20 Best Cookware Sets For Pros And Novices — At All Price Points

Cookware sets come in a wide range of price points, sizes, and styles, and it’s hard to know what's best for you. It might be tempting to just go for the cheapest set you can find with the most items included, but that’s not necessarily the best course of action.

You want pans that are heavy enough to conduct heat evenly to keep your food (and cookware) from scorching; you also might want cookware sets that are easy to stack, easy to clean, and are fitted with lids that secutre tightly and have heat-proof knobs.

You might need to also consider how big a set you really need. While those 12-piece sets are very appealing, do you have the budget or space? Sometimes, choosing 2 or 3 really important starter pieces is a great way to begin if you don’t have the space or budget for a large set that includes many items you may rarely use.

With all that in mind, here are the best cookware sets to consider, at all ends of the budget.

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1. Cravings by Chrissy Teigen 12-Piece Aluminum Cookware Set

The Cravings by Chrissy Teigen 12-Piece Nonstick Aluminum Cookware Set includes one 5.5-quart Dutch Oven with lid, one 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, one 2.5-quart saucepan with lid, one 1-quart saucepan with lid, one 10.24-inch frying pan, one 8-inch frying pan, one silicone slotted turner and one silicon spoon. The 3-Layer Teflon nonstick coating is scratch-resistant and metal utensil safe.

(Target, $139.99)

2. Calphalon Premier Stainless Steel 8-Piece Cookware Set

Included with set is an 8" fry pan, 10" fry pan. 2.5 qt. saucepan with cover, 5 qt. sauté pan with cover, 6 qt. stock pot with cover, all with durable 3-ply metal construction.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

3. Le Creuset 16-Piece Cookware Set

Set includes: 1.75-quart Cast Iron Saucepan, 5.5-quart Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 10.25" Cast Iron Skillet, 8-quart Enameled Steel Stock Pot, 4-quart Stoneware Covered Rectangular Dish, The Cast Iron Way to Cook Cookbook, 5 Piece Silicone Utensil Set & Wooden Spoon. 

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

4. Rachael Ray 12-Piece Aluminum Cookware Set

Crafted with durable aluminum and sturdy hard enamel porcelain exteriors that are oven safe to 400 degrees F, this espresso-colored, PFOA-free nonstick set releases foods effortlessly.

(Target, $149.99)

5. Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

Cookware features cool grip handles secured with stainless steel rivets and self-basting, tight fitting lids, Triple-Ply construction includes the unsurpassed heat conductivity of a pure aluminum core. It ensures maximum heat retention and even heat distribution, eliminating hot spots.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

6. Gotham Steel 20-Piece All in One Kitchen Cookware & Bakeware Set

Complete Kitchen in a Box, it includes a suite of fry pans, stock pots, sauce pans, bakeware pans, steamers and more. Award winning Ti-Cerama coating ensures the ultimate release — everything just slides right off the pan.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

7. Sardel Full Set Italian-Made Cookware

Sardel just launched in July with a pretty incredible director to consumer offering of essential 5-ply stainless steel cookware. Their full 8-piece set includes a 10" Non-Stick Skillet, 10" Skillet 12" Skillet, 4QT Sauté Pan, 2QT Sauce Pan with Lid, and a 8QT Stock Pot with Lid.

(Sardel Kitchen, $495)

8. Martha Stewart Collection 14-Piece Cookware Culinary Science Set

Create a great gourmet kitchen with this cookware set: 1.5-qt. saucepan with lid, 2.5-qt. saucepan with lid, 3-qt. sauté pan with lid, 8" fry pan, 10" fry pan with lid, 12" fry pan with lid, 8-qt. stockpot with lid, and steamer insert for 2.5-qt. saucepan.

(Macy's, $349.99)

9. Hotel Collection 12-Piece Performance Tri-Ply Nonstick Cookware Set

This set from Hotel Collection is created from tri-ply stainless steel and coated with Quantanium, a 3-layer non-stick coating reinforced with titanium for optimal release and performance. This convenient set includes saucepans and skillets, as well as larger pots.

(Macy's, $629.99)

10. All-Clad Essentials Nonstick Cookware Set

All-Clad combines the ease of nonstick with the freedom to go from stovetop to oven to table, and with the quality that's made All-Clad a chef favorite for decades. Incredibly versatile, perfectly stackable, and easy to clean, Essentials Nonstick from All-Clad is designed to fit the way you cook and live.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

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11. T-Fal Culinaire 16-Piece Set 

T-fal’s unique Thermo-Spot technology shows when the pan is perfectly preheated and ready to begin cooking. The non-stick interior means little to no oil or fat is needed, providing superior performance and allowing healthier cooking, year after year. 

(Macy's, $179.99)

12. Made.in 'The Executive Chef' Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel Cookware Set

This complete and unique cookware set includes every pot and pan you need to overhaul your kitchen. Featuring both carbon steel and stainless steel, you’ll be cranking out perfectly charred peppers, fluffy risotto, seared fish, and beautifully braised chicken with the ease.

(Made.in Cookware, $799)

13. Circulon Acclaim Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware 13-Piece Set

Set includes: 1, 2 and 3-Quart Covered Saucepans, 8-Inch, 10-Inch, and 12-Inch Skillet, 6-Quart Covered Stockpot, 3-Quart Covered Saute. Total Food Release System features PFOA-free metal, utensil safe DuPont Autograph on raised circles for superior cooking release and effortless cleanup.

(Walmart, $259)

14. Greenpan Levels 11-Piece Anodized Aluminum Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

This deluxe cook set features the healthy nonstick alternative. Multiple diamond-infused layers of ceramic coating made toxin-free and metal-utensil safe.

(Nordstrom, $399.99)

15. Farberware Reliance 15-Piece Cookware Set

This set includes 1 and 1 1/2-Qt Cov Saucepans, 4-1/4-Qt Covered Saucepot, 8 and 10-In Skillets, 9 by 13-In Cookie Pan, 6 Prestige(r) Tools. Cookware pieces are dishwasher safe, and oven safe to 350 degrees F.

(Target, $59.99)

16. Gibson Home Kitchen 32-Piece Chef Du Jour Cookware Set

This 32-piece carbon steel cookware set offers durability, and includes 7-piece nonstick cookware set, 7-piece cutlery set, 6 common kitchen tools, and 12-piece flatware set.

(Target, $44.99)

17. Hestan Essential 5-Piece Cookware Set

Upgrade your cookware with this five-piece set made from innovative NanoBond molecular titanium for strength, beauty and reliable, even performance.

(Nordstrom, $799.95)

18. ScanPan HaptIQ 10-Piece Stainless Steel Nonstick Cookware Set

Each piece features a Stratanium+ surface that's metal-utensil safe and PFOA-free. The tempered glass lids are fitted with steel rims and comfortable loop handles. 

(Nordstrom, $799.99)

19. Tramontina Gourmet Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Base 12-Piece Cookware Set

The set includes 8" fry pan, 10" saute pan with lid, 1.5-qt sauce pan with lid, 2-qt saucepan with lid, 3-qt saucepan with lid, 6-qt stock pot with lid, Steamer insert.

(Walmart, $99.97)

20. The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-Piece Cookware Combo Set

The Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle 24-Piece Cookware Combo Set features an 8-piece aluminum cookware set, 4 ceramic measuring cups, 4 ceramic measuring spoons, a pre-seasoned cast iron skillet with silicone handles, 2 pre-seasoned cast iron au gratins, 2 acacia wood tools and a nylon spatula.

(Walmart, $99)

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Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.