7 Best Cookware Sets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

With this set, you’ll get the very best nonstick performance. Even the stickiest foods, like fried eggs and pancakes, fall out of the pan, leaving the surfaces virtually spotless, even when you don’t use butter. While you may think of nonstick as best for frying, you’ll also appreciate how rice doesn’t stick to the pots. You can also count on these pots and pans to brown burgers evenly and simmer a tomato sauce steadily. The body of the pan is anodized aluminum and the exterior finish, which comes in your choice of gray, indigo, bronze or black, is also nonstick for the ultimate in easy cleanup.

As Anolon is oven-safe up to 400 degrees F, you can use the skillets for a frittata or Dutch baby pancake that starts off on the stovetop and finishes in the oven. In addition to an 8-quart stockpot you get a wide and deep 12-inch skillet that’s perfect for dishes like pork chops and peppers or chicken and dumplings. All of the lids are glass so you can see if your paella has absorbed all the broth without uncovering the pan and losing heat. One little quibble: You may need to do a little detail work to keep the stainless-steel rivets inside the cookware clean.

Blue Diamond is made of aluminum that’s coated inside with a ceramic finish, rather than a traditional one made of PTFE. While you many not find it as stickproof, you will get the benefit of easy cleanup. Unlike other nonstick pans, these can withstand temps up to 850 degrees F on the stovetop or in the oven, so you can go ahead and fearlessly sear a sirloin in a frypan or glaze pork chops under the broiler. Testing has revealed that Blue Diamond heats evenly, so if you’re slinging pancakes you don’t have to keep moving them around in the pan to get them all done at the same time.

In spite of its low cost, these pieces are quite handsome with a dark blue exterior enamel surface and brushed stainless steel handles. Although the handles are attached with rivets for durability, they’re coated with the nonstick finish so don’t require any extra work to keep clean. The lids are glass to let you check if your soup is simmering gently or boiling ferociously and then adjust the heat accordingly. One thing to note is that the pieces in this set are not exceptionally large. The Dutch oven is 5 quarts and the deep straight-sided sauté pan is only 2.5 quarts.

This direct-to-consumer ceramic line is a triple threat in design, durability and efficacy. Plus, it's perfect for the minimalist cook or the person with very little storage room. While this set is lacking an 8-inch frying pan, the 10.5-inch frying pan, 4.5-quart saute pan, 3-quart saucepan and 6.5-quart Dutch oven (with three mix-and-match low-profile lids) cover your cooking needs, while the bonus canvas lid holder and magnetic holding rack keep your cabinets organized. Even heat distribution, quick boil and breezy clean-up make Caraway your dinner-in-a-pinch partner-in-crime. We recommend their star-studded collection for newlyweds, first-time homeowners and anyone looking to reset their stovetop needs. For anyone looking for additional colors, Crate & Barrel carries four exclusive colors with gold hardware.

Read our full review of Caraway's Cookware Set

If you prefer bright, cheery kitchen tools this set comes in shimmery shades of red, burgundy, teal, light blue, and yes, gray if you must. In spite of its very reasonable price, this set offers even heating and has an interior nonstick finish that makes it easy to scramble up eggs and then clean out the pan afterwards.

Rachael Ray offers offer some very nice features that you don’t always find at this price including silicone handles that are riveted, not screwed on, so they won’t be coming loose, glass lids, and flared rims to enhance pouring. On the bottom there’s a stainless-steel base that makes the cookware safe for use on an induction cooktop and you can pop a skillet in the oven up to 400 degrees F. There are no extra-large pots included, but the 6-quart stockpot is plenty adequate for soups and pasta water and can also serve as a Dutch oven.

The truth is, there are times when you just need a nonstick pan in the kitchen. This set is designed for the serious cook with practicality in mind. The starter 6-piece set comes with the basics including two 10-inch pans, a small saucepan and large stockpot. It's perfect for those with smaller kitchens but big cooking ambitions. The Made In nonstick pan is a top pick in testing and is a kitchen workhorse, perfect for eggs, pancakes, delicate fish and more. Made In's pots and pans remind our test kitchen chefs of restaurant-style cookware and are made to last. The clad design is sturdy and holds its own compared to higher-priced lines.

Hands down, this is the set you want if price is no object. Time and time again, testing shows that All-Clad browns perfectly evenly and keeps stews and sauces at a perfect simmer. What that means to you is that you won’t have to vigilantly rearrange, stir and adjust the heat during cooking. All gleaming stainless steel inside and out, it has a core of aluminum that’s responsible for its great results. We love the sloped shape of the skillets which make it easy to roll out an omelet.

The handles are riveted onto the base which is a guarantee that they’ll never fall off. D3 can be used in the oven up to 600 degrees F, so you can finish off a piece of salmon in the oven or crisp up a skillet mac 'n cheese under the broiler. In this collection, you get all the essential pieces including an 8-quart stockpot for boiling spaghetti water or big batch soups. However, the sauté pan is only 8-inches in diameter so may want to supplement with a bigger covered skillet or saute pan for one-dish dinners. You can safely wash these pots and pans in the dishwasher and they are easy to clean by hand unless you sear over high heat and get spatters cooked onto the surface. Sizes are etched on the bottoms so you always know whether you’re grabbing the pan specified in your recipe.

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. You’ll get solid performance whether you’re caramelizing onions or simmering a Bolognese. As the handles are rounded, they offer a comfortable grip.

This collection offers you a lot of value for your money. In addition to the basic skillets and saucepans, you get a large sauté pan and a large 8-quart stockpot. The skillets are sloped which makes them perfect for turning out crepes and omelets. While you’re pretty much covered for all your cooking needs, we do wish a 12-inch skillet was included. 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. Like all stainless, this cookware is dishwasher safe but is prone to some discoloration over time.