The 6 Best Pots, Pans, & Cookware for Everyday Use
Whether you're new to cooking, just moved into your first apartment and are building your kitchen toolkit, or are a seasoned pro on a Marie Kondo kick, you really only need five of the best pots and pans to cook anything your heart desires, from soft-scrambled eggs and crispy fried chicken to lots and lots of cookies. We went through our product tests to find the five categories that are core to cooking: sheet pans, nonstick pans, cast-iron skillets, Dutch ovens, and stainless steel frying pans. Below, we've compiled the winning products into the ultimate guide of the best pots and pans.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/6A Sheet Pan That Makes Your Bacon Crispy and Your Brownies Chewy
Why is the humble sheet pan so essential to a set of the best pots and pans and cookware? Everything from roasted vegetables and no-hassle dinners to cookies and bacon strips depend on one. (By the way, have you tried sheet-pan brownies?) But of all the sheet pans out there, which one is the most dependable—the one you should have in your arsenal? We tested six highly rated models and concluded that the Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baker's Half Sheet is the best—our old faithful, ride-or-die. To find out how we tested and what to look for in a sheet pan, read more here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson2/6A Cast-Iron Skillet That Lasts a Lifetime (And Makes Giant Cookies)
Have a craving for cornbread? Or a giant chocolate chip cookie? Or steak that you start on the stovetop and finish in the oven? The cast-iron pan is an old-school kitchen standby that will literally last you a lifetime—and get better with age. If treated right, you'll be able to use it as a naturally nonstick skillet for hash browns, salmon fillets, and so much more. You can use it in the oven to make everything from enchiladas to crispy chicken thighs. We tested a variety of options two years in a row and the Victoria 12-inch skillet consistently came out as the winner. And it's inexpensive to boot. Read more about why we consider it among the best pots, pans, and cookware here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle3/6A Nonstick Skillet... If You Care About Perfect Scrambled Eggs
Maybe you're a nonstick pan fanatic. Or maybe you shy away from them because of safety concerns. Either way, if you're a home cook, you probably agree that there are some cooking tasks—omelettes, pancakes—where only nonstick will do. We tested a whole bunch of them and found the Zwilling Madura Plus to quite possibly be the best one we've ever used. Read more about it here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Jennifer Ophir4/6A Dutch Oven for Simmering Soups and Frying Chicken
This heavy, wide-lidded pot can pretty much do anything, from baking bread and simmering soups to frying chicken. Sure, most Dutch ovens don't come cheap, but if you pick the right one, you’ll score one that can be passed down to your grandchildren. So what to choose? To find the best Dutch oven, we tested models from eight brands. Our winner was a pricey Le Creuset that's worth every penny, but we also loved this economical option from Lodge. Read more about our Dutch oven test here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle5/6A Stainless Steel Skillet That's Worth Investing In
Think of a stainless steel skillet as the little black dress of your batterie de cuisine: whether you're searing chops, caramelizing onions, oven roasting, or stir-frying, there's almost nothing it can't do. Just as you wouldn't invest in a LBD with a flimsy zipper, when it comes to the best frying pan, quality of construction is key. To find the best stainless steel skillet, we tested models from legacy cookware brands and new, direct-to-consumer startups. The All-Clad 12-Inch Fry Pan came out as the clear winner, but we also found an economical runner-up. Read more about how we chose the winners here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens6/6A Small Saucepan for Everyday Bowls of Oatmeal and Soup
A saucepan will bring you oatmeal for breakfast, soup for lunch, and tomato sauce for dinner. It'll be there for you for small tasks, too, like boiling eggs, steaming rice, and whipping up boxed mac-and-cheese for your niece who’ll eat nothing else. In short, a medium-sized saucepan is a tool that even the most bare-bones kitchen must have. For everyday tasks, a tri-ply, 3-quart, stainless steel one is your best bet. It beats cast-iron for versatility, aluminum for steady heat, copper for ease-of-care, and will last a lifetime if maintained properly. Plus, it's the perfect size for most everyday kitchen tasks. Read more about why the Misen and the All-Clad are our favorite 3-quart saucepans and essential to a set of the best pots and pans.
