Although the cookware is dishwasher safe, Tramontina recommends hand washing and drying to keep it looking and working well. A. If you are used to cooking with non-stick pans, it can be tricky to cook with a stainless steel or enamel-coated pan. Cast iron enameled cookware is not dishwasher tramontina cookware safe but you can wash them by hand with hot, soapy water. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.
Connect with Andrew via email, LinkedIn, or the Prudent Reviews YouTube channel. It’s balanced and has a nice long handle and wide cooking surface, but it performs similarly to several other brands I’ve tested, including Misen, Calphalon, and Anolon. The main offerings are aluminum, hard-anodized aluminum, and clad stainless steel. Gourmet, Select, and Style all have riveted stainless steel handles. The Everyday collection offers stainless steel handles, but some options also feature a silicone grip.
We did this by using an infrared thermometer to make a heat map of their cooking surface. We also sprinkled the surface of each large skillet with a dusting of flour and placed the pan over a medium-high flame to see how evenly the flour browned. Then, to evaluate how uniformly the skin browned, we sautéed chicken pieces in the skillets. Using the large saucepan from each set, we prepared small batches of caramel to check for hot spots; then we simmered a large batch of tomato sauce in each stockpot to test for scorching. In addition to making tri-ply cookware, most high-end manufacturers produce sets that are made from five or more layers of stainless steel, aluminum, and sometimes copper. In most of our tests, five-ply cookware didn’t heat as uniformly as regular tri-ply cookware, or the differences were negligible.
The pans in this top-of-the-line fully clad tri-ply set continue to impress us with their even heat distribution. Each piece of cookware is extremely durable and an ideal weight for holding. Reviewers praised its restaurant-ready look, feel, and performance. However, the Everyday collection features enameled cast iron cookware with off-white or black interiors. The Gourmet collection’s enameled cast iron cookware has a light-colored interior.
BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Cast iron pans require extra care and you should not wash them with soap. Allow the pan to cool and wipe food out first with a paper towel. The All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless 10-Piece Set took longer to heat up, so it took more time for us to make caramel and achieve nicely golden-brown chicken.
Our reviews and buyers guides are always either based on reviews we’ve done ourselves, or aggregated from trusted sources. No part of this site or its content may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder. Although some sets are made and assembled in Brazil, the final assembly can take place in other markets, such as the USA. Just to wrap things up, I wanted to cover some of the most common questions readers have about Tramontina cookware. First, you get a dedicated steamer insert, which sits particularly well over the stock pot. I prefer steamed vegetables over boiled myself, and you get a lot more flavor, texture and nutritional value as a result.
We didn’t test the Caraway Cookware Set for this guide, since it’s nonstick. The Tramontina set we recommend is comparably priced (at the time of testing), and unlike the Caraway set, it should last for decades if cared for properly. For each set, we started by testing how well the large skillets retained heat.
It bears mentioning that Tramontina has imperfect quality control, to say the least. Years ago I bought a set that included the 12-inch skillet, and there was a scratch on the bottom that extended for more than six inches. And as for the 12-quart stock pot that they replaced under warranty? The replacement had some polishing residue left on the inside bottom of the pot, which I had to wash off with some BKF. The scratch and residue did not hurt cooking performance, but they are a reminder that Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad is a budget brand.
The 3-layer coating is black and offers a pleasant visual contrast to the bright aluminum exterior. The handles on these pots and pans are ergonomically designed, and easy to hold when you’re transferring hot foods around the kitchen. This set also includes a 10-inch frying pan, which we have a feeling you’ll reach for almost every day. The PFOA-free nonstick finish is perfect for making scrambled eggs, simmering stir-fry or sauteing veggies. For something heavier duty, reach for the included 10-inch cast iron skillet, great for searing steaks, baking cornbread or frying bacon. This pre-seasoned pan is designed with a silicone grip, helper handle and pouring lips to drain excess oil or liquid.