The Best Celebrity Cookware Pieces of 2023

Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set

4.8

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Why I Chose It:  This has been tested by The Spruce Eats and has proven time and again why it’s one of the best-selling celebrity cookware sets out there.

The Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set is a top pick when it comes to nonstick cookware. Made of hard-anodized aluminum, it features a PFOA-free nonstick coating that has proven to be quite durable after months of use. The lids for this set are made of shatter-resistant glass, allowing you to monitor what’s cooking, and the handles stay fairly cool on the stove. The pans heat quickly and evenly, and offer effortless nonstick cooking—eggs don’t stick and the surface also makes it easy to clean off any bits of food by hand.

If you’re not into hand-washing, these pots and pans are also dishwasher-safe. There is a bit of concern about scratching the bottoms of the pan, but that can be avoided by making sure you don’t use any sharp metal utensils on the nonstick coating. At an incredibly affordable price point, you get a pretty extensive set: a 1-quart saucepan with lid, 2-quart saucepan with lid, 6-quart stockpot with lid, 8.5-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, a spatula, and a spoon. 

Price at time of publish: $190

Material: Hard anodized aluminum | Piece Count: 12 | Induction Ready: No | Oven Safe: 400 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 12-Piece Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

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Why I Chose It: This set has a lot of similar attributes to another trendy ceramic cookware brand but is available at a fraction of the price. 

If budget isn’t a concern, the Caraway Cookware set is a wonderful investment, but if you don’t want to spend that much, then turn to Beautiful by Drew Barrymore. With a very similar aesthetic and four stylish color options, this set offers a ceramic nonstick coating over lightweight aluminum. Additionally, this cookware set can be used on all stovetops—gas, electric, glass, and induction—and is oven safe up to 500 degrees, including the die-cast lids. 

This set includes an 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 3-quart saute pan, 2-quart saucepan, 5-quart dutch oven, and four cookware protectors so you can stack pans without scratching them. These pans are deemed dishwasher safe, but we recommend hand washing them to preserve the nonstick coating. 

Price at time of publish: $150

Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Piece Count: 12 | Induction Ready: Yes | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Martha Stewart 10-Inch Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Fry Pan

4.4

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Why I Chose It: When we tested stainless steel cookware, this ended up being one of our favorite skillets.

As one of the doyennes of home goods, Martha Stewart recently released another line of cookware just in time for us to add it to our 2023 stainless steel skillets test. This new tri-ply line features a fully-clad inner layer of aluminum for quick and consistent heating. The pan was very well-balanced and the long handle kept our fingers away from the heat all daylong. The angle of the sides was great for flipping eggs and sautéing mushrooms.

Another great design aspect was the durability. When we attempted to warp the pan, nothing happened! It withstood thermal shock and being slammed against a cinder block. We did notice a small hot spot towards the center of the pan when pan-frying chicken, but we were still overall impressed by this 10-inch fry pan. This is definitely cookware made for the avid cook.

Price at time of publish: $125

Material: Stainless steel, aluminum | Piece Count: 1 | Induction Ready: Yes | Oven Safe: 550 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: No

Babish Cast Iron Preseasoned Skillet, 10-Inch

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Why I Chose It: Every kitchen needs a cast-iron skillet, and this one comes at a fair price and arrives pre-seasoned. The large helper handle is an added bonus.

Andrew Rea made a name for himself with the popularity of his culinary-focused YouTube channel, Binging with Babish. He released a set of kitchen essentials last year, comprised of very affordable must-haves, like this 10-inch cast-iron skillet. While it is a touch heavier than some similar pans of the same size, it features a large helper handle for maneuverability and two side spouts for easier pouring. Like most cast iron, it can be used on just about any cooking surface, from electric to gas, glass to induction. And best of all, it arrives pre-seasoned and ready to use out of the box (though you will have to maintain the seasoning as time goes on). 

Price at time of publish: $35

Material: Cast iron | Sizes: 10 inches | Induction Ready: Yes | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: No

Pioneer Woman Prairie Signature Cast Aluminum 4-Quart Everyday Pan

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Why I Chose It: This is an incredibly easy pan to use for almost every application, and it’s so lightweight and easy to clean, I find I use it more often than other pans in my kitchen.

Ree Drummond, known best as The Pioneer Woman, has made a foray into the cookware and home goods realm, exclusively available at Walmart. While some of the other cookware from TPW admittedly falls a bit short, there is one piece that stands out: The Prairie Everyday Pan, a multipurpose piece made of lightweight cast aluminum, with a vintage speckled finish and adorned with olive-wood details. This 4-quart vessel lends itself well to boiling, braising, steaming, frying, and sautéing. It has high walls (just over 3 inches tall) and a fantastically nonstick surface that lets you cook rice or eggs with practically no sticking.

One thing to note is that the pan’s glass lid works great at keeping moisture in, but the edges are very sharp so you’ll want to be careful when handling it. Other than that, this pan performed brilliantly when cooking potstickers, steaming broccoli, and making stir-fries, and when it came time to clean it, hand washing it was a breeze. If you’re short on space and need a pan that serves a multitude of purposes, this one is a solid choice at a fair price point.

Price at time of publish: $35

Material: Cast aluminum | Sizes: 4 quarts  | Induction Ready: No | Oven Safe: No | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Hestan Thomas Keller Insignia Cookware Set

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Why I Chose It: The performance and design of these pans is amazing, I’d expect nothing less from cookware vetted by Thomas Keller.

There are tons of splurge-worthy cookware sets out there, but none as comprehensive and thoughtful as this collection by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller. Made in partnership with California-based Hestan, this set is manufactured in Italy and designed to be used by professionals and amateurs alike. 

Most of the pans are made of multi-clad stainless steel around an aluminum core, and offer larger circumferences that are compatible with the larger burners of a restaurant kitchen. The pans feature flush rivets for easier cleaning, flared rims for spill-proof pouring, and vents on the handles to lessen heat buildup. Included are a 1.5-quart, 3-quart, and 4-quart saucepans, a 6-quart Rondeau, 2-quart saucier, 8-quart stock pot, 11-inch and 12.5-inch saute pans, an 8.5-inch TITUM nonstick saute pan, and two universal lids, virtually everything a chef or home cook will need. 

Cleaning stainless steel pans may require a little bit of elbow grease, but it’s easy to get them looking like new with a good scrub. The heft and quality construction of these pans will help them last for years, if not a lifetime.

Price at time of publish: $1040

Material: Stainless steel, aluminum | Piece Count: 11 | Induction Ready: Yes | Oven Safe: 600 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes