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A wise man knows that a person is only as good as the tools at their disposal. This is especially sage wisdom in the culinary realm, where a home chef depends upon any number of pots, pans, and gadgets to make a restaurant-level meal. Whether it’s cast-iron skillets or nonstick cookware sets, you or the home chef in your life deserves something that will perform every time they’re called upon.
Like a good chef’s knife or apron, your cookware cavalry is your sous chef, your wingman, your assistant. That doesn’t mean you need to largest or most expensive set. It does mean that you need one that checks all of the boxes, from durability and functionality to aesthetic and design. The following options say “yes, chef!” emphatically, ready to up your cooking game and offer all the assists necessary en route to a meal for the ages.
Best Cookware Brands
It doesn’t matter if you’re cooking for one or pulling an entire weekend in the kitchen making a slew of holiday meals. You need the best cookware and the time is now. Read on for the best sets of 2024.
What to Consider
There’s quite a bit worth considering when it comes to landing on the right cookware. Take account of the following to find your culinary glass slipper.
Material
The material of your cookware will dictate a lot. From cast iron and ceramic ware to copper and stainless steel, there are many options. The different materials conduct differently, heating up quicker here and slower there, distributing one way here and another there. The material will also inform the weight of the cookware, which in turn determines how usable it is. Big heavy pans may cook beautifully but if you’re breaking your back every time you bust them out, perhaps it’s not worth it.
Another consideration related to material is where you’ll be doing most of the cooking. Are you one to transfer that steak from the stovetop to the oven and back again? Are you all electric in the way you cook or a flame person? Are you a one-pot chef who likes things slow and low? Answering these queries and more will help you find the right set.
Cooking Surface
A good cooking surface is key and there’s quite frankly a lot of exaggerated marketing out there. Is it really non-stick (as in, even when frying eggs)? Is it really built specifically for induction heat? Are there hot spots or is the warmth evenly distributed throughout the pan?
You can look past the pseudo science and focus in stead on the type of surface that suits your cooking style best. The nature of the surface will also help determine how easy the cookware is to clean and whether or not you can simply toss it into the dishwasher when the meal is done and dusted.
Durability
Obviously, you’re going to want something that lasts. Cookware needs to be durable, what with all the clanking around and exposure to high heat. A well-made pan can be the difference between a generation-long culinary tool and one you’re seemingly replacing every year.
Built in to the concept of durability is a solid warranty. Top brands will back up their work, offering extended warranties that reveal just how much they support their products.
How We Chose
While testing, we looked at some important traits to come up with our esteemed list. We gravitated towards cookware brands that offer expansive sets with all the essential pans and pots you might need. We focused on how easy it was to clean these pieces (nobody likes a dirty Dutch oven) and how well they performed when asked to take on a number of tasks, from pan-searing chicken to baking a good lasagne.
Beyond that, we looked at some cosmetic things too, as good cookware should be sexy and shown off. We looked at value and ergonomics, as the design should work with the way you cook, making the experience enjoyable. And speaking of design, we looked for certain standout features that made working in, say, a smaller kitchen, all the easier.
Here are the best cookware brands for 2024.
Hestan
A good pan should be able to take some abuse. After all, most of us don’t cook with the same elegance as, say, a Michelin-caliber chef. We operate a little more like the Swedish chef from Sesame Street. So, it pays to have something that can deal with the punches. Hestan does that and more, offering sleek design as well.
The titanium stainless steel cookware is set up with a special technology that basically creates a forcefield atop the cooking surface. That means it won’t get scratched up or stained, and look good as new years down the road (although a tad spotty in terms of heat). Made in Italy, this cookware heats up quickly and can be thrown in the dishwasher when all is said and done.
Read more: Cool Kitchen Gadgets
Cuisinart
Cuisinart is a household cookware name for a reason: the brand has been turning out reliable products for more than a half-century. While it’s known for bringing the food processor to pop culture, it’s also behind some great cookware. The pots and pans in the brand’s portfolio blend smart features with a touch of class (we see you, curved handles).
Generally, the cookware excels and offering non-stick surfaces that cook both efficiently an evenly. The items tend to be lighter in weight as well, making them easier to use in the kitchen. The bumps on the inside of the cookware where handles join can be a chore to fully clean from time to time, but aside from that, there’s very little to complain about.