While non-stick or cast iron surfaces may be easier to use and maintain, to create the best tasting dishes there is nothing quite like the consistency and flavor you are able to achieve with the best stainless steel cookware.
The material is extremely tough, it retains its metallic properties so it doesn’t affect the taste, offers good heat transfer ability, and looks great. With so many different options available we have put together this buyer’s guide to help you find the stainless steel cookware best suited for your needs.
Best Stainless Steel Cookware Comparison
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Cook N Home
Features: 2/5
Durability: 2/5
The Highlight:
Solid construction
Cuisinart
Features: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
The Highlight:
Cool grip handles
Calphalon
Features: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
The Highlight:
Ergonomic handles
Chef’s Star
Features: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
The Highlight:
Very durable construction
Heim Concept
Features: 2/5
Durability: 3/5
The Highlight:
Tapered rims for leak-free pouring
Stainless steel cookware is thought by most professionals to be the best way to create great tasting food. They are not as easy to cook with as non-stick pans for example, so you must be prepared to learn a slightly different cooking style if these will be your first ones.
Beyond that, it’s a case of how much you are willing to spend and which features you are looking for. Most stainless steel products are easily cleaned, but some have more effective heat conduction, better designed handles and better quality steel.
Stainless Steel Cookware Reviews
Cook N Home 12 Piece Stainless Steel Set
- Mirror polished stainless steel
- Capsulated bottom to give an even distribution of heat
- Tempered glass lids
- Includes 6 pots/pans with lids
- Suitable for use on all cooking surfaces
If you are looking for a low priced set of stainless pans for your kitchen, then these Cook N Home ones are well worth considering. Within the box you get 6 of them, each with a tempered glass lid, which will give you what you need to cook virtually anything you want.
Each of the pans is made from Mirror polished stainless steel on the inside and outside. An aluminum disc is built within the base of each one and ensures the heat is applied evenly throughout so your food cooks properly. The handles are also made from stainless steel, and are connected with a durable rivet design so you’ll feel confident when carrying the hot contents.
The pans you get are; a 1.5 quart sauce pan, a 1.5 quart casserole pot, a casserole pot that is 2 quart, a 3 quart casserole pot, a 5.5 quart stock pot, and a 10 inch frying pan. Each of these comes with its own tempered glass lid that keeps the heat in, while allowing you to clearly see how well your dish is progressing.
The variety offered by this set is great, but the fact that they have the aluminum plate is what makes them stand out in my opinion. Stainless steel cookware needs a feature like this to evenly spread the heat, otherwise food cooks at different times within the same pot. While you’d expect this to be in the more expensive products, it’s great that these low priced ones also have it.
It is clear from the reviews left on Amazon that customers are impressed with the quality and durability of this best stainless steel cookware set, especially considering the price. They are really simple to clean, feel sturdy, and cook great food.
Cuisinart MCP-12N 12-Piece Cookware Set
- Includes 4 pans with lids, 2 skillets, and a steamer insert
- Dishwasher safe
- Tapered rims to aid pouring
- Triple ply heat construction with aluminum core
- Durable construction
If you have a larger budget, and want to buy a set of stainless steel pans and pots that are really well made, durable, and have the features you need to confidently cook any meal, this package from Cuisinart could be the best best stainless steel pots and pans set for you. You get four different pans with tight fitting lids, two skillets, and a handy steamer insert that also comes with a tight fitting lid.
Within the box you will get a 1.5 quart saucepan, a 3 quart saucepan, a 3.5 quart covered sauté pan, an 8 quart covered stockpot, an 8 inch open skillet, and a 10 inch open skillet.
Everything is made from polished stainless steel that will not discolor, react with the food, or interfere with any flavors. The stainless steel rivets give the pans a sturdy feel, and the lids fit perfectly. Designed with a triple ply heat construction, they have an aluminum core in the base that evenly distributes the heat. This maximizes heat retention and eliminates the worry of hot spots that can cook food at different speeds within the same dish.
All 12 pieces are oven safe up to 550F and are dishwasher safe. A really useful feature on these products is the tapered rims that make it really simple to pour liquids out in a controlled way instead of awkwardly spilling over a rounded edge. I also really like the handles with the Cool Grip technology that means they will not heat up so you won’t find yourself reaching for the oven glove.
Customers who have left reviews on Amazon are quite clearly impressed by the design of this cookware set. All parts feel solid and sturdy, and the heat transfer allows you to cook all of your food at the same speed to achieve great results.
Calphalon Classic 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
- Impact-bonded aluminum bases for even heat distribution
- Long, ergonomic handles
- Fill lines
- Dishwasher, stove, oven, and broiler safe
- Includes four pots with covers and two frying pans
This cookware set from Calphalon includes a wide range of well-designed pans and pots that ensure you have what you need for any task in the kitchen. If you are familiar with stainless steel cookware and are looking to get a durable, high quality set, then these could be the ones for you.
Within the box you will get a 6 quart stock pot with cover, two sauté pans with cover, (one 3 quart and the other 2.5 quart), a 1.5 quart saucepan with cover, a 10 inch frying pan, and a frying pan that is 8 inches. They are designed with a classic style, and are made from stainless steel apart from the aluminum bases that ensure an even heat distribution.
Functionality was clearly a key concern with the construction of these products, so they come with long ergonomic handles that stay cool and give you a secure fit, fill lines etched into the sides so you can easily see the volume within the pots, and spouts that line up with the straining holes in the covers that makes it really simple to pour out liquids.
I like the strong construction of these pans. The handles are double riveted, which make them feel really secure even when lifting up full, heavy pots containing hot liquids. The covers are made from tempered glass, which is great because you can see how well the food is cooking without lifting the cover and releasing the heat. The aluminum bases also make sure the heat is retained, and cooks all of the food evenly.
Amazon reviewers have been impressed by this best stainless steel cookware set too. They look great, are easily washable, and because they are made from stainless steel they don’t affect the flavor of the food so it tastes amazing.
Chef’s Star 17 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
- Made with commercial grade stainless steel
- Ergonomically shaped handles
- Suitable for all cooking sources
- Dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe
- Set including pots, pans, covers, and 3 kitchen tools
If you are looking for a top of the range set of stainless steel cookware that would look at home within a professional kitchen, then this product from Chef’s Star could be the answer. They are made from the best quality stainless steel, include aluminum in the base to effectively transfer heat, and are safe to use on all heat sources such as electric, gas, infrared, induction, glass, and ceramic cooktops.
Within the package you will get two frying pans (one that is 8 inches and the other one is 10 inches), two sauce pans with lids (one is 1.6 quart and the other one is 2.5 quart), a casserole pan with a lid that is 4.2 quart, a stock pot with lid that is 8.6 quart, a sauté pan with helper and lid that is 5.5 quart, a boiler and a steamer basket, a spoon, a slotted spatula, and a 2 pronged fork. This range of products ensures you’ll have the ideal pot or pan for whatever cooking needs you have..
All the pans are dishwasher safe, can be stored in a freezer, and can be used in an oven up to 550F. The handles are really good, they are ergonomically designed to feel comfortable in your hands and are coated with an anti-slip satin finish that gives you a firm grip. They are also easy to wash, and the rivets used in construction make them feel tough and ensure they last a long time. The included lifetime limited warranty will add an extra peace of mind.
It’s a shame these pans don’t have spouts to make pouring easier, but this design also means that the covers fit tighter and are able to retain even more heat. The stainless steel cookware reviews from Amazon customers are good and are based on their experiences with this cookware set, particularly on account of the build quality and cooking efficiency.
Heim Concept 12-Piece Induction Ready Stainless Steel Cookware Set
- Mirror polished stainless steel
- Handle rivets for increased durability
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Tapered rims for easy pouring
- Includes 5 pots and a frying pan
This is another low cost cookware set, and is well worth considering if you are new to stainless steel pans and want to have everything you need to cook a wide variety of delicious meals. They don’t have all the features of the more costly options, but still offer the benefits of cooking with stainless steel.
Within the package you will get a 10.5 inch frying pan with a lid, a 1.75 quart saucepan with a lid, a 1.75 quart casserole pot with lid, a 2.25 quart casserole pot with lid, a 3.25 quart casserole pot with lid, and a 5.75 quart casserole pot with lid. This gives you a wide range of pots that will allow you to cook most things in the quantities needed including sauces, vegetables, browning meats, and boiling pasta.
Each item is made from stainless steel, but have a three layered thermal bottom, which incorporates a heat conductor to evenly distribute the heat through the whole pan and eliminate the problem of hot-spots . The mirror polished interior and exterior look great, and ensure a non-reactive and quick release of foods. As with all stainless steel pots, if you don’t prepare things properly it can be easy for burnt bits to collate around the base of the pan, but they are really easy to wash so this won’t become a problem.
The lids fit tightly and are made from tempered glass so you can see how well the food is cooking without having to open them and release the heat. The build quality of these pans is surprisingly good for a lower priced product, and reviewers on Amazon tend to agree that this product in one of the best rated stainless steel cookware sets. It’s great that they are compatible with induction stoves, because not everything is, and they feel sturdy even when full to the brim.
Best Rated Stainless Steel Cookware: The Takeaway
A wide range of materials are used to make cookware, but to achieve the best results and nicest tasting food it’s a good idea to start using cookware made from stainless steel. It’s extremely tough, can be used in most areas of the kitchen and, most importantly, doesn’t leech into the food at all so the flavors remain pure.
Our choice for the best stainless steel cookware is the Chef’s Star Professional Grade Stainless Steel 17 Piece Cookware Set. This set provides you with a wide range of pans and pots that are made from good quality steel, are very durable, easily cleaned, and are comfortable to hold and use.