The Best Cookware Sets for Induction Cooktops, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 10-Piece Stainless Steel Set

4.8

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We're put this Tramontina cookware line through our testing process three times, and it still impresses us. When making béchamel sauce and browning butter, we found the saucepans quickly reacted to lowered heat and allowed for them to gradually come together. Our mirepoix easily cooked without burning, and when we placed the dry pan over high heat, it seared steak and scallops to perfection. The amazing performance, plus its outstanding durability and design are why we love this cookware for induction.

The pieces are made from 18/10 stainless steel with an aluminum core that allows for the magnetism necessary for induction. Another design feature is the handles. They're riveted for durability, and are ergonomic—they'll consistently be comfortable throughout any long day of cooking. And don't worry about intense cleaning afterward. We overcooked rice, and it peeled right off when we hand-washed the pot. You could also put these in the dishwasher.

A few drawbacks did come up for us. A few of us disliked that the weight of the pots is very centered, and that you need dedicated storage space for the complete set. You also might need to pick up a nonstick skillet to complement the set.

Price at time of publish: $298

Material: Stainless steel | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Number of Pieces: 10 | Warranty: Lifetime

Best Starter Set

Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Cookware Set

4.2

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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.

We consistently experienced these pans browning food well and not having any hot spots, a testament to the even heating of these pans. Also worthy of noting it that since they're so heat-conductive, you don't have to use full heat to get excellent results. Medium-high heat was enough to get water boiling fairly quickly, and there can be some burning if the heat is too high. High sides prevented splatters—though one tester found it difficult to see into the pan because of them—and the curved edges let you effortlessly move food around. The entire set is well-balanced, with evenly distributed weight and comfortable angled handles.

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.

Price at time of publish: $300

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum core | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Number of Pieces: 12 | Warranty: Limited lifetime

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 twice now. We love 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 you're frying an egg or searing a steak. During our tests, these heated up evenly when simmering pasta sauce, producing even bubbling and no splatters. We also really appreciate the well-thought-out design like how the lid for frying pan also fits the Dutch oven.

The only qualms we've had so far with Caraway is the handles. They tend to get hot when the pans are on the stove for a while, and the screws came loose when we did a drop test. There was also a wish for another smaller frying pan.

Price at time of publish: $395

Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 550 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Hand-wash recommended | Number of Pieces: 8 (including organizer) | Warranty: Limited one-year

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. We found that it 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. 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.

Price at time of publish: $166

Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Oven Safe Temperature: 400 degrees without lids | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Number of Pieces: 12 | Warranty: Limited lifetime

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.

We found that the copper layer led to these pans heating thoroughly with no hot spots, giving scallops a nice crust and color, and cooked an omelet beautifully with just a little bit of sticking. We appreciated the angled sides of the pans, which make it easy to toss vegetables while cooking. Cleaning off any stuck food debris was surprisingly easy, and we didn't notice any discoloration from use.

Due to the thickness, these did take an extra minute or two to get to temperature any time we tested. One of the 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.

Price at time of publish: $300

Material: Stainless steel with copper midlayer | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Number of Pieces: 10 | Warranty: Lifetime

Best Nonstick

Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick 10-Piece Cookware Set

4.8

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Oxo is a highly trusted brand when it comes to home kitchen tools, so it makes sense that this cookware set performs beautifully for the everyday cook. This set is constructed from hard-anodized aluminum, coated with a durable ceramic coating that stands up well to metal utensils. Brushed stainless steel handles are securely riveted in place, and the tempered glass lids also have stainless knobs and trim. All the pans are oven safe to 600 degrees without the lids, and to 425 degrees with the lids.

We like the even-keeled heating ability of these pans—they don't heat as quickly as thin aluminum or copper, but aren't slow to heat like cast iron and responded well to any adjustments in heat. They easily handled higher heat for stir-frying and sautéing, but also turned out lovely omelets and scrambled eggs on gentler heat settings. We enjoy the excellent variety of sizes, with our tester citing her ability to cook large and small quantities of pasta and soups, finding just the right vessel for whatever she wanted to cook.

This set includes a 10-inch fry pan, 12-inch fry pan, 2.3-quart saucepan with lid, 3.3-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and 5.2-quart casserole with lid. All pieces are dishwasher safe, but thanks to the nonstick coating, are also incredibly easy to clean by hand.

Price at time of publish: $400

Material: Hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel base | Oven Safe Temperature: 600 degrees (425 degrees with lids) | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Number of Pieces: 10 | Warranty: Lifetime

Best High-End

All-Clad D5 Stainless Brushed 5-Ply Bonded Cookware Set

4.8

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This stainless steel cookware set from All-Clad is a top-of-the-line choice, and while it does come with a pretty steep price tag, we think it's absolutely worth the investment. The 5-ply construction gives these pieces heft so they won't budge on the stovetop, and they stand up well to heavy use. It does also mean the material is thick and takes an extra minute or two to get to temperature.

Our tests demonstrated that these pans indeed heated evenly, giving beautifully golden crusts to seared scallops and cooking a frittata to perfection with some minor sticking. We witnessed excellent heat conductivity, but noted that the handles did get a bit hot when the pots are in use. Some felt those handles were a bit uncomfortable to hold due to the divot in the middle.

This set includes everything you really need: an 8-inch frying pan, a 10-inch frying pan, a 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. All of the pans are oven-safe up to 600 degrees and can even go under the broiler.

Price at time of publish: $900

Material: Tri-ply stainless steel with aluminum core | Oven Safe Temperature: 600 degrees | Dishwasher Safe: No | Number of Pieces: 10 | Warranty: Limited lifetime