The Best Cookware Sets, Tested and Reviewed

If you’re like most of us, you likely have a hodgepodge of pots and pans in your kitchen—some old, some new, some you have no idea how they got into your cabinet, yet they’ve been lingering around for years. If you’re looking to elevate your cooking game, or if you’re simply ready to have a full matching set, investing in new cookware is the first step to making your kitchen feel complete. 

Purchasing a full set of cookware, rather than individual pieces, can save both time and money. Cookware sets often contain the most-used pan sizes and lids, plus they’re often less expensive than purchasing each piece on its own. 

In our test kitchen of professional chefs and home cooks, we’ve done the hard work for you and tested 47 cookware sets (yes, you read that correctly) across nonstick, ceramic and stainless steel varieties. We seared meats and whipped up fried eggs, rice pilaf, vegetables and sauces, plus spent time cleaning the pans afterwards. After days of testing, these are our top recommendations.

What we like: Stylish colors, moderate price, stores neatly.

What to know: Pans can be a bit heavy and bulky.

If you are looking for a moderately priced ceramic cookware set that looks as good as it performs, this is the one. Constructed of aluminum with a nontoxic, nonstick ceramic coating, these Caraway pans come in a range of gorgeous colors, from golden-yellow to navy blue to blush pink. And, to keep them neatly stashed in your cabinets, this set includes a magnetic pan organizing rack and a canvas lid holder that you can affix to the inside of your cabinet door.

During our testing, we found that these pans cooked our food evenly, without a single spot of food sticking anywhere, making them perfect for scrambling eggs or searing fish. Cleanup is an absolute breeze, as you can essentially just wipe out the pan with a paper towel—the nonstick coating is just that good. 

Differing from several of the other sets, the Caraway pans have more surface area on the bottom, with straighter, tall sides, meaning these pans can hold a lot of food. Another very cool feature is the “bump stop” on the handles to let the user know where the handle will start to get hot. One thing to note, though, is the bulkiness and weight of these pans, as they aren’t incredibly well-balanced. For those with strength limitations, you might need to use two hands to move these pans, especially if they’re filled with food. 

Pieces included: 12 | Material: Aluminum Ceramic Nonstick | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: No

What we like: Sleek design and superior heat conductivity.

What to know: Handwashing recommended.

If you’re looking for stainless steel cooking quality with all the benefits of nonstick, there’s no better set than this 10-piece from GreenPan. While the price tag makes it a bit of a splurge, this set gives you all the benefits of nonstick cooking in a stainless cloak. Additionally, these pans are all induction-friendly, meaning you can use them on any type of cooktop, even a portable induction cooktop when an extra burner is needed.

Right off the bat, our testers were impressed with the sleek, attractive design of these pans. All of the lids have vent holes and the largest pot has two pour spouts, making pouring liquids extremely easy and satisfying. When frying an egg in the skillet, our testers found that the underside was evenly browned, the exterior rim crisp and the yolk intact, and the egg slid right out of the pan without needing a spatula. In other words, this is the perfect egg pan. The rest of the cookware set performed just as well; the rice pilaf, even with a heavily crisped layer on the bottom, slid out of the pan with ease, as did our scrambled eggs. 

The GreenPan set is technically dishwasher safe, although the manufacturer recommends handwashing the pans for best results. We followed this advice and used a sponge and some soapy water to clean our pans, which was a quick and easy process. Overall, we think this GreenPan set is worth the splurge—particularly if you’re looking for long-term cookware that doesn’t require you to stand over the sink scrubbing all night. 

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Stainless Steel Ceramic Nonstick | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes

What we like: A lightweight, attractive set at an incredible value.

What to know: Neither oven- nor dishwasher-safe.

For less than the price of one singular pan in some other sets, you get a full 10 pieces of cookware in this set from CAROTE. The styling is similar to that of much more expensive ceramic cookware, but these pans are made from aluminum rather than stainless steel, keeping this set at a more cost-effective price. 

When cooking the fried egg, testers found it stuck a little bit, though it was easily released with the coaxing of a spatula. Testers also found that the pans curved inside the skillets, making it so there’s no real full flat surface. This makes stirring the food easy, but it’s a little difficult to get a good sear on foods like chicken or shrimp. 

One thing to note is these pans are not oven- or dishwasher-safe. The handles are made from Bakelite—a hard plastic that is heat-resistant but not heat-proof—and therefore, they’re unable to be exposed to the high heat of the oven or dishwasher. But overall, for the money, you can’t find a better complete set that looks as good in the cupboard as it does sitting out on the stove. 

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Aluminum Ceramic Nonstick | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: No | Dishwasher safe: No

What we like: Simple and practical design with even and consistent cooking capabilities.

What to know: While the pots and pans are oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the lids can only withstand up to 425 degrees.

Le Creuset has long been known for its durable Dutch ovens, so it’s no surprise that this set of nonstick skillets, saucepans and pots also took top marks during testing. Rice pilaf and scrambled eggs cooked like a dream in these pans, and when it came to cleanup, it only took a swipe from a sponge to remove any debris. 

We love that the shape of these pans are simple, practical and traditional. The high, straight sides of the pots and saucepans, as well as the perfect slant on the skillets, made testers happy in a sea of new-wave pans that often don’t cook as well as the tried-and-true models. With the variety of pots, pans, skillets and sizes, this set is great for pretty much anything, including browning, searing and even roasting, since it can even be transferred to the oven with a heat threshold of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. (However, the lids of the pans are only oven-safe to 425 degrees, so you’ll need to remove them before you crank up the heat.) 

This all seems fitting for a brand that makes a Dutch oven you not only keep forever, but also pass on to the next generation. This set is durable, well-balanced, and exactly what most want for a fantastic nonstick cookware set.   

High-Quality Nonstick Round Enamel Dutch Oven Casserole Cooking Pot Cast Iron Cookware

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Aluminum Nonstick | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes

What we like: Comes with the largest stock pot of any set on our list and offers superior browning on a nonstick surface.

What to know: The price tag is the steepest of all the sets we tested.

Nonstick pans generally cannot achieve the same level of browning as stainless steel pans, but the All-Clad set does, thanks to its stainless steel finish below the nonstick coating. The bottom of the fried egg was an even, crispy brown and the onions got a nice caramelization that made us excited for making pan sauces. 

Similar to professional cookware, the handles are rounded with a divot for your thumb to fit in, making them easy to move around and shake. Because these pans are made of a thicker construction to promote more even cooking, they are heavier than other sets, which may be an issue for those with limited strength. However, testers agreed that because of its heavy construction, these pans are ideal for searing and braising without the issues of burning or sticking. 

You might be paying a bit more for the All-Clad name, but for those who want all the culinary benefits of stainless steel and the ease of nonstick clean up, this is the set for you. 

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Stainless Steel Nonstick | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes

What we like: Affordable and comprehensive set of both cookware and utensils.

What to know: Not the most durable.

For anyone looking to go from zero pans to a full set on a budget, this 15-piece set from Amazon will check that box. Along with two skillets and four pots with lids, this cookware assortment includes five utensils, including slotted spoons and turners, to help you cook and serve your food. 

When testing these pans, we didn’t find any issues with food sticking on any of the surfaces. However, these pans are meant to be used over low and medium heat only, as the handles are made of plastic and the nonstick coating can be damaged at high heat. We’ll also note that the largest pot in this set has a 4-quart capacity, which is considerably smaller than a traditional large pot for cooking pasta.

While this Amazon Basics set is not necessarily designed for durability, we think these pans are perfect for someone looking for a starter set of cookware for an apartment or dorm, a supplementary set for a camper or RV, or for someone who’s looking to tide themselves over until they find their “forever” cookware. 

Pieces included: 15 | Material: Aluminum Nonstick | Induction Compatible: No | Oven-safe: No | Dishwasher safe: No

What we like: Designed for the serious cook, this cookware set looks as good as it performs.

What to know: Controlling the heat can be a bit tricky.

When you make the transition from novice cook to intermediate, it’s a great time to step up your gear and reach for stainless steel cookware. Stainless steel pans allow for the deep browning of meat and vegetables to create what's called fond, also known as the bits that stick to the bottom of the pan. While some see food sticking to the pan as a bad thing, chefs know that the fond is the foundation of good sauces and the base for a boost in flavor. That’s where this Hestan stainless steel cookware set comes into play. 

With ergonomic, sleek and comfortable handles and heavy, thick construction, these pans were made to work in a kitchen that gets a lot of use. This set comes with the same 8.5- and 11-inch skillets, and 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans that most other cookware sets have, but it also includes a 3.5-quart high-sided saute pan, as well as an 8-quart stockpot that’s ideal for making soups and stews. 

When testing, we found that these pans were quite reactive to heat, but they gave our meat an even sear with nice browning. Additionally, these pans were easy to clean with a sponge and dish soap, no steel wool needed even with a bit of sticking from the rice. We think this set of pans is a solid choice that any avid cook would enjoy. 

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Stainless Steel | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes

What we like: The easiest stainless steel pans to clean, perfect weight.

What to know: Steep price point.

Just as we loved the nonstick pans from Le Creuset, we also loved the renowned brand’s stainless steel set. This sturdy, splurge-worthy set consists of a skillet, a sauté pan, two saucepans and a stockpot with a colander insert. Made of titanium-infused stainless steel with an aluminum core, these pans have an attractive design that’s true to the Le Creuset name, including the familiar three-ring lid pattern that the brand is known for. 

Each pan has an incredibly even cooking surface without any hot spots, meaning that vegetables and sauces bubbled throughout the pans and not just on the edges or in the middle. We also loved the weight of these pans—not too heavy but not too light—and they performed just as well as the heavier bunch. In fact, when cooking rice in one of the pans, we found it to be one of the most even rice batches from what we tested.

Even with the slightest bit of sticking (again, not a bad thing!), this cookware set was the easiest to clean of all the stainless steel pans we tested. After a gentle soak, everything came off with soap and hot water. The price is steep, yes, but this is a set that you’ll have forever. 

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Stainless Steel | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes/No

What we like: Lightweight and versatile set at an approachable price point.

What to know: Cooking was a bit uneven during testing.

If you’re searching for a solid set of entry-level stainless steel cookware, or if you’d like to have both a stainless steel set and a nonstick set without breaking the bank, this 10-piece assortment from Calphalon fits the bill. Our testers loved that these pans are lightweight and easy to maneuver, and sticking was minimal when we cooked vegetables and sauces in them. 

At seven quarts, the stock pot is a bit smaller than other sets. Still, these pans could accomplish everything their more expensive counterparts could, and they were easy to clean, as well. While the lighter weight of the pans makes them easier to move, you are giving up a bit of even cooking; when we seared pork in these pans, we noticed a bit of uneven coloring. (However, only the most advanced cooks noticed the difference.) For a set that’s budget-friendly and performs well, this straightforward set is a steal.  

Pieces included: 10 | Material: Stainless Steel | Induction Compatible: Yes | Oven-safe: Yes, up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher safe: Yes