If you’re looking for a cookware set but don’t want to break the bank, you might encounter some difficulty. The average set costs between $300 and $400, with some clocking upwards of $800. While it’s true that a good set can last for up to a decade (depending on how much you use your pots and pans), you just might not have the coin to invest right now. That’s why we went looking for the best budget cookware sets—like the T-fal C561SC Nonstick (available at Amazon for $95.97).
High prices don’t necessarily guarantee quality, but they usually provide a durability indicator. With less expensive cookware, over time, the pots and pans often develop warped bottoms, scraped coating, loose knobs, and rickety handles. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find a quality, inexpensive set—so we put a few under-$200 sets to the test next to their more expensive counterparts to find some great starter sets. Many of them come in well under budget, and they include a few bonus items, too.
Here are the best budget cookware sets, in order:
- Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
- T-fal C561SC Titanium Advanced Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
- Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
- Vremi 15-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set
- Cook N Home 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Updated June 28, 2018
Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Cuisinart MCP-12N Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Best OverallWe know we said we were looking for the best cookware sets under $200, but when the Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set topped our list of best cookware sets, and then we saw prices hovering around $206, we couldn't help but suggest upping your budget just a bit.
This set offers 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.
In addition, these pans are easy to use. The triple-ply construction gives the pans the benefit of heat conductivity, but the aluminum core ensures they’re not too heavy to handle. The set includes everything you need to cook a meal: two saucepans (1 1/2- and 3-quart), an 8-quart stockpot, a medium-sized 3.5-quart sauté pan, two skillets (8- and 10-inch), and a steamer insert—all with comfortable handles and a design that creates a nice balance when holding the pan.
All in all, it was easy to name the Cuisinart as our Best Overall 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.
How We Tested
The Tester
Hi, I’m Lindsay Mattison, a trained professional chef and dinner party enthusiast. I’m the type of person that uses every single pot and pan in the house when I’m cooking dinner (and, I’ll probably dirty up all the tasting spoons and mise en place bowls, too). So, I definitely understand the importance of having the right set of pots and pans to get the job done! It wasn’t easy testing all these cookware sets (and my house was quite cluttered for a few weeks), but it was well worth it to help you find the best cookware set for the value.
The Tests
After selecting 10 top-rated cookware sets (half stainless steel, half nonstick and at all different price points), we decided to cook a multi-component meal using each set. To function for everyday life, the pots and pans had to be sized appropriately to cook dinner for one, but we also wanted to know if you could easily cook a larger dinner (like Thanksgiving) using the set. To earn our seal of approval, at least two saucepans, one sauté pan, and a stockpot had to fit on a standard cooktop range at the same time.
Keeping that in mind, we designed the tests to evaluate performance, ease of use, and value. We seared chicken thighs in the sauté pan, tossed vegetables in the skillets, simmered sauces and cooked rice in the saucepots, and blanched vegetables in the stockpot. If the set came with nonstick gear, we fried a few eggs without oil to see how well the coating worked. Finally, we measured any noticeable hotspots and maybe did a little taste testing to see if one set made a tastier meal than the others. In the end, none of the sets completely failed but we did have a few favorites.
Things to Know When Buying a Cookware Set
Although I wish it weren’t true, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pot or pan. Each cooking task requires a specific size. For example, you wouldn’t want to boil pasta in a small, 1-quart saucepot because it won’t all fit. And, it certainly wouldn’t make sense to cook up 1-cup of oatmeal in a large, 8-quart pot. (For those of you who opted out of culinary math: 1 quart = 4 cups)
So, cookware sets try to anticipate your needs by providing small, medium, and large pots and pans. Before you jump into a set, consider your cooking style: Do you usually cook for one or for a crowd? The former means you can opt for smaller cookware. Do you cook mostly soups and sauces, or are you a fan of scrambles, stir-fries, and pasta? The answer determines whether you want a selection of saucepots or if having a large skillet is more important in your set.
In the end, it’s best to look for a set that has at least two small saucepots, one large stockpot, a small egg pan, and a larger skillet or sauté pan. Anything extra, I consider a bonus! Most sets come with a lid for every saucepan, stockpot, and sauté pan. Sets count these lids as extra pieces to increase the count, so the above set would have five pots and pans but will be called an 8-piece set. While we’re on the topic, try to look for metal lids. Yes, that means you can’t see what’s going on inside the pot, but those glass lids always fog up anyway! The metal lids will never drop and shatter, giving them a longer lifespan than the glass variety.
A quick note on choosing nonstick or stainless steel
Again, this goes back to your cooking style. Stainless steel is great for searing meat, leaving behind those delicious fond bits that make the perfect start to a pan sauce. They also tend to last longer than the nonstick varieties, which can be easily scratched and generally can’t go into the dishwasher. That being said, nonstick is easy to cook on and even easier to clean. Many people find themselves attracted to nonstick pans when they start out because it’s a low-cost investment that can be upgraded in the future. When looking at nonstick, keep in mind there are two material types: The hard anodized pans are Teflon-free and tend to be heavier (and more durable) than the coated varieties.
Other Cookware Sets Under $200 We Tested
T-fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
T-fal C561SC Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
Best NonstickDon’t let the price tag on the T-fal C561SC Titanium Advanced Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set fool you into thinking this is a budget buy. This nonstick cookware set scored higher marks on our tests than its significantly more expensive competition. 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 nonstick pan will never rival a stainless one when it comes to searing meat, this set performed admirably in the remaining tests. It cooked eggs perfectly without requiring any extra oil and the saucepots simmered sauces and cooked rice without scorching. In addition, this set’s stockpot boiled water faster than any others in the group.
Inside the all-nonstick set, you’ll find a few bonus items: two saucepans (1- and 2-quart), a 5-quart stockpot, a large 5-quart sauté pan, two skillets (8- and 9-inch), a spatula, and a slotted spoon. The comfortable, padded handles stay cool as you use them and the pans heat up quickly and evenly.
Farberware Classic 17-Piece Cookware Set
Where To Buy
Click for price Amazon Buy $136.38 Walmart Buy $127.99 Home Depot Buy $151.99 Best Buy BuyFarberware Classic 17-Piece Cookware Set
The Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set is old-school and classic looking. It could be a set straight out of the 1950s (but, with better technology, of course). While it didn’t blow us away with its performance, it didn’t seriously struggle, either. It wasn’t the best at searing chicken thighs, but it boiled water quickly and cooked perfect rice without scorching.
You get a little more bang for your buck with this set: four saucepots (1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-quart), an 8-quart stockpot, two skillets (8- and 10-inch), three mixing bowls with lids, a cookie sheet, and a 9x13 cake pan. That makes this set an excellent starter kit for those stocking new kitchens.
Vremi Nonstick 15-Piece Cookware Set
Vremi Nonstick 15-Piece Cookware Set
You will certainly add a splash of color to your kitchen with the Vremi 15-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set. Each piece comes in a different color, which offsets the inexpensive look of its plastic handles a bit. Overall, we found the pieces in the set to be smaller and less functional than we’d prefer cooking a large dinner with. Also, it didn’t perform nearly as well as some of the other sets.
Inside the nonstick box set are three saucepots (1-, 1.3-, and 1.75-quart), a small 4.2-quart stockpot, two skillets (8- and 10.5-inch), and five nonstick kitchen utensils.
Cook N Home Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Cook N Home Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you avoid the Cook N Home 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set, but you will certainly get what you pay for. These pots and pans were super-lightweight, heating up quickly but also losing that heat equally as fast. The handles were some of the hottest to the touch, too, so make sure you have those oven mitts handy!
We were also a bit disappointed in the contents, too. It lacked any skillets, providing one 10-inch sauté pan instead. It did include four saucepots—for some reason providing two 1.5-quart pots along with a 2- and 3-quart pot. The 5.5-quart stockpot was a little on the small end, too, but functional.
