Are you looking for a good nonstick cookware for your kitchen? Then, you’ve come to the right place. For us to guide you in your next purchase, we’ll be giving you some tips and review five of the best nonstick cookware for your home.
Nonstick cookware is popular due to its healthy way of cutting down the use of oil in frying food. It is also easy to clean since food doesn’t stick to the pan. If you’re excited to get your new set of nonstick cookware, read on to see the guidelines and reviews below.
**Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Set your Budget
Before you begin looking for the best nonstick cookware for your kitchen, set your budget. As much as possible, choose the best cookware that falls within your budget.
The price of a nonstick cookware set can go as low as $22 and as high as $2,000. No matter what your choice is, make sure that it offers the best value for your money. Always aim for durability over price if you want to save cost in the long run.
Know the Material
The life and safety of your cookware depend on the material used. You should choose a material that conducts heat evenly and doesn’t react with food. Here are some materials that you can select.
1. Cast Iron
Cast iron heats slower than most materials, but it heats evenly over high heat and remains hot for a long duration.
This material may react with food if not seasoned, so season with vegetable oil after every use. To make this material nonreactive to certain foods, look for an enameled coated cookware.
2. Aluminum
Aluminum conducts heat very well, but it reacts to certain acidic foods. It can also make your food taste metallic, that’s why pure aluminum cookware may not be advised.
However, if you combine this material with other nonreactive metals, like stainless steel, or anodized, it can generate a good cookware material, making it even stronger than stainless steel.
3. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is durable because it won’t crack, dent, and scratch. More importantly, it doesn’t react with food. However, it conducts heat poorly, that’s why other brands pair this material with another good conductor, either aluminum or copper. Once this type of cookware is damaged by heat, the discoloration will be difficult to remove.
4. Copper
Copper is a great conductor of heat as it transfers heat quickly throughout the pan.However, it may react to some foods except for sweet foods and egg whites.
If you want to opt for a durable cookware, choose copper pans lined with stainless steel. Copper pans lined with tin should be handled with care because they easily get scratches.
Special Features to Look for
Selecting from a wide array of nonstick cookware sets is a headache, especially if you don’t know what their features do. To make your selection easy, here are the features that you should look for a good nonstick cookware.
1. PTFE and PFOA Free
If you don’t want any toxic chemicals to leach into your food, look for a nonstick coating that is free from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Animal studies show that exposure to PFOA increases the risk of thyroid disease. Some great nonstick coating alternatives include thermolon and ceramic.
2. Warranty
If you want your cookware replaced or fixed for any broken parts, then look for a long warranty. Some brands offer a short warranty of two years while others offer a generous limited life warranty. Keep in mind that warranties are not applied to product misuse.
3. Comfortable Handles
A good nonstick cookware should have comfortable handles. They should remain cool even while cooking and slip-resistant. You can find cookware with metal or non-metal handles.
The metal handles may be more oven-safe than their non-metal counterparts, but they tend to get hot during cooking. Non-metal handles made from silicone or plastic may stay cool during cooking but they’re not safe to be placed inside the oven.
4. Glass Tempered Lids
If you like to see your food cooking inside the pan or pot, then a glass lid is recommended. A good lid should be glass tempered so that it stays strong against impacts. It should also fit snugly on the pot or pan so it securely stays in place.
Our Top 5 Picks
1. Paula Deen Signature Nonstick 15-Piece Porcelain Cookware Set
The Paula Dean Signature Nonstick Cookware Set includes two covered saucepans, one covered stockpot, one covered saute pan, one skillet, and five pieces of measuring spoon. Its exterior is dotted of porcelain, which promises to be durable, easy to clean, and stain resistant.
This 15-piece cookware set is made of teflon nonstick interior and a hefty aluminum construction. The handles are color coordinated, dual riveted, and soft to the touch.
All saucepans, stockpot, and saute pan have tempered glass lids which allow you to view the food while locking in flavors.
Pros
- Nice porcelain finish
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
- Comfortable handles
Cons
- Nonstick coating is not PTFE-free
- The nonstick coating easily peels off
- The handles easily get loose
- Small pots seem to be unbalanced
2. GreenLife 14-Piece Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set with Soft Grip, Turquoise
The GreenLife Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set looks good with its turquoise aluminum exterior. It’s coated with Thermolon, a healthy nonstick coating which has no PFOA. It’s made with a Stay-Cool Bakelite handle that is soft and cool to the touch during cooking.Made of lightweight aluminum, this cookware set has an excellent heat conduction ability. This 14-piece nonstick cookware set includes two fry pans, two saucepans with lids, one casserole with lid, one saute pan, and four nylon utensils.
Pros
- Stay-Cool Bakelite handle is comfortable and safe to touch while cooking
- Dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Easy to use, handle, and clean
- Nonstick coating is PFOA-free
Cons
- The handles may get dangerously hot and melt
- Scratches easily
- The non-stick coating diminishes after a few uses
3. Faberware Millennium Stainless Steel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set
The Faberware Millennium Cookware Set includes two covered saucepans, one covered stockpot, one covered saute, and two skillets. All pots and pans are made of durable stainless steel and thick aluminum cores to heat quickly and evenly.
This 10-piece cookware set is oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit since their handles are made of stainless steel. The Metal Guard nonstick coating promises to offer optimum nonstick performance. Meanwhile, the glass lids allow you to view your food while cooking.
Pros
- Great combination of stainless steel and aluminum construction
- Durable and oven-safe stainless steel handles
- Works with induction stovetops
- Heats food evenly
- Offers limited life warranty
Cons
- The handles may get hot during cooking, so use a potholder
- Skillets easily get scratches so avoid using metal utensils
- Overheated pans are not covered by its warranty
4. Cooks Standard 02487 8-Piece Hard Anodize Nonstick Cookware Set, Black
The Cooks Standard 02487 Cookware Set is made of durable hard anodized aluminum. Nonstick offers excellent performance and makes cleaning easy. Hefty gauge aluminum core offers even heat cooking without any hot spots.
This 8-piece set includes two covered saucepans, one covered stockpot, and two saute/skillet/fry pans. The stainless steel handle is ergonomically designed for comfort and riveted to add strength.
Pros
- The stainless steel handle is unbelievably cool during normal cooking
- Durable hard anodized aluminum construction
- Heats evenly
Cons
- Not suitable for induction cooking
- The Teflon nonstick coating seems to peels off after a few uses
- The handles are too big for small hands
5. Rachel Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange
This Rachel Ray Cookware Set includes a two covered saucepans, one covered stockpot, one covered saute, and two skillets. All pots and pans are made of dishwasher-safe hard anodized aluminum.
You can get a good grip on the handles as they’re made of rubber that is oven safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The tempered glass lids allow you to take a glance of your food during cooking without lifting. The safe nonstick coating makes cleanup a breeze as food easily slides off from the surface. It offers a lifetime limited warranty for parts replacement and repair.
Pros
- Durable and versatile hard anodized aluminum construction
- Nice lifetime limited warranty coverage
- PFOA-free nonstick coating
- Glass tempered lids snugs fitly into the pots and pans to lock in moisture and heat
- Comfortable rubberized handles
Cons
- The bottom may scratch very quickly
- The exterior may be difficult to clean
Verdict
Based on our ratings above, the Rachel Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece Cookware Set is the best nonstick cookware. This is because it has most of the features that you should look for in a good nonstick cookware such as limited life warranty, comfortable handles, PFOA-free nonstick coating, and glass tempered lids.
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