The Best Induction Cookware Sets for Precision Cooking

Best Overall: Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

4.8

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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, are great for searing and sauteing, and are oven-safe to 500 degrees so you can confidently finish a dish in the oven when needed.

Our home reviewer noted that these pans brown food well and don't have any hot spots, a testament to the even heating of these pans. When we tested the set in our Lab, we found the pans extremely well-balanced, with evenly distributed weight and comfortable angled handles. High sides prevented splatters and the curved edges let you effortlessly move food around. Also worthy of noting it that since they're so heat-conductive, you don't have to use full heat to get excellent results. Both our home and Lab testers noted that medium-high heat was enough to get water boiling fairly quickly.

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.

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum core | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Ceramic: Caraway Cookware Set

4.8

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While there are many ceramic cookware sets on the market, Caraway offers some of the best performance out there. Each piece in its cookware set 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, and are touted as being "cooktop agnostic," which means they'll work just fine with induction stoves.

We've put this set to the test in a home kitchen and in our Lab. Our home tester loved how well this set conducts heat (no need to turn the burner to high!) and not a single bit of food stuck to these pans whether she fried an egg or simmered pasta sauce. Our Lab testers agreed with her observations, adding that they love the well-thought-out design like how the lid for frying pan also fits the Dutch oven. They also found that these heated up evenly when simmering pasta sauce, producing even bubbling and no splatters.

The only qualms our home reviewer had with this set is that the handles tend to get hot when the pans are on the stove for a while. It's an easy fix—just be sure to have potholders nearby when you want to move your cookware around. In the Lab, there were concerns about long these would hold up to everyday cooking. When dropped, the handle screws came loose. There was also a wish for another smaller frying pan.

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.

Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Oven Safe: 550 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Hand-wash recommended

Best Budget: T-fal C515SC Professional Nonstick Pots and Pans

4.3

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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.

That indicator came in handy when we tested the set in our Lab. Our testers found that the set heats up fairly quickly and evenly, so you do need to pay attention to your pan and modify the heat once it comes to temperature. Not monitoring the pan can lead to scorched food and too high heat will cause the nonstick coating to start smoking. That wasn't the only downside from our Lab testing. While the set includes a 3-quart saucepan, there isn't a bigger one or a sauté pan. Additionally, it includes a small “one-egg wonder” frying pan that is not induction compatible.

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.

Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Oven Safe: 400 degrees without lids | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best With Copper: Anolon 75818 Nouvelle Stainless Steel Cookware

4.2

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This stylish set from Anolon looks attractive, with a graceful shape and a copper stripe along the bottom. It includes pieces you’ll actually use and no silly extras that increase the piece count. The bottom layer of the pots has a copper core and a stainless steel cap for excellent performance on induction cooktops. The lids are stainless steel, so there’s no risk of breakage, and the very large handles offer a sure grip. The cookware is oven safe to 500 degrees, and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning with cooking is done. 

We sent this to one of our reviewers so she could test it in her home kitchen. She found that each piece heated evenly with no hotspots, even if it did take an extra minute or two to get to temperature. Our reviewer's biggest issue with the set is the size—if you tend to batch cook or have to cook for a large number of people, you may find this set a bit small. If that's the case, you can supplement the included pieces with a larger stockpot and frying pan.

This set includes a 1.25-quart saucepan with a lid, a 2.5-quart saucepan with a lid, a 6.5-quart stockpot with a lid, an 8-inch frying pan, a 10.5-inch frying pan, and a 3-quart sauté pan with a lid.

Material: Stainless steel with copper midlayer | Oven safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Frying Pans: Chantal Nonstick Ceramic Coated 2-Piece Fry Pan Set

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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.

What makes Chantal's cookware different is that the interior metal is Japanese steel, which is great at conducting heat. The set includes an 8-inch and a 10-inch frying pan, so you can choose a size that’s just right for the job. Both have curved stay-cool handles that a comfortable for moving around the stove. These are hand-wash only and should not be used with metal utensils, which may damage the nonstick surface. It will also wear quicker if you use more than medium heat, so it's best to not use them over high heat.

Material: Ceramic-coated stainless steel | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: No

Best With Accessories: duxtop Professional 17-Piece Stainless Steel Induction Cookware Set

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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 3.1-quart saucepan with a lid, an 8.6-quart stockpot with a lid, 4.2-quart casserole with lid, and a 5.5-quart sauté pan with a lid. It also includes a 9.5-inch boiler basket, a steamer basket, an 8-inch glass lid, cooking spoon, fork, and spatula.

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum base | Oven Safe: 550 degrees without lids | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Nonstick: All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware 10-Piece Set

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All-Clad has a solid reputation for quality cookware, and this set is no exception. The 10-piece cookware set 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 if needed.

Besides the three layers of durable, PFOA-free coating, what we really like about the set is its versatility. You have the two most useful sizes of frying pan (8-inch and 10-inch), plus two saucepan sizes (2.5-quart and 3.5-quart). This means you have ample room to cook pasta and sauce or rice and beans, at the same time. The 8-quart stockpot is the clincher since that's large enough for weekend meal prep. All pieces in the set are dishwasher safe, though you might want to avoid that, and metal utensils, to protect the coating.

Material: Hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel base | Oven Safe: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes