The Best Nonstick Cookware Sets That Make Mealtime Infinitely Easier

Photo: Getty Images/Klaus Vedfelt
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In a sea of nonstick cookware sets, finding your perfect match can feel impossible. Some pieces claim to be nonstick, only to fall short at the sight of sticky sauce or flaky, pan-seared fish. Others seem promising at first, only to lose their non-stickiness in just a few fries or sautés. Just like knife sets, or Dutch ovens, it's important to find the ones that are right for you and your needs.

We know how hard it is to find a solid nonstick cookware set. We also know how nice it is to have a good nonstick frying pan or pot in your kitchen. (Dirty dishes that don't require a night of soaking?! Yes, please.) That's why we rounded-up the best of the best nonstick cookware sets money can buy, so you can have all the convenience of easy, breezy cooking—minus the soap-sucking cleanup.

What goes into our decision-making? Quality is number one—nonstick cookware should be, well, nonstick. It should last more than a few uses, be made of a material that evenly conducts heat (and is compatible with your range, for starters), and has a high cooking capacity. More importantly, it should be safe—traditional nonstick coatings, like polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), leech into fumes and food, which isn't healthy. Our picks skip the toxins and chemicals and aim for healthier options.

The best nonstick cookware sets money can buy

Best overall

Caraway, Cookware Set — $495.00

Turns out, the internet’s favorite cookware is our favorite cookware, too. Caraway reigns supreme as our best overall nonstick set, thanks to its ridiculous non-stickiness, top chef quality, and IG-worthy design.

The 4-piece ceramic set is coated in the brand’s legendary coating that’s free of any chemicals, toxins, or anything else that could harm your food. The result? Quite literally the easiest cookware you’ll ever have to wash (unless you pop it in the dishwasher, which you can). Sticky sauces, thick rouxs, day-old splatter—nothing is a match for these nonstick pans, which really are worth the hype.

Runner up

All Clad, Essentials Nonstick Cookware Set — $150.00

All-Clad has been revered by professional chefs and home cooks alike for more than 50 years, thanks to its premium quality and long-lasting design. Seriously, a few of our editors swear by All-Clad for all-things cookware, nonstick and otherwise .

This 4-piece essentials set is made from heavy-duty aluminum that’s coated in a safe-but-serious nonstick coating for easy cleanup. It’s compatible with all sorts of ranges, and safe to use in an oven up to 500°F, perfect for broiling, roasting, and more. What we really love, though, is the nesting element—the three pans stack neatly into one another, so if you’re short on space, it makes storage that much more convenient.

Best on Amazon

GreenLife, Soft Grip Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set — $100.00

Scour the Amazon reviews and you’ll find this top-rated nonstick cookware set that has won the hearts of 28,000+ happy home cooks. The size of the set alone is impressive (you get 16 pieces for just $100), but the nonstick factor is what people love most.

Made by Greenlife, everything is safe your the body and better for the planet. Of course, there are no toxins or heavy metals that can leech into your food, but it’s also made from recycled aluminum to reduce waste and uses a coating that creates less carbon emissions in the curing phase. The pans themselves are oven safe up to 350°F and can be used on gas and electric stovetops. The colors don’t hurt either, nor do the squishy, stay-cool handle that makes transport from stove to table a breeze.

Best under $100

Amazon Basics, 8-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set — $42.00

Turns out, Amazon’s own nonstick cookware set is worthy of kitchen space, too. Just look at the 30,000+ glowing reviews on this 8-piece starter kit that praise everything from its price (duh) to its durability. These pots and pans are made from a safely coated aluminum that’s compatible with gas and electric stovetops. And you get a lot—there are two different frying pans, two sauce pans with matching lids, plus a 3-quart casserole pan with lid.

The downsides? They’re not compatible with induction ranges and they’re not dishwasher safe, so get your dish gloves out. But for $42, the price is unbeatable, making it a great gift for new grads or home chefs just getting into the cooking game.

Best splurge

Viking, Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set — $500.00

If you’re going to spend the money on a nonstick set that isn’t Caraway, we recommend this Viking set. Here’s why: Viking is renowned in the cooking world for its ranges, and its cookware is just as impressive. These hardy pots and pans are made from aluminum and feature stainless steel bases that are compatible with all types of stovetops, so no worrying about whether your cookware is going to work or not.

As for the coating, it’s of course non-toxic and safe. But it’s also built to last—each pan is coated with three layers to ensure it holds up over time. That doesn’t mean you have to treat it like a newborn child—it’s dishwasher safe, so on the days you don’t feel like doing the dishes, pop it in the dishwasher worry-free.

Then there’s the impressive details you won’t find on budget-friendly cookware. Features like measurement markings on the interior of the Dutch oven for precise measurement, and tempered glass lids that lock in moisture for better cooking. Tldr: This set is worth the splurge.

Best ceramic set

Calphalon, Classic Oil-Infused Ceramic 11-Piece Cookware Set — $300.00

Reminder: ceramic pans are actually ceramic coated, which gives it that non-stickiness. We love Calphalon’s classic oil-infused set, which features a sleek, slippery coating for hassle-free cooking.

Aside from the oil-infused coating, which eliminates the need for any extra butter or cooking oil, the pans themselves are hardy and long-lasting. Since they’re made of hard-anodized aluminum core, cooks and bakes come out evenly and tasting better than other materials. It’s durable, high-quality, and with 11-pieces included, a decent bang for your buck.

Best single pan

always pan
Our Place, Always Pan — $145.00

Don’t need a whole new set, but ready to invest in a decent nonstick pan? Get the Our Place Always Pan. Yep, just like Caraway Cookware, this do-it-all pan you keep seeing on Instagram is way worth the hype.

For one, it’s nonstick, making cooking and clean-up easy peasy. But it’s also the equivalent of a multi-piece cookware set wrapped up into one pretty pan. Frying, sauteeing, steaming, boiling, straining, sauce-ing, stirring, plating—this pan does it all, thanks to unique features, like its steaming basket insert and its built-in wooden spatula handle. Oh, and it comes in a rainbow of colors that look so chic on your stovetop, you’ll never want to put it away.

Best baking set

Great Jones, Fully Baked — $215.00

At-home pastry chefs and wanna-be Great British Bake Off champs, if you want to up your baking game, do it with this trendy Great Jones set. Looks aside, it really makes baking a piece of cake.

Each set comes with a large sheet pan, two cake rounds, a 10-inch pie dish, a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish, and two loaf pans, all coated in heavy-duty nonstick coating that make sure your bakes come out beautiful. There’s no scraping the sides, no breaking corners, no worrying half of your cake is going to get left in the pan come decorating time. It’s a no-brainer for baking that comes in two adorable colors (broccoli green and blueberry blue) you won’t want to hide in your cabinets.

Best for small spaces

Rachael Ray, Stackable 8-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set — $119.00

Birds, Russian dolls, cookware—we love things that nest. Like this stackable 8-piece set by Rachael Ray which nests neatly into each other to save space when you need it most. Besides the stacking feature, each piece is coated in layers of PlatinumShield Technology, aka, a really good, really safe coating that makes sure there’s no mess left behind.

When you’re done whipping up a meal, stack everything into the biggest pot and store away in your cabinets (or on your counter) until the next time you need it.

 

Best for camping

GSI Outdoors, Pinnacle Camper Cook Set — $150.00

Camp chefs—next time you wander out into the Great Unknown, do it with this cook set by your side. It has everything you need to whip up meals for four hungry hikers, including three nonstick pieces that make prep and clean-up a breeze. From quick breakfasts before a hike, to full-blown meals on night’s of recovery, this set is quality and convenient.

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Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.

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