The Best Cookware Set

Your cookware plays a key role in both grand meals and everyday cooking. After testing over 20 sets , we recommend the Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Set for its solid construction, comfort, and value. With proper care, it lasts decades and works on all cooktops, including induction.

Everything we recommend

The Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set heats evenly and is comfortably weighted, making it easy to lift. The ergonomically shaped handles are also comfortable to hold, and we’re confident this durable set will last for years.

If you prefer to build your own set, Tramontina offers individual pieces. For a versatile 10-piece set, we recommend a 1½- or 2-quart saucepan with a lid, 3-quart saucepan with a lid, 3-quart sauté pan with a lid, 10-inch and 12-inch skillets, and an 8-quart stockpot. For a simpler setup, a 3-quart saucepan, 12-inch skillet, and 8-quart stockpot will cover most needs.

For lifetime-quality cookware, we recommend the All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set. Durable and evenly heating, it excels in both professional and home kitchens. The set includes all essential pieces, and its bright, shiny finish remains like new even after years of use.

The Goldilocks Cookware Set Plus offers great value with even heat distribution and a 12-inch skillet. While it lacks a 3- or 4-quart sauté pan and some pieces are heavier, it outperforms other sets in this price range with minimal sticking.

How we picked

We focused on cookware that is durable, heats evenly, and is lightweight enough for comfortable use. Key qualities we looked for include:

Durable tri-ply stainless steel: With an aluminum core between stainless steel layers, this material ensures even heat distribution, high temperature tolerance, and long-lasting durability.

We avoided other materials for various reasons: Nonstick cookware can’t handle high heat and wears out over time. Aluminum and anodized aluminum aren’t compatible with induction cooktops. Cast iron is heavy, reactive, and harder to maintain, though it can be useful for specific tasks. Copper, while a great heat conductor, is expensive and difficult to clean.

When choosing cookware, the right sizes are crucial for efficiency in the kitchen. Here’s what an ideal set should include:

1½- to 2-quart saucepan with a lid: Perfect for reheating small portions or melting butter. 3- to 4-quart saucepan with a lid: Great for sauces, stocks, and soups. 8- and 10-inch or 10- and 12-inch skillets: Ideal for searing and sautéing. Larger skillets (10- and 12-inch) offer more cooking space and help speed up meal prep. 3- to 4-quart sauté pan with a lid: Best for reducing sauces, making roux, and shallow braises. 8-quart (or larger) stockpot with a lid: Large enough for pasta, stocks, soups, and stews. Many sets only offer a 6-quart stockpot, which is too small for large batches.

Comfortable weight: Most testers preferred skillets weighing between 2 and 3.5 pounds, offering a balance of maneuverability and heft for tossing ingredients.

Comfortable handles: Ergonomic stick handles or ones with helper handles offer an easy grip and control, especially for moving saucepans. We also recommend sets with hanging holes for easy storage.

Features and accessories we avoided

• Glass lids: Glass lids can break easily if dropped and don’t offer much advantage over stainless steel lids, as condensation can obscure the view.

• Plastic handles: Even heat-resistant plastic handles can degrade over time, affecting durability.
• Five-ply cookware: While expensive, five-ply cookware tends to heat unevenly, takes longer to warm up, and is heavier than tri-ply. It also retains heat longer and is less responsive to temperature changes.
• Non-fully clad sets: If the aluminum core doesn’t go up the sides of the cookware, it can cause scorching. Tri-ply pans with encapsulated bottoms distribute heat better but are best for induction cooktops, not gas or electric.
• Pasta inserts or steamer baskets: These add unnecessary bulk and typically have shallow designs that limit pasta circulation when boiling.

How we tested

We began by testing how well the large skillets retained heat, using an infrared thermometer to create a heat map of the cooking surface. We also dusted the surface with flour and placed the pan over medium-high heat to check for even browning. To evaluate browning uniformity, we sautéed chicken pieces in the skillets.

Next, we used the large saucepan from each set to make small batches of caramel and checked for hot spots. For the stockpots, we simmered a large batch of tomato sauce to look for scorching. We also observed how easily liquids poured from each pot without dripping.

We assessed the comfort of the handles, especially when removing pots from a hot oven with towels or pot holders. We also noted the weight and thickness of each piece. By hand-washing, we gauged ease of cleaning and evaluated how well the sets nested for storage.

Our pick: Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set

We recommend the Tramontina Gourmet 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set for its excellent heat distribution, sturdy build, and affordable price. The wide handles on the pans and lids are comfortable to grip, and all pieces are induction-compatible and oven-safe up to 500°F.

This set includes seven pots and pans, with five corresponding lids: 8- and 10-inch skillets, a 6-quart deep sauté pan with a lid, 1½-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids, and an 8-quart stockpot with a lid. While we would have preferred a 12-inch skillet over the 8-inch one, the 6-quart sauté pan is spacious enough for a whole chicken cut up.

If you’d like to expand your set, the Tramontina Gourmet Tri-Ply Clad 12-Inch Fry Pan is available separately. For a more affordable option, Costco offers a similar set.

The pieces are sold open stock, so you can customize your set. We recommend swapping the 8-inch skillet for the 12-inch one and choosing just one of the 1½- or 2-quart saucepans.

The skillets’ sloped sides and flared lips are perfect for whisking or allowing moisture to evaporate while cooking. All pieces heat evenly, with the skillets achieving beautifully brown chicken, the 3-quart saucepan making perfect caramel, and the stockpot simmering tomato sauce without scorching.

The pieces in this set are durable, weighty, and easy to maneuver, with handles on the stainless steel lids large enough to grab with a towel or pot holders. The stick handles are comfortable and the higher angle offers more leverage for tossing vegetables and easy maneuvering on the stovetop.

This Tramontina set comes with a lifetime warranty covering manufacturer defects. If any issues arise under normal household use, you can contact Tramontina for a replacement.

How the Tramontina set has held up

In our test kitchen, we used an older version of this set for two years, and all pots and pans distributed heat evenly. The skillets discolored slightly after searing meat, but their performance remained unchanged.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Tramontina skillets tarnished slightly after use, but the discoloration didn’t affect cooking performance. We easily removed burnt oil and food with baking soda and water.

Upgrade pick: All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set

The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 10-Piece Set offers superior heat conduction, cooking food more evenly than others. It’s durable, easy to clean, and worth the higher price. While it lacks a 12-inch skillet, it covers all essential pieces.

The All-Clad handles are well-shaped and easy to grip, even with a dish towel. However, some may find the concave design of the stick handles uncomfortable.

The All-Clad skillets heat evenly, cooking chicken to a golden-brown, crispy perfection. The saucepans didn’t scorch, and the 3-quart saucepan allowed for even caramelization with less stirring. The stockpot also simmered tomato sauce without scorching, though some sauce dripped when pouring. The set cleaned up easily, looking nearly new after washing. While some discoloration occurred on the skillets, it was minimal compared to other sets.

All-Clad offers a variety of cookware pieces separately, allowing you to expand your collection. Their tri-ply set is made in the US, with high-quality craftsmanship. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturer defects.

How the All-Clad set has held up

All-Clad is a favorite in our test kitchen, with many staff members using them at home. After years of use, All-Clad continues to heat evenly and clean well, maintaining its performance.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

All-Clad recommends hand-washing its cookware, as dishwasher detergents and prolonged exposure can damage the pans, especially the aluminum in bonded cookware.

Budget pick: Goldilocks Cookware Set Plus

The Goldilocks Cookware Set Plus offers great performance at an affordable price, heating evenly and cleaning easily for under $250. It includes 10- and 12-inch skillets, 1½- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, and an 8-quart stockpot. While it lacks a 3- or 4-quart skillet, a 12-inch cast-iron skillet can be used as a substitute. The set is also available open stock, and for just $50 more, the larger set is a better value.

The Goldilocks Cookware Set performed well overall. While sautéing chicken, there was minimal sticking, and rice didn’t stick in the saucepans. The stockpot didn’t scorch during tomato sauce cooking, and the 3-quart saucepan needed a little more swirling when making caramel. Overall, its performance was on par with Tramontina and All-Clad. However, as a newer brand, we’re unsure about its long-term durability. The handles are comfortable, with a dimple for better grip. Though it heats up slower than our other picks, it retains heat slightly better.

The Goldilocks pot lids are lighter than those in the All-Clad set. The Goldilocks 8-quart lid weighs 1 pound 0.5 ounce, while All-Clad’s is 1 pound 5.8 ounces. The Goldilocks lid was slightly warped and didn’t sit perfectly flat, but this isn’t a dealbreaker given the price. However, the lids may dent more easily if dropped.

Some of the Goldilocks pans are heavier than our other picks. For example, the Goldilocks 10-inch skillet weighs 2 pounds 10.1 ounces, compared to the All-Clad 10-inch skillet at 2 pounds 2.2 ounces.

Goldilocks offers a lifetime warranty and accepts returns within 30 days. Shipping is free within the contiguous 48 states, but there are additional fees for Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The pans may discolor slightly, like Tramontina, but clean up well with Bar Keepers Friend. Even with shipping costs, this set remains affordable compared to similar-quality cookware.