Buying a set of cookware can be a convenient and affordable alternative to tracking down pots and pans one piece at a time. I also spoke with several home cooks, including members of our own staff, who have used cookware tramontina cookware sets for years. The pans in this top-of-the-line fully clad tri-ply set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and an ideal weight for holding.
Tramontina’s hard-anodized cookware is about mid-range in price and quality. The addition of a grill pan is unique and makes this set a little more attractive than competing cookware. In order to gauge their performance, I cut out circles of paper and weighted them down on the bottom of each pan, which I then placed over the same burner over medium heat until the paper started browning. The pattern of browning on the paper should be a good indication of the pattern of hot and cold spots in the pan. A. If you are used to cooking with non-stick pans, it can be tricky to cook with a stainless steel or enamel-coated pan.
The 10-inch skillet still browned chicken the same as the older model, too. Additionally, we evaluated how easy the handles were to hold, especially when retrieving the pots and pans from a hot oven using a side towel or pot holders. We also took note of the individual weight and thickness of the pieces in each set.
Goldilocks offers a lifetime warranty on its cookware, and it accepts returns within 30 days of your purchase. But even with the added shipping cost, this set would still be less expensive than similar-quality cookware. In 2022, Tramontina redesigned its 8- and 10-inch skillets so they have a slightly larger cooking surface with steeper sides, which we prefer.
As with most of the sets we tested in this price range, the Tramontina skillets tarnished slightly after normal use. Although we easily removed burned-on oil and food bits using a combination of baking soda and warm water, the pans retained a noticeable tint tramontina cookware after cleaning. Because the discoloration in no way affects the cooking performance, we’re willing to forgive this minor drawback. We also liked that the pieces in this set felt weighty; they seem durable enough to withstand the rigors of daily cooking.
However, most of the products are now bonded so that the coating cannot come off, reducing the risk that someone could accidentally consume it. The fumes could become dangerous at super high temperatures, but you’re unlikely to reach those temperatures when cooking most dishes. These days, a lot of consumers are also concerned about the chemicals present in cookware that could seep into their food.
However, unlike the All-Clad and Tramontina sets, the Goldilocks set doesn’t include a 3- or 4-quart sauté pan with a lid (though a cast-iron skillet would work in lieu of it). Some of the pieces in this set are slightly heavier than the All-Clad and Tramontina pieces, so keep that in mind if you’re partial to cookware with less heft. We also experienced some minor sticking while sautéing chicken in the skillets, but it was minimal.
Overall, the Goldilocks set performed better than any other set we’ve tested in this price range. The Great Jones Family Style set is unusual among the cookware sets we looked at in that it includes a nonstick pan and an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven. For one, when tramontina pans testing the Great Jones Saucy for our guide to the best small saucepan, we found the loop-shaped handles uncomfortable to hold. Also, the nonstick pan is only 8½ inches, so it’s not as versatile as the 10-inch pans we recommend in our guide to nonstick skillets.