What company makes the best non stick cookware?

With many brands of nonstick cookware available, discerning which ones will require elbow grease after a few uses and which will endure can be challenging. To guide you, we've tested top nonstick cookware options, evaluating them based on temperature management, performance, design, and ease of cleaning. Here's our comprehensive list of the best nonstick cookware sets to help you make an informed choice.

Whether you're a beginner, an occasional cook, or a professional chef, nonstick cookware is a kitchen essential. They are crucial for making perfect eggs, pancakes, simmered sauces, and seared meats, while also being easier to clean and less prone to discoloration compared to stainless steel.

Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Oven Safe: No | Induction Safe: No | Dishwasher Safe: No | What's Included: 8-inch and 10-inch fry pans, 1.5- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, 3- and 5-quart casserole pans with lids, and a 5-piece utensil set

This set isn't dishwasher safe, but cleaning by hand was simple though we had to be careful around the handle rivets to remove any stuck debris. This value-priced set would work great for first apartments, vacation rental homes, RVs, and similar uses—offering a good performance at a budget-friendly price.

We were impressed with how evenly these pans distributed heat, yielding uniformly cooked fried eggs and fluffy scrambled eggs. The handles, however, didn’t feel as sturdy as other models we tested, but the pans' lightweight and easy maneuverability were definite advantages. Note that these pans are smaller, making them less ideal for larger households or batch cooking.

For beginners or those who don't want to invest heavily in cookware, this Amazon Basics set fits the bill. It includes 15 pieces: 8-inch and 10-inch fry pans, 1.5- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, 3- and 5-quart casserole pans with lids, and a 5-piece utensil set.

These pans are dishwasher safe, though hand-washing is recommended. In our tests, they've been very easy to wash by hand. This set also includes a lid holder, magnetic storage separators, and cork trivets. The mid-range price (under $400) is worth it for a versatile 12-piece set suitable for everyday use.

Rated highly across the board by our Lab testers, at-home testers, and editors, these pans cook without burning, sticking, or scorching. Although Teflon has been long considered the best nonstick technology, these pans surpass it, with the ceramic coating retaining heat beautifully. However, the handles do get hot during use, so an oven mitt or kitchen towel is advisable.

This striking set features an aluminum core with a mineral-based ceramic coating free of PTFE/Teflon, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. Sturdy and durable, these pieces also come in several appealing colors.

One downside is the excessively tight lid seals, which can trap moisture and steam when not needed. Despite this, it's one of the top cookware sets we've tested, making it worth the splurge if you're seeking premium, lasting cookware.

We appreciated how evenly these pans distributed heat, preventing hot spots and ensuring uniformly cooked eggs and richly browned onions. The wide bases of the saucepan and stockpot provide more surface area for cooking and excellent burner contact. Although heavy, they remain well-balanced and steady on the stovetop, though they might be challenging for those with limited strength or mobility.

Designed with input from professional chefs, Made In's 7-piece nonstick set offers durability and performance despite its limited piece count. These robust pieces are crafted from 5-ply stainless steel and aluminum with a tough nonstick coating, and feature riveted handles for secure handling. The included 8-quart stockpot is exclusive to this set.

The set is well-balanced and lightweight; while the pieces might feel a bit cheap, they're a great value with the included utensils and baking sheet. Easy to clean except for the food sticking between rivets and pans, the entire set is dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is better.

This Farberware set, though inexpensive, offers excellent temperature consistency, great nonstick performance, and a good variety of tools. Omelets easily rolled out, and sauces and rice didn't stick or burn. However, the pans emitted a noticeable smell during initial heating, and it's not a Teflon-free option.

In continued testing, this set proved well worth the price tag. Each piece saw almost daily use, from frying eggs to making perfect caramel. Even after six months of heavy use, the pans looked brand new.

With its aluminum core, this Calphalon set performed well in distributing heat evenly. A bit of food sometimes stuck to the sides and rivets of the pan, but there was no major sticking in most tests. Initially, heating one of the pans in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven caused a slight chemical smell, so be aware of that at first use. Handles stayed warm but manageable, providing a comfortable grip. Heavy enough for stability, these pieces might be challenging for those with strength or mobility issues.

This classic Le Creuset set offers consistent temperatures and minimal sticking. Made of thick, heavy-gauge, hard-anodized aluminum with a triple-reinforced, scratch-resistant nonstick coating, it stands out despite its non-standard sizes. An 11-inch skillet and two complementing pots offer versatility and durability.

Compatible with various utensils, including metal, wood, nylon, and coated, this cookware features extra-long stainless steel handles that get hot during use.

Whether in the Lab or at home, we were consistently impressed by how quickly these pans heated, distributed heat, and retained warmth. The pans are heavy-duty, have a nice weight and thickness, and are easy to clean. While some food stuck around rivets, the overall nonstick performance was excellent.

Although pricey, the Calphalon set has been a favorite for years. Made from hard-anodized aluminum for extra durability, the 10-piece set includes essentials like an 8-quart stockpot and tempered glass lids.

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Calphalon Signature Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, praised for its beautiful design, ease of cleaning, and outstanding performance. For a well-crafted, long-lasting set with excellent temperature distribution, consider the Caraway Non-Toxic Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set, which is oven-safe up to 550 degrees.

How We Tested

Over the past two years, we've tested over 40 nonstick cookware sets in our Lab. We initially tested 25 nonstick cookware sets side-by-side in and evaluated their temperature consistency and distribution, nonstick performance, design, and ease of cleaning. Our testers took note of whether or not there was any chemical smell when heating the pans, whether there was major temperature disparity across different spots in each pan, whether there was any sticking while making French omelets, whether there was any scorching or sticking when heating tomato sauce, whether there was any sticking or burning when making rice pilaf, and whether there was any difficulty with cleaning.

We also did an additional round of testing in 2023 with the sets on this list (plus a dozen other popular picks) to evaluate how they performed when cooking scrambled and fried eggs, rice, and sautéing onions to see if our initial evaluation still held true. We also considered how comfortable these pans were to hold, how easy they are to maneuver, and how the separate pieces affect their overall value.

We also sent several nonstick cookware sets to our editors to test at home, as well as used many sets in our test kitchens to thoroughly test the durability of the nonstick coating.

We Observed

• Nonstick qualities of each piece: The most important factor for nonstick pans? The ability for foods to slide right off. We put the