The Ostend 12 Pieces cookware set features drip-free rims and stay-cool handles for ease of use and extra safety while handling. If dinner normally consists of pasta and soups this clever set is perfect for your one-pot lifestyle! We love that the tops lay flat and that everything stacks with ease. You can even remove or add the pot handles if your kitchen is low on storage space.
Nonstick cookware is easy to clean by hand because pressure water application might damage the surface. You do not need a lot of oil or fat to cook food on nonstick cookware. The delicate coating can get damaged if exposed to harmful conditions. Complete your kitchen with nonstick hard anodized, stainless steel or durable aluminum pots and pans. While some prefer to curate their cookware collection piece by piece and, in some cases, that makes good sense, especially for experienced chefs who know exactly what they want in each piece.
Some pots and pans perform better on gas stoves, while others, like ceramic pieces, are best for electric or glass top stoves. Teflon can provide a great nonstick coating but can also begin to flake off after a few years, depending on how well you take care of the pan. Ceramic is also nonstick and said to be better for the environment. Ceramic pans also have a higher heat tolerance than traditional nonstick pans.
We love that the folks at Wirecutter just so happened to pick an affordable set. They said that this one has the largest pots and pans — a 5-quart Dutch oven! — out of all the sets they tested, Cookware Sets which made them feel like they were really getting something for their money. Don’t worry, though — the handles are all super comfortable, so they’re not too hard to hold or lift.
According to Mary Rodgers, head of marketing communications at Cuisinart, 7-11 pieces is an ideal range to start with but you’ll want to keep in mind that lids count in that number. In general, she recommends looking for a combination of saucepans, sautés pans, skillets, and stock pots. Saladmaster supports healthy eating lifestyles for families and performance-based endurance for professionals. Our stainless steel cookware sets provide a beautiful shine in your kitchen for years.
The most important decision you’ll make is what cookware material your set is made from. Cookware is commonly constructed from aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, nonstick chemical compounds or a combination of several materials. As you might guess, each type of cookware surface has its pros and cons as it relates to cooking, cleaning, durability and storage. But I have picks in other categories, too, including a sturdy cast-iron cookware collection, a nonstick cookware set and a medley of excellent and inexpensive budget cookware. So strap on your best apron and read through our list of the best for 2022.
To reduce the overall price of a set, most manufacturers include smaller pot and pan sizes. I also spoke with several home cooks, including members of our own staff, who have used cookware sets for years. 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.
The set’s only other skillet, a 10¼-inch skillet/sauté pan hybrid, is also on the small side. We like the Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set for its even heat distribution, durable construction, and reasonable price. The Tramontina skillets produced perfectly brown chicken pieces with nice fond development, and the saucepans and stockpot simmered liquids without scorching. We found the wide handles on the cookware and the lids comfortable to hold.