Boil, bake, fry, roast, braise, serve, and more with these hardworking pots and pans.
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Whether you cook for your entire family every night or only occasionally make your meals, it pays to have a solid cookware set at your disposal. The right pots and pans not only perform better but can also save you time and effort when it comes time to clean up all of that dinner prep. Not to mention, with a set, you'll always have the right size and style for the job at hand. (Tip: You don't want to sear a steak in your stock pot!
But most cookware sets worth your attention are quite the investment, costing hundreds of dollars or more. That's why we researched to help you figure out which ones you should spend your hard-earned dollars on.
Pots and pans come in a wide range of materials, but the most popular include:
We recommend pots and pans that are oven-safe since this makes the cookware more versatile. In general, stainless steel and cast iron pots and pans can withstand higher oven temperatures (sometimes as high as 600 degrees Fahrenheit), but always check the user manual for exact specifications.
Care instructions vary between cookware sets and are largely dependent on the material. While many cookware sets are dishwasher-safe, some are not. Many manufacturers also recommend hand-washing for longevity. Ahead, find our picks for the best cookware sets to suit your budget and needs.
We love this cookware set, an item from Oprah's Favorite Things 2021 because it's moderately priced for a set of 10 but offers many of the same features you'll find in higher-end options. Plus, who could resist the stylish design and 14 gorgeous color choices?
The pots and pans in this set all have a special ceramic nonstick coating that requires little to no oil, encouraging health-conscious cooking, but is free from toxins like PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. We found the cooking surface retains even heat and, overall, the cookware is highly durable. It's also oven- and broiler-safe up to 600°F.
This cookware set, which retails for less than $200 but is often on sale for less, has also appeared on Oprah's Favorite Things. The pots and pans not only have an attractive shape and design, but each piece in the 12-piece set also performs exceptionally well, thanks to a nontoxic nonstick ceramic coating that's safe to use on the stovetop or in ovens up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. We love that two pans included in the set even come with ceramic steamers, so you can easily whip up healthy vegetable-forward sides—little to no oil required.
Though significantly more expensive than others on our list, with proper care, this is a cookware set you'll have for life. It's made of a highly durable stainless steel that includes a multilayer structure of titanium-based alloys. This makes the cooking surface highly durable (it's highly scratch- and stain-resistant and safe for use with metal utensils) and improves heat conductivity. If you generally shy away from stainless steel because food tends to stick, you'll love the nonstick properties of the pots and pans in this set. Over time, the color of this cookware will deepen, but the set comes with a 10-ounce bottle of Hestan Professional Grade Cleaner, which will help restore the natural finish.
While cast iron is generally on the pricier side, with proper care, you could theoretically have the cookware for life. This set is made of heavy-duty enameled cast iron, which makes it weightier than other picks, but means it can withstand high temperatures and has even heat retention. The material also resists dulling, staining, chipping, and cracking. You can use the pots and pans on all cooktops, including induction, and each piece is oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also dishwasher-safe. We also appreciate the beautiful colors; those with small kitchens can easily keep a piece or two out on top of the stove.
"I've had this set for about 10 years now, and despite cooking about six nights per week, it looks almost as good as the day I got it," says contributor Brigitt Earley. The stainless steel isn't entirely nonstick, but it does offer some natural stick resistance. The thick-gauge aluminum core works to attract heat quickly, while the stainless steel exterior delivers superior heat distribution for even cooking. It's also a highly versatile set that's compatible with all cooktops—even induction. It's oven- and broiler-safe up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
For those who want their cookware to look just as good as the rest of their kitchen, Caraway makes a solid nonstick option. This set of 12, available in eight beautiful shades, has an elegant shape and contrasting metal handles that really pop and make them look much more expensive than they are. The ceramic coating, which is made from inorganic natural ingredients, heats up quickly and evenly, and we found it to have incredible nonstick properties—you don't need more than a touch of oil, butter, or cooking spray. This makes quick work of cleanup, too.
This set of 12—six pots and pans and matching glass lids—is made of a tri-ply construction that combines the best of stainless steel and nonstick. Each induction-friendly piece heats quickly and evenly, plus resists sticking for a better sear and easy cleanup. The cookware can handle heat up to 500 degrees, is metal utensil-safe, and can be washed in the dishwasher. We love that this particular set also comes with a lifetime warranty.
It may only come with four pieces (eight, counting the lids), but this beautiful cookware from Our Place is a great starter set, particularly if you're looking for something high-performing and nontoxic. The durable aluminum body, available in five colors, heats up quickly and evenly, and a toxin-free nonstick ceramic coating inside means food isn't likely to stick—even with minimal oil, butter, or cooking spray. Although its oven-safe temperature is slightly lower than others (450 degrees Fahrenheit), we like that it's safe for use on all cooktops, including induction.
After polling our expert editorial team, we gathered more than two dozen options, reading hundreds of reviews and specs like material, care, and oven compatibility. We even put the most promising options to the test to get a better sense of their performance and durability.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
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