Best Cookware Sets - Our Top Picks

So I am a cooking fanatic, this is one of my passions. The kitchen is the center of my home and I spend a lot of my free time there cooking up a meal for my family or trying out new recipes. Around Thanksgiving of last year I need to purchase a new cookware set for my home and need something that cooked well, was durable and would last years. So I set out for in my quest for the perfect set and evaluated several cookware sets. I knew that I wanted a set that was heave duty, cooked well, was both dishwasher and oven safe, had riveted pot handles and were easy to handle. From my experience if you get a good quality cookware set many of the bigger pieces tend to be heavy and hard to handle. I took a trip to the mall and started looking at all the major cookware lines, including those made by: Wolfgang Puck, Jamie Oliver, Emeril and All Clad. Most of them looked the same to me initially but all had a problem, they were kinda hard for me to handle. Then I came across Cuisinart’s cookware.

To my relief I came across this Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel set. This is a 10 piece set and it is very high quality but at the same time won’t punch a hole in your wallet. I was surprised at how easy it was to handle and that the pot handles did not get hot during cooking. The are very pretty and clean easily in the dishwasher. As for as cooking goes this set has excellent thermoconductivity and I had no problems with being able to cook my meals well as they did a … Read the rest ->

When cooks are outfitted with the Cuisinart MCP-12 MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, they have every pot and frying pan that they need. Additionally, Cuisinart is a name brand that I trust. I know that they usually sell products that are built to last, and the many features of this particular cookware set make them definite kitchen classics.

Making good reasons for loving these pots and using them, here are some of the great features that I like the best:

- The pots are made of aluminum covered with a high-grade stainless steel. The aluminum is excellent because it is a good heat conductor and cooks food quickly and evenly. The stainless steel is a hard and clean metal that protects the aluminum. Now, aluminum is a softer metal that can be easily dented and scratched. I am not a fan of cooking in aluminum because I do not like particles of aluminum in my food. Cooking in these pots protects my food from the aluminum because of the outer stainless steel coating.

- One of my very favorite items is the vegetable steamer. I can boil water or cook some soup or rice in the bottom while I steam vegetables in the top compartment pot. That steamer pot with holes in its bottom fits snugly into the bottom pot.

- The handles of these pots stay cooler than a lot of pot handles I have used. I like a cooler handle that does not require a pot holder to use.

- I like having this matching set that includes small and large sizes for different uses.

- The lids fit well and they fit more than one piece so that I can use the stock pot lid … Read the rest ->

I had friend who is a huge Farberware fan. She’s had their cookware for years and swears by them, saying that in the over 10 years of use, these sturdy pots and pans are stilling going strong. My friend tells me that even the pot handles are still tight. So for my next review I finally decided to give a stainless steel set from Fabreware a test drive. The first thing I look for in a cookware test is durability and construction. I have a ceramic cooktop in my kitchen so things heat up very quickly and intense, any cookware you put on it has to be strong and rest perfectly flat or it will warp. So to my delight these Fabreware pots and pans seem well made in this regard, they were on my kitchen top and stayed flat while heating up very quickly.

These pots and pans are handsome and easy to handle. The lids fit well and every piece of this set has a convient ring attached to it so that you can hang your cookware on any pot handle. The baking pan and the cookie sheets are amazing. Though they are made of metal (I usually use glass for baking) I was able to make some nice cookies and treats. The cookie sheet was small and thin and did not warp while in the oven at high heat. I also found that the heat is evenly distributed. This cookware set is dishwasher safe, I was able to pop this into the dishwasher and have everything come out clean and shiny without a problem. Some other product highlights include:
Durable 18/10 stainless steel construction designed to withstand up to 350 degrees FPieces in this set include: includes 2 … Read the rest ->

Coated inside and out with DuPont’s nonstick surface, the Anolon Advanced Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set offers quality pots and pans with lids for outfitting a kitchen. I think they are attractive with their smoky-black exteriors rimmed with chrome. The padded handles and the glass lids are trimmed in chrome. The cookware set has many practical features that make it a good purchase. Here are a few features I like about them:

- The padded handles stay cool while something is cooking inside the pots and pans.

- The quality nonstick coating lasts through extensive use.

- The nonstick surface covers the outside as well as the interior so that food, grease and other substances are not hard to remove when cleaning the outside of the pots and pans.

- The largest saucepan is four quarts and will cook a good pot of greens.

- The glass lids are clear so I can watch the food that is boiling or sauteing. I do not really like to lift the lid while food is on the heat unless necessary because letting cool air into the pot slows the cooking process.

- The heavy-duty aluminum is lightweight and I like to be able to lift the pots and pans without struggling.

Special Care

The nonstick surface will last longer without wear and scratches if people are sure never to use metal spoons or other utensils on them. Additionally, this nonstick cookware should not be run through a dishwasher. The entire set cleans easily with a sponge or wash cloth, warm water and a little dish soap.

Using this Anolon Nonstick Cookware

I find that when I am cooking a meal, I usually use more than one pot or pan. I like to make … Read the rest ->

I have always loved the performance of KitchenAid products, and this KitchenAid Gourmet Hard Anodized Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set is a great collection of pots, pans and lids with which to equip the home kitchen. Here are some of things that I like about the set:

- The pots and pans are lightweight and durable because they are made from anodized aluminum. I like pans that I can lift easily and pots from which I can pour out the contents without a struggle to hold up the cookware.

- The cooking surface is designed not to let food stick. When the surface is nonstick, I can cook without using so much oil.

- The set includes three sauce pans so I can cook the cheese sauce, and cook two vegetables at the same time.

- The cookware is easy to clean. I need to cut corners where I can with my time and spending less time washing cookware is a help.

- The glass lids are strong and clear so I can look through them and watch the food cooking.

- As far as the handles go, they keep cool during normal cooking on the stove. They are also easy to grasp.

- The stock pot is a good size and not too wide to fit on the stove while cooking other things on other burners.

- When I need to saute’ onions and mushrooms and make a gravy or a hearty sauce with sauteed vegetables, the saute pan included in the set has plenty of interior space for a good quantity of sauteed vegetables, gravies and sauces.

- Having two frying pans is practical because I am often frying more than one thing at a time for a meal such … Read the rest ->

For this review I’m going to look at the Rachel Ray line of cooking sets. I usually like to work with stainless steel sets but I heard a lot about this particular set and decided to give it a go even though it was made of anodized aluminum. I have to say this is a treat set. I started out by cooking everything with this for a week. Breakfast was fine, I found it convenient that my eggs did not stick tot he pan. I was able broil, bake, fry just about anything and everything without a problem with this set. I tried cooking a variety of foods including: soups, pastas, casseroles, various breakfast foods, potatoes, veggies, shrimp, chick, steak, you name it. All came out tasting great. Not that I am a Rachael Ray fan, though I’ve watch some of her shows, she also uses these type of cookwares on her own show. I guess that this is a testament to the quality and reliability of these pots and pans if she practices what she preaches.

I was skeptical of this because set because it is advertised as non stick, which is something I am normally against, because they are easy to damage. I was surprised at how good the coating was on these pots and pans. These wares are non stick but not coated with anything, so it is a very sturdy surface. During my testing I used a metal utensils and did not scratch the non stick surface. Of course a week is too early to tell how good the non stick feature is, but it is enough to know that this is pretty good quality non stick feature. In comparison to my Fabreware cook set this is pretty comparable in terms of durability. These Rachel … Read the rest ->

This Nonstick Cookware Set from Calphalon is lightweight and easy with which to cook as well as clean. The set has four lids that fit different pots and pans in the set. I ask the question, why can’t home kitchens have the quality found in gourmet restaurant kitchens? I found out that the Calphalon brand of cookware was originally made for food service industries, and now they make the same quality products for home kitchens. I am glad to find a non-stick cookware set that lets me cook at home like a professional chef.

These are the features of the Calphalon SA10H Nonstick Cookware that are my favorites:

- The see-through glass lids allow me to watch the progress of the cooking without lifting the lid and slowing the cooking process.

- The lids mix and match to fit all the pots and pans.

- The non-stick interior surface is durable and long-lasting for many hours of preparing foods I love.

- Because the cookware is made of aluminum, they are lightweight and easy for me to handle and lift for transporting and pouring out the contents.

- The saute pan is excellent for making stir-fry.

- I do not need to use excessive oil so that foods do not stick on the pan.

- Although I cannot use the pans to broil in an oven, I can bake in them and wash them in a dishwasher.

- I live in the United States so I am glad to see that this cookware is made in the USA.

- I know about other people who have used Calphalon cookware for twenty or more years.

- The long handles are safe, stay cool and make maneuvering the pots and pans much easier.

I consider it wise to invest in quality cookware … Read the rest ->

Paula Deen’s trusted name in cooking attracted me to her signature cookware. Evaluating the superior details, positive owner reviews and quality of the pieces convinced me to add the 10-piece set, in purple, to my kitchen. I have not been disappointed once and am pleased to own the stunning pieces.

Paula Deen’s Traditional Porcelain Cookware set is an excellent choice for a novice cook or a seasoned chef. The practicality is unparalleled by other cookware lines. The silicone handles are impressive and attractive. They are non-slip and comfortable to grip. Each piece withstands oven temperatures up to 400 degrees making this set highly useful for most cooking tasks.

Two sauce pans, a stock pot and a sauté pan come in generous sizes and have well-fitting lids. The lids are tempered glass, allowing me to check food without lifting the lid. The two included skillets are also good sizes.

Though the cookware comes in large sizes, it is lightweight. I adore using lightweight cookware when I have several burners working and am moving things about my kitchen in preparation for a large dinner. The high quality construction allows for fast and even heating, making food cook faster and without any hot spots.

The stunning purple enamel finish resists stains and is easy to clean. I receive countless compliments about the handsomeness of the set. The thoughtful addition of an attached ring to each handle makes hanging the cookware on my pot rack simple. I am proud to display the cookware in my kitchen. The bold purple color adds flair to the room.

The inside of the cookware boasts trusted DuPont Teflon Select non-stick coating. I have prepared everything from pancakes to chicken breasts without having to use anything to enhance the non-stick coating. Most foods will not stick even without the … Read the rest ->

The All-Clad 5000-9 nine piece cookware set is one of the most reliable partners in cooking. Boil, simmer, or fry, this cooking set will never disappoint. Cooking is made even better with the All-Clad 5000-9. Every piece is made of two layers of high-quality stainless steel and an aluminium core. This allows all pieces in the set to be used on almost all types of stovetops. It allows equal distribution of heat, so there are no hot spots.

The All-Clad 5000-9 is not like other cookware. Say goodbye to your cast iron defuser. Although the flame is directed to the bottom, the heat is diffused to all parts of the pot or pan. With this, food is cooked evenly with no burning. It has a non-stick coating, and the cookware can be easily cleaned with just a gentle slide of the washing pad.

A complete set includes a saucepan, casserole pan, frying pan, stockpot, and saute pan, and each comes with a cover. Many gourmet restaurants have even used these pots and pans in cooking their specialties. Another advantage of purchasing this product is that it requires low maintenance, and it lasts a long time. With simple cleaning, these pots and pans are as good as new again. Unlike the other products, scratching is not a problem.

Among the drawbacks of the All-Clad 5000-9 is the cleaning process. The cookware needs to be hand washed, and placing items inside the dishwasher is discouraged. For people who are always in a hurry to leave home, this may eat up some time. Fortunately, these products are very easy to wash. All it takes it just a little more time to spare for cleaning.

Another amazing feature is the handles. They are very sturdy and reliable. No matter how high the temperature is, … Read the rest ->

After years of suffering the ill effects of purchasing low-end cookware it was time for me to research better brands to finally set myself up well in the kitchen. I began the long search and found one brand with vastly more positive reviews than other brands.

The set I opted for is the Rachel Ray Hard Anodized nonstick 14-piece cookware set. This set is ideal for any skill level in the kitchen with an excellent range in sizes fitting to any task in the kitchen.

The set is complete with 3 saucepans sized one, two and three quarts, one four quart sauce pot, one six quart stockpot, a three quart covered saute pan and two skillets in eight and a half inch and ten inch sizes. All cookware other than the skillets have well-fitting, see-through lids.

No matter what is on the menu, I have an appropriate piece of cookware for food preparation. I appreciate the increased versatility of this set as it is fitting to withstand oven temperatures up to 400 degrees. I can cook many dishes in the oven with the cookware.

I use the Rachel Ray cookware whenever possible as I love the terrific non-stick coating that is a breeze to clean. The hard anodized construction of these makes them stronger but lighter than stainless steel. I like the durability plus light-weight nature of the product. When the pans and skillets are full, they are not difficult to move about the kitchen as needed.

The orange accents are vibrant and I like the way the cookware looks. I receive many compliments on the design and am excited to tell visitors how much I love using the set.

Other sets have made a debut in my kitchen only to fail within months. Some brands have let me … Read the rest ->