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Whether you’re stocking your first apartment kitchen or just looking to upgrade your old pots and pans, a cookware set can be a major investment—not to mention an overwhelming thing to pick out. With so many brands on the market, we handpicked the best cookware sets for every type of home cook, whether you're looking for something that will last forever or something that will look chic on your stovetop.
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The exact cookware you choose will depend on a few things: your budget, your cooking style and your aesthetic preferences. That said, here are a few types of cookware sets you’ll find:
Our selection is based on a combination of testing, expert input and customer data. When vetting cookware sets, we kept in mind the attributes we look for in a high-quality product, like durability (can it take a beating?), longevity (will it hold up for years?), value (is it worth the money?) and design (is it user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing?).
We gave this sleek Caraway cookware set 90 out of 100 points in our PureWow100 review for a few key reasons: It heats up evenly and requires less oil; it’s oven safe up to 550°F; it comes with modular storage and matching lids, and it’s super easy to clean. Senior food editor Katherine Gillen loves that the set includes a wide range of sizes. "I have used every piece since owning the set, and I particularly like the giant skillet for making pasta sauce, then dumping the cooked pasta directly in," she says. As a bonus, it’s available in six modern color options. You can buy each piece individually, but the set will save you $100.
Some larger cookware sets can cost as much as a month of rent, but this 10-piece OXO set covers all your bases at a reasonable price. The pieces are designed with angled walls for quick evaporation of liquids and easy stirring, the handles are ergonomic and silicone-coated for an easy grip and the scratch-resistant three-layer nonstick coating is PFOA-free.
If you’re new to the kitchen, a huge cookware set is overwhelming (and unnecessary). This three-piece Misen kit covers all the essentials but is far from basic. The pieces are constructed from five-ply steel, the handles stay cool on the stove and the cookware is compatible with all types of stoves. Director of branded content Cristina Gutierrez says this set checks her boxes for looks, quality and versatility. "It's held up really well to my touch-and-go cooking. I bought it after having to throw away a large set of ceramic cookware that just didn't last, and it was the best kitchen swap I've ever made."
Ceramic cookware isn’t 100 percent scratch-proof, so stacking and storing comes with its risks (unless you put a paper towel between each pan). But this GreenPan set features a multi-layer, diamond-infused ceramic coating that can hold up to stacking and still perform on the stove. Executive editor Alexia Dellner warns that egg dishes tend to stick, but they still stack nicely and look sleek in her cupboards. Managing editor of branded content Rachel Gulmi adds that they're a breeze to clean, and most messes can be wiped away with a paper towel. The included lids also double as strainers to replace your bulky colanders. The entire 11-piece set measures just 13.5 inches tall when stacked.
If you’re ready to make an investment, the cookware in All-Clad’s Fusiontec set is made with steel cores for even heat distribution and a ceramic finish for a nonstick surface. It’s compatible with all stovetops, oven safe up to 500°F and dishwasher safe, and the set—a 9-inch skillet, 4.5-quart universal pan, 7-quart stockpot and 4-quart soup pot—comes with universal lids.
This GreenLife Thermalon ceramic cookware set includes fry pans, saucepans, a stockpot, a sauté pan, a steamer and matching kitchen utensils to help you gear up for any cooking challenge. It’s also available in a wide range of colors, from turquoise and lavender to basic black.
This 12-piece Rachael Ray set includes saucepans with lids, a stockpot with a lid and two skillets, in addition to a sauté pan, a slotted spatula and a cooking spoon. The lid handles are rubberized and stay cool while cooking. It’s also available in multiple colors to fit the aesthetic of modern kitchens.
This classic T-fal nonstick set includes 7.75-inch and 11-inch skillets, 1-quart and 2-quart saucepans with lids, a 5.5-quart Dutch oven with lid, a 10.25-inch griddle and a spoon, ladle and slotted spatula. It’s ultra-convenient to clean since it’s dishwasher safe, and it’s also free of harmful substances like PFOA, cadmium and lead. Each piece has a thermo-spot indicator that turns solid red when it’s fully heated.
This stainless steel Cuisinart set contains saucepans with lids, skillets, covered sauté pans, a stockpot and a steamer. The rims are tightly fitted to prevent any drips, sealing in the flavor of what you’re cooking. The polished surface prevents discoloration over time, and the triple-ply construction allows for better heat distribution.
These Amazon Basics pots and pans are made of aluminum and have a nonstick coating to help prevent food from sticking to the surface, making the cooking process easy as can be for beginners. Considering it includes two sizes of skillets, two saucepans with lids and a casserole pan with a lid, it’s a total steal.
A quick primer in case you’re unfamiliar with carbon steel: Like cast iron, it’s made from an alloy of carbon and iron, but since it contains less carbon, it behaves and feels different. It’s stronger and harder, so it can be manufactured thin and lightweight, and its smooth surface heats up in a flash. This Made In carbon steel set includes three different frying pans (one of them especially for grilling) and seasoning wax, so you can keep your cookware in working order.
Wait, your beloved Le Creuset is ceramic? Yep. While it’s often referred to as “enameled cast iron,” the coating is a type of porcelain (and porcelain is a ceramic material). While this Le Creuset set is an investment, the versatile pieces will last a lifetime with proper care. "Beyond the colorful enamel being aesthetically pleasing, I was amazed at how evenly and consistently the cast iron cooked, and how [the pieces] could take the beating of being used all day, every day," says executive editor Candace Davison. This cookware offers superior heat distribution and retention thanks to that cast iron core, plus it works with any type of stovetop and is oven-safe.
"This set is durable, sleek and really contains everything you need to tackle most dishes (even holiday feasts) without cluttering up your cabinets," says executive editor Candace Davison. "It's nice having just two lid sizes that can fit the entire selection, rather than a separate lid for each pot and pan. There's less fumbling to find the right one, and as a result, the set takes up less space. Plus, it's easy to clean. I really like the sunset ombré effect of the Spark line." Don't let those colors fool you: The quality is still high, as the pieces are made of aluminum and stainless steel.
Senior editor Rachel Bowie can't rave enough about this collection. "I actually thank HexClad aloud (even though they can't hear me) every time I use these pans because they're scratch-resistant, so my husband—who does most of the cooking in our house—doesn't scold me and I don't panic when I use a metal utensil in them." she says. They're also oven-safe up to 500°F, boats both stainless steel and nonstick surfaces and are dishwasher-safe (but "they scrub clean fairly easily if you're hand-washing, thanks to the laser-etched stainless steal design," adds Bowie).
By now, not a single home cook hasn't seen these colorful multipurpose pieces on their Instagram or TikTok feed. The cast-aluminum, nonstick Always Pan gained a cult following first, as it was designed to replace a 16-piece cooking set and looked good doing it. The Perfect Pot followed suit, standing in for your stockpot, sauce pot, Dutch oven, roasting rack, steamer, strainer, braiser and spoon rest. If you're a newbie with limited storage space, these two pieces will help you get the job done without cluttering your cabinets.
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