Top-Tested Stainless Steel Cookware for Home Chefs

This article was updated in November 2022 to ensure all product picks tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab were up-to-date and in stock. We trimmed our list to the top five picks.

When choosing what type of cookware is right for you, you'll first have to decide between traditional stainless steel, nonstick cookware, or ceramic cookware. There's lots to love on all sides, but we will say that stainless is best for high-heat searing and even heating.

To find the best stainless steel cookware sets, the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab evaluated 35 stainless steel cookware lines. We checked how well skillets distributed heat on gas and electric ranges, plus their ability to evenly brown steaks and how well the exterior surfaces resisted staining. We also tested the ability of each set's saucepan to maintain a steady simmer and cook tomato sauce without scorching. We scored each set for overall ease of use, considering the usefulness of the owner’s manual, whether the cookware and its lid are oven-safe and dishwasher-safe, and whether the handles and lid become too hot during use.

Our top picks:

Based on our extensive testing and our expert input, these are the best stainless steel cookware sets.