As any cook knows, the right set of pots and pans is a significant investment, so you want to make sure your picks will last. To help, our Allstars put top-rated sets through the paces, using them like a home cook would to assess how they perform in a real kitchen. They looked at everything from heat distribution to how well they held up to high temperatures. The results: a collection of highly-recommended options that are ready for any task at hand.
The best cookware starts with the right materials. Copper is the best conductor of heat and distributes it evenly, which is why professional chefs prize it; but it can also be very expensive. Stainless steel is durable and heats up quickly, but it doesn’t respond as well to temperature changes as copper does. To address this issue, many sets include aluminum bonded with a layer of stainless to increase the metal’s responsiveness.
A traditional favorite, cast iron cookware is tough and durable and responds very well to heat changes. But it can be a bit heavy and prone to reacting with acidic foods. The best cast iron cookware, however, is made by Lodge and comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including dutch ovens and skillets.
Nonstick cookware is a popular choice for its ease of use, but it often doesn’t hold up to high heats and can be prone to chemical leaching from certain brands and types. The newer ceramic nonsticks, such as those from Caraway, offer a safer alternative that holds up well to high heats and is oven-safe.