5 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets, According to Food Network Kitchen

Stainless steel pots and pans are a great addition to every kitchen. They look gorgeous, last a lifetime, and can be used for everything from steaming rice to braising chicken to simmering soup.

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Updated on December 20, 2023

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Our Top Stainless Steel Cookware Set Picks

By Sharon Franke for Food Network Kitchen

With its gleaming finish, inside and out, stainless steel cookware is both beautiful and professional looking. It’s also highly durable as it’s resistant to denting, doesn’t have a finish that can wear off, and has handles that are firmly attached. However, in spite of its great reputation, stainless steel by itself is a poor conductor of heat. To make sure it distributes heat evenly, virtually all stainless cookware is either clad, meaning it has at least one layer of aluminum sandwiched between interior and exterior layers of stainless steel, or has a solid disc of aluminum on the bottom.

Whether you use stainless steel pots and pans to simmer bottled sauce or homemade Bolognese, whisk packaged chocolate pudding or your own custard sauce, cook sloppy joes or beef bourguignon, you'll want to look for high-quality and well-designed stainless steel cookware that heats evenly without scorching. If you handle it well and take care to clean it carefully after every use, it will maintain its good looks and become an heirloom.

How We Picked

We have years of experience testing cookware as well as using it to develop recipes and cook for our families and guests in our own home kitchens. That’s why we’re confident that the five sets that we’re recommending are the best you can buy. To double check our selections, we read what other professional reviewers have to say and what home cooks report about long-time use.

While our primary consideration was how well pots and pans heated, we also gave high marks for useful features and convenient cleanup. Our picks include sets at a variety of price points so that regardless of your budget, you can find a collection that will make food preparation easier.

What We Liked
  1. Heats evenly
  2. Can be used under the broiler
  3. Sizes etched on bottom
What We Didn't Like
  1. Expensive
  2. Stainless steel can be hard to clean

This classic cookware is prized by pros and home cooks alike and with good reason. It browns perfectly evenly and keeps stews and sauces at a steady simmer. When you use it, you won’t have to constantly rearrange your chicken, stir your chili, or adjust the heat under your soup. While it’s shiny stainless inside and out, it has a core of aluminum that accounts for its great results. The classic sloped shape on the skillets makes it easy to roll out omelets or pour sauces.

As the handles are riveted onto the base, they’ll never loosen or fall off. D3 can be used at temperatures up to 600 F so you can run a skillet cobbler under the broiler to brown off its biscuit topping. This set includes a good assortment of essential pots and pans, including an 8-quart stockpot for a crab boil or pasta water.

You can go ahead and place these pots and pans in the dishwasher or easily wash them by hand. We recommend that you don’t use them to sear a sirloin over high heat or you could find yourself with cooked-on spatters that will take a bit of work to scrub off. The size of each pan is etched on the bottoms, so you always know whether you’re grabbing the one specified in your recipe. If you prefer to buy American products, you’ll be happy to know that All-Clad is manufactured in the USA.

  1. Number of Pieces 11
  2. What's Included 8.5" and 10.5" skillets, 2- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid
  3. Material Stainless steel with aluminum core
  4. Dishwasher Safe Yes
  5. Induction Compatible Yes
$700 (reg. $1,160) | Amazon $699.95 | Williams Sonoma
What We Liked
  1. Heats evenly
  2. Comfortable handles
  3. Large fry and saute pans and stockpot included
What We Didn't Like
  1. Stainless steel can discolor and be hard to clean

With this set you get the professional look of our top choice and more pieces at less than half the price. You can depend on this cookware with an interior layer of aluminum for solid performance whether you’re sautéing peppers and onions or simmering beef stew. Plus, with their rounded handles, these pots and pans are a pleasure to grip.

This collection is perfect if you cook for a large family. It includes generously-sized pieces like a 12-inch frypan, a 5-quart saute pan, a Dutch oven, and an 8-quart stockpot. Tramontina can be safely be used in the oven up to 500 F. That’s more than adequate for braising a pork shoulder, finishing off a frittata, or crisping up a tuna noodle casserole. While you can clean this cookware in the dishwasher, it is prone to some discoloration over time so we recommend you keep a container of Bar Keepers Friend on hand.

  1. Number of Pieces 13
  2. What's Included 10" and 12" fry pans, 5-quart deep sauté pan with lid, 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 5-quart Dutch oven with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid
  3. Material Aluminum with stainless steel base
  4. Dishwasher Safe Yes
  5. Induction Compatible Yes
$300 | Walmart $275 | Wayfair
What We Liked
  1. Heats extremely evenly
  2. Measurement markings on saucepans
  3. Easier to clean than some stainless steel cookware
What We Didn't Like
  1. Stainless steel still requires some work to clean

You can’t beat this large set for value. It includes pots and pans for just about every cooking situation imaginable from small ones for heating a single serving of soup or frying an egg to huge ones for braising one-dish dinners or boiling lobsters. On the bottom of these stainless-steel pieces there’s an aluminum disc which provides absolutely even browning whether you’re using them on an electric or induction smoothtop or a gas cooktop. In testing, we also found that unlike some disc-bottomed cookware, the Dutch oven didn’t scorch when we simmered marinara sauce.

All of the saucepans have measurement markings so you know how much water to add when you’re making mac ‘n cheese. Helper handles on the large skillets are useful for carrying a pan of saucy meatballs to the countertop or table. Chef’s Classic can go in an oven up to a temp of 500°F. You can pop it in the dishwasher but one of the things we love about this line is that it requires less scrubbing than other stainless-steel cookware to remove splatters.

  1. Number of Pieces 17
  2. What's Included 8" and 10" skillets, 12" skillet with lid, 1-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 4-Dutch oven with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid, steamer insert
  3. Material Stainless steel with aluminum base
  4. Dishwasher Safe Yes
  5. Induction Compatible Yes
$250 | Amazon $250 (reg. $690) | Williams Sonoma
What We Liked
  1. Heats exceptionally evenly
  2. Can be used over high heat and under broiler
  3. Flush rivets are easy to clean
What We Didn't Like
  1. Stainless steel can be hard to clean

The moment you unpack this pricey cookware and feel it in your hand, you know it’s special. A brushed stainless-steel finish with a band of polished stainless below the rim, flared lips, and rounded edges give it a more elegant, less commercial look than other luxury brands. While it’s not lightweight, it feels well balanced and the curved handles give you a comfortable grip when you’re carrying a pot to the countertop, pouring out a gravy, or flipping out a crepe. Made of forged stainless steel with a core of aluminum, Hestan Pro provides beautiful browning and exceptionally even simmering. Put up a batch of tomato sauce and you can let it cook for an hour without stirring.

While the handles are riveted on for durability, the rivets are flush with the interior surface so cleaning around them requires no extra work. These pieces can be used at temperatures up to 600 F which means you can run a skillet under the broiler to brown off a piece of fish. Hestan is manufactured in Italy.

  1. Number of Pieces 10
  2. What's Included 8.5" and 11" skillets, 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid
  3. Material Stainless steel with aluminum core
  4. Dishwasher Safe Yes
  5. Induction Compatible Yes
$700 (reg. $900) | Amazon $700 (reg. $900) | Williams Sonoma
What We Liked
  1. Heats evenly
  2. Includes large covered skillet and stockpot
What We Didn't Like
  1. No helper handles on large skillet or saute pan
  2. Stainless steel can be hard to clean

If you’re not looking for a huge assortment of cookware but want what you do buy to be of the highest quality, this pro-styled brand is an excellent choice. It’s sold directly by the manufacturer which helps to keep the price reasonable for pieces that compete with the best cookware out there. Constructed of three layers of aluminum that are completely encased in stainless steel, Misen is heavier than its competitors which means it takes longer to heat up but is also less likely to burn or scorch foods. You’ll love using it for tasks like caramelizing onions where you want even results but don’t want to stir constantly.

The pans have a brushed finish while the riveted handles are polished. On the saute pan, there’s a helper handle that makes it easy to maneuver when it’s full. Considering the weight of this cookware, we wish there was one on the 3-quart saucepan and 12-inch skillet as well. You can place Misen in the oven up to 500°F and wash it in the dishwasher.

  1. Number of Pieces 9
  2. What's Included 10" skillet, 12" skillet with lid, 3-quart saucier with lid, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid
  3. Material Stainless steel with aluminum core
  4. Dishwasher Safe Yes
  5. Induction Compatible Yes
$475 | Misen

What to Know Before Buying Stainless Steel Cookware

Pieces Included

Like any cookware set, having the right pots and pans included in a stainless steel cookware set will ensure you get the most use out of it possible. Most sets come with a standard size frying pan, two saucepans, a stock pot and a saute pan. You likely don't need more than this to get started, especially if you're not cooking for large crowds right away. We recommend starting with a a set and seeing which pans you use most often before purchasing more.

Pot and Pan Weight

Stainless steel can be on the weightier side, so you'll want to make sure to purchase a set with pots and pans you can handle easily. Opting for stainless steel cookware with easy-to-grip handles also makes maneuvering the pans around a cooktop easier.

Design

As with cookware of all types, stainless steel pieces with a disc bottom will work better than clad ones on an electric or induction stovetop; the perfectly flat cookware base will make better contact with the glass ceramic cooktop surface.

Can I Use Stainless Steel Cookware Over High Heat?

If you sauté or fry with oil, don’t use a bigger skillet than you need to as the empty areas can become gunky and hard to clean. Avoid using the highest setting on the stovetop. While stainless steel won’t deteriorate from being used over high heat, it can develop a brownish or rainbow-like discoloration on the outside. High temps can also cause food to spatter and create burnt-on stains on the exterior that can be difficult to remove.

Can You Use Metal Cooking Utensils with Stainless Steel Cookware?

Short answer: Yes, you can, although metal utensils on any cookware has the potential to leave scratches, so you'll still want to be thoughtful while you're using them.

Do You Have to Season Stainless Steel Cookware?

You don't have to season stainless steel cookware and can use soap and water to wash it. That said, stainless steel cookware will never be nonstick like cast iron, so bear that in mind when cooking delicate items like fish. You'll want to use enough oil each time.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware

Stainless steel can be safely cleaned in the dishwasher. While most manufacturers recommend hand washing, claiming that dishwasher detergent can cause white spots, discoloration, and/or a duller finish, when we machine washed our recommended skillets, they came out looking brand new. However, the dishwasher won’t remove burnt-on stains from oil that spattered.

If for any reason your stainless steel is not as shiny as you like or it develops stubborn hard-to-remove spots, nothing beats the powdered version of Bar Keepers Friend for restoring it. Any areas that are particularly difficult can be tackled by making a paste with the cleaner, applying it to the pan, and allowing it to soak in for several hours or even overnight. To prevent scratches, avoid using abrasive steel wool or other scrubbing pads. Opt for nonabrasive scrubbers like Dobie pads.

The majority of stainless-steel pots and pans have stainless steel handles that are firmly attached with rivets. However, inevitably, residue accumulates around the rivets. Each time you wash your cookware, it’s worth putting in the time to clean carefully around the rivets or gunk that’s impossible to get off will build up.

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