When shopping for a cookware pot set, you’ll want to consider the size of the pieces and whether the sets include lids (some do and some don’t). In general, more pieces in a set mean more bang for your buck. But you’ll also want to think about what kind of cooking you do most frequently, as certain materials perform better in different tasks than others.
Stainless steel pans, which are often dishwasher-safe and oven-safe, conduct heat well and work well for browning, braising, and making sauces. We love the All-Clad D3 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set, which aced our tests for cooking evenness and food release, and Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker has owned hers for over six years. The set is a bit pricey, but it’s built to last.
A good nonstick set can make life so much easier. The best we’ve tested has a durable coating that doesn’t scratch or flake, which means it can be used with metal utensils. The Hestan Nonstick Cookware Set scored very well in our testing, with a great coating that seared salmon fillets and scrambled eggs and boiled water quickly. And its dishwasher-safe, which means less scrubbing for you.
We looked for sets that are easy to handle and a breeze to clean, as well as affordable, and we considered how the pieces might stack together or sit in a cabinet. We also considered the weight and balance of the pieces and how easy it is to move them around the stovetop. Some of the sets we recommend have long handles, which may not be ideal for people with limited mobility or difficulty reaching.