Cookware Sets Stainless Steel, Nonstick, Copper & More You’ll get solid performance whether you’re caramelizing onions or simmering a Bolognese. Copper cookware heats the most evenly and is the most responsive (meaning, take your pan of hollandaise off the burner and it stops cooking immediately so there’s no danger it will curdle). But copper is super pricey and requires a lot of upkeep if you want to maintain its bright, shiny finish. How well cookware lasts is often the result of how well you take care of it. Some cookware sets include only pots and pans while others include more specialized cookware pieces or even items like spatulas or baking sheets. Most sets include an 8-, 10- or 12-inch skillet (or all three!) ,a saucepan, and a larger stockpot. If you are cooking for a large family, the larger cooking items may be more useful than if you are only cooking for one or two people. Everything feels so small, especially compared to the All-Clad and Anolon which offer larger sizes. 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). Since 2002, Everything Kitchens has been committed to providing top-quality kitchenware and appliances... We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. Additionally, the size and dimensions offered in the set work really well with standard recipes. The handles are easily gripped and sturdy, as well, and the lids never warp and sit securely. My only major gripe is the price—this set is definitely more expensive than others on the list. But considering its superior performance, it really is worth the price tag. If you’re lusting after professional-looking stainless-steel cookware but don’t have the big bucks to shell out, this is the set for you. In addition to the basic skillets and saucepans, you get a large saute pan, a Dutch oven, and a large 8-quart stockpot. As the 12-inch fry pan is deep and rounded, it’s perfect for stir fries. All in all, you’re pretty much covered for every possible cooking need. Tramontina can be placed in the oven up to a temp of 500 degrees F, which should be more than enough for everything from keeping a casserole warm, to braising a pot roast, to browning off an apple crisp. I attended the Institute of Culinary Education for pastry, working as a freelance baker and recipe tester on the side; I later enrolled at New York University, where I graduated with a master’s degree in food studies. I’ll admit, years of bad press about nonstick cookware producing subpar food, being shoddily made and even potentially harmful gave me pause on whether to recommend a brand at all. But after my rigorous testing process, I concluded that there really are many excellent options on the market—and there have been incredible advancements in nonstick coating in recent years as well. Nonstick surfaces are not designed for high heat and are best to only be used for minutes — longer periods of time can emit potentially harmful fumes from Teflon. Older nonstick pans contained a potentially harmful chemical, PFOA, a suspected carcinogen. Aluminum is generally safe, but you don't want to use it with reactive foods like tomato sauce or citrus, which can leech metal and taint the taste of food. Be sure to visit the FDA for more information about what to look for in your cookware. When you list the most useful tools in the modern home kitchen, a reliable nonstick cookware set will inevitably rise to the top. Thanks to their slick coating, these pans take the guesswork out of cooking and cleaning, and their light weight makes them easier to handle compared to cookware made from other materials. To find the absolute best nonstick cookware sets, we subjected a handful of popular, top-rated brands to rigorous testing, from frying eggs to simmering marinara sauce. If you’re looking for the best overall set, you can’t beat the superior cooking abilities of the All-Clad D3 Stainless Nonstick. For the best value, the T-fal Unlimited Cookware Set is perfect for beginners and those with smaller kitchens.