If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Other brands on store shelves include Chefmate, KitchenAid, gotham steel cookware sets Le Creuset, Mainstays, Swiss Diamond, T-Fal, Tramontina, Rachael Ray, and WearEver, among many others. We highlight the cookware and appliances that will allow you to whip up a feast in5 Essentials You Need in a Small Kitchen.
Before you set out to find new cookware, there are some questions you need to know the answer to. Deciding on a budget limit before shopping is always a good idea, and you really don’t need to spend a fortune to get good cookware. Ultimately, you can get away with having just one saucepan, but owning two sizes is ideal. The most popular sizes are 2-quart and 4-quart, so having both ensures that you have a saucepan for every need. She said smaller options, like a 2-quart saucepan, are suitable for steaming vegetables, like corn and peas, but won’t provide enough room to feed a family and won’t yield many leftovers. Also, slimmer stovetops might not be able to accommodate larger saucepans.
These pots and pans have a slick, nonporous chemical coating along the inside that creates a nonreactive surface that keeps food from sticking. The exterior can be made of aluminum, stainless steel, and even ceramic. We brought together two of our in-house recipe developers for a day of play in the kitchen. The GreenPan SearSmart Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 10 Piece Cookware Pots and Pans Set was the clear top performer, but there were a few other sets that also impressed us.
Every kitchen should have 8- and 10- inch skillets as well as a larger covered 12-inch skillet or straight-sided sauté pan. We give points to sets that include a 12-incher as it’s such a versatile pan for frying, stir-frying and one-pot dishes like paella or chicken with dumplings. And while you can always pick up a reasonably-priced small fry pan for eggs and crepes, filling in your set with a large pan, can set you back a bit. However, when you cook directly in aluminum some of the metal leaches into your food, giving it a gray-ish cast.
2-quart saucepans are ideal for a variety of meals, from sauces to rice. An anodized exterior, which is sometimes found on aluminum cookware, hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the pans from stains and corrosion. You should be able to use any type of utensils with anodized cookware and not have to worry about scratches.
And in our ratings, we note which pans are induction compatible. Keep in mind that some of the items are lids and sometimes the manufacturer throws in a few plastic utensils and adds them to the piece count. This article has been reviewed since its original Cookware Sets publish date for accuracy, pricing and availability. If the cookware material is not magnetic, a magnetic plate is applied to the base in order to make it induction safe. The manufacturer will clearly label the induction capabilities of the cookware.
This 14-piece cookware set is lightweight and straightforward, and it looks great in any kitchen thanks to its cheerful hue. The cookware has a sturdy base that prevents warping for increased strength and durability. Working with the Anolon Advanced cookware set has the significant drawback of not being dishwasher safe.
Empty pots and pans should not be overheated or heated quickly since too much heat can harm the cookware or cooktop. Our recommendation is to select a mid-range temperature setting when preheating your cookware. The Rachael Ray set is reasonably priced and a great option for a small kitchen. This Rachael Ray set of essential pots and pans feature brilliant, shimmering color along with practicality and are made of sturdy aluminum for even heat distribution to lessen hot spots. This sturdy set, which is made entirely of steel, will last you many years in the kitchen. The frying pans can resist hard use, and an aluminum core is coated on the inside for improved heat conduction.