The Best Cookware Sets, Tested By Allrecipes

A cookware set is arguably the most important purchase you'll make for your kitchen. Whether it's a pot to boil water in or a pan to sauté a chicken breast, it's something you'll reach for on a daily basis. If your cookware is past its prime, or you're looking for more cohesion in your kitchen, a complete cookware set can take your kitchen to new heights.

However, with so many options in the marketplace, narrowing down the perfect set for you can be intimidating. Thankfully, our Allrecipes testers, including a few Allstars, are here to the rescue. They tested top-rated sets in ways the average home cook would use them and rated them on things like heat distribution, versatility, and ease of cleaning. Copper, nonstick, aluminum-clad, no matter your preference, there's the perfect cookware set that passed our tests out there for you.

About Our Tests

We analyze each set on its versatility, heating ability, performance, and ease of cleaning. We pay special attention to the number of pieces, design elements, heat distribution and maintenance, and how much elbow grease is required to get things sparkling. Then, the fun began when our testers put each set through real-world tests.

• Boiling Water Test: We measure how long the smallest saucepan in the set takes to heat four cups of water to a boil over medium heat.
• Pan-Seared Chicken Breast Test: We cook store-bought chicken breasts, checking for ease of maneuvering, fond development, and heat distribution.
• Tomato Sauce Test: This assesses the cookware's performance by heating two cups of tomato sauce over medium heat in one of the saucepans. We pay particular attention to signs of sticking or scorching. We also note markers of optimal heat distribution like even bubbles and patterns in the middle or around the perimeter.
• Fried Egg Test: This is the easiest way to assess the quality of a pan, especially a nonstick. We make sure to note how crispy the edges looked, if the egg gets stuck, how easy it is to slide out of the pan, and the overall evenness of the finished egg.

• We want you to have durable cookware that heats evenly and doesn't require a deep clean after a weeknight dinner, and those are all reasons why Allstar Amanda Scarlati loves this Calphalon set. After we gave it high marks in our testing, she put it through even more with searing chicken and pork chops, cooking pasta and rice, making eggy dishes, and steaming veggies. All of it was effortless and didn't require pulling out the baking soda afterward.

  "The thing I liked the most about this set was the quality," says Scarlati. "The material is heavy duty and truly a non-stick product." Even if you're not a pro at the mercury ball test, fried eggs and frittatas will slide right out of this pan. The clear, tight-fitting lids are perfect for getting a quick glance inside the pot, while the comfortable handles don't get uncomfortably warm on the stove.

  Scarlati did find minor downsides. Steaming a large amount of vegetables can be tricky since the pots are not that wide, and you might want to pick up a smaller pan for your eggs. And like all stainless steel cookware, if searing goes too far or burnt-on food occurs, you'll need some elbow grease during cleanup.

  The Details: Stainless steel; 11 pieces; dishwasher safe; oven safe to 450°F

• You've probably seen this Caraway Cookware Set on your favorite Instagram influencer's stove. It has made a name for itself not just for how stunning the cookware looks, but for its overall superior design, which our own Melanie Fincher approves of.

  Almost every facet of this set seems to be designed with usability in mind, from the pan's sloped sides—that are perfect for sliding an egg out of all the way—to the notches under the handles to alert you of how far down you can go before it gets too hot. This set even comes with smart solutions for storage like a canvas lid holder, magnetic pan rack, and cork trivets.

  We noticed the pans felt thick (in a good way), which led to excellent heat control. This also allows for a slower and controlled heating, which was great for subtle searing and avoiding scorched food. Everything cooked super evenly, and it seamlessly went from the range to the oven.

  Caraway is lauded for its extreme nonstick, and we found that it lives up to the hype. Our fried eggs didn't break and easily moved along the slick surface. This also made it incredibly easy to clean. We did, however, have to lug out one of the big saute pans since there's no small pan in this set. And, as Fincher notes, the interior of this can get dingy from stains. You'll have to do an extra deep-clean every now and then to keep it looking great for your timeline.

  The Details: Aluminum and stainless base with ceramic coating; 9 pieces; not dishwasher safe; oven safe to 550°F

• Why It's Great: Extremely nonstick; ergonomic handles; lightweight

  Grain of Salt: Poor heat distribution

   

   

   

  Kitchen Utensil Flower Shape Enamel Cast Iron Cookware Pot Casserole

  

  The one thing we said over and over again about this Bialetti 10-Piece Ceramic Pro Cookware Set is that it is almost unbelievably nonstick. It got a rare "impressive" when there was absolutely no sticking in our chicken searing test. It was also a top performer in our egg test, with not a single point of sticking in sight. We also loved the light grey nonstick coating since it was easier to see bubbling and sizzling.

  Compared to some of the other pans on this list, the Bialetti pans felt more lightweight, easy to maneuver, and had a better handle design. The handle is bolted in, feels ergonomic in hand, and not cumbersome.

  In our boiling water test, we noticed that these pans heated up lightning quick, but the heat distribution was lacking. This was likely due to its wider size, so the heat didn't go all the way to the edges leading to a hot spot in the middle.

  The Details: Aluminum base with nonstick coating and stainless steel handles; 10 pieces; hand wash recommended; oven safe to 400°F

• Why It's Great: Induction safe; easy to grip; oven safe

  Grain of Salt: Handles get hot

   

  Many types of nonstick pans don't perform well at high heat and aren't oven-safe at all, but that's not the case with this set. It's oven-safe up to 500°F, so you can get that crispy exterior combined with the easy cleanup of nonstick. We love the versatility of being able to go from stove to oven and back again. Even better, these pans are compatible with induction burners. The flat bottoms and exposed stainless steel make them easy to use on induction burners and yield even heating.

  We also loved the design of these handles. The metal is brushed, making it not as slippery as regular, shiny stainless steel. However, the downside is that they, along with the lids, get extremely hot while cooking.

  The Details: Aluminum with nonstick coating and magnetic base; 8 pieces; dishwasher safe; oven safe to 500°F

• Why It's Great: Great at high heat; very even heating; extremely durable

  Grain of Salt: Expensive, even for a splurge

   

  All-Clad is the gold stand for most professional chefs. While this set is definitely a splurge, it's well worth it given the quality and durability. All-Clad D5's five layers of stainless steel material wrapped around an aluminum core is incredibly durable, and can take the daily wear and tear of even the busiest cook.

  In most of our tests and in Scarlati's kitchen, these pans performed well in high heat. There was very minimal scorching with excellent heat distribution, and we noticed even heat with phenomenal heat retention across even the larger pieces. The range of pieces is a major highlight for our Allstar. "[This has] a good variety of smaller and larger pans as well pots," she says. The depth-to-width ratio is excellent. "Food fit well in the pans, especially in the larger ones," says Scarlati.

  Besides the high price, the handles on All-Clad are another sticking point: you either love them or hate them. We've found the design ergonomic and grippy, but Scarlati finds them uncomfortable and way too big. We love a helper handle in general, but these were particularly great because they made pouring much easier and even stayed cool to the touch after 15 minutes on the stove. And if this is just way too out of your budget, try the D3 line, which also performs well.

  The Details: Stainless steel with aluminum core; 10 pieces; hand wash recommended; oven safe to 600°F

• Why It's Great: Durable; versatile; comprised of popular cast-iron pieces

  Grain of Salt: Will need some extra maintenance

   

  Lodge is one of the best names in cast-iron cookware. This Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron 5-Piece Set is everything you need to deck out your kitchen in cast iron. Obviously, cast iron is unbelievably durable. Pans are passed down through generations, and with this set, you're sure to contribute to its legacy.

  Some might think cast iron cookware is only for specific tasks, but when properly cared for, it can replace your favorite nonstick and stainless cookware plus your Dutch oven. Sure, cast iron is great for frying chicken and baking up a great batch of classic cornbread, but you can also make a soft scrambled egg, sear a steak, or even toss together some pasta.

  In order to sustain the surface of your pan and build up that nonstick surface, you have to go through a process called seasoning. This is extra maintenance than needs to be done periodically to care for your cookware. They can be harder to clean and maintain if this isn't something you're used to.

  The Details: Cast iron; 5 pieces; not dishwasher safe; oven safe to 650°F