If you’re outfitting a new kitchen or just looking to upgrade your current pots and pans, buying a cookware set is an easy way to fill your cabinets with the skillets, saucepans, and stockpots you need for every recipe. Whether it’s selecting the right skillet for the perfect sear on steak or tofu or finding a durable, oven-safe dish for a low-and-slow braise, the cookware you use has a major impact on how your meal turns out.
BEST ALL-AROUND COOKWARE SET
- Tempered glass lids
- Helper handle on large sauté pan
- Should not be used with metal utensils
- Pricey
Key Specs
- Material: Nonstick
- Pieces: 10 (including 4 lids)
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
This 10-piece set is a great all-around choice for home cooks of all levels. It includes 10- and 12-inch skillets, 2- and 3-quart lidded saucepans, a 5-quart lidded Dutch oven, and a 4.5-quart lidded sauté pan. The hard-anodized nonstick surface is durable and easy to clean. It’s also induction-compatible and oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (the lids are safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Handles have holes for hanging
- Lids fit multiple pots
- Stay-cool handle
- Pricey
- Shipping can take a long time
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Pieces: 12 (including 5 lids)
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
This hardy stainless-steel set is a well-equipped combination of pots and pans. It includes 2- and 3-quart saucepans, 3- and 6-quart lidded skillets, 10- and 12-inch sauté pans, and an 8-quart stockpot. The handles stay cool for safe handling, and the entire set is dishwasher safe and easy to keep gleaming. Misen also makes a pared-down 5-piece Starter Cookware Set that’s great for small homes or someone who doesn’t cook as often.
