Ahead, read about our reasons for selecting the Cuisinart set as an excellent alternative to its higher-priced competitors. Everything in the set is made from a high-quality triple-ply construction, with a brushed stainless-steel exterior, an aluminum core and a stainless-steel interior. This design makes for a sleek look, even heat distribution and easy food release.
In fact, both cooked with a nice, even heat, and there was no noticeable warping when we dipped the pan into ice after cooking. The set was noticeably easy to clean, which is a plus given that it’s not recommended to put the pieces in the dishwasher. It’s worth noting that since the lids aren’t glass, you’ll have to lift them to check on your dishes as they cook. However, all of the pieces are dishwasher safe, so they’ll be easy to clean in case anything spills over.
Stainless steel pots and pans are a fantastic addition to your kitchen, whether you’re just starting to build out your kitchen, or upgrading to a gorgeous new set. In addition to having a gleaming finish, stainless steel cookware sets are highly durable and can last a long time with the right care. When you set out on a cookware set shopping expedition, it’s all but expected that you’ll be looking cuisinart soup maker at higher price tags. That was certainly the case with most of the pan sets we tested in our larger review of stainless steel cookware. After all, finding an entire family of high-quality pots and pans without shelling out top dollar can be tricky indeed. That said, it’s not impossible—a fact we happily confirmed when we got our hands on Cuisinart’s Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel Set.
For the culinary genius or fresh-faced kitchen virgins alike, this 10-piece stainless steel Cuisinart cookware set will take you a long way. The industry standard construction for stainless steel cookware is 3-ply clad—and, despite its lower price point, that’s precisely what you get with the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic set. Because of the set’s construction, the heat can be cranked up really high, offering cooks the ideal opportunity to sear proteins to maximize flavor. In the fry pan, I cooked pan-fried turkey burgers, seared scallops and sautéed chicken breast, and everything came out with the same golden-brown crust and juicy interiors. Much of that is owed to the aforementioned 3-ply sandwich, and it’s a testament to this set’s ability to hold up well against those higher temperatures. This Cuisinart cookware set includes a 2.5-quart saucepan with cover, 3-quart saute pan with cover, 6-quart stockpot with cover, 10″ skillet, 8″ skillet, and a lid organizer!
Each piece neatly nests together for easy storage and the lid organizer keeps all of the lids handy. Anyone investing in a full cookware set will want to know that the pans they’re purchasing cover all of their culinary needs—but this is particularly important to those on a budget. In other words, most cooks wouldn’t want to have to purchase additional pieces.
Our testing team, led by our Kitchen & Cooking editor, who is also a professional chef, assessed this cookware set by putting each piece through a variety of tests. This versatile cookware set includes all of the home cooking staples—with some added bonuses. And while chef-approved brands like HexClad and Hestan may be fantastic, they come at high costs that can be unrealistic for the average home cook. Designed from the inside out for today’s lifestyles, our Non-Stick Hard Anodized Cookware combines uncompromising superior cooking performance with a professional look. Cuisinart Non-Stick Hard Anodized Cookware exterior is harder than stainless steel for durability and professional performance.
The set received one of the highest ratings overall and was one our testers wanted for their own kitchens. This Rachael Ray set performed well during testing, with testers noting that it cooked evenly and was easy to clean. Testers didn’t love the blue silicone handle as well and preferred a set to have more than one skillet. They did appreciate the 1-quart saucepan, however, and felt that it was a good set for someone who just needs the cooking basics.
After heating up one of the pans, testers cooked up several scallops and found they did not stick, had clean flipping, and were easy to remove from the pan. For the stockpot, I made marinara sauce with two 28-ounce cans of peeled tomatoes, onion and garlic to test both capacity and flavor. In the medium saucepan, I made long grain white rice to ensure it didn’t stick or clump, yielding separated cooked grains. To test the smaller saucepan’s ability to heat and cool, I reheated two portions of the marinara and made hard-boiled eggs to look for thoroughly cooked yellow yolks.
In terms of design, testers noted that the pan handles had a nice feel and found that the squared-off lid handles fit comfortably in their hands. The bigger pans and pots have a helper handle for ease of holding anything heavier or hot as well. Overall, they felt that the set had a substantial feel that helped justify the price point.