Best Cookware Sets of 2024

Cooking set size

A big consideration is which pieces are included and if they are essential to your kitchen or not. There are cookware sets as large as 14 pieces but they will usually have lots of pots and pans in a size range you won’t use. I wouldn’t recommend having more than eight or nine pieces (this includes the lids counted as pieces) unless you have both the space and money for all that extra.

Choosing the right cookware

The most important decision you will make is what your pots and pans are made of. Cookware is usually made of aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, a chemically resistant compound (Teflon) or a combination of several materials. As you might guess, each type of cookware surface has its pros and cons as it relates to cooking, cleaning, durability and storage.

Aluminum cookware is cheap, for example, but it’s not very durable and I wouldn’t recommend buying a full aluminum set. Stainless steel pots and pans will withstand abuse better and won’t warp or bend like aluminum. Stainless steel is also a slow conductor of heat, which is why steel pans often have a core made of highly conductive materials such as aluminum or copper.

For many people, stainless steel cookware with an aluminum core will be the best design of the set. Materials like copper and cast iron have advantages but also some major pitfalls. Cast iron and carbon steel are both a bit heavy and require some cleaning and maintenance, so you may not want a whole set. Copper cookware is also more difficult to maintain and is often more expensive than its stainless steel counterparts.

Nonstick is another popular option. I recommend having at least one nonstick skillet — either Teflon or ceramic — for eggs and other sticky foods. You won’t be able to sear food using nonstick like you can with other materials, so keep that in mind when choosing a nonstick cookware set. It also won’t last long since nonstick coatings break down over time.

Costs and budgets

With cookware, you get what you pay for, but that doesn’t mean you need to pay more than you’re worth. High-quality copper cookware and stainless steel sets can run into the thousands, but a quality set of pots and pans doesn’t need to cost you more than a few hundred.

Cheap cookware is different from budget-friendly. Our value selection is still strong enough to handle your nightly recipes and shouldn’t warp for many years. If you pay for cheap cookware, you may end up with broken handles and burnt salmon from uneven heat.

Nonstick and cast-iron cookware are very affordable and there are reliable sets under $100. Good stainless steel cookware sets for three or four pans will cost several hundred dollars. Copper cookware is very expensive and usually costs around $500 or more, even for a small set.