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If you're lucky enough to have an induction range in your home, you know the advantages of this sleek, energy-efficient cooktop. Tech-savvy cooks love induction stoves because of their heating precision, energy efficiency, and safety. Controlled by an electromagnetic field under a glass cooktop, electric currents go straight into the cookware and instantly heat it up; the moment the stove is turned off, the burner surface is cool again.
Induction stoves do require special cookware—specifically, a pan with a magnetic bottom. You may already own a piece or two that can be used with an induction range, but if you're in the market for a complete set to outfit your kitchen, here are our best picks for induction-friendly cookware sets.
Best Overall: Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
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Attractive design
Includes steamer insert
Sturdy stainless steel construction
Skillet is on the small side
Handles can get hot
While Cuisinart is typically recognized for its top-performing kitchen appliances, its collection of cookware doesn't disappoint either. This Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set is made from stainless steel with an induction-compatible aluminum core. The pans heat quickly and retain heat well, great for searing and sauteing, and are oven-safe to 500 degrees so you can confidently finish a dish in the oven when needed.
This set includes a 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart saucepan with lid, an 8-inch open skillet, a 10-inch open skillet, a 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, an 8-quart stockpot with lid, and a steamer insert with lid. While the pans are dishwasher safe, they're also a cinch to clean by hand–food remnants release fairly easily, especially if you add a little liquid to the warm pan. Since the pans, lids, and handles are all made of stainless steel, they will heat up a bit when in use, so be sure to use a potholder when touching handles during cooking.
Best Ceramic: Caraway Cookware Set
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Retains heat well
Nonstick without the chemicals
Comes in a variety of gorgeous colors
Hand wash only
Pricing is on the higher end
Stainless steel handles get hot
While there are many ceramic cookware sets on the market, this newly-launched brand offers some of the best performance out there. Caraway's motto is "Cookware without the chemicals"—each piece is made from ceramic-coated aluminum that is free of PTFE, cadmium, and lead, and features securely riveted stainless steel handles for secure transport on and off the stove. The pans are safe to use in the oven, able to withstand up to 550 degrees (without the lids) and are touted as being "cooktop agnostic", which means they'll work just fine with induction stoves.
This well-curated set includes a 10.5-inch frying pan, 3-quart saucepan, 4.5-quart saucepan, and a 6.5-quart Dutch oven, three lids, plus a handy lid storage organizer. Caraway recently started offering their cookware a la carte too—perfect for trying out a pan or two before purchasing the full set.
Best Nonstick: All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Cookware Set
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Solid hard anodized aluminum construction
Heat and oven safe to 500 degrees without lids
Securely riveted stainless handles
Heavy
Expensive
All-Clad has a solid reputation for quality cookware, and this set is no exception. The cookware is hard anodized and has a bonded stainless steel base that’s optimized for use on induction burners. The lids are glass with generous handles, so you can see what’s cooking without lifting the lid. The cookware (without lids) is oven safe to 500 degrees, so you can go from stovetop to oven with ease, whether you’re finishing a steak or cooking a casserole. All pieces in the set are dishwasher safe.
This set includes an 8-inch frying pan, a 10-inch frying pan, a 2 1/2-quart saucepan with a lid, a 3 1/2-quart saucepan with a lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with a lid.
Best with Accessories: duxtop Professional 17 Piece Stainless Steel Induction Cookware Set
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Commercial-grade stainless steel construction
Oven safe to 550 degrees
Great value for number of pieces
Might actually have too many pieces for an already equipped kitchen
Heavy
This set includes the pots and pans you’ll need, plus some extras that will come in handy. Each piece is made from heavy-duty, commercial-grade stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum base for fast, even heating, so they’re just as good for slow simmering a stew as they are for searing pork chops. The set is oven safe to 550 degrees (lids are oven safe to 400 degrees) so you can start your casserole on the stove and finish in the oven, and it’s all dishwasher safe.
The set includes an 8-inch frying pan, a 9.5-inch frying pan, a 1.6-quart saucepan with a lid, a 2.5-quart saucepan with a lid, an 8.6-quart stockpot with a lid, and a 5-quart sauté pan with a lid. It also includes a 9.5-inch pasta basket, a steamer basket, and a cooking spoon, a fork, and a spatula.
Best Frying Pans: Chantal Nonstick Ceramic Coated 2-Piece Fry Pan Set
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Ceramic coating is PFOA, PFOS and PTFE-free
Pans are oven safe to 500 degrees
Pan material includes copper for better heat conductivity
Nonstick coating will deteriorate over time
Surface is susceptible to scratching
Hand wash only
Whether you're scrambling a couple of eggs for breakfast, sautéing some spinach for dinner, or browning ground beef for a casserole, it's important to have the right-sized frying pan for the job. We love that this set comes with two different sizes to tackle any cooking task. These ceramic coated pans are nonstick, induction friendly, and oven safe up to 500 degrees.
The set includes an 8-inch and a 10-inch frying pan, so you can choose a size that’s just right. These are hand wash only and should not be used with metal utensils, which may damage the nonstick surface.
Best Budget: T-fal C515SC Professional Nonstick Pots and Pans
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Very affordable
Nonstick surface cleans easily
Oven safe to 400 degrees
Heat maximum is lower than other options
Dishwasher safe but hand wash is preferable to maintain nonstick coating
This induction-safe, nonstick cookware set won’t break the budget, and it includes plenty of useful pieces, like a steamer insert that will come in handy for fish, vegetables, or even Chinese buns. The pieces have a nonstick interior with a patented Thermo Spot indicator that changes color when the pots are preheated and ready for food to be added. The pots are oven safe for heat up to 400 degrees, while the lids can handle temperatures up to 350 degrees, and all are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The lids are made of tempered glass with generous, insulated handles.
This set includes an 8-inch frying pan, a 10.25-inch frying pan, a 1-quart saucepan with a lid, a 3-quart saucepan with a lid, a 5-quart stockpot with a lid, a stainless steel steamer insert, and two nylon tools. It also includes a small “one-egg wonder” frying pan that is not induction compatible.
Best Stainless Steel: Viking 3-Ply Contemporary Cookware Set
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Nice selection of essential pieces
Generously sized for larger quantity cooking
Oven safe up to 600 degrees
Pricey
Large sizes make them bulky to store
This set includes six pieces of cookware that any cook will find essential, along with four lids. The pieces are all large, too, so you can make a family-sized pot of soup in one batch. Made from stainless steel inside and out with an aluminum core, this is made to perform, while the distinctive shape makes them stand out from basic cookware. The pots are safe for cooktop, oven, and broiler up to 600 degrees while the vented and tempered glass lids are safe to 450 degrees. For easy cleaning, they’re dishwasher safe when cooking is done.
This 10-piece set includes 8-inch and 10-inch frying pans, a 2.4-quart and 3.4-quart saucepan with lids, a 3.6-quart sauté pan with a lid, and a 5.2-quart Dutch oven with lid.
Our top-rated pick is the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set, thanks to its excellent performance, selection of pieces, and great value. For a more budget-friendly option, our choice is the T-Fal C515SC Professional Nonstick Cookware Set (available here), which offers a wonderful assortment of pots and pans at a price that won't break the bank.
What To Look For When Buying Induction-Friendly Cookware
By Bernadette Machard de Gramont
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Induction Compatibility
For cookware to work with induction cooktops, it must contain ferromagnetic materials. This means that it must have magnetic properties to work with the magnets in the stove. The simplest way to find out if your cookware is compatible is to take a magnet and see if it sticks to the bottom of the pot. If the magnet clings to the pot’s bottom, it should work with the stove. If the magnet’s pull feels weak, it may not work well with your induction range. If there is no pull at all, the cooktop won’t be able to send heat into the pan at all.
Material
Cast iron and carbon steel: Cookware made from cast iron or carbon steel is fantastic because it is extremely durable and holds heat very well. Because these types of pans are made of an alloy that contains iron, they will almost always work with induction cooktops, though there are a couple of requirements. First, they must have a flat surface for complete contact with the stove’s element; second, they must have a smooth surface; and last, they must attract magnets. Uncoated cast iron, though compatible with induction, is not recommended because its rough surface might scratch the cooktop, so you may want to opt for an enameled version.
Stainless steel: This popular type of cookware is crafted from an alloy of steel that contains 10.5 percent or more of chromium (and, commonly, a small percentage of nickel), making it a sturdy material that is non-reactive and resistant to rust and corrosion. High-quality, multi-clad stainless steel cookware typically includes an aluminum or copper core sandwiched between steel layers to aid the pot or pan with heat conduction. If the nickel content in the stainless steel is too high, it prevents the steel from having a magnetic reaction and can’t be used with an induction stove. The heating disc can also be bonded to the external surface of the pan, but this type of disc may eventually separate from the pan’s body.
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Hard-anodized aluminum: Hard-anodized aluminum cookware is made from electrochemically hardened aluminum (making it more durable than stainless steel) and has an oxidized top layer that protects it from scratches and scrapes. Typically, hard-anodized aluminum cookware is not induction-ready, but if it has a built-in iron or magnetic steel disc, it has been specifically designed to use with your induction cooktop.
Heating Capacity
As with all cookware, the maximum heat capacity depends on the material and manufacturer. Generally speaking, uncoated pans will have a higher heat threshold than those that have ceramic or PTFE nonstick coatings. The range of most induction stoves goes from 100 to 500 degrees, with a few higher-end models that will surpass the 550-degree mark. When choosing your induction-friendly pieces, be sure to find pieces that will stand up to the temperatures you are most likely to use (including in the broiler and oven).
Price
Since you’ve made an investment in an induction range, you will likely want to invest a little money in compatible cookware. Bear in mind that premium quality does come at a price, so expect to spend a few hundred dollars on a complete set. You can find less expensive induction compatible cookware, but be mindful that at a lower price point, the material and construction of the pan may be less durable in the long haul.
Warranty
Many major manufacturers offer a limited lifetime guarantee on their induction-compatible cookware as long as they are purchased from an authorized dealer. These guarantees typically protect against defects in material, construction, or workmanship but may exclude damage arising from improper use, thermal shocks, drops, or normal wear and tear. Some warranties, such as those on coated pans, are limited to shorter periods of time. Before you buy, be sure to check on the manufacturer’s terms and warranty coverage to make sure it’s what you need.
Brands
Cuisinart
The Cuisinart brand is best known for its innovative small kitchen appliances (namely, the first brand to bring the food processor to the US). But since its inception in 1971, Cuisinart has continued to expand its product range to include top-quality cookware, bakeware, gadgets, and more. This brand's price point tends to be in the mid-range, making it a great option for anyone who wants high-performing cookware at an accessible cost. Cuisinart has over half a dozen options for cookware sets that are induction-ready.
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All-Clad
This premium brand is considered by many to be the gold standard in multi-clad cookware. While All-Clad is known for its professional-grade offerings, it also carries several product lines at different price tiers, so it can be affordable for serious home cooks looking for quality. Since the cookware is built to last, you won’t need to replace the pots for many years, if ever.
T-Fal
This well-known French cookware brand—sometimes marketed as Tefal—takes its name from the combination of the words “Teflon” and “aluminum”. Known best for making high-quality, affordable nonstick cookware, its pots and pans can be used for many years. T-Fal’s collections include full sets of cookware, individual pans, and a variety of specialty pieces such as woks and grill pans.
Maintenance
Maintaining your induction-friendly cookware is not very different from caring for non-induction pans; it really just depends on what your cookware is made of. Stainless steel and hard-anodized aluminum can typically stand up to rigorous use, and can be hand-washed or placed in the dishwasher. Carbon steel and cast iron pans should be wiped clean and oiled to maintain their seasoning. Pans with nonstick coatings should be hand-washed to prolong the lifespan of the cooking surface, even if the piece is said to be dishwasher-safe. For induction-compatible pieces, you will also want to monitor the magnetic properties of the bottom of the pan and check to see if there is any separation of the induction disc if it is externally bonded. If the pan shows signs of a weak magnetic attraction or the disc’s bond has been compromised, it may be a sign it is time to replace it.
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Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Cookbook author Donna Currie was gifted her first set of pots and pans as a child, when her mom’s new cookware came with a miniature, fully functional set. Since then, she graduated to full-size cookware, researching and testing a wide variety of brands for The Spruce Eats to find the best.
Since she previously worked in a metal-related industry, Donna knows all about the magnetic stainless steel that’s required for induction-compatible cookware. She’s used that knowledge to create this roundup of the best cookware for induction stovetops.
This piece was edited by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a 2-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.