And prior to joining Wirecutter, I spent over 10 years working in various facets of the food and restaurant industry. Take a good look at nonstick sets, stainless steel sets, ceramic sets (etc!), and you’ll see that there are some very well-thought-out options gotham steel cookware sets on the market. We looked at some of the top food and product review sites out there to see what sets experts and home cooks are loving. Field also has a full line of products for taking care of your cast iron, including a chainmail scrubber and seasoning oil.
Additionally, we evaluated how easy the handles were to hold, especially when retrieving the pots and pans from a hot oven using a side towel or pot holders. We also took note of the individual weight and thickness of the pieces in each set. To test for dripping, we observed how easily we could pour liquids from each pot. By hand-washing the pots and pans, we got a sense of how easy they were to clean. And we looked at how well each set nested for convenient storage.
We tested multiple skillets to be sure this wasn’t a fluke, but all of them had the same results. Although the pans were still usable after warping, their damage voids the warranty. Though a lot of stainless steel cookware claims to be dishwasher-safe, we still recommend washing it by hand whenever possible. A sponge does a much better job of getting into a pan’s nooks and crannies . For difficult-to-remove items like burnt-on oil or lime deposits, a sponge and some Bar Keepers Friend usually do the trick.
And while this set performed reasonably well in our tests, our testers said they wouldn’t recommend this set based on the intense smell they produce when heated. Our testers loved how easy to clean this set was, noting that “food rinses right off.” Their nonstick coating performed well in our cook tests, too, and showed no sticking and easy movement. One cuisinart knife thing to keep in mind is that the manufacturer recommends letting the cookware cool completely before cleaning. A small frying pan is great for cooking one or two eggs, while a large stockpot is exactly what you need for cooking large batches of soup stock. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to the perfect size for a piece of cookware.
When researching cookware, think of which pots and pans you use the most. Answering these questions will help to determine the cookware that will work for your specific needs. If you’re just starting out, look for a set that includes at least one saucepan, skillet or frying pan, and stockpot. These days, nonstick cookware is much safer after the FDA prohibited PFAs (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in Teflon — the brand name for a chemical coating called polytetrafluoroethylene. Some argue that ceramic nonstick pans are the safer option and better for the environment.
The GreenPan SearSmart Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick Set also has one of the highest heat capacities on this list. You can pop them in the oven with total peace of mind knowing they’re safe for up to 600 degrees F. One thing to note, however, is that there are no “helper” handles opposite the regular long handle on these pans. On the larger pans, things can get heavy and harder to maneuver safely, especially at high temperatures. During our tests, we noticed that the temperature of the pans was a bit inconsistent, but our testers said it was not that far off. With an aluminum core and a copper ceramic coating, this Farberware Glide CopperSlide Ceramic Nonstick 12 Piece Cookware Set is the height of modern nonstick.
Frying pans, saute pan, turner, and spoon allow you to cook various dishes. They are crafted with aluminum and hard enamel porcelain exteriors, ensuring durability and longevity. It features an espresso-colored PFOA-free nonstick base releasing food effortlessly. This cookware set boasts rubberized stainless steel handles and a shatter-resistant glass lid that lets you take hot pans from one place to the other.
When you’re buying cookware one piece at a time, it’s nice to get a lid, but if you have other cookware, you may already have a lid that will fit perfectly. Lids are often made from the same material as the pot, so they can withstand the same heat. Some lids are made from glass, which means you can see the food without lifting the lid, but they may not be able to handle high oven heat. Throughout the testing, we noticed the balanced feel of the pots and pans, though they do feel a little on the lower quality side of things. But the overall value of having a full set of cookware plus utensils trumps that. They were very easy to clean and are dishwasher safe, though washing by hand is recommended.
If a set is almost perfect, but is missing a piece, most manufacturers sell open stock cookware, so you can get that huge stock pot or grill pan you’ve been coveting. Keep in mind that lids count as pieces, and some sets include inexpensive extras, like spoons and spatulas that add to the piece count. Uncoated cast iron cookware needs some special care and cleaning, but it often arrives pre-seasoned, so it can be used right away. Further cooking and seasoning will make it even more nonstick over time. Uncoated cast iron typically shouldn’t be used with acidic foods like tomatoes, but thoroughly seasoned pans can tolerate some acidic foods for short times.
Sturdy, riveted stainless steel handles give you easy handling, and the entire pot is ovenproof up to 500 degrees. Hand washing is required for these gorgeous pieces, and our Lab tester noted that some additional upkeep is required if you prefer a shiny look versus the patina finish that will develop over time. All-Clad’s D3 Stainless Everyday 3-Ply Bonded Cookware is a tri-ply set similar to our All-Clad pick. The handles on these are slightly curved, which some may find more comfortable than the stick handles on our upgrade pick. This set includes 8½- and 10½-inch skillets, 1½- and 3½-quart sauce pans with lids, a 4-quart sauté pan with a lid, and a 6-quart stockpot with a lid. This may have been a one-off manufacturing error, but we’ll keep an eye on customer reviews to see if others experience a similar problem with the handle.