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The 8 Best Induction Cookware Sets of 2022

Cuisinart's Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set is our winner

By

Donna Currie

Donna Currie

Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread.

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Updated on 11/21/22

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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Tested & Approved

After diligent testing, the top spot goes to the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set. The superb performance of these pans, the quality construction, and the assortment of pieces, put this set above the rest. A budget-friendly option is the T-fal C515SC Professional Nonstick Pots and Pans which offers a Thermo-Spot indicator to show when pans are heated and above-average performance. 

If you're lucky enough to have an induction range in your home, you know the advantages of this sleek, energy-efficient cooktop. Tech-savvy cooks love induction stoves because of their heating precision, energy efficiency, and safety. Controlled by an electromagnetic field under a glass cooktop, electric currents go straight into the cookware and instantly heat it up; the moment the stove is turned off, the burner surface is cool again. With all the benefits of an induction stove comes one caveat: They require special cookware—specifically, a pan with a magnetic bottom.

You may already own a piece or two that can be used with an induction range, but if you're in the market for a complete set to outfit your kitchen, here are our best picks for induction-friendly cookware sets.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel Cookware Set at Amazon

Best Ceramic:

Caraway Cookware Set at Amazon

Best Budget:

T-fal Professional Nonstick Pots and Pans at Amazon

Best With Copper:

Anolon Nouvelle Stainless Steel Cookware at Amazon

Best Frying Pans:

Chantal Nonstick Ceramic Coated 2-Piece Fry Pan Set at Amazon

Best With Accessories:

duxtop Professional Induction Cookware Set at Amazon

Best Nonstick:

All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set at Amazon

Best Stainless Steel:

All-Clad d5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set at Amazon

In This Article

Amazon

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set Review

Who else recommends it? Reviewed and Delish both picked the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel Cookware Set.

What do buyers say? 91% of 9,300+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

While Cuisinart is typically recognized for its top-performing kitchen appliances, its collection of cookware doesn't disappoint either. This Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set is made from stainless steel with an induction-compatible aluminum core. The pans heat quickly and retain heat well, are great for searing and sauteing, and are oven-safe to 500 degrees so you can confidently finish a dish in the oven when needed.

Our home reviewer noted that these pans brown food well and don't have any hot spots, a testament to the even heating of these pans. When we tested the set in our Lab, we found the pans extremely well-balanced, with evenly distributed weight and comfortable angled handles. High sides prevented splatters and the curved edges let you effortlessly move food around. Also worthy of noting it that since they're so heat-conductive, you don't have to use full heat to get excellent results. Both our home and Lab testers noted that medium-high heat was enough to get water boiling fairly quickly.

This set includes a 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart saucepan with lid, an 8-inch open skillet, a 10-inch open skillet, a 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, an 8-quart stockpot with lid, and a steamer insert with lid. While the pans are dishwasher safe, they're also a cinch to clean by hand–food remnants release fairly easily, especially if you add a little liquid to the warm pan. Since the pans, lids, and handles are all made of stainless steel, they will heat up a bit when in use, so be sure to use a potholder when touching handles during cooking.

The Spruce Eats / Nick Kova

Price at time of publish: $229

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum core | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

What Our Testers Say

"These pans heat quickly and retain heat well, so you can put a lid on a pot and its contents will stay warm while you set the table or finish cooking side dishes. " — Donna Currie, Product Tester

Caraway

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Caraway Cookware Set Review

While there are many ceramic cookware sets on the market, Caraway offers some of the best performance out there. Each piece in its cookware set is made from ceramic-coated aluminum that is free of PTFE, cadmium, and lead, and features securely riveted stainless steel handles for secure transport on and off the stove. The pans are safe to use in the oven, able to withstand up to 550 degrees, and are touted as being "cooktop agnostic," which means they'll work just fine with induction stoves.

We've put this set to the test in a home kitchen and in our Lab. Our home tester loved how well this set conducts heat (no need to turn the burner to high!) and not a single bit of food stuck to these pans whether she fried an egg or simmered pasta sauce. Our Lab testers agreed with her observations, adding that they love the well-thought-out design like how the lid for frying pan also fits the Dutch oven. They also found that these heated up evenly when simmering pasta sauce, producing even bubbling and no splatters.

The only qualms our home reviewer had with this set is that the handles tend to get hot when the pans are on the stove for a while. It's an easy fix—just be sure to have potholders nearby when you want to move your cookware around. In the Lab, there were concerns about long these would hold up to everyday cooking. When dropped, the handle screws came loose. There was also a wish for another smaller frying pan.

This well-curated set includes a 10.5-inch frying pan, 3-quart saucepan, 4.5-quart saucepan, and a 6.5-quart Dutch oven, three lids, plus a handy lid storage organizer. Caraway recently started offering their cookware a la carte too—perfect for trying out a pan or two before purchasing the full set.

The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers

Price at time of publish: $395

Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Oven Safe: 550 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Hand-wash recommended

What Our Testers Say

"Even when cooking on low to medium heat, the pots and pans got really hot and our eggs and bacon cooked evenly and quickly. " — Lindsay Boyers, Product Tester

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This induction-safe, nonstick cookware set won’t break the budget, and it includes plenty of useful pieces, like a steamer insert that will come in handy for fish, vegetables, or even Chinese buns. The pieces have a nonstick interior with a patented Thermo-Spot indicator that changes color when the pots are preheated and ready for food to be added.

That indicator came in handy when we tested the set in our Lab. Our testers found that the set heats up fairly quickly and evenly, so you do need to pay attention to your pan and modify the heat once it comes to temperature. Not monitoring the pan can lead to scorched food and too high heat will cause the nonstick coating to start smoking. That wasn't the only downside from our Lab testing. While the set includes a 3-quart saucepan, there isn't a bigger one or a sauté pan. Additionally, it includes a small “one-egg wonder” frying pan that is not induction compatible.

The pots are oven-safe for heat up to 400 degrees, while the lids can handle temperatures up to 350 degrees, and all are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. The lids are made of tempered glass with generous, insulated handles.

The Spruce Eats / Nick Kova

Price at time of publish: $120

Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Oven Safe: 400 degrees without lids | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

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What We Don't Like

The Anolon Nouvelle Copper Cookware Set is Stunning But Flawed

This stylish set from Anolon looks attractive, with a graceful shape and a copper stripe along the bottom. It includes pieces you’ll actually use and no silly extras that increase the piece count. The bottom layer of the pots has a copper core and a stainless steel cap for excellent performance on induction cooktops. The lids are stainless steel, so there’s no risk of breakage, and the very large handles offer a sure grip. The cookware is oven safe to 500 degrees, and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning with cooking is done. 

In our Lab, we found that these pans heated evenly and well, giving scallops a nice crust and color, and cooked an omelet beautifully with just a little bit of sticking. Cleaning off any stuck food debris was surprisingly easy, and we didn't notice any discoloration from use.

We also sent this to one of our reviewers so she could test it in her home kitchen. She also found that each piece heated evenly with no hotspots, even if it did take an extra minute or two to get to temperature. Our reviewer's biggest issue with the set is the size—if you tend to batch cook or have to cook for a large number of people, you may find this set a bit small.

This set includes a 1.25-quart saucepan with a lid, a 2.5-quart saucepan with a lid, a 6.5-quart stockpot with a lid, an 8-inch frying pan, a 10.5-inch frying pan, and a 3-quart sauté pan with a lid.

 The Spruce Eats / Stacey L. Nash

Price at time of publish: $300

Material: Stainless steel with copper midlayer | Oven safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

What Our Testers Say

"The angled sides of the pan were great for tossing vegetables and meat, but we found the pan was too small to cook for our six-person family." — Stacey L. Nash, Product Tester

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Whether you're scrambling a couple of eggs for breakfast, sautéing some spinach for dinner, or browning ground beef for a casserole, it's important to have the right-sized frying pan for the job. We love that this set comes with two different sizes to tackle any cooking task. These ceramic-coated pans are nonstick, induction friendly, and oven safe up to 500 degrees.

What makes Chantal's cookware different is that the interior metal is Japanese steel, which is great at conducting heat. The set includes an 8-inch and a 10-inch frying pan, so you can choose a size that’s just right for the job. Both have curved stay-cool handles that a comfortable for moving around the stove. These are hand-wash only and should not be used with metal utensils, which may damage the nonstick surface. It will also wear quicker if you use more than medium heat, so it's best to not use them over high heat.

Price at time of publish: $110

Material: Ceramic-coated stainless steel | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: No

The 8 Best Frying Pans in 2022

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This set includes the pots and pans you’ll need, plus some extras that will come in handy. Each piece is made from heavy-duty, commercial-grade stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum base for fast, even heating, so they’re just as good for slow simmering a stew as they are for searing pork chops. The set is oven safe to 550 degrees (lids are oven safe to 400 degrees) so you can start your casserole on the stove and finish in the oven, and it’s all dishwasher safe. 

The set includes an 8-inch frying pan, a 9.5-inch frying pan, a 1.6-quart saucepan with a lid, a 3.1-quart saucepan with a lid, an 8.6-quart stockpot with a lid, 4.2-quart casserole with lid, and a 5.5-quart sauté pan with a lid. It also includes a 9.5-inch boiler basket, a steamer basket, an 8-inch glass lid, cooking spoon, fork, and spatula.

Price at time of publish: $256

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum base | Oven Safe: 550 degrees without lids | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Amazon

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All-Clad has a solid reputation for quality cookware, and this set is no exception. The 10-piece cookware set is hard-anodized and has a bonded stainless steel base that’s optimized for use on induction burners. The lids are glass with generous handles, so you can see what’s cooking without lifting the lid. The cookware (without lids) is oven-safe to 500 degrees, so you can go from stovetop to oven with ease if needed.

Besides the three layers of durable, PFOA-free coating, what we really like about the set is its versatility. You have the two most useful sizes of frying pan (8-inch and 10-inch), plus two saucepan sizes (2.5-quart and 3.5-quart). This means you have ample room to cook pasta and sauce or rice and beans, at the same time. The 8-quart stockpot is the clincher since that's large enough for weekend meal prep. All pieces in the set are dishwasher safe, though you might want to avoid that, and metal utensils, to protect the coating.

Price at time of publish: $420

Material: Hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel base | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

The 8 Best Nonstick Cookware Sets of 2022, Tested and Reviewed

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What We Don't Like

The All-Clad d5 Brushed Stainless Steel 10-Piece Set Is Top of the Line

This stainless steel cookware set from All-Clad is a top-of-the-line choice, and while it does come with a pretty steep price tag, we think it's absolutely worth the investment. The 5-ply construction gives these pieces heft so they won't budge on the stovetop, and they stand up well to heavy use.

Our Lab tests demonstrated that these pans indeed heated evenly, giving beautifully golden crusts to seared scallops and cooking a frittata to perfection with some minor sticking. Our home tester can also attest to the pans' excellent heat conductivity, but noted that the handles do get a bit hot when the pots are in use.

This set includes everything you really need: an 8-inch frying pan, a 10-inch frying pan, a 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. All of the pans are oven-safe up to 600 degrees and can even go under the broiler. While these pieces are pretty easy to wash by hand, you can also put them straight into the dishwasher for a no-fuss clean-up.

Price at time of publish: $700

Material: Tri-ply stainless steel with aluminum core | Oven Safe: 600 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes |

Final Verdict

Our top-rated pick is the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, thanks to its excellent performance, selection of pieces, and great value. If you're in search of a budget-friendly set, the T-fal C515SC Professional Nonstick Pots and Pans are a fantastic choice that provides performance and value.

What To Look for in Induction-Friendly Cookware

By Bernadette Machard de Gramont

 The Spruce / Donna Currie

Induction Compatibility

For cookware to work with induction cooktops, it must contain ferromagnetic materials. This means that it must have magnetic properties to work with the magnets in the stove. The simplest way to find out if your cookware is compatible is to take a magnet and see if it sticks to the bottom of the pot. If the magnet clings to the pot’s bottom, it should work with the stove. If the magnet’s pull feels weak, it may not work well with your induction range. If there is no pull at all, the cooktop won’t be able to send heat into the pan at all.

Material

Cast Iron and Carbon Steel

Cookware made from cast iron or carbon steel is fantastic because it is extremely durable and holds heat very well. Because these types of pans are made of an alloy that contains iron, they will almost always work with induction cooktops, though there are a couple of requirements. First, they must have a flat surface for complete contact with the stove’s element; second, they must have a smooth surface; and last, they must attract magnets. Uncoated cast iron, though compatible with induction, is not recommended because its rough surface might scratch the cooktop, so you may want to opt for an enameled version. 

Stainless Steel

This popular type of cookware is crafted from an alloy of steel that contains 10.5 percent or more of chromium (and, commonly, a small percentage of nickel), making it a sturdy material that is non-reactive and resistant to rust and corrosion. High-quality, multi-clad stainless steel cookware typically includes an aluminum or copper core sandwiched between steel layers to aid the pot or pan with heat conduction. If the nickel content in the stainless steel is too high, it prevents the steel from having a magnetic reaction and can’t be used with an induction stove. The heating disc can also be bonded to the external surface of the pan, but this type of disc may eventually separate from the pan’s body.

Hard-Anodized Aluminum

Hard-anodized aluminum cookware is made from electrochemically hardened aluminum (making it more durable than stainless steel) and has an oxidized top layer that protects it from scratches and scrapes. Typically, hard-anodized aluminum cookware is not induction-ready, but if it has a built-in iron or magnetic steel disc, it has been specifically designed to use with your induction cooktop.

The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers

Heating Capacity

As with all cookware, the maximum heat capacity depends on the material and manufacturer. Generally speaking, uncoated pans will have a higher heat threshold than those that have ceramic or PTFE nonstick coatings. The range of most induction stoves goes from 100 to 500 degrees, with a few higher-end models that will surpass the 550-degree mark. When choosing your induction-friendly pieces, be sure to find pieces that will stand up to the temperatures you are most likely to use (including in the broiler and oven).  

Price

Since you’ve made an investment in an induction range, you will likely want to invest a little money in compatible cookware. Bear in mind that premium quality does come at a price, so expect to spend a few hundred dollars on a complete set. You can find less expensive induction-compatible cookware, but be mindful that at a lower price point, the material and construction of the pan may be less durable in the long haul.

Warranty

Many major manufacturers offer a limited lifetime guarantee on their induction-compatible cookware as long as they are purchased from an authorized dealer. These guarantees typically protect against defects in material, construction, or workmanship but may exclude damage arising from improper use, thermal shocks, drops, or normal wear and tear. Some warranties, such as those on coated pans, are limited to shorter periods of time. Before you buy, be sure to check on the manufacturer’s terms and warranty coverage to make sure it’s what you need.

Brands

Cuisinart

The Cuisinart brand is best known for its innovative small kitchen appliances (namely, the first brand to bring the food processor to the U.S.). But since its inception in 1971, Cuisinart has continued to expand its product range to include top-quality cookware, bakeware, gadgets, and more. This brand's price point tends to be in the mid-range, making it a great option for anyone who wants high-performing cookware at an accessible cost. Cuisinart has over half a dozen options for cookware sets that are induction-ready.

 The Spruce / Donna Currie

All-Clad

This premium brand is considered by many to be the gold standard in multi-clad cookware. While All-Clad is known for its professional-grade offerings, it also carries several product lines at different price tiers, so it can be affordable for serious home cooks looking for quality. Since the cookware is built to last, you won’t need to replace the pots for many years, if ever.

T-Fal

This well-known French cookware brand—sometimes marketed as Tefal—takes its name from the combination of the words “Teflon” and “aluminum.” Known best for making high-quality, affordable nonstick cookware, its pots and pans can be used for many years. T-Fal’s collections include full sets of cookware, individual pans, and a variety of specialty pieces such as woks and grill pans.

Maintenance

Maintaining your induction-friendly cookware is not very different from caring for non-induction pans; it really just depends on what your cookware is made of. Stainless steel and hard-anodized aluminum can typically stand up to rigorous use, and can be hand-washed or placed in the dishwasher. Carbon steel and cast iron pans should be wiped clean and oiled to maintain their seasoning. Pans with nonstick coatings should be hand-washed to prolong the lifespan of the cooking surface, even if the piece is said to be dishwasher-safe. For induction-compatible pieces, you will also want to monitor the magnetic properties of the bottom of the pan and check to see if there is any separation of the induction disc if it is externally bonded. If the pan shows signs of a weak magnetic attraction or the disc’s bond has been compromised, it may be a sign it is time to replace it.

The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers 

FAQs

What's an induction cooktop?

Induction cooktops have become increasingly popular in recent years, preferred by many experienced cooks because they heat quickly, evenly, and are extremely responsive to their temperature controls. These high-tech ranges are also sleek in design, incredibly energy-efficient, and safer than traditional gas and electric ranges—the cooktop’s surface is cool once the pot has been removed from the stove, eliminating any danger of accidentally burning yourself on a still-hot stovetop.

Here's how it works: When the stove’s element is on, an alternating current flows through a copper wire coil located beneath the cooktop’s surface. This creates an oscillating magnetic field that sends an electric current into the cooking vessel on that element, creating the heat used to cook your food. This is known as “Joule heating” or “resistance heating” and only happens when the pot is in contact with the stove’s heating element.

How much weight can you put on an induction cooktop?

This can vary by manufacturer, but a good range is 45 to 50 pounds maximum per burner.

What kind of cookware shouldn't you use on an induction cooktop? 

Like any other glass range, you should stay away from cookware that has a rough or textured bottom, as this can damage the cooktop's surface. While a bare cast iron pan does indeed function on an induction stove (because of its ferromagnetic properties), you'd be better off using an enameled version in order to prevent scratches. For a more details about what you can use, here's how to tell if your cookware is induction compatible.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Cookbook author Donna Currie was gifted her first set of pots and pans as a child, when her mom’s new cookware came with a miniature, fully functional set. Since then, she graduated to full-size cookware, researching and testing a wide variety of brands for The Spruce Eats to find the best.

Since she previously worked in a metal-related industry, Donna knows all about the magnetic stainless steel that’s required for induction-compatible cookware. She’s used that knowledge to create this roundup of the best cookware for induction stovetops.

This piece was updated by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a 2-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.

The 9 Best Ceramic Cookware Sets of 2022

Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. 12 Best Induction Cookware Sets of 2022. Reviewed. https://www.reviewed.com/cooking/best-right-now/the-best-cookware-sets-for-induction

  2. 8 Best Induction Cookware Sets for Induction Cooktops for 2021. Delish. https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/cookware-reviews/g33340212/best-induction-cookware/

  3. Sajid M, Ilyas M. PTFE-coated non-stick cookware and toxicity concerns: a perspective. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017;24(30):23436-23440.

12 Best Induction Cookware Sets of 2022

Written by Lindsay D. Mattison and Cassidy Olsen

Updated September 28, 2022

Induction cooktops use magnets to generate heat. They’re safe, precise, and efficient, but they can be intimidating to home cooks if you’re not familiar with them.

In general, induction cookware needs to be magnetic. Think cast iron fry pans, stainless steel, and carbon steel, but not aluminum and ceramic. The best induction cookware should evenly conduct electromagnetic energy and sit flush against cooking surfaces.

We’ve checked out the best induction-compatible cookware to find what works. After testing, we found that the HexClad Hybrid Cookware Chef’s Package (available at HexClad) is the best overall induction cookware set while the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set (available at Amazon) was our favorite nonstick set.

If you’re looking to spend less, we love the Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set (available at Amazon), which offers incredible performance on induction burners at a great value.

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

HexClad was the best cookware set we tested, providing a hybrid cooking surface that combines stainless steel with the ease-of-use of nonstick.

Best Overall

HexClad Hybrid Cookware 13-Piece Chef's Package

HexClad’s claim to fame is their unique hybrid technology. These high quality pans combine in one neat package the features you love about stainless steel, the ease-of-use of nonstick pans, and a magnetic layer that's great for induction stovetops. Right now, it’s our favorite cookware set you can buy, period.

These pans aren’t as nonstick as some cookware sets, but they heat up quickly and evenly and exhibit nonstick properties when they’re seasoned and used with some cooking oil. Our chicken thighs had some of the most even, gorgeous searing out of any skillet we’ve used.

They were exceptionally easy to clean, and any built-up bits could be wiped off with a paper towel. Unlike most nonstick, the Hexclad can be used with metal utensils because of its unique laser-etched hexagon top, which also makes it less likely to scratch.

Like multi-clad stainless steel pans, HexClad’s feature tri-ply construction, but they’re significantly lighter. Also, the saucepans have a bowl-like shape on the interior, so it was much easier to stir into the edges.

Pros

Buy now at HexClad

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Our favorite nonstick cookware is the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set.

Best Nonstick

All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Set

If you’re specifically looking for a nonstick induction cookware set, we recommend the All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set. It not only aced our tests, but each pan is beautifully designed with a sleek, black finish and shiny metal handles. The handles are long enough to create a perfect balance with each pan, and they feature All-Clad’s signature concave shape that’s super comfortable to hold.

While the pans are a little on the heavy side, they’re well-built with heavy-gauge, hard-anodized aluminum that should make them more durable. All-Clad also coats the pans with three layers of PFOA-free nonstick material, creating a slick finish that helps the food release easily.

As for performance, we had absolutely no complaints. The glass lid fit tightly onto the saucepots, trapping steam inside the pan to create some of the best rice in the testing group. We were also impressed at how crispy our chicken skin became, as most nonstick pans don’t excel at creating a hard sear. Our only major complaint was that the pans don’t nest very well, making storage more difficult.

Pros
Cons

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The Cuisinart MCP-12N cookware combines high performance and great value while being safe for induction cooktops.

Best Value

Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

The Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set offers incredible performance at a great value.

We had no complaints with the medium-sized sauté pan, which not only comfortably fit four chicken thighs but also seared each one to perfection. The large stockpot is well-sized for making soup, cooking pasta, or blanching vegetables.

In addition to performance, these pans are easy to use. The triple-ply construction gave the pans the benefit of heat conductivity, even on induction, but the aluminum core ensures they’re not too heavy to handle. The set includes everything you need to cook a meal, all with comfortable handles and a design that creates a nice balance when holding the pan.

All in all, it was easy to name this stainless steel cookware set as our Best Value for induction. It has everything you need for a starter kitchen and it’s a great choice for those looking to upgrade their old sets, too.

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

We were impressed by the exceptional performance of the Hestan NanoBond 10-piece set.

Best Upgrade

Hestan NanoBond Titanium Ultimate Set, 10-Piece

Hestan's NanoBond cookware is exceptional and worth the money if you can afford it. It’s gorgeous to look at and feels good in your hand. Plus, you get the kind of performance you’d expect at this price—even, excellent heating, steady simmering, and no burning at the bottom or in the corners.

Thousands of tiny, titanium-based nanolayers are bonded to the stainless-steel surfaces of NanoBond cookware, which the brand claims makes it 400% stronger than traditional stainless steel and therefore resistant to staining and scratching. These pieces can even take heat up to 1050°F.

While there are lots of good cookware sets out there, this line offers just about every performance point and ease-of-use upgrade you could ever want.

Cons

Other Induction Cookware Sets We Tested

Hestan ProBond Forged Stainless Steel Ultimate Set, 10-Piece

Hestan ProBond is great-looking and high-performing induction-ready cookware. While not as exceptionally durable as Hestan's NanoBond line, the ProBond pieces are similarly well-constructed, with even heating, flush rivets, and a good weight.

The 10-piece set includes a good assortment of basics that's definitely a better deal than buying these pieces individually, assuming you need all of them. You have the option of supplementing your set with ProBond nonstick skillets, but you’ll have to look to another brand for a Dutch oven.

Cons

Buy now at Williams Sonoma

$596.36 from Amazon

$699.95 from Abt

$699.95 from Bloomingdale's

Equal Parts The Cookware Set

We loved the Equal Parts Non-Stick Cookware Set—these pans are absolutely gorgeous, which somehow makes cooking with them more fun.

Each pan features comfortable handles that didn’t get too hot, and the ceramic nonstick coating allowed us to get a great sear on the chicken without burning any residue onto the bottom. That helps to make clean-up a breeze. The pans also stack nicely for storage and feature universal lids, making this set perfect for anyone with storage constraints.

The ceramic nonstick set is definitely minimal, though, and we thought the price tag was a little high for four pans.

Buy now at goop

GreenPan Premiere Ceramic Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set

GreenPan was the first company to produce ceramic nonstick pans, and they have dozens of cookware sets to choose from. We tested the GreenPan Premiere Ceramic Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set because of its stainless-steel construction.

Some of the premium nonstick sets we tested were a little skimpy on the contents, but you’ll get six well-built pots and pans with this set, plus lids and a steamer basket. The nonstick properties on this pan were top-notch. The pans also included small details that we appreciated, like rounded handles that stayed cool as you cooked and recessed handle rivets that we appreciated when cleaning the pans.

On the flip side, these pans didn’t heat as evenly as some of the other cookware sets we tested, and it was a little hard to stir into the corners of the saucepans. They were also a little on the heavy side, but that’s well worth it for a well-built pan.

Cons

Buy now at Williams Sonoma

Caraway Cookware Set

If the gorgeous appearance of the Caraway Cookware Set isn’t enough to make you want to buy it, the extra attention to detail will definitely push you over the edge. The set comes with four pans, three lids, and two specially designed storage pieces. The modular racks house the pans on their side so they’ll easily fit inside a cabinet, and the genius canvas lid holder can hang on the inside of the door.

When it came to performance, these pans absolutely met our expectations when we tested on a gas cooktop. However, the bottoms are not perfectly flat, so while using an induction cooktop, you may get lesser results. And the nonstick properties didn’t fail in any of the tests, allowing eggs to slide around without any cooking oil.

The set also lost some points because it doesn’t contain a full set of pots and pans, despite the high price tag. But as long as the smaller selection of sizes still fits your needs, you’ll be happy with the Caraway.

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All-Clad BD005710-R D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

All-Clad is well known for making top-of-the-line—and expensive—cookware. This All-Clad BD005710-R D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded 10-Piece Cookware Set is no exception. While there’s no denying the superior heat distribution and overall performance of these 5-ply, bonded stainless-steel pans. However, a few downsides caused them to fall down in the ranks.

First, the very hefty price tag is hard to swallow, especially considering that the heavy material makes it harder to flip vegetables or pour out the contents with ease. The straight, stainless steel handle design doesn’t help in that regard, throwing off the balance and causing you to really feel the weight of each pan.

That said, if you’re willing to dish out the coin (or have a wedding registry in the near future), these pots and pans will last a lifetime.

Tramontina 80116/249DS Tri-Ply 12-Piece Cookware Set

If you regularly make large amounts of soup or stock, you may want to consider the Tramontina 12-Piece Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Clad Cookware Set. It’s the only set that came with a 12-quart stockpot. That's overkill for boiling pasta or blanching vegetables, but perfect for larger-batch recipes. The wide handles were comfortable to hold and the tri-ply construction provided even heating, from browning chicken breasts to cooking sauces without scorching.

You’ll get some larger-sized pots and pans with this set for a great price. However, if you’re looking for small 1-quart saucepans, this isn’t the one for you. The roomier pans are nice, giving you more space to cook larger quantities while still fitting on a standard range top.

Pros
Cons

Circulon Symmetry Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set

Each pan in the Circulon Symmetry Black 11-Piece Cookware Set has raised, concentric circles on the nonstick surface. While I couldn’t tell you the history of these ridges or how they became a Circulon signature trait, I can tell you that they definitely work to keep food from sticking to the pan.

In addition to acing the nonstick tests, the Circulon pans performed well overall (except that the tall-and-skinny stockpot design took the longest in the group to boil water). Overall, these were some of the more comfortable pans we used, with well-thought-out, padded handles and nicely-balanced weight.

Pros
Cons

Great Jones Family Style

From a performance perspective, we really liked the pans in the Great Jones Family Style Set. The small nonstick pan was one of our favorites when we reviewed nonstick pans, and we loved the way the saucepan had measurements etched into the side for ease of measuring. All the pans have welded-on handles, too, which made clean-up so much easier compared to scrubbing around traditional rivets.

The pans passed our tests with flying colors, but the set itself fell a little short. It didn’t contain all the items we’d consider essential. For example, we would really like to see a small saucepot and a 12-inch skillet in the mix. And while we liked how the saute pan and stockpot share a lid to save storage space, we wondered what we’d do if we wanted to cook with both pans covered at once.

When it comes to price, it seems high for a set missing so many pieces. That said, it’s one of the few sets we tested that includes a Dutch oven.

Buy now at Great Jones

How We Tested Induction Cookware Sets

Credit: Reviewed /Lindsay D. Mattison

We cooked a complete meal using multiple pots pans to help determine each set's performance.

The Tester

Hi, I’m Lindsay Mattison, a trained professional chef and dinner party enthusiast. I’m the type of person that uses every single pot and pan in the house when I’m cooking dinner (and, I’ll probably dirty up all the tasting spoons and mise en place bowls, too). So I definitely understand the importance of having the right set of pots and pans to get the job done.

The Tests

After researching and selecting top-rated sets for testing, we cooked a multi-component meal using each set. To function for everyday life, the pots and pans had to be sized appropriately to cook dinner for one, but we also wanted to know if you could easily cook a larger dinner using the set. To earn our seal of approval, at least two saucepans, one sauté pan, and a stockpot had to fit on a standard cooktop range at the same time.

Keeping that in mind, we designed the tests to evaluate performance, ease of use, and value. We seared chicken thighs in the sauté pan, tossed vegetables in the skillets, simmered sauces and cooked rice in the saucepots, and blanched vegetables in the stockpot. If the set came with nonstick pans, we fried a few eggs without oil to see how well the coating worked.

Finally, we measured any noticeable hotspots and did a little taste testing to see if one set made a tastier meal than the others. In the end, none of the sets outright failed, but we did have a few favorites.

What You Should Know About Induction Cookware Sets

What Kind of Cookware is Best for Induction Cooktops?

Anything with a magnetic field works for induction. That means stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, and anything with a magnetic layer on the bottom. Ceramics and aluminum don’t work as a general rule, but you can find cookware made of those materials with a magnetic bottom for induction.

How Do I Know If My Pans Are Induction Compatible?

Holding a magnet to the bottom of your pan to see if it sticks is a quick, easy way to determine if the pan can be used with induction cooktops. Some induction-ready pans have an “induction symbol” on them, an image of a magnetic coil. Of course, magnetic cookware has existed way longer than induction cooktops, so the symbol isn’t a guarantee. It’s easier to just use a magnet.

Is an Induction Cooktop Worth It?

Induction ranges can cost a little extra. However, they offer unparalleled temperature control, they adjust to temperature changes quickly, and they cool down to safe temperatures in a flash. They also save you from gas bills or worrying about gas leaks in your kitchen.

For most people, an induction cooktop isn’t something you’d buy on a whim. But if you’re upgrading your stove or range anyway, it’s worth looking into.

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Meet the testers

Lindsay D. Mattison

Professional Chef

@zestandtang

Lindsay D. Mattison is a professional chef, food writer, and amateur gardener. She is currently writing a cookbook that aims to teach home cooks how to write without a recipe.

See all of Lindsay D. Mattison's reviews

Cassidy Olsen

Contributor

@olsencassidy

Cassidy covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed from 2018 to 2020. An experimental home chef with a healthy distrust of recipes, Cassidy lives by the "Ratatouille" philosophy that, with a few techniques and key tools, anyone can cook. She's produced in-depth reviews and guides on everything from meal kits to stand mixers and the right way to cook an egg.

See all of Cassidy Olsen's reviews

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