7 Best Cookware Sets of 2023

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Pots and pans are essentials in every kitchen, whether they're being used by avid home cooks or take-out connoisseurs. Purchasing a cookware set can be daunting, especially given the wide variety of materials and combinations of pieces. Many sets include different sizes of saucepans and frying pans, not to mention the large Dutch ovens or pieces such as stock pots or casserole dishes that can serve the same purpose.

Based on our own experiences and conversations with chefs, food editors, and leaders of the Cookware Manufacturers Association, we determined that less is more when it comes to cookware. Similar to finding the best knife set, buying a cookware set can save you time and money. Finding a versatile set will help you outfit your kitchen with all the essentials in one fell swoop so all that's left to do is get cooking.

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches kitchen products.

Best cookware set overall: Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Set - See at AmazonThe Tramontina set stocks your kitchen without cluttering it, and features useful pieces in a durable material.

Best cheap cookware set: T-fal All-in-One Hard-Anodized Cookware Set - See at AmazonIf you need to stock your kitchen quickly and on a budget, the T-fal Hard-Anodized Set is easy to maintain, scratch resistant, and comes with three serving utensils.

Best cookware set upgrade: All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel Cookware Set - See at AmazonIf you splurge on an All-Clad Stainless Steel set, your kitchen will be stocked with essential pieces that stand the test of time.

Best ceramic cookware set: Caraway Ceramic Coated Set - See at AmazonThe Caraway Ceramic Coated Set is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional nonstick pots and pans — and it's available in six attractive colors.

Best copper cookware set: Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper Set - See at Willams SonomaThe Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper Set is a great intro to copper set, offering the heating abilities of copper and the accessibility of stainless steel.

Best nonstick cookware set: Made In Nonstick Set - See at Made InMade In's nonstick cookware set includes two pots and two pans to tackle just about any kitchen task. Plus, the nonstick coating makes clean-up a breeze.

Best cast iron cookware set: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Set - See at AmazonLe Creuset's cast iron cookware set comes in a wide variety of colors with one saucepan, one skillet, and one Dutch oven. The brand's signature enameled coating eliminates the need for seasoning, making cooking and clean-up easier.

Pros: Includes essential pieces, tri-ply construction for durability

Cons: Oven safe temperature on the low end

When we asked King Phojanakong, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, which pots and pans were must-haves, he listed a 5-quart Dutch oven, 12-inch saute pan, and 3-quart saucepan, all of which are included in Tramontina's cookware set. The versatility of these pieces is the selling point: Phojanakong uses the saute pan for chicken dishes or baby bok choy, and takes out the 3-quart saucepan when he needs to heat up leftover soups and sauces and cook rice or small portions of pasta.

Not only is the Tramontina set's practical range of sizes — with cookware scaled for both individual meals and large gatherings — one of its major assets, but so is its durable construction.

"Stainless steel is the most universal material. You don't have to treat it gently," said Lisa Chernick, author of "Your Starter Kitchen." Each piece in the Tramontina set is made up of an aluminum core sandwiched between 18/10 stainless steel layers. This tri-ply construction gives you the excellent heat conductivity of aluminum with the strength of stainless steel. While the set is dishwasher safe, hand washing your cookware will maintain its shine longer.

You can purchase the individual components separately, though the set offers the best deal. There are also smaller and larger sets, but the 12-piece has all the essentials and no unnecessary extras.

Pros: Dishwasher safe, large frying pans, stewpot can act as a Dutch oven

Cons: No pot larger than 4 quarts, saute pan does not have a lid

The exteriors of all the pots and pans in T-fal's cookware set are hard-anodized aluminum, a material resistant to scratches, while the interiors are glazed with nonstick coating and reinforced with strengthening titanium. This durability (plus the low price point) is part of the reason why we named this set by T-Fal the best budget pick in our guide to the best hard-anodized cookware.

Insider reporter James Brains has used a similar T-fal set since 2018. He said that the pieces have held up well through daily use, though he recommends hand washing the fry pans to preserve the nonstick coating.

The largest pot in this 12-piece collection is only four quarts, but if you're not hosting a party, that should be big enough for pasta night. Plus, the set includes a serving spoon, spatula, and a slotted spatula, so you'll be ready to dole out dinner. And if you have leftovers, the 2-quart pot comes with a refrigerator lid so you can store them.

Ring-shaped thermo spot indicators turn red when the pans get hot, which can take some of the guesswork out of properly preheating — especially for less experienced cooks. Once you're done, these stackable pieces nest easily into one another.

Check out our guide to the best hard anodized cookware sets.

Pros: High oven safe temperature, thick gauge aluminum core

Cons: Fry pans on the small side, not dishwasher safe

Our best overall pick, which is also stainless steel, is less expensive and offers much of the same benefits as this All-Clad set. However, the longevity and durability of the All-Clad D3 line may make it worth spending the extra money, depending on your cooking needs.

The All-Clad D3 cookware set has the highest oven-safe temperature in this guide: 600 degrees. The ability to withstand such high heat also improves the performance of the casserole dish or stock pot as a substitute Dutch oven. And as Chernick mentioned, more experienced cooks may want to brown something on the stovetop and then put it in the oven. We should note that while these All-Clad pots and pans hold up in the oven, you're better off hand-washing them than putting them in the dishwasher, which is something to consider if keeping cleanup time to a minimum is important.

Pros: Includes storage system, aluminum core for rapid heating

Cons: No larger fry pan, ceramic coating isn't as durable as stainless or other metals

Though this set is on the smaller side, Caraway's set has everything you need to get cooking. The 6.5-quart Dutch oven can be your pasta pot or serving dish for large meals, and the 4.5-quart saute pan is perfect for large fry-ups. I tested the Caraway Home set and found each piece to have excellent heat retention and useful design details. However, I don't think the included storage system adds much to the set.

Caraway's signature is its ceramic nonstick coating. Ceramic coatings offer the same nonstick properties as traditional ones, but contain no trace elements of PFOA, PFTE, lead, or cadmium. Caraway cookware has an aluminum core that ensures rapid and even heating, while the coating decreases your need for oil and makes the surface easier to clean.

The Caraway Home set is shipped in recycled cardboard with no plastic bags. Plus, the ceramic coating releases less CO2 when manufactured than traditional nonstick coatings. (Though keep in mind that all nonstick coatings, including ceramic, are less durable than stainless steel and other metals.) Altogether, this set is designed to limit clutter and keep your kitchen functional as well as well-stocked.

Pros: Double-wall insulated lids, nonreactive interior

Cons: Not the thickest gauge copper, stainless steel lining limits some of the diffusivity

Copper provides the most efficient and even heating of any cookware metal. Since copper is a reactive metal, most cookware is lined with a nonreactive interior like tin or stainless steel. The Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper Set has a stainless steel interior, so you can worry less about cooking acidic foods.

This set includes all the pieces we think are necessary for a well-stocked kitchen and the 1.2 mm copper exterior is striking enough to display when you're not cooking. The Thermo-Clad cookware is oven safe to 450 degrees, but you should never heat up an empty copper pan. For more guidance on how to take care of your copper pots and pans, check out our guide to copper cookware.

Pros: Handles stay cool while cooking, stock pot can be used as Dutch oven, large frying pan

Cons: Not dishwasher safe, limited options for cooking smaller portions

Nonstick cookware is easier to clean than almost any other material and decreases the amount of oil you need to use while cooking. Made In's set offers pots and pans in an ideal variety of sizes. Each piece is made from five-ply stainless steel, which results in quick heating and even heat distribution. The pots and pans are coated with two PFOA-free nonstick layers.

Each piece features an ergonomic handle design, with one handle on the frying pan and two helpful handles on the three other pieces, making them easy to carry from stovetop to a trivet on the table for serving. The stock pot is exclusively sold with this set, and is oven safe up to 500 degrees, making it an acceptable Dutch oven substitute.

While the pieces in this set are not dishwasher safe and should be washed by hand, the nonstick coating makes scrubbing a lot easier. Just remember to never heat up an empty nonstick pan and always avoid using metal utensils that can scratch or chip the nonstick interior.

Pros: Dishwasher safe, stain resistant, enamel exterior boosts heat retention

Cons: No larger saucepan, has potential to scratch or chip

Le Creuset has been a household name for over 100 years, and the brand's cookware set offers a combination of approachable pieces to get started with cast iron cooking. Cast iron pans are incredibly versatile, allowing you to sear meats, make hash browns, and even bake bread.

This set comes with a Dutch oven, one small saucepan, and a large skillet. We've tested the skillet and the Dutch oven, and both pieces are top picks in our guides. The Le Creuset Dutch oven can be utilized on the stovetop for big pots of soup or stew, as well as in the oven up to 500 degrees, whether you're baking homemade sourdough or prepping braised pot roast. All of the lids are safe for oven use as well, so moving from stovetop to oven is easy.

Constructed with PFOA-free enameled cast iron, the pieces in this set are designed for great heat retention. And with the enamel coating, there's no need to season the cast iron. Each piece in the set is easy to clean and can be washed either in the dishwasher or by hand. Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of colors to match your kitchen's design. The brand also offers an 11-piece set, but this smaller set offers the best overall value for essential cast iron pieces.

Check out our guide to the best cast iron skillets we've tested.

While we haven't yet tested all the sets in this guide firsthand, our picks are based off of extensive research and expert interviews. Here are the factors we considered when putting together this guide:

Pieces: The first thing we did was establish a list of essential pieces all cookware sets should have. Our three experts agreed that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to cookware. Chernick, Battiliana, and Phojanakong each suggested a pared down list of essential pieces.

Cooktop compatibility: Most kitchens come with gas or electric stoves, but induction stovetops are becoming more and more popular. We looked for sets that work on the largest variety of stovetops, giving extra points to those that worked on induction.

Materials: We identified the pros and cons of different cookware materials, which you can see here. Chernick recommended stainless steel for cookware sets because it can handle the wear and tear of a busy kitchen, and we agree. Stainless steel is durable, doesn't require special maintenance, and cooks most things well.

Construction: We considered the construction of each cookware set. Besides cast iron, most cookware is made by layering different metals. This can increase the heat conductivity of less conductive metals; for instance, stainless steel pans often have aluminum cores because aluminum heats up much quicker. Additionally, having multiple layers makes the cookware more durable. Battiliana said there is a connection between performance and quality, as thinner metal pans will wear out faster than better constructed pans.

Based on our own cookware experience and conversations with experts, these are the differences between the most common cookware materials.

Coating: Normally stainless steel or aluminum coated with a non-stick interior

Pros: Easy to clean, limits oil use

Cons: Not long lasting

Seasoned: Oil baked into cast iron over time prevents food from sticking and the pan from rusting

Enameled: Cast iron coated with thick, enamel glaze to eliminate the need to season the pan

Core: Copper layer between layers of other materials

Base: Thin copper ring embedded in the cookware bottom

Clad: Copper foil exterior

Pros: Excellent heat conductivity

Cons: Reactive with acidic foods, needs to be lined and maintained, expensive

Pros: Non-reactive, durable, scratch resistant

Cons: Slow to heat up, can be expensive

A cookware set is ideal for someone just getting started setting up their home kitchen, or for those who need to replace several pieces at the same time. Cookware sets are also great to add to a wedding registry.

Nonstick cookware is great if you want to cook with less fat or procrastinate on clean-up. The slick coating is easy to clean and limits your use of oil or butter. However, nonstick pans don't brown food as well as cast iron or stainless steel, and you shouldn't expect a nonstick pan to last more than a couple years before the coating starts to come off.

Check out our guide to the best nonstick skillets if you want to try one before buying a set. If you're looking to get a good sear on a piece of steak or crisp up potatoes, choose a different material.

Steer clear of cookware sets with too many pieces that will clutter your kitchen. Less is more — most home cooks just don't need three different sizes of saucepans.

Beyond the pieces, consider the material best suited to your cooking style. For instance, nonstick cookware is great for casual cooks who want the easiest pan to use and clean, while stainless steel holds up better over time. Check out our list of the best cookware materials for more information on all the common types.

If the handles start to wiggle, you need to tighten them or throw out the piece. Chef Phojanakong said to look at the rivets and welding on the handles for signs of looseness. It's not safe if you can't handle your pan with ease.

Most nonstick coatings will scratch if you regularly use metal utensils on them. It's up to you whether or not this means you have to throw the pan away. For Chernick, once a nonstick pan is scratched, it's time to say goodbye: "It might not be toxic, but I don't want to eat pieces of Teflon."

Cookware needs to have magnetic properties in order to work on an induction stovetop, according to the Cookware Manufacturer's Association. If the cookware material is not magnetic, a magnetic plate is applied to the base in order to make it induction safe. The manufacturer will clearly label the induction capabilities of the cookware.

Proper care of a cookware set depends on the material each piece is made from. Washing and drying pots and pans according to the manufacturer's recommendations will help extend the life of your set. Pots and pans with a coating, such as nonstick or enamel, require a gentler approach to cleaning. For these materials, it's best to avoid abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool.

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