Stainless Steel Cookware

Stainless steel cookware is best overall

For most uses, experts suggest stainless steel cookware. Not only do these cookware sets heat evenly on gas or electric stovetops, they're usually safe to use under broilers and in ovens up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Other perks: Stainless-steel cookware is dishwasher-safe, and many experts say they do a superior job of browning food -- the resulting "fond" (the little brown bits that stick to the pan bottom) can be used to create delicious sauces. Still, stainless does have some drawbacks. Since these cookware sets are not nonstick, users have to use fat to prevent foods from clinging. Additionally, stainless steel pans are prone to scratches or "rainbowing," a discoloration that comes from being heated to temperatures above 500 degrees. Fortunately, a little white vinegar or diluted lemon juice can help restore their polish and shine. Stainless sets that have a brushed exterior can also camouflage wear-and-tear.

We found very good support for Calphalon Contemporary Stainless (*Est. $425 for a 10-piece set). This cookware contains pieces that have an aluminum core sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. This construction offers users exceptional heat conduction and durability, both on the bottom and up the sides of the pans. This is particularly important if you have a gas range, as the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless pots and pans conduct the heat from flames that lick the sides of the pan better than a pan that only has aluminum on the bottom.

One foodie magazine's editors enthusiastically praise the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless cookware for its even heat distribution. Real Simple magazine editors also liked the "easy-to-grip" handle on Calphalon's Contemporary Stainless 3.5-quart saucepan. However, the handle on this set's skillet loosened in another review's durability test. The 10-piece Calphalon Contemporary Stainless set comes with 8-inch and 10-inch omelette pans, 1.5-quart and 3.5-quart sauce pans with covers, 3-quart saute pan with cover, and 8-quart stock pot with cover. Calphalon Contemporary Stainless is also available in an 8-piece or 13-piece set. For cooks who prefer a polished stainless exterior and satin finish interior, the Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless (*Est. $400 for 13-piece set) has the same aluminum core and tempered glass covers as the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless. However, it is only available in a 13-piece set. Calphalon backs all its cookware with a lifetime warranty.

All-Clad Stainless (*Est. $700 for a 10-piece set) gets the best reviews among any cookware brand, but its high price is a major drawback. Still, if price isn't a concern (or you're registering for gifts and have deep-pocketed friends), professional chefs and serious cooks claim its cooking performance is unparallel to other brands. All-Clad stainless also earns top marks in many reviews. Like the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless cookware set, All-Clad pans have tri-ply construction with an aluminum core, ., This cookware set held up very well in one foodie magazine's durability test and receives recognition for generous cooking surfaces as well as excellent heat conduction and great browning. That said, All-Clad's pans are heavier than Calphalon Contemporary Stainless cookware, a fact which leads to mixed reviews about maneuverability.

One professional review says All-Clad's handles stay cool but aren't as comfortable as Calphalon. Still, most professional reviews say that although heavy, All-Clad cookware is well balanced. All-Clad also consistently receives high ratings by owners at Amazon.com, Cooking.com and Macys. The pieces in the set are similar to Calphalon, but they come with a roomier 5-qt. sautŽ pan. Fry pans, saute pans and other pieces are also available with a nonstick coating. The All-Clad MC2 (*Est. $530 for a 10-piece set) is another option with a tri-ply construction, but the outer layer is a brushed aluminum alloy rather than stainless steel, which can hide normal wear and tear better than polished stainless.

Like the All-Clad Stainless, the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless (*Est. $150 for a 10-piece set) features an aluminum core encased in stainless steel, but it is confined to the base of the pan and doesn't travel up the sides -- a hallmark of less expensive cookware. Unfortunately, this kind of construction can prompt hot spots on the pan -- particularly when it's used over a gas stove where flames lick the sides. However, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless cookware is oven safe up to 550 degrees F -- a high temperature rating for mid-priced cookware. The Cuisinart's riveted handles stay cool, but their hollowed out construction means they're not as sturdy as the cast stainless steel offerings of other brands.

Still, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless looks like a good budget pick among stainless steel cookware. Different reviews praise different pieces in the set; one expert likes the tilt of the stock pot's handles, which make it easy to pour. Another praises the Cuisinart 4-quart saucepan for its sturdy feel and slow saute speed. On the downside, another professional review reports an aluminum disk fell off the Cuisinart's 12-inch skillet during their tests. In extensive reviews at Amazon.com, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless is a favorite, with more than 175 owners giving it a perfect score of five stars. One owner reports that her Cuisinart cookware set holds its appearance and looks "good enough to display on a pot rack after a year and a half of use." Other owners say the cookware has "good heft," but is easy to maneuver.

The KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Brushed Stainless (*Est. $120 for a 10-piece set) is another budget option for cooks who want a brushed stainless exterior instead of polished stainless. This cookware has an aluminum core confined to the bottom of the pan like the Cuisinart Chef's Classic, but KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials cookware doesn't appear as often in professional reviews. It did receive high marks for even heating in one professional evaluation, but testers said it was very difficult to clean. However, many of the more than 70 owners giving this cookware a perfect score of five stars at Amazon.com say it's surprisingly easy to clean. Some owners also say the silicone coating on the handles stays cool, but this material does limit the cookware from being used in ovens hotter than 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Celebrity chefs Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse also offer stainless steel cookware sets. Emerilware, Emeril Lagasse's venture is a collaboration with All-Clad.

One foodie magazine found the Rachael Ray Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Set (*Est. $160) to have numerous design flaws: Food scorched, the sides of the fry pans were so high the food was more apt to steam than brown, and the silicone-coated handles became too hot. Its silicon handles also restrict pans from being used in an oven that's hotter than 400 degrees F or washed in the dishwasher, which are some of the key benefits of other stainless cookware sets. Additionally, Emerilware Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set (*Est. $150) has some flaws in some reviews. Unlike All-Clad's more expensive lines, the Emerilware version doesn't feature an aluminum core that goes all the way up the sides of the pans. Rather, its aluminum doesn't extend up the sides, so the pots may develop hot spots. Both brands of celebrity cookware also feature a few dozen mixed owner reviews on Amazon.com.

Dr. Andrew Weil, a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, also offers his own line of cookware. His stainless cookware features a five-ply construction with an aluminum core, but offers a "unique rolled and sealed rim" to ensure that aluminum never touches or leaches into food; however, we didn't read about this concern anywhere other than Weil's website. The Dr. Weil 8 Piece Stainless Cookware Set (*Est. $380), which is made by Spring Switzerland, is included in two food magazine reviews. Food & Wine magazine selects the 12-inch skillet as one of three favorite stainless steel skillets, but they don't reveal their testing criteria or share how many brands were compared. We also didn't find any owner reviews for this product line at Amazon.com or Cooking.com.

One last option, copper pots and pans, are prized by gourmets for their sophisticated appearance and solid heat conduction. Although copper products heat up and cool down quickly, they are more expensive and can react with acidic foods, affecting flavor. If you need a highly sensitive pan for a specific task, experts say you're better off buying an individual piece (known as "open stock") instead of a complete set.