Cookware Set

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Which one should you buy?

If you want a set, buy fully clad stainless steel with pans you'll actually use. But for many people, a few good pieces bought one at a time is the better deal. Here are your options:

A good set is the easiest way to kit out a first kitchen. Choose one for the pieces you'll actually use, not the biggest number on the box. It also makes a lovely gift for a first apartment or a wedding.

But before you spend $800, let's be honest about what's in the box, and whether you'd be better off building your own kitchen a pan at a time.

What's really in a cookware set

Here's a little secret: the "piece count" on the box includes the lids. Some sets even count spoons and spatulas. This 10-piece set is six pans and four lids.

So what do you really need? For most home cooks, the core is three pans:

• A 12-inch frying pan, for searing, sautéing and pan sauces

• A 3 to 4-quart saucepan with a lid, for rice, sauces and vegetables

• A Dutch oven, for stews, braises, soups and bread

Add a stock pot if you make stock or cook pasta for a crowd, and one inexpensive nonstick pan for eggs. That's a kitchen that can cook almost anything.

If you add up my single picks on this site (a 12-inch All-Clad frying pan, the All-Clad 4-quart saucepan, a Cuisinart 7-quart Dutch oven and a T-fal stock pot) it comes to about $510. That's less than this set and covers more ground, because you get the big frying pan and the Dutch oven. A set does save money on each piece, though: this one costs roughly a quarter less than buying the same pans separately.

All-Clad D3 10-Piece Set at a glance

What to look for in a cookware set

• Fully clad stainless steel. It browns, simmers and lasts. Then add one inexpensive nonstick pan for eggs.

• Pans, not pieces. Count the actual pans and check their sizes. A set with a 12-inch frying pan and a 4-quart saucepan is worth more to you than one with three tiny pans.

• No filler. Skip sets padded with utensils, specialty pans or lots of nonstick.

• Induction-ready, if you have, or might one day have, an induction cooktop.

• Oven-safe handles and lids that fit.

The All-Clad set is superb quality, with a generous sauté pan and stock pot. Its weak spot is size: the biggest frying pan is 10 inches, so you'll probably want to add a 12-inch pan.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• You're starting a kitchen from scratch and want everything to match

• You're buying a wedding or housewarming gift to last a lifetime

• You want pans that go on induction, in the oven and under the broiler

Skip it if

• You already own a few decent pans: fill the gaps instead

• You mostly need a big 12-inch frying pan

• Your budget is under about $500: buy the core pieces one at a time

How to get the best from it

Learn to preheat

Stainless steel isn't nonstick, but it doesn't need to be. Heat the pan over medium for a couple of minutes, add the oil, then the food. Leave it alone until it releases by itself.

Use the browned bits

After searing, add a splash of wine or stock and scrape. That's a pan sauce in two minutes, and something a nonstick pan can't give you.

Go easy on the heat

Tri-ply holds heat well, so medium does most jobs. Save high heat for boiling water.

Looking after it

• Hand wash. All-Clad says hand wash only for the D3 range, whatever the listing suggests.

• Let pans cool before washing. Never put a hot pan under cold water.

• Nylon pads, not steel wool. Bar Keepers Friend sorts out rainbow stains.

• Salt water after it boils, to avoid little white pits.

• Never leave an empty pan on a hot burner.

The one rule

Buy the pans you'll use, not the number on the box.

Questions people ask

Is a cookware set worth it?

Only if you'll use most of the pieces. A set saves money on each pan, but buying the core pieces one at a time often gets you a better kitchen for less.

What pots and pans do I really need?

A 12-inch frying pan, a 3 to 4-quart saucepan and a Dutch oven. Add a stock pot and a nonstick pan when you can.

Does a 10-piece set mean 10 pans?

No. Lids count as pieces. This set is six pans and four lids.

Should I buy a stainless or nonstick set?

Stainless, plus one good-value nonstick pan for eggs. Nonstick wears out, so a whole set of it means replacing everything in a few years.

Is All-Clad dishwasher-safe?

All-Clad's own advice for the D3 range is hand wash only. Follow that and it will last for decades.

Learn with it

Chef Jon's Kitchen School, and if you buy the set, pair it with my 12-inch stainless frying pan and my nonstick pan for eggs.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.