Equipment Review: Cookware Sets

If you want to cook with confidence—or help a novice cook get a solid start—quality cookware is essential.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

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[BudBetz]

I’ve been a fan of ATK for several years and love the equipment reviews. After my divorce in 2012 and learning to fend for myself, ATK has taught me a lot and most important for me was good kitchen equipment. Your evaluations and reviews are always top shelf and have led me to one time purchases for my lifetime. Thanks for all you do, and keep that great enterprise alive! You have my support and my attention!!! -Bud

[Anonom]

The one critique I have with AT's dismissal of smaller cookware is that if you are cooking for 1 and live in a small NYC studio, they may be just perfect.

[aadentrn]

I bought the 12 piece tramontina set last yr during the holidays for less than $200. Best value tri-ply set you can get. All the pans are oversize and great for meal prepping.

[jamesleveille-bonner]

I was one of the four original District Customer Service Trainers for a major big box housewares retailer for ten years, teaching product knowledge to the sales staff, and I can attest in both my professional and personal opinion, All-Clad is the best cookware! Their sets are a great value especially for newlyweds or beginner cooks. It makes a great place to start a collection while you grow your cooking skills and build confidence. To this day, 25 years later, I use every piece that came in my original set. I love their utensils as well.

[joanwood]

I bought Lifetime Stainless 50 years ago. Absolutely no warping. Excellent, quality sauce pans

[BrianLeevoice]

These reviews helped me settle on All-Clad to replace my "nonstick" fry pans. Got a great deal at Macy's.

[floief]

Been using my Kirkland stainless set for years and I've no complaints. It came with a large saute pan, large saucepan, and huge stockpot + several other pieces. I haven't seen a set styled like that one for years but if I had to invest in cookware again I'd buy Kirkland because best of warped bottoms.

[jdillon]

I have a set of Cuisinart cook wear that I received as a gift about 5 years ago. They are really great. They still look like they are brand new, and they get used every single day.

[cindys]

Just caught a sale at Macy's for the All Clad. 9 pcs for $499 plus a discount which came up to $440. I then went back a few days later and got an 8" frying pan for $80. I figured that would round out my set. Can't wait to start using it! I had a cheap pot set for 15 years - they're warped, the handles are loose, and they burn very easily. So, I've earned it

[jamesanthony]

I picked up the stainless steel kit from Misen and I think the only piece I haven't used so far (though only about three pieces are in heavy duty rotation) is the pan shown at 0:57. Still, it's a fantastic set that I'm glad I picked up. The pans I replaced with it always ended up with burned food on the bottoms, which hasn't been a problem with these, and I love how the longer handles never seem to heat up all the way out where you hold them, while the ones I replaced had plastic over a metal handle that you could feel just from the heat after about 5 minutes on the stove top. Comes with an 10 and 12 in skillet, and an 8QT stock pot, though I think I use the 6QT rondeau more than any other piece (been making a lot of cassoulet, which it's just the right size for).

[kennielsen]

Still using my all clad set 12 years later. Best investment. Added a Staub Dutch oven and brassier 10 years ago, perfect. And recently a Lecreset 24 cm (short of 10 inch) non stick pan for making Tortilla de patatas (but great for frying up eggs too) with my Zwilling JA Hinckels knives, they’ll out live me.

[suzannes]

I have tried all of the pans you reviewed, but Demeyere's Industry line is by far the best pans I've ever used - but at $200-500 per pan they're are not that accessible, even though they'll last a lifetime.

[crystalsabundance]

I’m loving this good info!! I am done with nonstick cookware “sets” which last 6-9 months. I realize now that nonstick CANT be used for searing because they can’t handle high heat. Yay....

[imallfordabulls]

You can get some All-Clad on sale sometimes at Macy’s and even places like TJ Maxx. You might have to piecemeal the pans that way, but might get 40% off retail that way.

[AY-zefp]

Am I the only person who LOVES a good chefs pan or sautee pan?? I have the all clad set and my favorite pans are the giant stock pot and the sautee pan. The sautee pan is PERFECT for making risotto, one-pot-pasta and even like just rice and boiling potatoes. It's like a skillet but nicer for novice home cooks like myself who are messy and the extra sides make it easy so stuff doesn't fly off and burn the stove nor boils and isnt visible like at the bottom of a pot.

[keetrandling]

"You don't have to spend a ton of money because"... GoodWill, Salvation Army, and local consignment & thrift shops may have decent pans donated by adult children who dont understand the quality stuff Mom had accumulated during her lifetime.

[citizent]

At 1:21 the solution is to put less kale in the pan. No kale is better though.

[jasonburns]

I’m over here rockin my cheap T-Fal, but I still watching like I can afford the good stuff.

[pooroldpedro]

The size of pans you need is totally different depending on whether you're a single person, couple, or big family. A one-steak-size skillet is perfect for the single guy, useless for a family of 10

[johnrichards]

I used a crappy set of hand me down Revere Ware pots and pans for years until I switched over to All Clad. I built my set using eBay ... piece by piece.