If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Other brands on store shelves include Chefmate, KitchenAid, gotham steel cookware sets Le Creuset, Mainstays, Swiss Diamond, T-Fal, Tramontina, Rachael Ray, and WearEver, among many others. We highlight the cookware and appliances that will allow you to whip up a feast in5 Essentials You Need in a Small Kitchen.
Every kitchen should have 8- and 10- inch skillets as well as a larger covered 12-inch skillet or straight-sided sauté pan. We give points to sets that include a 12-incher as it’s such a versatile pan for frying, stir-frying and one-pot dishes like paella or chicken with dumplings. And while you can always pick up a reasonably-priced small fry pan for eggs and crepes, filling in your set with a large pan, can set you back a bit. However, when you cook directly in aluminum some of the metal leaches into your food, giving it a gray-ish cast.
Many of these pots will come with an additional insert for steaming. You will use it for making pasta, but you can also use it for various other things, like making soups or steaming vegetables. They are usually at the lower end of the price scale and they are quite durable. Although glass-ceramic hobs are technically electric hobs too, what we are talking about when we say electric hob is the old-school electric hobs with sealed plates. However, this coating can be dangerous if overheated or if the coating is damaged, but there are many healthier and more eco-friendly non-stick coating alternatives available.
Sturdy, riveted stainless steel handles give you easy handling, and the entire pot is ovenproof up to 500 degrees. In addition to the basic skillets and saucepans, you get a large saute pan, a Dutch oven, and a large 8-quart stockpot. As the 12-inch fry pan is deep and rounded, it’s perfect for stir fries. All in all, you’re pretty much covered for every possible cooking need. Like all stainless, this cookware is dishwasher safe but is prone to some discoloration over time. Perfect for a wedding or house warming gift, this cookware set has everything a new kitchen needs—and it’s affordable.
This 14-piece cookware set is lightweight and straightforward, and it looks great in any kitchen thanks to its cheerful hue. The cookware has a sturdy base that prevents warping for increased strength and durability. Working with the Anolon Advanced cookware set has the significant drawback of not being dishwasher safe.
Before you set out to find new cookware, there are some questions you need to know the answer to. Deciding on a budget limit before shopping is always a good idea, and you really don’t need to spend a fortune to get good cookware. Ultimately, you can get away with having just one saucepan, but owning two sizes is ideal. The most popular sizes are gotham steel cookware sets 2-quart and 4-quart, so having both ensures that you have a saucepan for every need. She said smaller options, like a 2-quart saucepan, are suitable for steaming vegetables, like corn and peas, but won’t provide enough room to feed a family and won’t yield many leftovers. Also, slimmer stovetops might not be able to accommodate larger saucepans.
While sets are sold at a huge range of prices, you don’t have to spend top dollar to get a dependable one that you’ll find a pleasure to cook with. Before you shop it’s important to get a handle on what you like to cook and for how many people, as well as your tolerance for scrubbing and the size of your budget. We’ve been sautéing, frying and simmering in our test kitchens all day, every day for years. Using our pro experience, we’ve picked the perfect cookware sets for all kinds of cooks.
As with the handles, lids need to sit comfortably on their respective pan. They don’t necessarily need to create a vacuum seal, but they should also not be perched precariously on the top of the pan. Handles should feel comfortable and be firmly attached to their pot or pan.
To choose the appropriate sized saucepan, consider how often you will be cooking and the size of your average meal. If you cook for a family of four every evening, a larger size saucepan is a better option because it will save you time, and you’ll be able to cook in larger batches. Some brands make their saucepans with taller sides; therefore, the diameter is smaller, while others have shorter sides and larger diameters. The Cuisinart cuisinart knife Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set is our top choice for overall design, performance, and versatility. You can’t go wrong with the GreenPan Hudson Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set, 8-Piece, which offers top-notch nonstick performance at a gentle price. “If you like nonstick, but worry that the finish won’t last, this might change your mind. This set is very versatile and amazing for high-heat cooking.”