The Best Nonstick Cookware Sets

If you're looking for a way to step up your chef game and create some incredible movie watching foods, the Amazon Basics line of nonstick cookware are great for starter kitchen! Are you a college student or someone who's just moved into a new apartment? Or perhaps you're someone that wants to test cooking out before committing to a major purchase. The nonstick coating will make flipping and serving food much simpler, and if you get good at flipping it's kinda fun to impress your friends. Just make sure you get good at it first!

We will note that these must be hand-washed which can be a bit of a learning curve, however, the nonstick surface should make the process much smoother, pun intended. Simply wait for the pan to cool before running water over it while using a mild soap and the mess should wipe right out. Just don't place your new pans in the dishwasher as this will wear down the coating and negate the nonstick aspect over time.

Key Features

• Nonstick coating
• Soft-touch handles that remain cool during cooking
• Easy to clean

<strong>Brand</strong>: AmazonBasics | <strong>Weight</strong>: 10.5 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 5 pots and pans and 3 lids

One of the absolute leaders in the cooking world, it's hard to go past T-fal if you're looking for quality cookware. The T-fal 12-piece set includes 6 pots and pans, 4 glass lids with steam vents, and a nonstick safe serving spoon and spatula, all of which are dishwasher safe. One thing we really love is the thermo-spot indicator, a special feature found in the frying pans that will turn red once the pan is properly heated.

This set also features a hard anodized aluminum exterior that adds durability and strength while the cooking surface is made from a nonstick, scratch resistant titanium. They can even be used in the oven up to a temperature of 400 degrees, just make sure the lids are removed if you plan to use a temperature above 350. The use of wooden or silicone utensils is best despite the scratch resistant rating of the nonstick surface to improve its longevity. Don't forget to follow the care instructions that come with your set as well for the same reason.

Key Features

• Hard anodized exterior
• Nonstick hard titanium cooking surface
• Thermo-spot preheat indicator

<strong>Brand</strong>: T-fal | <strong>Weight</strong>: 17.6 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 6 pots and pans, 4 lids, and 2 utensils

We are the ultimate TV lovers here, and Rachel Ray is one of the queens of daytime cooking. So naturally, we like this offering from her cooking line. If you are looking for a set of nice looking nonstick pans, Rachael Ray can help bring some color to your kitchen with red, orange, and blue-handled varieties. We were big fans of the red, the color was striking and should stand out against the rest of the white in your kitchen.

This nonstick 12-piece set offers some variety with 2 frying pans and 4 sauce pans. In addition to being nonstick, they are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The silicone grip handles ensure a confident, cool grip each and every time. Not only this, but they are oven rated up to 400 degrees and have shattered resistant glass and dual rivet handles, meaning they can cook pretty much anything you throw at them. Nice work Rachel!

Key Features

• Hard anodized aluminum
• Nonstick coating
• Dishwasher safe

<strong>Brand</strong>: Rachael Ray | <strong>Weight</strong>: 16.55 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 6 pots and pans, 4 lids, and 2 utensils

If you're looking for an offering with all the accessories, Farberware has put together a reasonably priced 17-piece nonstick cookware set that includes the utensils you need to prolong the life of your nonstick surface. Want to learn to flip pancakes? Check. Spoon and whisk for stirring? Check. Bunch of spoons you don't know what they do but might be useful at some time? Check.

The skillet and the cookie sheet are great additions for a relatively new kitchen that may not have these already. This starter set will ensure your guests don't scratch your pans with the wrong utensils while ensuring you have utensils to use. The non-stick pots and pans are safe to 350 degrees and the set includes a cookie pan safe to 450 degrees, because we all know cookies are vital for movies. And if you didn't know that, you do now.

Key Features

• Aluminum construction
• Oven safe up to 350 degrees (450 for cookie sheet)
• 5 pots and pans, skillet, cookie sheet, and 6 utensils

<strong>Brand</strong>: Farberware | <strong>Weight</strong>: 15.95 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 5 pots and pans, skillet, cookie sheet, and 6 utensils

If you're looking for something with a bit more longevity, the Calphalon 10-piece cookware set is on the heavier side, which can make it more stable on the cooking surface, and last a bit longer. The draw back is that the balance of the handles can be off when they are empty, but as we have seen in many movies, sometimes you need a pan to defend yourself, so we are partial to a heavier set!

One downside is that these aren't dishwasher safe, but we've never really minded washing by hand. The silicone handles are a great feature to keep your hands cool while maintaining a good grip. The tempered glass lids are good to 450 degrees!

Key Features

• Hard anodized aluminum cookware
• Nonstick coating
• Easy grip handles

<strong>Brand</strong>: Calphalon | <strong>Weight</strong>: 19 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 6 pots and pans and 4 lids

If you're a serious cook, then this is the set for you. Safe up to 900 degrees (900!!) the Nuwave is a great option that is both nonstick and compatible with induction cooking surfaces. If you're not familiar with induction, it's a type of oven that heats by using electromagnetic coils under the glass cooktop surface transfer energy into metal objects that produce heat. As a result, the cooking vessel is heated while the cooktop itself stays cool. It's a fantastic way to cook, but needs compatible pans. Not only is this set induction compatible, the copper/aluminum body is a unique combination that allows the pans to heat up quickly and evenly

We will note that you make sure to care for your cookware as directed to prolong its life as it is not intended to be used in the dishwasher as the harsher detergents could break down the nonstick coating over time, and the prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to wear as well.

Key Features

• Copper/aluminum construction
• Duralon ceramic nonstick coating
• Safe up to 900 degrees

<strong>Brand</strong>: Nuwave | <strong>Weight</strong>: 22 pounds | <strong>Includes</strong>: 6 pots and pans with 4 lids

Nonstick cookware is a great option for those that would like to reduce the oils and fats used in cooking. It is important to understand what makes a nonstick surface work, and how to prolong that surface for as long as possible. Choosing the best nonstick cookware set really comes down to better understanding your cooking and kitchen cleaning habits, as well as knowing what will work with the cooking surface that you have in your home.

Cooking Surface

Make sure to know what cooking surface you have installed in your kitchen before making your purchase. Open-flame gas ranges are quite common as are electric ranges which often come in either a heating coil or glass top surface variety. While induction ranges are available as countertop appliances, they do take up additional space and are not right for everyone. That and nonstick pots and pans are often made from a material that is not compatible with induction cooking.

As mentioned, cookware can be made out of materials that are not compatible with every surface. Induction cooking requires a conductive metal for effective energy transfer, and many aluminum-based sets simply won't cut it. Some materials may not withstand direct flame contact that comes with gas burners. Do your homework and ensure the set you choose will be compatible with the system you have in place in your home.

Cooking And Cleaning Habits

Your cooking and cleaning habits should also play a role in your decision making process. If you are one that puts everything in the dishwasher, ensure you choose a set that claims to be dishwasher safe as some models will void any warranties if they are ran through the dishwasher. It is highly recommended to hand-wash anything with a nonstick coating, even if a brand claims to be dishwasher safe, simply as a means of prolonging your set. However, if you must use the dishwasher, don't purchase a set that does not explicitly state it is dishwasher safe.

Additionally, make sure to treat the nonstick surface kindly during cooking as well. This means no metal on metal contact with utensils unless the brand claims that they can be used. This too may void any warranty that is in place. Try to always use plastic, or better yet silicone, when possible.