Are cookware sets worth it?
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Lisa McManus
Executive Editor, ATK Reviews
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When I recently tested cookware sets, I was torn. We’ve always believed that buying individual pieces of cookware that you use most frequently is a better approach than buying a set. So why was I testing them?
Our readers keep asking about cookware sets. They’re go-to gifts for weddings and graduations, for setting up new apartments or homes, or for upgrading all your cookware in one fell swoop.
We get it. And I knew if I found the right set, it might be all someone needs—or serve as a core collection that a home cook can build on later. I carefully chose some promising contenders, all made of fully clad stainless steel, a durable, high-performing, and versatile material.
It wasn’t easy. I had to compare all the skillets, stockpots, saucepans, and any other pieces to each other and to our winning brands in that cookware category. Among other things, I cooked Skillet-Roasted Chicken in Lemon Sauce, browned butter, made Fastest, Easiest Mashed Potatoes, Swedish Meatballs, and a slew of other recipes, from Pastry Cream to Pickled Jalapeños. I evaluated the pieces’ handling, evenness of heating, cleanup, and durability, as well as the selection of pans you get in each set.
I’m happy to report that we found cookware sets we can highly recommend. So while we’ll always suggest buying only what you need, our top sets may contain all that you want.
Read our full review of cookware sets.
Handles are an important factor. Some were too short, which left fewer places to grip or caused them to slip in our hands while pouring. Tiny handles made lifting pans precarious. Larger, longer, and more angular handles that won’t slip are essential.
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Pro Tip
On paper, you can save money by buying a cookware set, compared to buying those pieces individually. But remember, those savings don’t mean much if you won’t use all the pieces or don’t have the space to store them.
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