macstack

What's your favorite cookware set or brand and why?

I've got a mishmash of warped pots and pans. The other day my son left the burner on and melted the spatula into the big skillet. It's probably just time to replace it all. But now that teflon is illegal (as it likely should be) I don't even know where to begin.

I have an electric stove, but when the next thing breaks on it, I'll likely get an induction range. (Open to thoughts on that too. And no, I will not go gas. As much as I enjoy cooking with gas, it's bad for indoor air quality and not great for the environment.)

I'm willing to spend money to get reasonable quality that will last, but I'm not going to spend $1,000 on some sort of professional set. I don't have the cooking skills that would likely benefit from top of the line and I still have kids in the house.

We make a lot of stir fries, eggs, that sort of thing.

Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!

Eyeing this Tramontina 12-piece Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Set. Would love to hear pros and cons of stainless steel vs other options.

Many of my decisions from 25 years ago were questionable, but I still have the cookware that I bought then.

If I had to start again, I'd do the exact same thing and get a stainless 1qt, 2qt, and 3qt saucepan + 6 qt stock pot by Farberware from the department store.
https://farberwarecookware.com/products ... n-with-lid
Stainless is inexpensive, easy to use and clean, it works, and it lasts. I cook well and I cook a lot and have never felt let down by that set.
Buying just those pieces is cheaper than a full set, especially because you get what you need and not what they toss in to make a "n-piece set"

Also, a large and medium cast iron skillets. I like my Field skillets. More expensive, but they'll last forever and I like the machined finish. Lodge is perfectly fine though.

We have a set of Henckels pots and pans that we bought through Costco when we found out our 18/10 stainless farberware from college (same as the stuff @Geesie posted) didn't work on our induction stove. We have a small collection of Le Creuset (stock pots, dutch oven, and kettle), and some cast iron fry pans of various sizes.

We have a Samsung induction stove with a conventional electric oven, in their "bespoke" line for about a year now, and we've been really happy with it.

Jehannum wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 10:50 pm

We have a set of Henckels pots and pans that we bought through Costco when we found out our 18/10 stainless farberware from college (same as the stuff @Geesie posted) didn't work on our induction stove. We have a small collection of Le Creuset (stock pots, dutch oven, and kettle), and some cast iron fry pans of various sizes.

We have a Samsung induction stove with a conventional electric oven, in their "bespoke" line for about a year now, and we've been really happy with it.

Well. I guess the stuff I had from college will need to be replaced if I ever get a new house, and a new stove in the new house.
FWIW, the Farberware website says that it is now induction compatible. vOv

We love our induction stove. I can boil water more quickly than I can fill the pot with water.

TRUST ME ON THIS.

Go to a restaurant supply store. The equipment you get there will be so many steps above anything you’d get from the typical places. You’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.

Geesie wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 12:01 am

Jehannum wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 10:50 pm

We have a set of Henckels pots and pans that we bought through Costco when we found out our 18/10 stainless farberware from college (same as the stuff @Geesie posted) didn't work on our induction stove. We have a small collection of Le Creuset (stock pots, dutch oven, and kettle), and some cast iron fry pans of various sizes.

We have a Samsung induction stove with a conventional electric oven, in their "bespoke" line for about a year now, and we've been really happy with it.

Well. I guess the stuff I had from college will need to be replaced if I ever get a new house, and a new stove in the new house.
FWIW, the Farberware website says that it is now induction compatible. vOv

yeah, it shocked me that it didn't work.

Not surprised the new stuff does work. Induction stoves are the shit.

I love my set of Calphalon commercial anodized aluminum collected over 30 years. Last year we switched from gas to induction because kids are dumb. Now I’m trying to sell off a good set while building a new one.

Any votes for the ceramic or the hex clad, etc? Sounds like no. Just curious and thanks for all the recommendations so far!

Next maybe I'll ask about knives. ;)

Demeyere, Staub, le Creuset.

Malkin wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:26 pm

Any votes for the ceramic or the hex clad, etc? Sounds like no. Just curious and thanks for all the recommendations so far!

Next maybe I'll ask about knives. ;)

Stainless is too durable and lasts too long. The coatings are nice for a while but then they wear off.

The Costco set you linked is a perfectly good set that I'd also be happy with. (I've got a mishmash of stuff that's all probably similar quality but different brands.)

Fancy knives with higher quality steel keep their edges longer and need less frequent sharpening, which is nice, but IME any regular steel knife will work well as long as you keep it sharp.

Alien wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 4:14 pm

Demeyere, Staub, le Creuset.

Malkin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 10:15 pm

I'm willing to spend money to get reasonable quality that will last, but I'm not going to spend $1,000 on some sort of professional set.

Yeah, le Creuset are beautiful, but not in my budget.

Malkin wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:26 pm

Any votes for the ceramic or the hex clad, etc?

Hex Clad is overrated. Henckel has a knockoff that you can find at Costco in a 3-pan set for $99 when it’s on sale or clearance.