Whether you are a casual, occasional or gourmet cook you need cookware that fits your needs in order to cook to the best of your ability.

With the wide variety of sets on the market today, finding the right set can be a confusing and time-consuming process. Here is some basic information from Better Homes and Gardens to help you in making a decision.

1. Number of pieces you need in a set

Every set varies in the number and types of pots and pans they include. The best fit for your kitchen depends on what you like to cook and how you like to cook it; but, there are some pieces that all home cooks should have.

• 8-Inch Skillet: Ideal for making eggs, omelets, and single chicken breasts and burgers.
• 10-Inch Skillet: Works well for frying up several chicken breasts or burgers at a time, making a frittata, sautéing, and stir-frying.
• 12-Inch Skillet: Using a 12-inch skillet, you can make a one-dish meal or fry food for a larger group of people.
• 2-Quart Sauce Pan and/or 3-Quart Sauce Pan: These sauce pans work well for steaming veggies, boiling eggs, and preparing soup, rice, sauce, and pasta.
• Dutch oven: A Dutch oven with a capacity of four to six quarts comes in handy for making stews, thick soups, and pot roasts.
• 8-Quart Stock Pot: Essential when making a large amount of pasta or a big batch of soup.

2. Best Cookware Material for You

Cookware sets come in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, cast iron, copper, aluminum, and carbon steel. The option that will work best in your kitchen depends on what type of cooking you do, what type of stove you have, and how much time you’re willing to spend on cleanup.

Stainless-Steel Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Extremely durable
• Nonreactive material so you can cook any type of food in it
• Requires little maintenance
• Usually compatible with induction stove tops
• Usually safe for the oven, broiler, and dishwasher

Cons

• Poor heat distribution
• Uncoated stainless steel isn’t nonstick
• Can be difficult to clean

Nonstick Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to clean
• Allows for low-fat cooking because you don’t need much oil or butter
• Often compatible with induction stove tops

Cons

• Metal may scratch nonstick surfaces
• Usually not safe for the dishwasher
• Doesn’t brown food as well as other materials
• Only oven-safe up to certain temperatures, and not usually broiler-safe
• Coating may contain toxic chemicals

Cast-Iron Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Extremely durable
• Naturally nonstick
• Oven-safe up to extremely high temperatures
• Compatible with induction stove tops
• Broiler-safe

Cons

• Difficult to clean and not dishwasher-safe
• Heavy
• Takes a long time to heat
• Can cook unevenly
• Must be seasoned and maintained
• Can rust in damp conditions

Copper Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros

• Usually oven-safe
• Works for a variety of cooking tasks, including frying, sautéing, searing, and simmering
• Looks attractive on the table

Cons

• Expensive
• Reacts to acidic foods like tomatoes
• Can scratch and dent easily
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Not compatible with induction stove tops

Aluminum Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros

• Conducts heat well
• Lightweight
• Durable
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Prone to staining
• Reactive material may discolor acidic food/impart a bitter taste

Carbon-Steel Cookware Pros and Cons

Pros

• Extremely durable
• Easy to clean
• Compatible with induction cooktops

Cons

• Must be seasoned to prevent rusting
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Pans often designed for a single purpose

3. Helpful Cookware Tips

Use boiling water and vinegar to remove burnt-on debris from stainless-steel cookware. First, fill the pan with water and bring it to a boil for several minutes. Pour out the water and try scrubbing the stain away. If the debris hasn’t loosened, add more water and some white vinegar to the pan.

Bring it to a boil again, empty the water, and scrub the stain away. When cooking with nonstick pots and pans, use low or medium heat. High heat is bad for the nonstick coating and can break it down over time. High temperatures may also cause the coating to release potentially toxic fumes.

Protect your hands when using cast-iron cookware. The handles on cast-iron cookware can grow extremely hot during cooking. Wrap them in a kitchen towel or pot holder to avoid burning your skin. You can also find handle covers for cast-iron cookware.

Season your carbon-steel cookware before you use it. To do this, rub the cooking surface with a neutral oil, place it upside down on a baking sheet, and bake the cookware in the oven at 350°F for an hour.

Lastly, be sure to carefully read the list of contents in the cookware set. Manufacturers usually include lids when they list the number of pieces in the set so you will want to know the exact number of pots and pans you are getting.

Related Reading:
Best Cookware Buying Guide – Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org/cro/kitchen-cookware/buying-guide
How to Choose and Buy Cookware, Guide to Choosing Cookware: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/ChoosingCookware.htm
Essential Cookware Buying Guide | Crate and Barrel: https://www.crateandbarrel.com/ideas-and-advice/essential-cookware-buying-guide