Cookware Reviews

Updated October 2007

Best Cookware Reviews: (out of 20)
Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Illustrated

Best Cookware: (out of 55)
All-Clad Stainless, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless, WearEver Premium 10 inch Hard-Anodized

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Top Rated	What the Research Says
• All-Clad Stainless (*est. $570 for a 9-piece set) >> Where to buy	Best stainless steel cookware. Reviews say that All-Clad Stainless is the best high-end cookware. Although All-Clad excels in comparison reviews, many owners aren't sure the high price is justified. Still, All-Clad's heavy aluminum core, which extends up the sides of the pan, is sandwiched between a stainless steel cooking surface and an exterior layer of magnetic stainless steel. That makes it a good choice for use with gas ranges, where flames can lick the sides of cookware. This is the most popular cookware with experts, who note that it is heavier than cheaper pots and pans. It's oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. (compare prices)
• Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless (*est. $125 for a 10-piece set) >> Where to buy	Budget stainless steel cookware. In expert reviews, Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless cookware receives high scores for performance and value, and it's a favorite of owners posting comments on Epinions and Amazon.com. A fully encapsulated aluminum disk is built into the base of this cookware (All-Clad's superior aluminum core runs up the sides of the pot.) That makes this set less expensive, but once the thick base is heated through, the sauté speed ramps up, requiring you to keep a close eye on the pan. This cookware is oven safe to 550 degrees Fahrenheit -- a particularly high temperature rating for budget cookware. (compare prices)
• WearEver Premium 10 inch Hard-Anodized (*est. $30) >> Where to buy	Nonstick skillet. Experts don't recommend buying a full set of nonstick cookware. That's because Teflon-coated cookware isn't durable in the long run. However, reviewers do say a non-stick skillet is an essential addition to your cookware collection. Because all nonstick Teflon coatings will eventually wear off, you shouldn't shell out for an expensive non-stick pan. The Teflon-coated WearEver Premium is light and comfortable to use, and hollow handles stay relatively cool. This cookware is oven-safe to 350 degrees. Hand-washing is recommended. (compare prices)
• Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Skillet (*est. $27) >> Where to buy	Traditional cast iron skillet. The heavy weight of cast iron is both a pro and a con. These pans retain heat beautifully, but they aren't as maneuverable as stainless steel. Cast iron skillets are gaining traction as an alternative to controversial Teflon cookware. Once the Lodge skillet's seasoning develops, this pan releases foods nearly as well as Teflon pans. This skillet excels at searing meat and delivering crusty cornbread. The Lodge Logic pan is oven safe and, with routine maintenance, it will improve with age. (compare prices)
• Staub 5.5-Quart Oval Cocotte (*est. $220) >> Where to buy	Enameled Dutch oven. Although pricey, chefs say the superior heat conductivity of cast iron makes a non-reactive enamel-coated pot great for slow-simmering stews and braises. Although this Dutch oven is expensive, it will last a lifetime with proper care. Cheaper coated cast-iron pots can chip or scratch, but Staub's double coating of enamel is said to be more durable, and it's impervious to acidic foods, such as tomatoes. Small bumps on the underside of the lid cause steam to condense, essentially self-basting food. Owners say it cooks evenly and browns foods well. (compare prices)
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What the experts say, our analysis, and more...

Updated October 2007

Cook's Illustrated magazine provides the most comprehensive cookware reviews we found. Editors have tested nearly every type of pot and pan, from skillets and saucepans to Dutch ovens and roasting pans. Editors clearly explain their rankings, making it easy to see why a particular pan succeeded or failed in tests. The magazine's latest evaluation covers cast-iron pans, which are making a comeback as an alternative to Teflon-coated cookware.

Although Consumer Reports' latest review includes 38 lines of stainless steel and nonstick cookware, editors don't say much about each brand's performance. Furthermore, more than half the lines achieve almost identically high ratings. We are pleased, however, that Consumer Reports has included cookware sets from Costco and Sam's Club in its reviews.

Editors at Real Simple publish two contradictory articles, one of which posits that heat conduction is the best indicator of cookware performance, and the other of which argues that "the right pan for the right task can make all the difference." While the former suggests that a nine-piece set of All-Clad Master Chef cookware (*est. $520) can suit all your needs, the latter recommends cast-iron cookware for stovetop-to-oven cooking, stainless steel for browning, and nonstick aluminum for low-fat cooking.

Good Housekeeping not only tests 25 mainstream brands but also rates celebrity-endorsed cookware. Editors report that 14 cookware sets didn't measure up, but they don't disclose the names of lesser performers or tell us which brands were evaluated. Editors only provide a full report on the top six sets.

We were surprised to find that some celebrity cookware performs nearly as well as top-rated brands, but this may be because respected brands back up the celebrity name. Emerilware is made by All-Clad; Jamie Oliver by T-Fal. Martha Stewart cookware, which isn't backed by a major cookware manufacturer, doesn't perform as well in testing at Cook's Illustrated. Over low heat, the Martha Stewart 12-inch nonstick skillet (*est. $30) sautéed too slowly; over high heat, onions burned.

As the debate of the safety of Teflon continues, manufacturers look to developing non-Teflon alternatives. Editors at Cook's Illustrated tested Calphalon One cookware (*est. $580 for a 10-piece set) , which claims to combine the "best qualities of both traditional metal and nonstick cookware." The review pitted Calphalon One against editors' favorite traditional and nonstick skillets from All-Clad. Salmon, hash browns and scrambled eggs all stuck to the Calphalon One pan, but seared steak browned nicely and developed a good crust. Cook's Illustrated concluded that Calphalon One is an expensive choice that can't replace a regular nonstick skillet. Owners posting comments to Amazon.com are likewise unsure that this cookware's performance justifies its high price.

Cookware comes in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, Teflon-coated stainless steel, coated and uncoated cast iron, and copper. According to experts, no one type of cookware is suited to all tasks. Before you buy a full cookware set, consider your needs. The professionals at Cook's Illustrated consider only four pieces of cookware to be truly essential: a large skillet (12 inches is best), a small cast-iron skillet, a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, and a large soup/pasta pot (many cooks use a Dutch oven for these tasks). ... Continued

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Consensus Report

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
6	All-Clad Stainless Steel (Uncoated) (*est. $570 for a 9-piece set)	details
2	Cuisinart Chef's Classic nonstick skillet 10-inch (est. $25) 12-inch (est. $30) 12-inch with helper handle (*est. $40)	details
1 each	Analon Advanced Cookware , Bialetti Fusion , Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 2½ Quart Shallow Saucepan , Calphalon One , Calphalon Kitchen Essentials , KitchenAid Hard-Base Nonstick , KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Brushed Stainless , Le Creuset Round French Oven , Member's Mark Tri-Ply , Mario Batali Italian Essentials Pot , Rocco DiSpirito Cookware, T-Fal Jamie Oliver Professional Series, WearEver Excellence Stainless Steel, WearEver Hard-Anodized stainless steel , Revere Convenience , Wolfgang Puck Bistro Collection , Target Chefmate Round Enameled Cast-Iron Casserole, Gourmet Standard Tri-Ply , Kirkland Signature nonstick , T-Fal Soho, QVC Technique

All-Clad Stainless is clearly the most popular cookware, but also the most expensive. We didn’t find a lot of consensus in reviews for less expensive cookware, so we checked the picks in professional reviews against owner comments at Amazon.com and Epinions. Among uncoated sets, Cuisinart's Chef's Classic stainless (*est. $125 for 10 pieces) line gets high marks from over 100 owners posting to Amazon.com, plus good scores in professional reviews. Several reviews say celebrity cookware from Emeril Lagasse and Jamie Oliver compares well to other cookware, but Cuisinart Chef's Classic has similar performance and construction for less.

As for nonstick cookware, we did not find much consensus. Two reviews like nonstick skillets in the Cuisinart Chef's Classic nonstick line, but other reviews complain that the Teflon coating flakes off too easily. Kirkland Signature Hard-anodized nonstick cookware does well in professional reviews for durability, and owners like it as well. If you just want a good inexpensive nonstick skillet, Cook's Illustrated likes WearEver's Hard Anodized nonstick skillet.

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