9 best stainless steel cookware in 2024

Whether you want to start cooking more at home or simply want the food you regularly cook to taste better, consider getting a stainless cookware set. While it’s tempting to reach for an affordable nonstick skillet or saucepan, they don’t promise the same food quality and texture as a stainless steel option. 

As a home cook and former food editor, I’ve used both stainless steel skillets from brands like Cuisinart and slightly less expensive nonstick options. I can personally attest to the difference it makes when cooking certain foods. Plus, many pans labeled as “nonstick” aren’t truly stick-resistant, which means you can still spend time scrubbing them in the sink. 

With this in mind, I reached out to culinary experts for their guidance on what to look for when buying stainless steel cookware.

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There are many factors to keep in mind when choosing a stainless steel cookware set. Here’s everything our experts recommended I keep in mind when curating this list.

• Grade: The grade of stainless steel cookware indicates the percentage of chromium and nickel alloys used to make a stainless steel pot or pan, according to Albert Nguyen, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. It’s usually written as a fraction or two numbers with a slash between them, such as 18/10, which means the steel is made of 18% chromium and 10% nickel, according to Nguyen. “[Stainless steel cookware] should also be multi-layered and clad with an aluminum or copper core for best and even heat distribution,” he says. Most of the stainless steel pieces of cookware on this list have a grade of 18/10.
• Nonreactivity: As it relates to cooking, a material that is non-reactive is safe to use with acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes, citrus or alcohol, without the risk of transferring any metallic flavor or compounds to your food, according to Nguyen. In making this list, I prioritized stainless steel cookware with product descriptions and details that mention that the pan, pot or skillet is nonreactive and safe for use with all food types.
• Oven- and dishwasher-safe: One of the many benefits of stainless steel cookware is that most pieces are both oven and dishwasher safe. While a cast iron skillet is oven-safe, it is not dishwasher safe, and many nonstick pans are neither oven- or dishwasher-safe. This not only makes stainless steel cookware extremely versatile — you can transfer meals directly from the stove to the oven — but it’s also easy to do a surface-level clean since the dishwasher does most of the work. In making this list, I looked for products that mention that the cookware is completely dishwasher- and oven-safe. 

All of the products below are either direct recommendations from NBC Select staff members or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon or at least 100 reviews on their brand site. 

Best overall stainless steel cookware set: Cuisinart 10-Piece Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel Cookware Set

What we like

• Good for all cooking levels
• Good heat distribution

This stainless steel cookware set from Cuisinart, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 15,700 reviews on Amazon, has just about everything you could need. It has a 1½-quart saucepan, 3-quart saucepan, 3 ½-quart saucepan, 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet and an 8-quart stock pot. Each piece heats quickly and evenly and has a reflective finish. Plus, the handle stays cool even when you heat the skillet on the stove, according to the brand, so you can avoid accidental burns and easily transfer it to the oven or onto a trivet. I’ve used the 8-inch skillet from this set before, and it does a great job of frying foods and making them crispy, such as chicken cutlets or grilled cheese sandwiches.

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 1 ½ qts., 3 qts., 3 ½ qts., 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet | Oven safe? Yes, up to 500 degrees 

Best stainless steel 8-inch skillet: Made In 8-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan

What we like

• Dishwasher safe
• High heat resistance

Something to note

• Nothing to note at this time

The 8-inch stainless steel skillet from Made In is the perfect size for pan-frying foods like shrimp or searing a small steak. It has excellent heat retention and distribution, according to the brand, which helps to cook food evenly. It’s also completely oven safe, so you can start something on the stove and then finish it off in the oven while you prepare something else. It’s compatible with gas, induction and electric stovetops and it has curved sides, which makes flipping foods with a spatula or tongs easier, according to the brand. 

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 1 ¾ lbs. | Oven safe? Yes, up to 800 degrees

Best stainless steel 10-inch skillet: All-Clad 3-Ply 10-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan

If you’re in the market for a stainless steel frying pan that is more of a medium size, consider this ultra-reflective one from All-Clad, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 1,918 reviews on Amazon. It comes with a matching stainless steel lid and handle, a fast-heating aluminum interior and a durable double-riveted handle. It’s safe to use on gas, electric, induction and ceramic stovetops, according to the brand. It is also great for deglazing, which is perfect if you like making pan sauces or stews.

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes, though handwashing is recommended | Capacity: 2 ounces | Oven safe? Yes, up to 600 degrees

Best stainless steel 12-inch skillet:Tramontina 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan

What we like

• Dishwasher safe
• Aluminum interior

A large 12-inch skillet is a good fit for people who cook doing a lot of shallow-frying or sauteing for many people. This one from Brazilian-founded brand Tramontina, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 5,022 reviews on Amazon is compatible with multiple stovetop types and it works just as well in the oven without damage. The aluminum interior helps provide even heat all over the pan including the sides, so you don’t have to move food around as much to make sure it’s completely cooked.

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: N/A | Oven safe? Yes, up to 500 degrees

Best small stainless steel saucepan: Cuisinart 1.5-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan

You can use a stainless steel saucepan, such as this small one from Cuisinart to cook things like pasta sauce, caramel, rice, jam and much more. With a 4.6-star average rating from 9,191 reviews on Amazon, this saucepan is also the perfect size for reheating small portions of leftover soup or chili, which is also easy to do using the included stainless steel lid. The pan itself heats up evenly on the top, but the riveted handle stays cool, so you can move it without fear of getting hurt.

Grade: N/A | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 1.4 liters | Oven safe? No

Best medium stainless steel saucepan: Avacraft 3.5-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan

What we like

• Dishwasher safe
• Transparent glass lid

Something to note

• Nothing of note at this time

A medium saucepan is good for making things like mashed potatoes, blanched vegetables and grains. This one from Avacraft is a great option to consider because it has a transparent glass lid with a handle, so you can monitor your food as it cooks. Plus, the lid has a side with small holes in it that work as a strainer for draining foods like pasta. The saucepan also has subtle spouts on each side that make it easy to pour out liquids without spilling. The handle on the lid has a silicone cover, making it safe to pick up when the lid is hot. The pan has a 4.6-star average rating from 6,721 reviews on Amazon.

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 3.5 qts. | Oven safe? Yes 

Best large stainless steel sauté pan: Cuisinart Professional Series 6-Quart Sauté Pan

While the fry pans on this list have curved sides, this sauté pan has straight raised sides to help keep food contained as you cook. The rim of the pan is tapered, which prevents spilling when you pour food from the pan into another container or piece of cookware. The riveted handle also stays cool even when the base of the pan heats up and it comes with a stainless steel lid. The pan also heats quickly and evenly, making it a good option for preparing seared meat or fish. This makes it easier to avoid hot spots and partially uncooked food, according to the brand. 

Grade: N/A | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 6 qts. | Oven safe? Yes, up to 500 degrees 

Best stainless steel stockpot: All-Clad 3-Piece 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot Set

This stockpot from All-Clad is basically three devices that work together to make a large pot that’s perfect for boiling pasta or preparing large seafood boils. It has the stockpot base, a strainer that fits inside the base, a smaller strainer with a handle and a lid. Since the strainer fits in the stockpot, you don’t have to use a colander to strain the liquid from whatever you’re boiling, which means you don’t have to lose flavor. This is particularly great for anyone who cooks a lot of meals for a large family and doesn’t want to use multiple pots to hold everything.

Grade: 18/10 | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 12 qts. | Oven safe? Yes, up to 500 degrees 

Best hybrid stainless steel pan: Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro

Something to note

• Not fully stainless steel

This pan from cookware brand and NBC Select favorite Our Place is a mix of titanium and stainless steel and has characteristics of stainless steel and nonstick pans, according to the brand. The outside of the pan is made of stainless steel while the inside has a nonstick coating that’s free of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are chemicals found in some products and foods that break down over time, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The pan also comes with a dome-shaped lid that has a steam-release feature and a wooden spatula. 

Grade: N/A | Dishwasher safe? Yes | Capacity: 2.8 qt. | Oven safe? Yes, up to 1,000 degrees for the chrome pan

There are a few different aspects to consider when shopping for stainless steel cookware. Here is what experts recommend:

If you’re trying to decide between getting one stainless steel pan or an entire set, it could depend on how often you cook and what you cook. If you cook many different types of foods such as vegetables, stews, soup, steak, etc., it could be best to choose a full set, since many dishes are best cooked in certain pans. “Sets generally include a 6-inch frying (sauté) pan, an 8-inch fry pan, a sauce pot and a stock pot with lids included and counted as a piece in the set,” says Richard LaMarita, chef-instructor of plant-based culinary arts at Institute of Culinary Education. “Sets generally come as a 7-piece or a 10-piece set.” If you only cook something like steak you should consider getting one sturdy medium or large stainless steel skillet. 

While many of these stainless steel cookware pots and pans are dishwasher safe, handwashing is sometimes more effective, depending on what you cooked in it. You may also need a quality dish soap and sponge to get rid of stuck-on residue. 

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Albert Nguyen is a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.
• Richard LaMarita is a chef-instructor of plant-based culinary arts at Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select and former food editor. I write about kitchen, home and cleaning related content for the site. I spoke with two culinary professionals for this story.