6 Best Cookware Sets 2022 Reviewed 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. 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. Not all cookware sets are created equal, and you'll want to think seriously about the space you have in your kitchen and how often you cook before deciding on how many pieces you need. If you are moving into a new house, getting married, or replacing all your cookware, a larger set may make sense. Keep in mind lids are counted as individual pieces in most cookware sets. Large cookware sets can take up a lot of space, so make sure you account for that when purchasing. Sharon Franke has been testing and writing about kitchen equipment for over 30 years. 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. But all that is moot with this GreenPan Revolution Ceramic Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set. Its ceramic coating is safe for metal utensils and won't chip or scratch over time. While we felt that the price was worth it for the quality, it is a high initial investment. This set is not the most affordable and may not feel worth it if you want more pieces for the money. For just over 100 bucks, it's hard to believe you get five pieces that you'll have for years. Pans are passed down through generations, and with this set, you're sure to contribute to its legacy. The one thing our testers said over and over again about this Bialetti 10 Piece Hard Anodized, Ceramic Pro Cookware Set is that it is almost unbelievably nonstick. 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. The Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set ranks number one. None of the pans on this list were made using PFOAs; few manufacturers continue to use the chemical. If you want a nonstick alternative to a PTFE-coated pan, consider a cast iron skillet. You can season these pans to be naturally nonstick; they’ll require more maintenance over time, but will last for many years.