The 6 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets, According to Lab Testing

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Subscribing to the Cristel USA website newsletter is an easy way to stay informed of the latest products and offers on our website. Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread. Reviewed and PureWow both picked the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process.

Cookware Sets

The handles are wide and comfortable to hold, which makes flipping ingredients a cinch. The assortment of fry pans and pot sizes especially stands out in this set – they’re perfect when you’re cooking for one or an entire family. This easy-to-clean set from GreenPan is a personal favorite among our kitchen pros. It has a hard-anodized exterior and a ceramic nonstick interior, which the company claims is free of PFOA, PFAS, lead and cadmium. It includes a great assortment of cookware, including different-sized pots and pants for all your needs. Each is lightweight, strong and durable and can withstand high heat (up to 600˚F).

The Always pan by Our Place is a real workhorse, doing the job of eight traditional cookware pieces–ideal for a cozy kitchen without an abundance of storage. Nonstick pots and pans are made from gotham steel cookware sets aluminum, but have hard enamel porcelain exteriors that’ll look so glossy on your stovetop. You get the usual pots and pans, plus shatter-resistant glass lids, a slotted turner and a spoon.

The pots and pans are warp-resistant, induction-compatible, dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 600 degrees . All-Clad products are made in the US and come with a limited lifetime warranty. The clad construction means it heats and cools quickly and evenly, resulting in more optimal temperature control. The marinara had a rich, deep flavor, and cleanup was easy even after a long simmer.

The handles on this set are also very long, which we found awkward—especially on a crowded range. At 3 pounds, 14.8 ounces, the Signature Thermo-Clad pan was a bit hefty for some of our testers. If you’re partial to keeping your cookware looking bright and shiny, note that this was one of the only sets we tested that looked like new after we cleaned it. Of course, burned-on oil or grease can be more challenging to remove with just regular dish soap or a run through the dishwasher. But applying Bar Keepers Friend or a slurry of baking soda and warm water with a nonabrasive sponge gets the job done.