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A set of nonstick cookware and utensils on a wooden surface Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Best Budget Cookware Sets of 2024

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A set of nonstick cookware and utensils on a wooden surface Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

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Editor's Choice Product image of Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Best Overall

Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

Check Price at Wayfair

The tri-ply construction gave the pans the benefit of heat conductivity, but the aluminum core ensures they’re not too heavy to handle. Read More

Pros

  • Great value
  • Easy to use
  • Sears meat perfectly

Cons

  • Nothing we could find
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Ninja CW99009 Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-piece Cookware Set
Best Ceramic Nonstick

Ninja CW99009 Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-piece Cookware Set

Check Price at Amazon

This durable ceramic-coated nonstick cookware can excel at a variety of kitchen tasks. Read More

Pros

  • Consistently nonstick without PFAS
  • Lightweight, well-made, and durable
  • Dishwasher and oven safe

Cons

  • A larger mid-size pot would be ideal
  • Handles can get dirty easily
3
Editor's Choice Product image of T-Fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
Best Traditional Nonstick

T-Fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set

Check Price at Amazon

During tests, this set cooked eggs perfectly with no extra oil and simmered sauces and cooked rice without scorching. Read More

Pros

  • Cooked eggs and simmered sauces perfectly
  • Fast water-boiling speed
  • Comfortable, padded handles

Cons

  • Can't sear meat as well as a stainless set
4
Editor's Choice Product image of KitchenAid Ceramic 10-piece Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware

KitchenAid Ceramic 10-piece Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware

Check Price at Wayfair

Reliably nonstick surfaces, versatile sizes, high oven heat tolerance, but can’t be used on induction, is handwash only, and prone to discoloration. Read More

Pros

  • Generally nonstick
  • Comprehensive sizes for pots and pans
  • Oven-safe

Cons

  • Incompatible with induction stovetops
  • Not dishwasher-safe
  • Quick discoloration on exterior
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet 12-piece Set

Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet 12-piece Set

Check Price at Amazon

The performance on this hard-anodized nonstick cookware set was top-notch, and it comes with a lot of pots and pans for the price. That said, it’s missing a few key features. Read More

Pros

  • Heats evenly
  • Great value
  • Comes with metal lids

Cons

  • Doesn’t stack well for storage
  • Doesn’t include a large skillet
  • Best Overall Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
  • Best Ceramic Nonstick Ninja CW99009 Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-piece Cookware Set
  • Best Traditional Nonstick T-Fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
  • Other Budget Cookware Sets We Tested
  • How We Test Budget Cookware Sets
  • Things to Look for When Buying a Cookware Set
  • Is It Cheaper to Buy a Cookware Set?
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy
  • More on cookware

Truly cheap pots and pans may develop warped bottoms, scraped coating, loose knobs, and rickety handles over time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a quality cookware set at a budget price.

The best affordable cookware sets may not last as long as some expensive ones. But they still perform well, are easy to use, and are a good value.

After testing the best budget cookware sets, we picked the Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Set (available at Wayfair) as the best overall. People who are looking for a nonstick cookware set should consider the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-piece Cookware Set (available at Amazon).

Four pieces of Cuisinart stainless steel cookware on a gas range
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The Cuisinart Classic Tri-ply Stainless Steel set is the best budget cookware set we've tested.

Best Overall
Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
  • Included in set: 1 1/2- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 8-quart stockpot with lid, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 8- and 10-inch skillets, steamer insert with lid
  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher safe: Yes
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: Yes

The Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Set includes everything you need to cook a meal, and its multiclad construction means it's ultra durable and conducts heat excellently.

The pans in this set are easy to use, with comfortable handles and a design that creates a nice balance when holding the pan. The triple-ply construction gives the pans the benefit of heat conductivity.

While testing this multi-clad 12-piece set, we loved its incredible performance: We had no complaints with the medium-sized sauté pan (which not only comfortably fit four chicken thighs but also seared each one to perfection) and the large stockpot is well-sized for making soup, cooking pasta, or blanching vegetables.

It was easy to name the Cuisinart as a top cookware set. It has everything you need for a starter kitchen and it’s a great choice for those looking to upgrade their old sets, too.

Pros

  • Great value

  • Easy to use

  • Sears meat perfectly

Cons

  • Nothing we could find

Buy now at Wayfair

$209.99 from Amazon

$225.99 from Best Buy

$299.99 from Target
Ninja Ceramic Cookware Set on a gas range
Credit: Reviewed / Jenny Dorsey

The Ninja Ceramic Nonstick Cookware set is durable, effective, and comes at a great value.

Best Ceramic Nonstick
Ninja CW99009 Extended Life Premium Ceramic 9-piece Cookware Set
  • Included in set: 9.5-inch fry pan, 2.5-quart saucepan with Lid, 6-quart stock pot with lid, 8-inch fry pan, 11-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart saucepan with lid
  • Material: Ceramic coating, hard anodized exterior, stainless-steel handles
  • Dishwasher safe: Yes
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: Yes

The Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Set is an affordable cookware set, given its consistent performance, durable build, and diverse range of pots and pans included.

When we tested this set, we were impressed by how easily food glided around the pan with little-to-no oil added. And the brand's signature CeramiLock coating means it's PFAS-free and designed to last longer than traditional ceramic cookware. We even used metal utensils during testing (as encouraged by the manufacturer), and we didn't notice any deterioration in the interior.

And although nonstick cookware is not known for its ability to sear foods well, we were able to achieve well browned vegetables and chicken thighs in these skillets. Plus, the stainless steel handles feel well-constructed and durable, and they're comfortable enough to hold while flipping food.

The only downsides we noticed during testing was that the handles tended to get dirty with residual food easily, and we found it hard to clean them due to their inherent design.

Read our full review of the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

Pros

  • Consistently nonstick without PFAS

  • Lightweight, well-made, and durable

  • Dishwasher and oven safe

Cons

  • A larger mid-size pot would be ideal

  • Handles can get dirty easily

$199.99 from Amazon
Asparagus cooking in a T-fal frying pan on a gas stove
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The T-Fal Nonstick Cookware Set is one of the best affordable cookware sets.

Best Traditional Nonstick
T-Fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
  • Included in set: 8- and 9-inch skillets, 1- and 2-quart saucepans with glass lids, 5-quart stockpot with glass lid, large 5-quart sauté pan with glass lid, spatula, slotted spoon
  • Material: Available in titanium or anodized aluminum
  • Dishwasher safe: Yes
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: No

Don’t let the low price on the T-fal C561SC Titanium Advanced Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set fool you: It scored higher marks on our tests than significantly more expensive sets.

There are plenty of advantages to both nonstick and stainless-steel types of cookware, but you’ll generally find nonstick is easier to clean. While a traditional nonstick pan will never rival a stainless one when it comes to searing meat, this set performed admirably during testing. It also cooked eggs perfectly without oil. The saucepans cooked rice and simmered sauces without scorching, and the stockpot boiled water faster than the competition.

The comfortable, padded handles, which are ergonomically designed, stay cool as you use them. The pans heat up quickly and evenly, and they’re oven-safe up to 350°F.

Pros

  • Cooked eggs and simmered sauces perfectly

  • Fast water-boiling speed

  • Comfortable, padded handles

Cons

  • Can't sear meat as well as a stainless set

$116.99 from Amazon

$128.69 from Home Depot

Other Budget Cookware Sets We Tested

Product image of KitchenAid Ceramic 10-piece Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware
KitchenAid Ceramic 10-piece Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware
  • Included in set: 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 6-quart stockpot with lid, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 8.25-inch frying pan, 10-inch frying pan
  • Material: Hard anodized ceramic
  • Dishwasher safe: No
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: No

This comprehensive ceramic nonstick set comes at a great value. It includes two saucepans, a stockpot, sauté pan, and two frying pans with four accompanying lids. And the set comes in several bright colors to liven up the kitchen.

The ceramic interior performed decently well during testing, releasing stubborn foods like eggs and fish without any troublesome sticking. However, we noticed that foods didn't glide around as easily as we've seen with other ceramic nonstick sets, and we needed to add oil or butter to encourage better nonstick results.

We also noticed that these pans deliver a decently good sear, delivering even browning across a batch of chicken thighs during testing. And each piece of cookware is oven-safe up to 500°F, which extends their capabilities beyond typical nonstick cooking tasks.

However, we did notice deterioration during the testing process. Discoloration appeared on the exterior after limited usage during testing, so we don't expect this set to last very long (at least, not in pristine condition).

Read our full review of the KitchenAid Ceramic 10-Piece Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set

Pros

  • Generally nonstick

  • Comprehensive sizes for pots and pans

  • Oven-safe

Cons

  • Incompatible with induction stovetops

  • Not dishwasher-safe

  • Quick discoloration on exterior

Buy now at Wayfair

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet 12-piece Set
Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet 12-piece Set
  • Included in set: 8-inch skillet, 10-inch deep frying pan with with metal lid, 1.5- and 2.5-quart saucepans with metal lids, 3-quart sauté pan with metal lid, 6-quart Dutch oven metal lid, steamer basket
  • Material: Anodized aluminum
  • Dishwasher safe: No
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: Yes

The Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized 12-piece cookware set heats evenly and is easy to clean. During testing, we had no issues with this set’s nonstick properties, and it scored well on most of our performance tests.

There were, however, a few things we didn’t like. The saucepans don’t stack well for storage; the small saucepan kept getting stuck inside the larger pan, which led to scratched edges. The set includes a lot of value for the price, but the sauté pan is smaller than we’d like, and we felt this set missed out by not including a 12-inch skillet.

Part of Cuisinart’s eco-friendly line, this ceramic cookware has a nonstick coating that's PTFE- and PFOA-free. The company says the ceramic nonstick coating helps conserve existing oil supplies compared to petroleum-based coatings.

It’s one of the few nonstick pan sets we tested that comes with metal lids, something we appreciate since they’re more durable and easier to store.

Pros

  • Heats evenly

  • Great value

  • Comes with metal lids

Cons

  • Doesn’t stack well for storage

  • Doesn’t include a large skillet

$249.95 from Amazon

$249.95 from Best Buy

$249.99 from Target

$259.95 from Home Depot
Product image of T-Fal Endurance Collection Platinum Nonstick 14pc Cookware Set
T-Fal Endurance Collection Platinum Nonstick 14-Piece Cookware Set
  • Included in set: 8-inch frying pan, 10.5-inch skillet with glass lid, 1- and 2-quart saucepans with glass lids, 3-quart deep sauté pan with glass lid, 5-quart stockpot with glass lid, metal spatula, and metal stirring and pasta spoons
  • Material: Platinum
  • Dishwasher safe: Yes
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: No

It’s hard to beat the price on the T-Fal Endurance Platinum Nonstick 14-piece set, which also met our performance expectations. The pans did tend to get hotter faster than other sets we tested, so you need to be careful when using them over medium-high heat.

This set is a little heavy, and we didn’t love the tall buttons on top of the glass lids, which made them hard to store. The handles get hotter, too, so be sure to have a set of oven mitts ready.

This nonstick set comes with three metal utensils. Generally, we don’t recommend using metal on nonstick, as it can wear down the coating, even on pans rated for use with metal utensils.

Pros

  • Inexpensive

  • Comes with bonus utensils

  • Heats up quickly

Cons

  • Handles get hot

  • Difficult to store

Product image of Rachael Ray Cook + Create 11-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set
Rachael Ray Cook + Create 11-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set
  • Included in set: 8.5 and 10-inch frying pans, 1.5 and 3-quart saucepan, 6-quart stockpot, baking sheet, two multipurpose glass lids, slotted spoon, medium and large spatula.
  • Material: Aluminum, nonstick
  • Dishwasher safe: No
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: No

This comprehensive set is an easy and affordable way to stock a new kitchen, thanks to the wide variety of cookware, bakeware, and utensils included with a low price tag. It's also easy to store, thanks to the universal glass lids that can be used for up to three pieces of cookware each.

We love that the interior of these pans is reliably nonstick, releasing delicate foods easily time and time again. It also features a lightweight design and comfortable handles that make them a delight to use in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, the low price comes at a cost. This may not be the most durable cookware set, and we noticed some minor deterioration after testing. Users should take extra care to follow manufacturer instructions to ensure the products last.

Read our full review of the Rachael Ray nonstick cookware set

Pros

  • Reliably nonstick

  • Lightweight and easy to handle

  • Accessible price point

Cons

  • Uneven heating

  • Uncertain long-term durability

  • Larger pan desired

Buy now at Rachael Ray
Product image of OXO Good Grips Non-Stick 10 Piece Cookware Pots and Pans Set
OXO Good Grips Non-Stick 10 Piece Cookware Pots and Pans Set
  • Included in set: 8 and 9.5-inch frying pans, 2-quart saucepan with glass lid, 3-quart sauté pan with glass lid, 3- and 6-quart stock pots with glass lid.
  • Material: Anodized aluminum
  • Dishwasher safe: Yes
  • Compatible with induction cooktops: No

The OXO Non-Stick 10 Piece Cookware Pots and Pans Set has superior nonstick abilities, and we loved the silicone-coated handles, which are ergonomically designed.

This set doesn’t heat as evenly as the others, however, and some of our vegetables burned before the rest cooked through. Also, the handle rivets are close together, making the pans harder to clean.

The set, which stacks nicely for storage, comes with a great variety of pots and pans, but we wish the 3-quart sauté pan was wider because the set lacks a 12-inch pan.

Pros

  • Easy to store

  • Good variety of pots and pans

  • Great nonstick performance

Cons

  • Doesn't heat evenly

  • Difficult to clean

$140.00 from Amazon

$140.99 from Target

$170.00 from Home Depot

How We Test Budget Cookware Sets

Chicken, rice, and asparagus on a white plate
Credit: Reviewed.com/Lindsay D. Mattison

We test affordable cookware by searing chicken, cooking rice, and tossing vegetables.

When evaluating affordable cookware sets, we design our tests around performance, ease of use, and value.

We sear chicken thighs in sauté pans, toss vegetables in skillets, simmer sauces and cook rice in sauce pots, and blanch vegetables in stockpots. To determine heat distribution, we monitor for any hotspots. With nonstick sets, we test its nonstick abilities by frying an egg without oil.

Things to Look for When Buying a Cookware Set

The best cookware sets try to anticipate your needs by providing a variety of small, medium, and large pots and pans. When shopping for a cookware set, look for one that includes at least two small sauce pots, one large stockpot, a small egg pan, and a larger skillet or sauté pan. Consider anything extra to be a bonus. Here are some other things to consider:

Material:

  • Stainless steel: These cookware sets heat up quickly and are great for searing meat. In general, stainless steel cookware lasts longer than nonstick pots and pans, but they can be more difficult to clean.
  • Nonstick: These sets tend to be more affordable than stainless steel. Typically, they’re easier to clean, but they don’t last as long. They also can be easier for home cooks to use.
  • Aluminum: When shopping, you may see aluminum cookware sets and anodized aluminum options. In general, both are lightweight, but regular aluminum is lighter. Anodized sets tend to be more durable, but they can be more expensive. In most cases, aluminum pots and pans heat up more quickly than anodized.
  • Cast Iron: Incredibly durable, cast iron pans can help bring out the best flavors in whatever you cook in it. It heats well and is great at heat retention. That said, cast iron cookware is heavy and high maintenance.

Ease of Use

Pots and pans should not be difficult to use. The best cookware sets make cooking meals easier. They should handle well—allowing you to toss vegetables like a pro.

Additionally, they should be easy to clean. Most of the affordable cookware sets we tested were dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup even easier. When not in use, pots should be easy to store in cabinets.

Cost

People can find cheap pots and pans, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Quality cookware sets can last for years, so you could end up paying more in the long run if you’re constantly replacing skillets and other pans. With our recommendations, we’re looking for value—finding that balance between performance and cost.

Is It Cheaper to Buy a Cookware Set?

Oftentimes, it makes more sense to invest in something like a 10-piece cookware set over individual pots and pans. That's because manufacturers offer discounted rates on sets compared to individually purchasing each piece of cookware.

However, you should take a closer look at what's included in the set before making the investment. If you're mainly just in the market for a couple of skillets, or for a larger stockpot, it may not make sense to plunge for a whole set. Similarly, if you need a certain size sauce pot and it's not included in that set, you should look elsewhere.

In short, investing in a full set is typically more economical than purchasing individual items—especially if you need to purchase a lot of new cookware at once. But take a close look at the sizes and variety included before making the plunge.

More on cookware

Meet the tester

Lindsay D. Mattison

Lindsay D. Mattison

Professional Chef

@linzdmattison

Lindsay is a professional chef, recipe developer, writer, and developmental editor. After years of working in restaurant kitchens, she turned to writing to share her passion for local, organic, and seasonal ingredients with home cooks and food enthusiasts.

See all of Lindsay D. Mattison's reviews

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