The 6 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets for Home Cooks (2023)

Published on March 25, 2022

Best Overall: Calphalon Premier Stainless Steel 11-Piece Set

Why It's Great

• Cool, easy-to-grip handles
• Easy to clean
• Lifetime warranty

Grain of Salt

• 450-degree limit in ovens

As our best overall pick, Calphalon's 11-piece Premier Stainless Steel Set performed brilliantly for all of our tests, and its stylish design, durable build, and easy-to-clean surface made it stand out from the rest. The collection includes two frying pans, two saucepans, a saute pan, a stockpot, and five lids.

Calphalon's stainless steel cookware features an aluminum core coated in layers of stainless steel for maximum heat retention and durability. All pieces are dishwasher safe, and barely any food residue remained on the surface post-cleanup. We found the ergonomically designed handles to be equal parts stylish and functional, making the pans easy tilt when basting a steak or making a pan sauce.

"While this set is quite hefty in price, it does offer numerous pot and pan sizes applicable to completely fulfill any kitchen needs," says our product tester Rachel Johnson. "These pieces will surely stand the test of time and prove to be a wise investment in the experienced cook's kitchen."

The Details: 3-ply construction; stainless steel with an aluminum core; dishwasher safe; oven safe up to 450 degrees

Best Runner-Up: All-Clad d5 Stainless Steel Five-Piece Set

Why It's Great

• Durable five-layer bonded construction
• Superior heat distribution
• Great for limited storage space

Grain of Salt

• Long, straight handle design
• Handles get warm on high heat

If you're looking to level up your cookware without purchasing a large collection, All-Clad's five-piece set is your best bet, including a fry pan, a covered saucepan, and a covered saute pan.

All-Clad's cookware is unmatched when it comes to quality. These pans have a whopping five layers, including an aluminum core for quick and even heating and thick, uniform 18/10 stainless steel walls for longevity. Although this set is dishwasher safe, All-Clad recommends using a fine powder cleanser to preserve the material. The cons? The handles were somewhat cumbersome and became warm to the touch when working with high heat.

"The All-Clad name carries significant weight in the cookware world," Rachel says. "While this set is definitely the most expensive per piece, it will impress guests and demonstrate that you are a serious cook that values quality."

The Details: 5-ply construction; 18/10 stainless steel with an aluminum core; dishwasher safe; oven safe up to 600 degrees

Best Budget: T-fal Performa 14-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Why It's Great

• Quality construction
• Includes kitchen utensils
• Inexpensive compared to other sets

Grain of Salt

• Shows wear and tear over time

Featuring 14 pieces for just $100, T-fal's stainless steel cookware set provides quality pans at an unbeatable price. Not only does the collection include a 5-quart covered Dutch oven, two covered saucepans, a frying pan, and a saute pan, but it also features a slotted spoon, a slotted turner, and measuring spoons. We recommend this set for beginner cooks or those looking to replace several pieces in their cookware collection.

Out of all the pots we tested, this Dutch oven was the quickest to come to a boil. The saute pan worked great for frying a single egg. Like our runner-up pick, this set is made with the highest quality stainless steel. However, because it's not multi-layered, this set felt much lighter than the others we tested, which could affect its long-term durability. We loved the high sides of the frying pan, but when it came to cleanup time, there was a noticeable mark from scorched oil that was nearly impossible to remove.

"For the budget cook, this cookware set cannot be matched," Rachel says. "This set will perform well but will likely not hold up over time. After a year or so of regular use, this set will show noticeable wear and tear."

The Details: 18/10 stainless steel construction; dishwasher safe; oven safe up to 500 degrees

Related: The 9 Best Sauté Pans You Can Get at Every Price Point, According to Home Cooks

Most Versatile: Cuisinart Forever Stainless Collection 11-Piece Set

Why It's Great

• Features a steamer insert
• Nonstick coating on skillets
• Safe in oven, broiler, and freezer
• Inexpensive

Grain of Salt

• Saucepan can be challenging to clean

Cuisinart's Forever Stainless Collection is the only set on our list to feature a steamer insert, two nonstick pans, and a straining cover, making this an extremely versatile set for home cooks. The cookware has a beautiful mirror-polished finish as well as bonded aluminum bases for optimal functionality.

For half the cost of competitor sets, this set contains two covered saucepans (one has a straining cover), one covered stockpot, two nonstick skillets, and a steamer insert. At first, the pieces felt somewhat light in weight, but we found that they were well made and thoughtfully designed. During testing, the cookware came to temperature very fast and delivered a nice even sear across the meat. Although the saucepan did gain some patina after searing meat, it mostly rubbed off with a little elbow grease.

"Overall, this collection features a multitude of pots and pans, leaving the customer without a desire to add more standard pieces to their kitchen," Rachel says. "Cuisinart is a reputable name and offers a lifetime warranty, and this set is reasonably priced for the number of pieces included."

The Details: Mirror-polished stainless steel construction; dishwasher safe; oven safe up to 500 degrees

Best for Beginners: Made In The Starter Kit

Why It's Great

• Nice design
• Takes up minimal storage space
• Includes four versatile pots and pans

Grain of Salt

• Expensive for a smaller set

Made In's Starter Set it's an excellent choice for those who are new to premium cookware, have limited cabinet space, or cook for a small number of people. The six-piece collection comes with a stainless steel frying pan, a blue carbon steel nonstick frying pan, a lidded saucepan, a lidded stockpot, and a can of carbon steel seasoning wax, all of which are must-haves in every kitchen.

During testing, the stainless steel frying pan created a nice even crust on the steak. The pan's large surface and shallow sides make it easy to spill, so we recommend being extra careful when working with liquids in the frying pan. This set is technically dishwasher safe, but hand washing is advised.

"For a relative newcomer, Made In impressed [me] with its quality materials and thoughtful design," Rachel says. "This would be a great 'level up' for those looking to gain more skill in the kitchen."

The Details: 5-ply stainless steel construction and blue carbon steel; dishwasher safe but hand wash recommended; stainless oven safe up to 800 degrees and carbon steel oven safe up to 1200 degrees

Best Conduction: Anolon Nouvelle Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Set

Why It's Great

• Copper base for superior heat conductivity
• Sturdy handles
• Stylish design

Grain of Salt

• Signs of wear and tear after one use
• Pans are on the heavier side

Anolon Nouvelle's Stainless Steel Cookware sets itself apart from the rest thanks to its copper base with superior heat conductivity. Not only does the copper base heat up quickly and evenly, but its stunning color, combined with the polished stainless steel, is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The set comes with two covered saucepans, one covered stockpot, two frying pans, and one covered saute pan. During testing, we noticed some patchy browning on the steak; however, the sauce came out beautifully. The large frying pan fit four eggs at a time, which slipped out of the pan with ease.

On the downside, we noticed some wear and oil marks following use. We also found that the pans were quite heavy, which could be difficult for some to use. Overall, this set gives you the elegance and high-quality performance of copper core cookware without having to spend too much.

The Details: Stainless steel construction with copper base; dishwasher safe; oven safe up to 500 degrees

Related: The 7 Best Copper Cookware Sets, Tested by Allrecipes

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