Best Cookware Sets in 2021: Direct-to-Consumer Companies, Including Made In to Material

This Tramontina set comes with a lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer defects. If you encounter problems with this cookware under normal household use, contact Tramontina for a replacement. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, but it’s very expensive and difficult to maintain. However, we did test the All-Clad Copper Core 10-Piece Cookware Set because it has a stainless steel exterior.

Cookware Sets

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.

She also consulted Jason Santos, a chef, Will Gilson, chef and co-owner of Puritan & Company, and Mary Rodgers, head of marketing communications at Cuisinart. None of the pans on this list were made using PFOAs; few manufacturers continue to use the chemical. If you want a nonstick alternative to a PTFE-coated pan, consider a cast iron skillet. cuisinart knife You can season these pans to be naturally nonstick; they’ll require more maintenance over time, but will last for many years. Aside from considering the ratings of each set we researched, we also evaluated the durability and quality of each set. They also needed to fulfill aspects such as heat retention, heat distribution, and price point.

This is partly what made us excited about our new budget pick, the Goldilocks set, which is one of the only sets we’ve seen lately that includes both 10- and 12-inch pans. Many sets also have 6-quart stockpots; these are too small for making large batches of stock (8-quart or larger stockpots are best for preparing stocks, and they provide ample room for boiling pasta). The main incentive for buying piece by piece is that most sets come with smaller pan sizes. 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.

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.