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From avid home cooks to take-out connoisseurs, we all need a few pieces of cookware. However, purchasing a cookware set can be overwhelming, no matter how confident you are in the kitchen. The variety of materials and different combinations of pots and pans can seem endless, but there are two main factors that should guide your choice: the material and the number of pieces.
We turned to the experts, who all agreed that less is more when it comes to cookware. Based on our own experiences and conversations with chefs, food editors, and leaders of the Cookware Manufacturers Association, we came up with the following as a basic outline for an ideal cookware set.
The key pans you need in a cookware set
Type of pan Purpose 10-inch skillet Making eggs, pancakes, fried rice 12-inch sauté pan Larger recipes with more liquids, sautéing vegetables and meats 5-quart Dutch oven Braising, roasting, slow cooking, stews, and soups 3-quart saucepan Small portions of pasta or rice, sauces
Not every set in this guide includes a Dutch oven, but a casserole dish or stockpot can serve the same purpose. Buying a cookware set can save you time and money, outfitting your kitchen in one fell swoop.
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Here are the best cookware sets of 2022
Best cookware set overall: Tramontina 12-Piece Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Set, $242.87 on Walmart
The Tramontina set stocks your kitchen without cluttering it, and features useful pieces in a durable material.
Best cheap cookware set: T-fal All-in-One Hard-Anodized Cookware Set, $119.99 on Amazon
If you need to stock your kitchen quickly and on a budget, the T-fal Hard-Anodized Set is easy to maintain, scratch resistant, and comes with three serving utensils.
Best cookware set upgrade: All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel Cookware Set, $699.95 on Crate and Barrel
If you splurge on an All-Clad Stainless Steel set, your kitchen will be stocked with essential pieces that stand the test of time.
Best ceramic cookware set: Caraway Ceramic Coated Set, $395 on Caraway Home
The Caraway Ceramic Coated Set is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional nonstick pots and pans — and it's available in six attractive colors.
Best copper cookware set: Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper Set, $1,399.95 on Williams Sonoma
The Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper Set is a great intro to copper set, offering the heating abilities of copper and the accessibility of stainless steel.
