Home > Home & garden  >  Best Kitchen cookware
Indicates subscriber only content

Best Kitchen cookware

Which Kitchen cookware performed best in our tests?

product image

We tested 31 kitchen cookware to determine the best-performing models. Our expert lab technicians tested each Kitchen cookware based on the following criteria:

  • Set (pieces)
  • Nonstick durability
  • Handle temperature
  • Handle sturdiness
  • Ease of cleaning
  • Cooking evenness
  • Nonstick food release
  • Handle comfort

Below lists the Kitchen cookware that rated best in each of the tests our experts looked for. Learn about how these tests were performed and find out which Kitchen cookware is rated best when you subscribe.

Consumer Reports Ratings for Best Kitchen cookware

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Set (pieces)
product image

Each set includes at least a saucepan, a frying pan, and a stockpot. Lids are typically counted as separate components in a set.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Set (pieces) has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Nonstick durability
product image

To assess nonstick durability, we intentionally abraded frying-pan surfaces with steel wool until the coating was worn through or up to 2,000 strokes. Scoring for finishes that were still intact at 2,000 strokes reflects reduced nonstick performance.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Nonstick durability has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Handle temperature
product image

Handle temperature relates to the temperature during heating.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Handle temperature has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Handle sturdiness
product image

Handle sturdiness indicates performance in a test designed to stress the handle and its attachments.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Handle sturdiness has the following features: Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Ease of cleaning
product image

Ease of cleaning reflects how easy or difficult it was to clean sticky béchamel sauce from a saucepan.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Ease of cleaning has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Cooking evenness
product image

Cooking evenness reflects the ability of frying pans to turn out evenly browned pancakes on a gas range.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Cooking evenness has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Nonstick food release
product image

Nonstick food release score reflects the nonstick qualities of a pan's interior by cooking four eggs consecutively. The pan is initially seasoned with vegetable oil prior to cooking the first egg. An Excellent score indicates that all four eggs slid off the pan without assistance; A Poor score indicates that scraping was needed to release any egg from the pan and some egg residue was left on the pan.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Nonstick food release has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.

ratingsBest Kitchen cookware for Handle comfort
product image

For handle comfort tests, panelists assessed both the size and shape of the handle, as well as the distance between the handle and the pot or pan.


This Kitchen cookware which tested best for Handle comfort has the following features: Dishwasher-safe and Material.