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Size of a set of dishes
One big consideration is what parts are included and whether or not they are essential to your kitchen. There are cookware sets as large as 14 pieces, but they will usually have a lot of pots and pans in different sizes that you probably won’t use. I wouldn’t suggest going bigger than eight or nine pieces (that includes lids counted as pieces) unless you have the space and money for all those extras.
Choosing the right cookware material
The most important decision you will make is what material your pots and pans are made of. Cookware is usually made of aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, non-stick chemical compounds (Teflon), or a combination of several materials. As you can imagine, each type of cookware surface has its pros and cons as it relates to cooking, cleaning, durability and storage.
Aluminum cookware is cheap, for example, but it’s not very durable, and I wouldn’t recommend buying an all-aluminum set. Stainless steel pots and pans will hold up better to abuse and won’t warp or dent like aluminum. Stainless steel is also a slow conductor of heat, which is why steel pans often have a core made of a more conductive material such as aluminum or copper.
For most people, stainless steel cookware with an aluminum core will be the best material for a set. Materials like copper and cast iron have advantages, but also some serious pitfalls. Cast iron and carbon steel are a bit heavy and require a bit more cleaning and care, so you may not want a whole set. Copper cookware is also more difficult to maintain and generally costs a lot more than stainless steel.
Non-stick coating is another popular option. I recommend having at least one non-stick pan – Teflon or ceramic – for eggs and other sticky foods. You’ll never be able to sear food with a non-stick coating the way you can with other materials, so keep that in mind if you’re choosing a fully non-stick cookware set. It also won’t last as long as non-stick coatings break down over time.
Price and budget
With cookware, you get what you pay for, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay more than it’s worth. High-end copper cookware and stainless steel collections can run into the thousands, but a quality set of pots and pans doesn’t need to cost you much more than a few hundred.
Cheap cookware is different from budget cookware. Our value pick is still sturdy enough to handle your evening recipes and shouldn’t warp for many years. If you settle for cheap cookware, you could end up with broken handles and burnt salmon from uneven heating.
Nonstick and cast iron cookware are the least expensive materials, and there are reliable sets for under $100. Good stainless steel cookware sets of three or four pans usually cost several hundred dollars. Copper cookware is the most expensive and usually costs around $500 or more, even a small set.
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