Best Stainless Steel Cookware Set

“Read why this set is rated the best stainless steel cookware set on the internet”

Many years ago when we first started this website, we were contacted by a reader who needed some help with purchasing a set of stainless steel cookware. This person didn’t just want any old cookware – they wanted the best they could get for their money – they just didn’t know where to start.

Now we don’t sell cookware ourselves – we research the products and pass the information on to you, the consumer. So we were able to assist our reader by providing unbiased recommendations based on what we knew at the time.

Some time later, this person contacted us to say she considered our recommendations but eventually went with a completely different cookware set which she was so pleased with that she couldn’t wait to tell us all about it. In fact, she was more than pleased, she was ecstatic!

Our mistake…

At the time we were researching brands like All Clad and Calphalon and really hadn’t much to do with the cookware she was recommending and even though she raved about it, we didn’t take too much notice and just brushed it off as one person’s opinion.

How wrong were we! We had been focusing on what we thought were the best cookware brands and totally missed this jewel in the crown.

“All Clad Quality Without the All Clad Price”

Once we finally got around to looking into this cookware in more detail, we confirmed what the hundreds of reviewers from all over the internet were saying – that this was, as one reader put it, “All Clad quality without the All Clad price tag”.

Now at this point you’re probably wondering what brand of cookware we are talking about but bear with us as before you go racing off to buy it you need to know a couple of vital facts.

Don’t worry…there are only 2 quick and easy things you need to know but without this important information you may get sidetracked and spot a cheaper brand and think that will do the job. But believe me when I say that cheap cookware is cheap for a reason.

What else do you need to know?

Of course there are other things to consider when buying stainless steel such as ensuring it is dishwasher safe, oven and broiler safe, that it has strong riveted handles and it has lids that fit securely.

We Knew That We Had a Winner!!

So what is the cookware set that our reader raved about so long ago?… I almost feel like a drum roll would be appropriate here but let’s not stall any longer. The cookware set she was referring to is the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set. (<–By the way, that’s an affiliate link direct to Amazon if you want to check it out right now. )

This set has all the attributes spoken about above and more. But not only that, this cookware set is consistently given a 5 star rating by consumers on the net. In fact, the lowest overall rating we have ever seen for this set is 4.5 stars. We knew then that we were on to a winner!

Let’s Take a Look in More Detail

Note: Since writing this review, we have purchased the latest version of the Multiclad Set and have tested it for some time now. However, we not only test it, but we both use it on a daily basis. We are happy to report that this set has the same exquisite good looks, beautiful finish and performs every bit as well as the old set that we have.

First of all this set meets all of the criteria as set out above ie. it has an aluminum core that runs up the sides of each pot or pan but lets take a closer look at some of its other features.

What’s in the Box?

It includes all the basics and more including 2 covered saucepans, 2 skillets, a covered sauté pan, a covered stock pot and a steamer insert with lid. You really shouldn’t need much else. (Note that the steamer fits into the 3qt saucepan.)

How Much Should You Pay for this Set?

The retail price of this set is generally around $299, however that doesn’t mean that you should be paying this amount particularly if you buy online. We check prices regularly and you can get it for a lot cheaper than this on Amazon. It averages around the $240 mark on Amazon BUT it does go even cheaper than that at times. If you can get it under $220 then you have a bargain and under $200 then you’ve hit the jackpot so you’d definitely want to snap it up.

Is it Cheaper to Buy Individual Pieces or the Whole Set?

It is cheaper to buy the set. Prices tend to fluctuate of course but as of the date of writing this the total cost of buying each piece individually came close to $400. This is at least $150 more than what you should be paying. It is definitely cheaper to buy the set.

What Are the Lids Like?

Each piece of this set includes a lid except for the skillets of course. Its’ quite unusual for a cookware set to do this as often the lids will fit two or more pans so many manufacturers don’t bother including a lid for each pot or pan.

The lids form a tight seal to ensure that moisture doesn’t escape but at the same time they are not too tight. There has to be some room for steam to escape.

What are the rims like?

The rim edges are rounded and smooth which makes pouring so much easier. We compared it to the All Clad stainless steel line of cookware and have to admit that we prefer Cuisinart. You can see in the image that the rims on All Clad cookware are completely straight.

Is it Oven Safe?

Yes, definitely. This set is oven safe to 500F so it makes it easy to sear your foods on the stove top and then take it straight to the oven without having to transfer to another piece of cookware.

Is it Safe to Use on Induction Stove Tops?

I checked the Cuisinart website and they do indicate that this set is safe to use on induction stove tops….nice!

What Are the Handles Like?

The handles are riveted and are made from solid 18/10 stainless steel. The handles are cool to touch on the stove top although if you leave them for long enough they will end up getting hot…but it will take a while. They are not cool to touch in the oven so ensure you use oven mitts.

We compared the handles to the All Clad stainless steel range and both of us preferred the feel of the Cuisinart handles. The All Clad handles turned up at the edges and just felt uncomfortable to hold especially when the pot was full of food.

Is it Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, this set is dishwasher safe so you won’t need to hand wash this one. However, we always recommended hand washing any piece of cookware you own. They will look better for longer.

Does it Come With a Warranty?

A limited lifetime warranty is included and covers defects in material and workmanship under normal home use from date of original purchase.

How Much Does it Weigh?

The entire set weighs approximately 26 pounds.

– 10 inch skillet – approx 3 pounds
– 8 inch skillet – approx 2 pounds
– 1.5qt saucepan – approx 2.8 pounds
– 3qt saucepan – approx 3 pounds
– 3.5qt sauté pan – approx 5.2 pounds
– 8qt stockpot – approx 6.8 pounds
– steamer insert – approx 2.8 pounds

What is it Made of?

The set is made from 18/10 stainless steel. In fact it has two layers of stainless steel and sandwiched between them is a layer of aluminum which runs along the base and up the sides of each pan. The aluminum core ensures even cooking so you won’t get those nasty hot spots and the cookware will react quickly to temperature changes.

What about 18/10 stainless steel?

One of the things we used to look for in a quality set of stainless steel cookware was that it was 18/10. Basically this meant that there was a mix of alloys (chromium and nickel) making the stainless steel one of good quality. Unfortunately we can no longer do this as cookware companies are moving away from branding their cookware as 18/10, 18/8 and so on. One reason for this is that as more and more people use induction stove tops and cookware manufacturers must move towards making their cookware compatible and hence the alloys may vary within the product. If the alloys vary they can no longer brand their cookware with a specific alloy mix.

Cuisinart, Calphalon and we suspect Kitchenaid went down this road by not labelling their products as 18/10 a couple of years ago. In fact, a representative from Calphalon contacted us to let us know that we needed to change our Calphalon Tri-Ply review because we mentioned 18/10 and they no longer market their products as such.

Like other brands such as Calphalon and Kitchenaid, Cuisinart also stopped branding their cookware as 18/10, however we’re pleased to let you know that the latest version of the Multiclad Pro 12pc Set is 18/10, at least parts of it are. The outside of the pan won’t be 18/10 because if it were, it would not work on an induction stove top. The parts of the cookware that would be 18/10 are the inside of the pan, the lids and the handles.

Any Complaints?

We really can’t find anything bad to say about this Cuisinart stainless cookware set. This is a quality set that receives exceptional ratings compared to most other cookware sets in this price range and is still our top pic for a good stainless steel cookware set. 75% Amazon reviewers have given this set a 5 star rating and 10% a 4 star rating. Those are pretty good statistics.

We personally both use it and love it and have done so for many years now.

Where Can I Get the Best Price?

We check prices regularly for this cookware set and by far the best price has always been at Amazon. You can head over there now and check it out.