Build Your Own Cookware Set
All-Clad recently settled a class action lawsuit. If you bought any of our All-Clad D3 cookware picks between January 1, 2015 and July 29, 2022, you may be eligible for this settlement.
Most all-inclusive cookware sets contain filler pots and pans that won’t get used often. To avoid that clutter, consider buying your own cookware piece by piece, so you can customize your collection to suit your exact needs. Though the cost per piece may be higher, you’ll be able to spend your money on exactly what you want, when you want it.
Essentials
A large skillet
A large skillet is the ideal size for making one-pan meals, searing steaks or other large cuts of meat, stir-frying, and pan-frying. The flared sides make it easy to toss vegetables while sautéing, and they allow pan sauces to reduce quickly.
The All-Clad skillet is a proven workhorse that goes from stovetop to oven. It heats very evenly and is durable enough for a lifetime of use.
The Best Skillet
The All-Clad skillet is a proven workhorse that goes from stovetop to oven. It heats very evenly and is durable enough for a lifetime of use.
This pan’s extreme sloped sides leave it with less flat cooking space than the All-Clad has, so a whole cut-up chicken crowds the pan. But we were won over by the even heat distribution and exceptionally comfortable handle.
The Best Skillet
This pan’s extreme sloped sides leave it with less flat cooking space than the All-Clad has, so a whole cut-up chicken crowds the pan. But we were won over by the even heat distribution and exceptionally comfortable handle.
A small skillet
A small skillet is what you reach for when you need to sauté only one or two pieces of chicken, or a small portion of vegetables. It’s also handy for quickly toasting nuts on the stovetop or making a single grilled cheese sandwich.
The affordable, 10-inch Tramontina skillet is best for light cooking tasks. It heats evenly and has a rounded handle that’s comfortable to hold.
The Best Cookware Set
The affordable, 10-inch Tramontina skillet is best for light cooking tasks. It heats evenly and has a rounded handle that’s comfortable to hold.
The All-Clad 10-inch skillet distributes heat evenly, producing perfectly browned chicken pieces every time. It’s expensive, but this durable pan will last a lifetime.
The Best Cookware Set
The All-Clad 10-inch skillet distributes heat evenly, producing perfectly browned chicken pieces every time. It’s expensive, but this durable pan will last a lifetime.
A nonstick pan
Every kitchen arsenal needs at least one nonstick skillet for cooking eggs, fish fillets, or other delicate items. But we don’t recommend spending a lot on one: Nonstick pans have a short lifespan because their coating eventually wears out.
With its classic flared-lip pan shape, slick nonstick coating, and comfortable handle, this Tramontina model is a quality pan that will last for years. However, it won’t work on induction cooktops.
The Best Nonstick Pan
With its classic flared-lip pan shape, slick nonstick coating, and comfortable handle, this Tramontina model is a quality pan that will last for years. However, it won’t work on induction cooktops.
These pans are thick, sturdy, compatible with all cooktops (although they can be a little slow to heat on induction), and an excellent value for a set of two.
The Best Nonstick Pan
These pans are thick, sturdy, compatible with all cooktops (although they can be a little slow to heat on induction), and an excellent value for a set of two.
A large cast-iron skillet
A large cast-iron skillet is a versatile pan for frying, searing, baking, and making eggs. Its slick coating (or “seasoning”), which develops with use, makes this a great alternative to nonstick cookware. And it’s oven- and broiler-safe.
This affordable pan is lighter than a traditional cast-iron skillet and a little shallower. Its curved sides are an ideal shape for searing, roasting, and sautéing.
The Best Cast-Iron Skillet
This affordable pan is lighter than a traditional cast-iron skillet and a little shallower. Its curved sides are an ideal shape for searing, roasting, and sautéing.
The classic Lodge sears well and is deep enough for frying chicken, but it’s hefty to maneuver around the range.
The Best Cast-Iron Skillet
The classic Lodge sears well and is deep enough for frying chicken, but it’s hefty to maneuver around the range.
A small saucepan
A small saucepan is handy for reheating a cup of soup or stock, melting butter, or making simple syrup for cocktails. It’s useful any time you don't want to haul out or dirty a larger pot for small cooking tasks.
This fully clad saucepan heats evenly, and we found its handle particularly comfortable to hold.
The Best Small Saucepan
This fully clad saucepan heats evenly, and we found its handle particularly comfortable to hold.
All-Clad’s saucepan is also fully clad and heats very evenly. It has proven longevity, but it’s more than twice the price of the Tramontina.
The Best Small Saucepan
All-Clad’s saucepan is also fully clad and heats very evenly. It has proven longevity, but it’s more than twice the price of the Tramontina.
A medium saucepan
If you want to make sauces or reheat stocks and soups, you’ll need a medium saucepan with a lid. It’s also the ideal size for preparing several servings of rice and other grains, as well as small batches of pasta or boxed mac and cheese.
Like its 2-quart counterpart, this fully clad pan has a comfortable handle, and it won’t scorch your food like some budget saucepans made from a single layer of steel.
The Best Cookware Set
Like its 2-quart counterpart, this fully clad pan has a comfortable handle, and it won’t scorch your food like some budget saucepans made from a single layer of steel.
This pan is one-quart larger than the Tramontina and of excellent quality, but it’s quite a bit more expensive.
The Best Cookware Set
This pan is one-quart larger than the Tramontina and of excellent quality, but it’s quite a bit more expensive.
A stockpot
Whether you’re making a big batch of tomato sauce or stock, or just boiling water for pasta, you’ll need a large, 8-quart stockpot.
Unlike many cheaper pots, this deep stock pot is fully clad, so it distributes heat evenly. We also like its wide, easy-to-grab side handles.
The Best Cookware Set
Unlike many cheaper pots, this deep stock pot is fully clad, so it distributes heat evenly. We also like its wide, easy-to-grab side handles.
A rimmed baking sheet
Baking sheets are so versatile it’s best to get several of them in various sizes. They can be used for everything from roasting chicken and veggies to baking cookies or jelly roll cakes.
This sturdy, inexpensive sheet pan bakes evenly and won’t warp in the oven. You can also find it in handy ¼ and ⅛ sheet sizes.
The Best Baking Sheet
This sturdy, inexpensive sheet pan bakes evenly and won’t warp in the oven. You can also find it in handy ¼ and ⅛ sheet sizes.
Nice-to-haves
A Dutch oven
An enameled cast-iron Dutch oven maintains heat well, which is why it’s best for braises, deep-frying, and cooking soups and stews. It’s also the perfect vessel for baking crusty bread at home.
This inexpensive Dutch oven aced every test, and its design rivals that of pricier models.
The Best Dutch Oven
This inexpensive Dutch oven aced every test, and its design rivals that of pricier models.
Some cooks may want to invest in this exceptionally durable, high-quality pot. It doesn’t cook much better than the Lodge, and it costs far more, but Le Creuset’s oven will last for generations.
The Best Dutch Oven
Some cooks may want to invest in this exceptionally durable, high-quality pot. It doesn’t cook much better than the Lodge, and it costs far more, but Le Creuset’s oven will last for generations.
A casserole dish
It’s nice to have at least one casserole dish for preparing comfort foods like mac and cheese, lasagna, or gratins. Since it’s good-looking enough to go from the oven to the table, you’ll have fewer dishes to clean up at the end of the night.
This casserole dish heats evenly and holds a lot. It’s not too fancy for everyday use, but it’s still pretty enough to bring to the holiday table.
The Best 13-by-9 Casserole Dish
This casserole dish heats evenly and holds a lot. It’s not too fancy for everyday use, but it’s still pretty enough to bring to the holiday table.
This pan bakes evenly and has the widest handles, for easy carrying.
The Best 13-by-9 Casserole Dish
This pan bakes evenly and has the widest handles, for easy carrying.
For informal brunches and everyday meals, we like this inexpensive glass dish, which comes with a convenient storage lid.
The Best 13-by-9 Casserole Dish
For informal brunches and everyday meals, we like this inexpensive glass dish, which comes with a convenient storage lid.
A saucier
A saucier has curved edges, making it easier to reach every bit of food when you’re stirring or whisking sauces. Its shape also helps reduce liquids more quickly than a regular, straight-walled saucepan.
Although it’s expensive, this all-purpose saucier is large enough for making a big batch of sauce, like béchamel, and it heats very evenly.
The Best Small Saucepan
Although it’s expensive, this all-purpose saucier is large enough for making a big batch of sauce, like béchamel, and it heats very evenly.
A straight-sided sauté pan
For shallow braised or pan-fried food, you’ll want to get a straight-sided sauté pan. It has the cooking area of a large skillet but straight sides, like a saucepan, to keep liquids from sloshing out over the rim. It’s a great pan for one-pot cooking.
This roomy pan can braise a whole cut-up chicken along with chopped vegetables. Its helper handle makes it easy to move from the range to the oven.
The Best Cookware Set
This roomy pan can braise a whole cut-up chicken along with chopped vegetables. Its helper handle makes it easy to move from the range to the oven.
This pan has half the capacity of the Tramontina, with lower sides, so it’s best for braising or frying smaller portions of food.
The Best Cookware Set
This pan has half the capacity of the Tramontina, with lower sides, so it’s best for braising or frying smaller portions of food.
Things to skip
A roasting pan
Until you’re regularly cooking for a crowd or roasting large cuts of meat, we’d wait to get this. A 12-inch cast-iron skillet can be used to roast a chicken, and a baking sheet can be used to cook small cuts of meat, fish, and vegetables.
A butter warmer
A small butter warmer is the perfect size for warming milk, holding sauces, or making a cup of hot cocoa. However, a small saucepan can achieve those tasks just as well.
