Piecing together your own cookware set gives you the freedom to customize your collection and allows you to buy only what you need. To avoid liability for damage caused by misuse, cookware manufacturers routinely advise against cooking over high temperatures. However, judging from our years of experience, as long as you reduce the heat after preheating your pan on medium or medium-high heat, you won’t damage your pans. Cast iron is heavy, reactive to acidic food, and more difficult to maintain.
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. 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.
Even if you’re not super familiar with all the most popular brands in the kitchenware market, you’ve probably still heard of Cuisinart. They also make one of our other favorite cuisinart knife in stainless steel. This set is excellent for any task that requires you to go from the range to the oven, like making a perfectly set frittata or finishing a chicken breast in the oven. With four pots, two pans, lids, and a stainer, the Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet Hard-Anodized 12-Piece Set is pretty comprehensive.
Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers. Plus, a heavy-duty construction will even make for a better cooking experience. This article was updated in December 2022 to ensure all product picks tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab were up-to-date and in stock.
The more pieces in the set, the more storage space you’ll probably need. With that said, if you lack space, either look for a smaller or stackable set. “In general, sets with larger pieces are better buys unless you cook in very small quantities,” noted Franke. Ceramic usually has a higher price point than nonstick, but their performance is relatively equal.
Some warranties only cover manufacturing defects, so you won’t get a pan replaced if you scraped your nonstick cookware with a knife or heated a coated pan above the safe temperature. Since cookware has no moving parts, defects and breakage are not common, with the worst fault being defects in nonstick coatings. However, most of our testers found the stick handles on the skillets to be uncomfortably low, preferring the higher angle of the handles on our picks.
In terms of design, the set received a near-perfect score as testers liked the glass lids and the included steamer pot attachment. They also appreciated the traditional design on this set and noted that the pieces feel substantial. Plus, another detail that makes this one of the best stainless steel worth considering is that the inside of the pans has measurements, so even beginner chefs can cook up something.