Tag: pots and pans

Fact: Just because a package or product listing describes a cookware set as induction-safe, that doesn’t mean it will actually cook well on an induction stovetop. In a lot of cases, the pot will heat up, but won’t actually cook evenly or quickly. And that’s clearly not great.

In order for cookware to work AT ALL on an induction cooktop, pots and pans must be made of — or incorporate — magnetic steel. The easiest way to tell if something makes the cut is to test the bottom with a magnet. If the magnet sticks, the pot will heat up on an induction burner.

Having said that, there are two types of induction-safe cookware: the type that features the same materials (like cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum that’s encased in stainless steel) throughout the entire pan, and induction-safe cookware that feature walls made out of one material and a special magnetic disc on the bottom.

Tip: You will get much better results if you choose a pan that’s the same size as the circle on your induction cooktop.

Regular stovetops heat pots and pans through contact. Flames or electrical heating elements generate heat, and that heat is transferred through contact from the burner to the base of the pot in a process known as thermal conduction.

Induction cooktops do not generate heat. Instead, induction burners have a coiled wire just below the ceramic surface, which generates an oscillating magnetic field. The electrons move around, creating an electric current, which in turn generates heat in the pot. Science!

Got it? Now, keep reading to find out which sets are the best to buy.

The Best Induction Cookware Set

This gorgeous cookware set costs a pretty penny, but it should last you a lifetime. Each piece has a thick base that extends all the way to the edges (unlike other pots and pans that have more rounded walls), making perfect contact with an induction cooktop and giving you even browning all across the bottom.

You’ll also find rims that help prevent spills and inside measurement marks, so you know just how much milk to add to chocolate pudding without pulling out a measuring cup. The lids fit tightly, which is great for steaming rice. Profi can go in the oven up to 425°F for cooking a frittata and is safe for dishwasher cleaning, although, like all stainless steel, it may take a bit of hand work to keep it in pristine condition.

Second opinion: “Flawless, heavy-duty, high-quality!” says one reviewer. “The pots are well worth the money. They are made so well, they will probably last a few lifetimes before I can use their warranty. The lids are heavy, so you won’t have to worry about the boiling pot spitting all over your oven. The pots boil so evenly, there is no hotter spot … even heat all the way. And these pots do not cool down fast — they keep the food hot (not warm) for at least one to two hours. The handles also stay cool. Best thing is I won’t have to worry about replacing/buying pots again. Excellent product from trusty brand.”

The Best Budget-Friendly Induction Cookware Set

With a layer of copper in addition to aluminum inside the base, this collection gives absolutely even heating on an induction burner. The pots have a pretty-yet-functional tulip shape and the fry pans are deep and flared, which makes them great for both simmering a chicken stew and rolling out an omelet.

And because they can go in the oven to 500°F, you can crisp up a topping on a skillet casserole or brown off a piece of fish. Here, too, you’ll have to work a bit to keep the surfaces stain-free. And if you want the thin rim of copper around the base to stay shiny, you’ll need to pull out the copper polish. That said, it’s not all that hard to keep these looking like new.

Second opinion: “I got this set for my mom and she’s had zero complaints. And trust me, I’d hear about it if she did,” joked former Lifestyle Director, Lisa Freedman. “Plus, I get to cook with this stuff every time I go to visit and I’m impressed time after time. I have a gas stove and am considering getting myself a set, too.”

The Best Nonstick Induction Cookware Set

This cookware offers great performance on induction burners combined with easy use and care. With silicone handles, they’re super comfy to hold when you’re flipping mushrooms or serving up tomato soup. A nonstick coating on both the inside and the outside makes cleanup a breeze, whether you’re washing by hand or machine. You can choose between basic black, chocolate brown, or merlot for the exterior.

Second opinion: “Love this cookware!” says one reviewer, “Lives up to all my expectations — truly nonstick, no need for a spray, washes easily, cooks evenly. And I don’t have to yell at my husband anymore for using metal utensils and ruining the cookware — it does NOT scratch!”

For more than 30 years, I was in charge of testing and reporting on everything from wooden spoons to connected refrigerators at the Good Housekeeping Institute. I’ve walked the floors of every trade show and read every new product release for longer than most digital publications have existed!

My street cred? I also worked as a chef in New York City restaurants for seven years.

I’ve tested, used, and played with nearly every piece of kitchen gear (including pots and pans) to come on the market for years. When it comes to gear, it takes a lot to impress me, and I know what actually works.

I’ve tested what feels like every piece of induction cookware on the market (at all the price points, low to high!) and these are my all-time favorites. But you don’t have to take my word and my word alone, either. Kitchn editors — a unique hybrid of professionals and home cooks, who develop and test great recipes in real home kitchens — and real Amazon shoppers weighed in on some of these picks too, testing my favorites in the context of their actual home cooking.

After all, when it comes to kitchen gear, what matters is that it works for a home cook — not just that a chef endorses it, or that it passed some high-flying bar in a sterile test kitchen. You want gear that is above all, practical, long-lasting, and mindful of real cooks, real kitchens, and real budgets.

Do you have an induction cooktop? If so, what are the pots and pans that you use? Tell us in the comments below!