![Calphalon 11-Piece Pots and Pans Set, Stainless Steel Kitchen Cookware with Stay-Cool Handles, Dishwasher Safe, Silver](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.allrecipes.com/thmb/OtNscJI6BpKPaSgzybM7vpFjn5M=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-alr-best-stainless-steel-cookware-sets-tout-ac389e4cc9bd4d149537b8d3ef6daeaf.jpg)
Allrecipes / Kristin Kempa
Durable stainless steel pots and pans remain a classic when it comes to cookware. Often made with a layer of aluminum, stainless steel can handle high temperatures and almost any recipe, plus it's relatively easy to maintain. But there are a ton of options to choose from, from extremely inexpensive to the highest of high-end.
To help you make the best decision, we combed through our testing data and sent popular sets to the Allrecipes Allstars—our dedicated team of trusted experts—to see how the cookware behaves in a home kitchen.
About Our Tests
Each set we test is analyzed on its performance, heat distribution, and ease of cleaning. We pay special attention to the design, the full set's versatility, and how much elbow grease is required to maintain the cookware. To find all these data points, the Allrecipes Allstars Amanda Scarlati, Jenna Urben, and Jennifer Levin tested multiple sets in their home kitchens. Their tests included:
- Frying eggs in a skillet to assess heat distribution, the pan’s ability to create a nonstick environment, and ease of cleaning.
- Boiling pasta, simmering sauce, and making rice in the saucepan and stockpot for heat distribution and retention, capacity, the effectiveness of the lid design, and how comfortable the handle design is.
- Searing meat in the larger fry pan or saute pan to test heating distribution, pan design, and ease of cleaning.
Why It’s Great: Heats evenly; high sides keep splatters contained; comfortable handles
Grain of Salt: Thinner base means it can get a bit too hot
Many pots and pans heat unevenly, have poorly designed handles, or lack the durability needed for everyday cooking. But these are all areas where this Cuisinart set stands out! First, the tri-ply design means it heats up evenly, though you will need to monitor your heat since it can get too hot too quickly as we learned while testing. The higher sides, meanwhile, help keep everything inside your pot (instead of splattering all over your stove).
The great design features don’t stop there. The handles are a comfortable height—far enough from the heat to stay cool—and have a well-placed grove for easy maneuvering. Even stirring was easy with this set, thanks to a nice curve on the interior.
At about $20 per piece, this is a pretty great set of cookware. If it’s still out of your price range, I also recommend the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic cookware set below.
The Details: 12 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 550°F; induction-compatible
AllRecipes / Fred Hardy
Allrecipes / Fred Hardy
Allrecipes / Fred Hardy
Why It's Great: Maintains heat well; measurement markings; built-in strainer on the stockpot lid
Grain of Salt: Not fully clad; only oven-safe to 450°F
This Calphalon option proves you can get a comprehensive set of great inexpensive cookware. The 10-piece set comes with two frying pans, two saucepans, a saute pan, and a stockpot—basically everything you could need.
More importantly, this cookware thoroughly impressed Allstar Jenna Urben when she tested it. She put it to use making a full pasta dinner, complete with homemade meatballs, and loved how great the cookware was at maintaining heat. This meant excellently cooked sauce, and a quick rapid boil after adding pasta to the stockpot. Jenna also liked the comfortable handles and the measurement markings on the interior of the pots.
It's wonderful that this cookware maintains heat well despite not being fully clad. Instead, there's an aluminum disc bonded to the bottom, in between layers of stainless steel. Also important to note that while it's great for any stovetop, you need to be careful when placing the pans in the oven, as the pieces are only safe to 450°F.
The Details: 10 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 450°F; induction-compatible
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Best Splurge
All-Clad D3 7-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Why It’s Great: Great for high heat; retains heat well due to 3-layer construction; very durable
Grain of Salt: Handles can be uncomfortable
If you’re going to splurge, why not go all out? The All-Clad d3 cookware line is truly some of the best, thanks to its unbelievable performance and durability. The performance is due to the three layers of material, which allow it to heat evenly and retain that heat. As for durability, we’ve tried to damage the d3 cookware multiple times now and it’s always passed those tests with flying colors (just don’t put them in the dishwasher).
Jenna liked the weight of the d3 cookware and felt the large sizes are great for families that cook often. The fry pan felt great in her hand and was easy to maneuver, and the set is composed of the classic pieces any household would need. If you'd also like a small saucepan and a small frying pan, I also highly recommend the 10-piece set that I have in my own kitchen.
Allstar Amanda Scarlati previously tested All-Clad's d5 cookware and enjoyed its exceptional performance, thanks to five layers of material. She also found its handles awkward and uncomfortable, but it's a minor inconvenience for stellar cookware.
The Details: 7 pieces; hand-wash recommended; oven-safe to 600°F; induction-compatible
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Best Starter Set
Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Collection
Why It's Great: Very affordable; made from durable 18/10 stainless steel; heats evenly
Grain of Salt: Not fully clad; can heat too quickly
Your first set of cookware should have two things: an adequate number of pieces and an inexpensive price tag. This set has both, plus it's made from 18/10 stainless steel. I've recommended this Cuisinart set for years since it was my starter set and lasted in my very active kitchen for well over a decade.
Allstar Jennifer Levin tested the 10-piece set of Cuisinart Chef's Classic in her home kitchen, and loved how comfortable and easy to use this cookware is. She liked the weight of all the pieces—enough to be heavy-bottomed, but not too heavy—and found the handles easy to grip.
Though this line of cookware isn't fully clad, it has an aluminum disc within the bottom of the pan that heats fairly evenly if a bit quickly. Jen realized this while pan-frying shrimp in the 10-inch skillet, and the cooking surface got a little too hot. This wasn't a problem while making shrimp, but could mean a too-hot oil if you're not careful.
The Details: 10 pieces; hand-wash recommended; oven-safe to 500°F; induction-compatible
Allrecipes / Jennifer Levin
Allrecipes / Jennifer Levin
Allrecipes / Jennifer Levin
Allrecipes / Jennifer Levin
Allrecipes / Jennifer Levin
Most Stylish
Caraway Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Why It's Great: Built to last; well-balanced and comfortable; heats very evenly
Grain of Salt: Expensive
Recently, Caraway, one of our favorite ceramic cookware brands, released stainless steel cookware featuring the brand's trademark curves, cooking performance, and convenient storage. After we sent this to Jenna's house, she reported that this is an ideal set for anyone looking to upgrade their cookware. “I loved the cook of these pots and pans in my kitchen,” she says. “They seem well made, with ergonomics in mind.”
The set is designed like the main ceramic option: a 10.5-inch fry pan, a 3-quart saucepan, a 4.5-quart sauté pan, and a 6.5-quart Dutch oven. It was enough cookware for Jenna to pull together a full pasta puttanesca meal, but for any complex, you'd need to have additional cookware available. She did love how evenly heated all the cookware was, thanks to its 5-ply construction, and that absolutely nothing stuck to the pans.
The Details: 7 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 550°F; induction-compatible
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Allrecipes / Jenna Urben
Best Assortment
Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Why It’s Great: Affordable; good quality; even heating; all the pieces you could need
Grain of Salt: Food can stick
Larger cookware sets like to fudge the total amount of pieces with a pasta strainer (which we don’t mind since it’s useful) or set of kitchen utensils (which we do mind since they’re usually not useful). But this set gives you all the saucepans you could need, plus the standard fry pans, stockpot, and large saute pan. And it’s all at a somewhat reasonable price.
When Amanda used this cookware in her kitchen, she appreciated that the variety meant you could make a large meal out of the box. Tramontina’s craftsmanship meant quick and even heating with extra heavy-duty durability. But she noticed that her eggs stuck a bit to the fry pan and it didn't get as hot as needed for searing. For those tasks, you might need to buy a nonstick fry pan and/or a cast-iron skillet.
The Details: 12 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 500°F; induction-compatible
Allrecipes / Fred Hardy
Allrecipes / Fred Hardy
Allrecipes / Fred Hardy
Our Takeaway
Even heating, easy cleaning, and a good variety of pieces make the durable Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set our top pick. We also highly recommend the Calphalon Classic 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set. Both will help you be the best cook you can be.
How to Pick the Best Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Set Variety
Most cookware sets come with at least one frying pan or skillet, one or two saucepans, and a stockpot. From there, you need to take into account what you’ll be regularly cooking, how much you’ll be cooking, and how many people you’ll be cooking for. We recommend sets that contain at least two frying pans (an 8-inch and a 10-inch), a 3-quart saucepan, and a 6-quart stockpot. An additional smaller saucepan and saute pan can’t hurt, as they'll create a set that works for most recipes in most kitchens. Remember that you can always buy more cookware as needed.
Fully Clad versus Disc Bottom
All the cookware we recommend will have layers of different metals—typically stainless steel sandwiching aluminum—but the amount of metal in the construction can vary. The best-performing cookware will be fully clad, which means the layers are fully present throughout the piece, from the bottom surface to the top lip. The heat will spread through the layers, resulting in more even heating and better heat retention. The downside is that fully clad cookware is pricier.
On the other hand, disc bottom cookware is when a disc of material, typically aluminum, is sandwiched at the cooking surface only. It’s an inexpensive way to incorporate different metals into the build. The cookware can still help you cook a great meal, but it might not heat evenly and can be less durable.
Maintenance
Stainless steel is easy to take care of though you might have to put a little elbow grease into it now and then. First, you should wash cooled cookware with warm soapy water after every use—we recommend hand-washing over using the dishwasher since abrasive detergents can damage cookware. If any food sticks to the cookware and a quick soak doesn’t help, a small amount of baking soda worked into a paste can be enough scrubbing action to loosen the bits. You can also use a mild cleaner like Bon Ami or Bar Keeper’s Friend.
Common Questions
How can I tell if my cookware is compatible with induction?
Since induction cooktops work with magnetic fields, your cookware needs to have the correct metal in its cooking surface to interact with the induction burner. If you’re unsure if your cookware is compatible, see if a magnet will stick to the bottom.
How do I make my stainless steel nonstick?
Stainless steel cookware can be as good as nonstick if you prepare your surface properly. First, you'll heat your stainless steel without adding anything to the pan or pot. The heating expands the metal’s molecules which closes up any minuscule pores. Then, once it’s hot enough a droplet of water acts like a ball of mercury, you can add your oil or other desired fat.
What’s the difference between 3-ply and 5-ply?
The “ply” here refers to the number of layers: three layers or five layers. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. Three layers of decent size, with the right mix of metals, can perform beautifully and retain heat well. Five layers of the wrong size and/or the wrong mix of metals can heat too quickly, or it could take forever to boil a pot of water.
Why Take Our Word For It?
Siobhan Wallace is our senior commerce editor. She’s been covering and testing cookware for three years. She relies on stainless steel in her home kitchen and hopes to have a 100% success rate with the mercury ball test this year.