Quality cookware is something everyone needs, whether you are an amateur cook or professional chef. Cookware is sometimes thought of as something you wait to buy until you get married or when you move into a new home, however, having a great set of pots and pans can and will take your cooking to the next level.
Below are a few of the best, and highest-rated, professional-grade cookware sets that give you the most bang for your buck. These sets come in 11, 12 or 17-pieces and feature fry pans, saute pans, stock pots, a griddle pan and even a “One Egg Wonder” pan, and include all the lids you need to keep them covered.
Finished in either elegant stainless steel, hard anodized aluminum or sturdy porcelain enamel, there is an option for everyone’s tastes and needs. These nonstick pots and pans not only look good but are quality performers and provide precise heating and cooking – choose from a heavy-gauge aluminum core to quickly and evenly distribute heat or one with a “Thermo-spot” indicator that alerts you to when the pan is ready for use. All are also compatible with most stove tops and are oven or dishwasher safe.
1. Calphalon Premier 11-Piece Cookware Set
Calphalon’s Premier 11-piece cookware set is made with elegant stainless steel and a heavy-gauge aluminum core to quickly and evenly distribute heat for great searing, browning and sauteing. Made with a durable 3-layer metal construction, this cookware is also dishwasher safe, works with all types of stove tops and is oven safe up to 450 degrees.
PROS: This cookware set is backed by a full lifetime warranty.
CONS: The 10-inch fry pan does not come with a cover like all the other pans.
2. T-fal Hard Anodized Cookware Set
The T-fal 17-Piece Cookware Set comes with all the essential pieces needed to create the perfect dish. The hard anodized exterior is fast and easy to clean, and is crafted for long-lasting durability. This set is also compatible with almost all cooktops and is oven safe up to 400 degrees. Dishwasher safe, this cookware is easy to clean and comes with ergonomically designed silicone handles for comfortable gripping.
PROS: The T-fal set comes with a Thermo-spot heat indicator which shows when your pan is perfectly preheated to start cooking.
CONS: These pots and pans will not work with induction-type cooktops.
3. Rachael Ray Cucina Porcelain Enamel Nonstick Cookware Set
The Rachael Ray Cucina 12-Piece Cookware Set features a modern rustic design in a slew of stylish colors that is made with sturdy, hard enamel porcelain exteriors and aluminum construction. The materials promote fast, even heating and incorporate easy-to-use functionality. These non-stick pots and pans are also PFOA-free, release foods effortlessly and clean up easily.
PROS: Comfortable, silicone dual-riveted handles are oven safe up to 400 degrees and color coordinate perfectly with the pans.
CONS: These porcelain dishes are not dishwasher safe.