. One exception was the Demeyere 5-Plus 10-Piece Cookware Set, which heated impressively evenly. That said, the pans in this set took longer to heat up than those in the All-Clad set. Five-ply cookware also holds onto more heat, so it’s slower to react when you lower the heat on your stove. Ultimately, we don’t think the extra cost of five-ply cookware is worth it.
We did our best to avoid sets that aren’t fully clad, meaning the aluminum core doesn’t extend up the sides of the cookware, because they’re prone to scorching. However, if you’re looking for a cheap set, cookware with tri-ply disks welded to the bottom of the pan (also called encapsulated bottoms) will distribute heat more evenly than pans made from a single piece of stainless steel. In our experience, sets with encapsulated bottoms performed better than those that had just a single layer of stainless steel, but we still wouldn’t recommend them. Fully clad tri-ply cookware is the way to go.
Materials to avoid
- Aluminum is reactive to acidic foods and can give them a metallic taste. It’s also not induction cooktop compatible. (Because induction burners transfer heat through a magnetic field, cookware must contain sufficient amounts of iron, such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel, in order to be compatible.)
- Anodized aluminum has a dark color that can make it hard to see if foods are browning properly, which is especially important for challenging tasks like making caramel. It can also be more difficult to clean than stainless steel because it’s harder to see if you’ve scrubbed off every bit of burned-on oil.
- Nonstick sets aren’t ideal for high-heat cooking such as searing and have a shorter life span than regular stainless steel, because their coating wears off within a few years. (Having one nonstick pan in your batterie de cuisine is all you need for preparing eggs.)
- Carbon steel, like cast iron, requires more upkeep to maintain the cooking surface and can rust if not properly seasoned.
- Cast iron is heavy, reactive to acidic food, and more difficult to maintain. However, we recommend that you have at least one cast iron skillet in your kitchen because it’s such a versatile pan. You can use it for everything from roasting a whole chicken to baking cornbread.
- Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, but it’s very expensive and difficult to maintain. However, we did test the All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Cookware Set because it has a stainless steel exterior.
Features and accessories to avoid
We excluded sets with glass lids because they can break or crack easily if dropped. They also offer little advantage over stainless steel lids because you can’t see through them when they’re covered with condensation. Pot and pan lids should fit well but somewhat loosely, with just enough wiggle room to allow steam to escape.
We dismissed sets with plastic handles, because 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, which ruled out most plastic components. Several members of our staff have also seen plastic handles crack after spending time in the dishwasher.
Stick handles that provide an easy grip and a comfortable angle allow you to quickly move saucepans around the stovetop one-handed, so we dismissed sets with small or medium saucepans that have two side handles. We also looked for sets that included a hole for hanging on each handle. Side handles are best for larger saucepans (those over 4 quarts) and stockpots, which have a bigger volume and require two hands to lift.
Many sets include a pasta insert or steamer basket for stockpots, but these pieces are superfluous. In our experience, they take up too much space or have a shallow design that doesn’t allow enough circulation for pasta when boiling.
A note on how cookware sets are sold
Cookware manufacturers often sell variations of the same cookware set to different retailers. They do this primarily to avoid competition among big-box stores, such as Target and Walmart, that sell similar items. For instance, one store may sell a set of cookware with a saucepan that has a stick handle, and another store might sell the same set with a saucepan that has two side handles. If you want to avoid the hassle of searching multiple retailers for these variations in an attempt to find the most useful set, take heart: We’ve already done that for you. We tested the best version of each cookware set we could find across multiple retailers.
How we tested
For each set, we started by testing how well the large skillets retained heat by making a heat map of their cooking surface using an infrared thermometer. We also sprinkled the surface of each large skillet with a dusting of flour and placed the pan over a medium-high flame to see how evenly the flour browned. Then we sautéed chicken pieces in the skillets to evaluate how uniformly the skin browned. Using the large saucepan from each set, we prepared small batches of caramel to check for hot spots, then we simmered a large batch of tomato sauce in each stockpot to test for scorching.
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Additionally, we evaluated how easy the handles were to hold, especially when retrieving the pots and pans from a hot oven using a side towel or pot holders. We also took note of the individual weight and thickness of the pieces in each set. To test for dripping, we observed how easily we could pour liquids from each pot. By hand-washing the pots and pans, we got a sense of how easy they were to clean. And we looked at how well each set nested for convenient storage.
Our pick: Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set
Our pick
Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set
The best cookware set
This affordable 12-piece set has the largest pots and pans of all the sets we tested, giving you the most bang for your buck. Every pan distributes heat evenly and is durable enough to take some abuse in a busy household.
We like the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set for its larger pot and pan sizes, durability, and even heat distribution. We found the Tramontina’s roomier cookware to be the most versatile, as it allowed us to accomplish more cooking tasks than all the other sets in our roundup. The Tramontina skillets produced perfectly brown chicken pieces with nice fond development, and the saucepans and stockpot simmered liquids without scorching. We found the wide handles on both the cookware and the lids comfortable to hold. Though this cookware discolored over high heat, the effect was common among all of the sets we tested in this price range. All of the cookware in this collection is dishwasher safe, induction compatible, and oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Included in this Tramontina set are 12 pieces: 10- and 12-inch skillets, a 5-quart sauté pan with a lid, 1½- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, a 5-quart Dutch oven with a lid, and a 12-quart stockpot with a lid. In contrast with most cookware sets, which typically provide 8- and 10-inch skillets, Tramontina’s is one of the only sets we could find that offered both 10- and 12-inch skillets. (We recommend the same 12-inch skillet as our runner-up pick in our guide to the best skillet.) The pieces in this set are also available open stock at Walmart.
The larger pan sizes in this set provide you with more cooking surface area, so you can, for instance, sauté a whole chicken in the 12-inch skillet in one batch to save time. Using the smaller skillets in the other sets we tried, such as the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro set, our testers had to cook chicken pieces in multiple batches, which took twice as long. Because the pans in the Tramontina set are so large, this is the perfect cookware collection for families of four or more who want to get dinner on the table quickly.
The Tramontina set also stands out because it was the only one in our test group to include a 12-quart stockpot. We like the large stockpot in this set because not only is it big enough for boiling pasta and making large batches of stock, but it also works for home canning purposes. And although the 5-quart sauté pan may seem unnecessary, our testers found it useful for boiling small batches of pasta or boxed mac and cheese.
In our tests, the Tramontina 3-quart saucepan made perfect caramel without burning, though some of our testers felt they had to swirl the pan more to distribute the heat evenly. The large stockpot didn’t scorch while simmering tomato sauce, which wasn’t the case with the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic stockpot, which required frequent stirring to prevent the sauce from burning. Also, the 10-inch Tramontina skillet made perfectly golden-brown chicken breasts with extra-crispy skin.
Our testers also liked the weight of the pieces in the Tramontina set, which felt durable enough to withstand the rigors of daily cooking. The handles on the stainless steel lids were big enough to grab onto, even when we used a side towel or pot holders. We also found that the stick handles were comfortable to hold and the appropriate length, unlike the handles on the Anolon Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, which were too short.
This Tramontina set, sold exclusively at Walmart, comes with a lifetime warranty (PDF) that covers manufacturer defects. If you encounter problems with this cookware under normal household use, contact Tramontina for a replacement.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
As with most of the sets we tested in this price range, the Tramontina skillets tarnished 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, and because this set has all the desired pot and pan sizes, we’re willing to forgive this minor drawback.
The Tramontina stockpot is larger than those in the other sets we tested, so it will take up more space in a cupboard (though not as much as the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro stockpot, which included a steamer basket that hogs more space when stacked). That said, all of the pieces in this collection stack nicely and have holes in the handles if you want to hang them on the wall or on a rack.
Upgrade pick: All-Clad Stainless 10-Piece Set
Upgrade pick
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set
A buy-it-for-life cookware set
The pans in this top-of-the-line set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and the ideal weight to hold.
You’ll likely never have to replace the All-Clad Stainless 10-Piece Set. It was hands down the best-quality cookware we tested in this price range ($700 at the time of testing). The pots and pans have the perfect weight, and they cooked food more evenly than our top-pick set due to their superior heat conduction. This cookware set was one of the only ones that turned out spotlessly clean after washing, even when coated with burned-on oil. And although this set is much more expensive than our main pick, we think it’s worth the extra cost for its durability and proven longevity.
The All-Clad Stainless 10-Piece Set includes 8- and 10-inch skillets, 2- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, a 3-quart sauté pan with a lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with a lid. The only drawback to this set is that it doesn’t include a 12-inch skillet, but we don’t think this omission is a dealbreaker, because you can always grow your collection by adding that piece down the road. (We also recommend the 12-inch All-Clad pan, which is our top pick in our guide to the best skillet.) All of the pieces in this set are dishwasher safe, induction compatible, and oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most of our testers liked the angle of the stick handles in the All-Clad set, which have a rounded bottom that fits nicely in your hand even when you’re holding a dish towel or pot holder. However, some preferred the thicker, rounded handles of the Tramontina set. We also found the handles on the lids easy to grab, unlike those of the Mauviel M’cook set, which were tiny.
In our tests, the chicken sautéed in the All-Clad 10-inch skillet cooked evenly and turned out perfectly golden brown with a crispy skin, about on a par with the chicken we made in the Tramontina skillet. When we prepared caramel, the dissolved sugar bubbled uniformly across the bottom of the All-Clad 3-quart saucepan, which wasn’t the case with the other sets we tested. Also, because the saucepan distributed heat so well, our testers didn’t have to swirl the sugar in the pan as frequently as they did in the saucepans from other sets. There was no scorching in the stockpot while simmering tomato sauce, even with minimal stirring. We noticed that some tomato sauce dripped down the side of the stockpot while we poured, but there were no splatters on the counter.
If you’re partial to keeping your cookware looking bright and shiny, note that this was one of the only sets we tested that looked like new after cleaning. Though burned-on oil or grease can be more challenging to remove with just regular dish soap or a run through the dishwasher, Bar Keepers Friend or a slurry of baking soda and warm water applied with a nonabrasive sponge (and a little elbow grease) gets the job done. The All-Clad skillets discolored slightly over heat, though significantly less than almost any other cookware we tested.
Because it’s so durable, All-Clad was the name that came up again and again when we spoke to the pros. Chef Candy Argondizza, vice president of culinary and pastry arts at the International Culinary Center at the time of our interview, said, “Both professionally and personally, I use All-Clad.” Janet Crandall, a Los Angeles–based private chef and cooking instructor, told us, “They are expensive, but worth it because of their durability.” Members of our own staff have owned or worked with All-Clad cookware for years, including writer and Wirecutter test kitchen manager Lesley Stockton, who said, “My oldest All-Clad is nine years old, and it’s as good as the day I bought it. When I worked in the Martha Stewart test kitchen, we were cooking on All-Clad pieces that were at least 15 years old.”
All-Clad offers a wide range of cookware outside the main set, so you can grow your collection. We recommend several other All-Clad pieces in our cookware guides, including the 12-inch skillet, the 8- and 10-inch nonstick skillet, the 2-quart saucier, and the flared roaster. Check out the All-Clad website to see a full list of its cookware.
The All-Clad tri-ply set is made in the US. (To learn more about how All-Clad cookware is made, check out David Lebovitz’s blog post about his factory tour in Pittsburgh.) The pans come with a limited lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer defects. Should you experience any problems with this set, contact All-Clad for repairs or replacements.
Long-term testing notes
We continue to reach for All-Clad the most in the Wirecutter test kitchen. Several of our staff have worked with All-Clad pots and pans professionally, and find that they continue to heat evenly and clean up well, even after years of persistent use.
Care and maintenance
Though most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe, we recommend washing it by hand whenever possible. A sponge does a much better job of getting into the nooks and crannies of a pan (especially around where the handle meets the pan, or around rivets). For difficult-to-remove items like burnt-on oil or lime deposits, Bar Keepers Friend applied with a sponge usually does the trick. In the Wirecutter test kitchen, we often remove burnt-on oil or discoloration using a slurry of baking soda and warm water along with a sponge and a little elbow grease. For other cleaning options, see the suggestions in our guide to the best skillet.
Never clean your stainless steel cookware with harsh chemicals, such as oven cleaner, that could cause permanent damage. Also, avoid using steel wool, which can severely scratch your cookware.
It’s industry standard for cookware manufacturers to advise against cooking over high temperatures to avoid liability for damage caused by misuse. 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.
For information on how to prevent food from sticking to your stainless steel cookware, check out our blog post on the subject.
If you’re worried about using metal utensils on your stainless steel cookware, don’t be: Although such tools may cause minor scratches on the surface of pots and pans, they will not damage the cookware’s performance.
Also, don’t place a screaming-hot pan under running water or in a sink to soak. Chef Janet Crandall told us, “I can’t stress enough the care of good cookware. NEVER put a hot pan or pot into water. Let them cool down. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on cookware, they will warp.”
The competition
Priced between $80 to $550
The Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set was our previous runner-up pick. However, after a new round of testing, we found the skillets warped over high heat. The bottom of the pans bowed out so much, they wobbled on a flat surface. We tested multiple skillets to be sure this wasn’t a fluke, but all of them had the same results. Although the pans were still usable after warping, their damage voids the warranty. The Cuisinart manual says to never use the cookware over high heat, recommending instead, “a low to medium setting for most cooking.” Many cookware manufacturers have the same recommendation, but our picks haven’t warped like the Cuisinart, even after years of cooking over high heat.
The Cuisinart 77-7 Chef’s Classic Stainless 7-Piece Cookware Set was our former budget pick. However, this set is prone to hot spots because it’s not fully clad. The single layer of stainless steel around the perimeter of the pan is too thin to evenly distribute heat and causes food to burn. We think that if you’re on a budget, you’re better off getting fewer, higher quality pieces of cookware that will give you better results and last longer. (Tramontina, our main pick, sells pieces from the set we recommend open stock at Walmart.)
The Cuisinart 77-7 Chef’s Classic Stainless 7-Piece Cookware Set was our former budget pick. However, this set is prone to hot spots because it’s not fully clad. The single layer of stainless steel around the perimeter of the pan is too thin to evenly distribute heat and causes food to burn. We think that if you’re on a budget, you’re better off getting fewer, higher quality pieces of cookware that will give you better results and last longer. (Tramontina, our main pick, sells pieces from the set we recommend open stock at Walmart.)
The design of the Cuisinart French Classic Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Set gives the skillets higher sides that make tossing vegetables a bit more challenging than with our top picks. In addition, for the price, we wish this set came with a second skillet.
The stick handles on the Anolon Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set were too short and less comfortable to hold than the wide, longer handles on the Tramontina cookware.
The Duxtop Whole Clad Tri ply Stainless Steel Premium 10-Piece Cookware Set did poorly in our caramel test, as areas of the saucepan started to burn the sugar before the center had fully dissolved. This set also dripped the most when we poured liquids.
The Made In Kitchen Sink set did well in our tests. However, most of our testers found the stick handles on the skillets to be uncomfortably low, preferring the higher angle of the handles on our picks. Aside from that, our testers found the cooking instructions etched on the bottom of the pans to be a bit cheesy, especially if you plan to hang them on a wall (and not particularly helpful while you’re using the pans).
We dismissed the Cooks Standard Multi-Ply Clad Stainless Steel 12-piece Cookware Set because the rivets weren’t secure on some of the pot handles, which caused them to wiggle.
The Potluck cookware set comes with just seven pieces, and only includes a 10-inch skillet, so we decided not to test it. If you’re going to get just one skillet, we think a 12-inch pan is the more versatile option. Plus, the Tramontina set we recommend doesn’t cost much more than the Potluck set, and includes almost twice as many pieces.
We ruled out the cookware sets from Misen after testing the Misen 3QT Saucier in our guide to the best small saucepan. Its five-ply construction made the pan slower to heat up and its tubular handle was hard to hold onto. We’ve also watched Misen’s cookware go in and out of stock frequently.
The Great Jones Family Style set is unusual among the cookware sets we looked at in that it includes a nonstick pan and an enameled cast iron Dutch oven. However, we decided not to test for a few reasons. For one, after testing the the Great Jones Saucy for our guide to the best small saucepans, we found the company’s loop-shaped handles uncomfortable to hold. Also, the nonstick pan is only 8.5 inches, so it’s not as versatile as the 10-inch pans we recommend in our guide to nonstick skillets, and it has a ceramic coating, which we’ve found quickly loses its nonstick properties. The set’s only other skillet, a 10.25-inch skillet/saute pan hybrid, is also on the small side.
Priced between $600 to $800
The All-Clad d5 Brushed Stainless 10-Piece Set held onto heat more, so it took longer for us to make caramel and achieve nicely golden-brown chicken. This set also costs $100 more than our upgrade pick.
Although the Mauviel M’cook Stainless Steel 9-Piece Cookware Set performed well in our tests, it includes a small, 1-quart saucepan, which we felt was more limiting than a 1½- or 2-quart saucepan. On top of that, the lids have tiny handles that we found difficult to grasp, and the set comes with only one skillet.
The Viking 3-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set discolored badly and the skillets didn’t heat as evenly as our picks.
Sauce stuck more to the sides and bottom of the stockpot in the Zwilling Aurora 5-Ply Stainless Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set. Also, some of our testers didn’t love the lids in this cookware collection due to their dull finish.
We previously tested the 12½-inch skillet from the Breville Thermal Pro line for our guide to the best skillet. The Breville weighed almost 5 pounds and retained too much heat due to its thick base, which made temperature control difficult. Based on those results, we opted not to test the Breville Thermal Pro Clad Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Set in this roundup.
The skillets in the Williams Sonoma Signature Thermo-Clad Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set have a very small cooking surface. The handles on this set are also very long, which we found awkward—especially on a crowded range. At 3 pounds, 14.8 ounces, the Signature Thermo-Clad pan was a bit hefty for some of our testers.
Priced over $800
We were curious to see if the Demeyere 5-Plus 10-Piece Cookware Set was worth its exorbitant price. 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 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.
Because copper is such an excellent conductor of heat, we decided to test the All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Set to see how it would perform against regular tri-ply stainless steel cookware. In our tests, the copper-core cookware heated up so fast we had to swirl the pan more when making caramel to prevent it from burning. Unlike the tri-ply All-Clad set we recommend, the Copper Core skillets discolored badly over high heat.
We tested the Hestan 12.5″ Open Skillet to see if its NanoBond Technology made it less prone to discoloration than other cookware. The pan discolored slightly in our tests, but was easy to clean with the Hestan brand stainless steel cleaner. However, because the skillet concentrated heat in the center of the pan, we opted not to try the full Hestan 10-Piece Set. Also, this set costs a whopping $1,500 (at the time of testing). For half the price, we think anyone would be happy with the All-Clad set we recommend.
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