How to choose the right cookware for your needs and budget
When it comes to cooking up a storm in the kitchen, you need more than just tasty ingredients. Your choice of cookware also plays an important role in helping you to prepare delicious meals. With the right pots and pans, cooking is so much easier and a much more pleasing experience.
You don’t need to be a professional chef to enjoy the benefits of the best pots and pans. Here are some of the benefits of choosing high-quality cookware:
High-quality cookware can help you to cook your food more evenly, as the heat is distributed across the entire surface of the pan. This means that you will no longer need to deal with food that is undercooked in some places and burnt in others.
While cheaper cookware may save you money in the short term, it is unlikely to last you for long. In contrast, choosing high-quality cookware means you will get many more years of use from your pans.
If you have ever used a pan that won’t balance properly when you are attempting to cook, you will know how frustrating this can be. One of the main benefits of high-quality cookware is that it is so much easier to use. The best cookware is packed with handy little features to improve your cooking experience.
There is no doubt that choosing high-quality cookware is always a good idea, but you may be wondering which brands you should choose. Read on to discover our pick of good, better, and best cookware so that you can choose the perfect pots and pans to suit your cooking needs and your budget.
Good
If you are looking for some high-quality cookware to equip your kitchen without spending a fortune, these cookware sets are an ideal choice:
IKO - 16-Piece Copper Collection Nonstick Cookware Set
This stylish cookware set from the Iko Copper Collection will look perfect in any kitchen. The blue colour and copper ceramic non-stick coating make this cookware set both attractive and practical. The pans feature a heavy gauge aluminium core to allow for quick and even heating. This IKO cookware set even comes equipped with tools and knives, providing great value for money and everything you need for both cooking and serving food.
What’s included?
5 qt. Dutch oven with glass lid, 2 qt. saucepan with glass lid, 3.5 qt. sauté pan with glass lid, 10 in. frying pan, 6 copper tools (solid spoon, a slotted turner, ladle, pasta server, and 2 slotted spoons), and 3 copper knives (chef’s knife, paring knife, and utility knife).
Material:
Aluminium with copper ceramic non-stick coating.
Features:
- Eco-friendly.
- Suitable for all hob types.
- Made from high-quality copper.
- Easy-to-clean stainless steel interior.
DUNLEVY - Steelex 3 Piece Saucepan Set
If you are looking for saucepans that are suitable for all hobs, including induction, the Dunlevy Steelex 3-Piece Saucepan Set is the perfect choice. This set of three pans is made from heavy gauge stainless steel and offers quick and even heat distribution.
What’s included?
16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, and 20cm saucepan with lid.
Material:
Heavy gauge stainless steel with aluminium induction base.
Features:
- Five-year guarantee.
- Heat-resistant handles that are safe to touch at high temperatures.
- Suitable for all hob types.
- Induction base provides quick, even, and efficient cooking.
Better
Upgrading your cookware can enhance both your cooking experience and the flavour of your food. These cookware sets are the ideal choice if you are hoping to take your home cooking to the next level:
GREENPAN - Chatham Ceramic Nonstick 5-Piece Cookware Set
GreenPan cookware is famous for its healthy ceramic nonstick coating, and it is also manufactured without the use of PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium, so no toxic fumes will be released while cooking. This GreenPan Chatham Cookware Set is reinforced with diamonds to make it extra-resilient and safe for use with metal utensils. This durable pan set even has a hard-anodized aluminium body to help it withstand continued daily wear and tear.
What’s included?
- qt. saucepan with lid, 2.8 qt. sauté pan with lid, and 9.5 in. frying pan.
Material:
Anodized aluminium body, ceramic nonstick coating, and stainless steel handles.
Features:
- Manufactured without the use of PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium.
- Diamond reinforced coating.
- Hard anodized aluminium body for extra durability.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
IKO 7 Piece Stratum Cookware Set
This sleek and sophisticated 7-piece Stratum cookware set from IKO is an excellent choice for every kitchen. The Cera3 ceramic coating helps to ensure that these pans provide non-stick qualities that you can rely on and deliver optimum cooking performance.
What’s included?
5 qt. Dutch oven with lid, 3.5 Qt. sauté pan with lid, 1.5 qt. sauté pan with lid, and 10 in. frying pan.
Materials:
Triple layer ceramic non-stick coating and stainless steel base.
Features:
- Cera3 coating for optimum performance.
- Multi-layer base for use with a range of cooking styles.
- Suitable for most stove tops, including induction.
T-FAL - Excite 14 Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set
This red cookware set from T-Fal is packed with handy features. The attractive Excite 14 Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set from T-Fal will add a stylish touch to your kitchen thanks to its vibrant red colour. This non-stick pan set is also scratch resistant and made from durable aluminium, so it will provide many years of great results every time you cook. The frying pans feature the unique T-Fal Thermo-Spot heat indicator that shows you when the pan is preheated and ready to use.
What’s included?
8 in. frying pan, 10.25 in. frying pan with lid, 1 qt. saucepan with lid, 2 qt. saucepan with lid, 5 qt. Dutch oven with lid and 5 measuring spoons.
Materials:
Aluminium with glass lids.
Features:
- Non-stick, scratch-resistant interior.
- Ergonomically designed handles.
- Durable aluminium construction.
- T-Fal Thermo-Spot heat indicator.
Best
When only the best is good enough, you need to select your cookware carefully. If you are looking for cookware that is made to the highest standards and will deliver great results every time, you will love these sets:
GREENPAN - Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set
This 11-piece cookware set from GreenPan will help make it easier to cook healthy meals at home. The Valencia Pro high-quality pan set is both attractive and durable. You can use this non-stick cookware set on every stove top, even induction. Duo forged armoured bodies mean that this cookware set is designed to last and will not warp or wobble over time. Meanwhile, the Thermalon Minerals Pro ceramic coating ensures that the pans stay non-stick and are really easy to clean. This set even includes 3 pan protectors.
What’s included?
8 in. frying pan, 9.5 in. frying pan, 11 in. frying pan, 2 qt. saucepan with lid, 3 qt. saucepan with lid, 3 qt. sauté pan with lid, 5 qt. stockpot with lid and 3 pan protectors.
Materials:
Hard anodized aluminium ceramic non-stick coating, and stainless steel handles.
Features:
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Safe for all stovetops.
- Comes with 3 pan protectors.
- Made from hard anodized aluminium.
- Ceramic non-stick coating.
- Manufactured without the use of PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium.
GREENPAN - Padova Reserve Ceramic Nonstick 5-Piece Cookware Set
This GreenPan 5-piece pan set is a premium choice and ideal for anyone looking for the very best cookware. The Padova Reserve Ceramic Non-Stick 5-Piece Cookware Set features sleek and stylish gold tone handles, and Thermolon Diamond Advanced non-stick ceramic coating to make the pans durable and responsive to heat. The pans are made from duo forged hard anodized aluminium, making them extra tough, and scratch-resistant and ensuring they offer even heat distribution. Suitable for all stove tops apart from induction.
What’s included?
2 qt. saucepan with lid, 10 in. frying pan, and 2.8 qt. sauté pan with lid.
Materials:
Duo forged hard anodized aluminium, ceramic non-stick coating, and stainless steel handles.
Features:
- Thermolon Diamond Advanced healthy ceramic non-stick coating.
- Made from duo forged hard anodized aluminium for durability.
- Free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.
- Safe for use with metal utensils.