The 8 Best Induction Cookware Sets of 2023
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The Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply Stainless Cookware Set is our favorite for induction cooktops.
Real Simple / Brian Kopinski
There’s a wealth of pots and pans available for home chefs, including full cookware sets that make it easy to instantly fill your kitchen cupboard with all the tools you need to create delicious meals. But if you have an induction stovetop, not every cookware set is compatible with your kitchen setup.
“Induction cooktops work by sending an electric current through a coil of copper wire hidden beneath the flat surface of the cooktop,” says Roger Sitrin, lead recreational chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. “The current passes through the glass or ceramic top and reacts with iron, steel, or magnetic stainless steel cookware bottoms in order to generate heat.”
This means that if you’re cooking with a pot or pan that doesn’t have a magnetic bottom, it simply won’t heat up, which is why you need induction-compatible cookware. “A great way to determine if your cookware is induction-compatible is to hold a magnet up to the bottom of the pan,” says Sitrin. “If it sticks, you’re ready to cook on induction.”
While the magnet test does indeed work, we’ve saved you the trouble by researching the best induction cookware sets and evaluating them on material, temperature threshold, care, and number of pieces. Our top pick is the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply Stainless Cookware Set because it has all the pots and pans that a home chef could want, and it’s safe to use in the oven, broiler, dishwasher, andeven the freezer.
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply Stainless Cookware Set
Best Overall Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who want a complete cookware set they can buy once and use for years.
Who it isn’t for: People who want a nonstick cookware set.
Whether you’re looking to replace older pots and pans or you’re building your kitchen inventory from scratch, you’ve got to love a cookware set that has everything you need in one box. This Cuisinart set features a nice variety: two saucepans, two skillets, a saute pan, a stock pot with a steamer insert, and lids that fit tightly to lock in flavor and nutrients.
The triple-ply construction consists of an aluminum core and an exterior made of brushed stainless steel. Looks aren’t everything when it comes to cookware, but we can’t help but love the shiny brushed stainless steel finish of the Cuisinart set. The MultiClad Pro set features “Heat Surround” technology that creates an even distribution of heat on the bottom and sides of the pots, though the handle stays cool to the touch when you’ve got things cooking on the stove.
Not only is the set compatible with your induction cooktop, but it’s also built to withstand oven temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. We also love that the edges of the pots and pans are designed for an easy pouring experience, so you won’t have to clean up drips and other spills as you cook, plus the pots and lids are dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publish: $300
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid, steamer insert with lid (fits 3-qt. saucepan), and 8-and 10-inch skillets
Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
Temperature Range: Up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven, dishwasher, freezer, and broiler
Ninja Foodi NeverStick 11-Piece Cookware Set
Best Budget Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who want to fully stock their kitchen on a budget.
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want additional kitchen utensils.
Here’s a bit of kitchen trivia: Most cookware is created at a maximum temperature of 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not high enough to maintain its nonstick surface over the long term. The Ninja Foodi NeverStick Cookware, however, is made at a maximum temperature of a whopping 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows it to live up to its NeverStick name. Not only does it keep food from sticking to the surface, the nonstick surface won’t chip or flake, even if you use metal utensils.
This Ninja cookware set is great for use on induction cooktops and is oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It has an aluminum base for an even distribution of heat—no hot spots to worry about. You can use it to bake, saute, fry, boil, steam, braise, broil, and roast. Don’t want an arm workout with cast iron cookware? This is the perfect, lightweight replacement. The nonstick coating provides easy food release so you can use less butter or oil, too.
The set comes with two fry pans, two saucepans, a stockpot, and three utensils—a spatula, a slotted spoon, and a solid spoon—so you’ve got everything you need to cook up delicious spreads at home. The set is dishwasher safe, too, which is perfect for keeping the high-gloss black exterior clean.
Price at time of publish: $169
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 10.25-inch fry pan, 12-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart saucepan with glass lid, 2.5-quart saucepan with glass lid, 6.5-quart stock pot with glass lid, spatula, solid spoon, and slotted spoon
Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
Temperature Range: Up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven, dishwasher, and broiler
All-Clad D5 Stainless Brushed 5-Ply Bonded Cookware Set
Best Splurge Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: Serious home cooks who want a durable cookware set that’s optimized for induction cooktops.
Who it isn’t for: People who only cook on occasion may not get their money’s worth out of this set.
If you’re looking to take your kitchen skills to the next level, this All-Clad set will make you feel like a pro. It has a five-ply structure made from stainless steel and aluminum in alternating layers, making for sturdy cookware that won’t ever warp or get hotspots while cooking.
The All-Clad set is compatible with all types of stovetops, but it’s optimized for induction cooktops. It’s also safe to use in the oven and under the broiler up to a whopping 600 degrees Fahrenheit. The stainless steel handles are heat resistant, plus they offer a comfortable grip. The edges of the pots and pans are flared so you can pour out liquids and sauces easily without making a mess.
The All-Clad set is certainly a splurge, but given that it comes with all the cookware you could want—two fry pans, two saucepans, a saute pan, and a stock pot—we think you’ll have all you need to whip up the entrees and side dishes you want for many years to come.
Price a time of publish: $1,430
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 8- and 10-inch fry pans, 1.5- and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3-quart sauté pan with lid, and 8-quart stock pot with lid
Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
Temperature Range: Up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven and broiler
Caraway Cookware Set
Best Ceramic Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People looking for an alternative to traditional nonstick cookware.
Who it isn’t for: People who want dishwasher-safe cookware.
This set of ceramic-coated pots and pans makes a great alternative to traditional nonstick (Teflon), which can be dangerous when used at temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The slick nonstick surface makes for easier cleanup (which is important given that this set is not dishwasher-safe).
This set comes with a fry pan, sauté pan, saucepan, and a Dutch oven, along with matching lids. It’s all that you need to create delicious meals at home without crowding your cupboards with additional pots and pans you don’t need. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to crowd your cabinets with the Caraway set. It comes with a magnetic pan rack that allows you to store the pans neatly on their sides—think of arranging books on a shelf—and a canvas lid holder that attaches to the inside of the cabinet. We’d honestly love this ceramic set regardless of what it looks like, but the colors and sleek design seal the deal.
Price at time of publish: $395
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 10.5-inch fry pan, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 4.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 6.5-quart Dutch oven with lid, canvas lid holder, modular pan racks
Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum, stainless steel handles
Temperature Range: Up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5-Piece Set
Best Cast Iron Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who want highly durable cookware that can be used for both indoor and outdoor cooking.
Who it isn’t for: People who want lightweight pots and pans and people who want to avoid the upkeep of cast iron.
Some cookware looks so delicate that even the most experienced home chef would be reluctant to use it. Then there’s cookware that can be used over a bonfire and still remain unscathed for years and years. The Lodge cast iron four-piece cookware set belongs in that latter category, and that’s why we love it.
While some lighter pans profess to cook food in a way that’s similar to cast iron, this is the real deal. This set might be smaller in comparison to others on our list, but you get the best of the basics: two skillets, a round griddle, and a Dutch oven with a lid that also fits one of the skillets. These pieces are all you need for just about every cooking method—broiling, braising, frying, roasting, searing, baking, and more.
The secret is in the seasoning: It’s coated with 100 percent vegetable oil, as opposed to anything chemical or synthetic. And as anyone who’s cooked with cast iron will tell you (because it’s true), the more you cook with it, the more the seasoning works its magic. As with all cast iron cookware, you’ll need to wash and dry the cast iron pots and pans by hand, then give it a quick massage with some cooking oil to prep it for the next use.
Price at time of publish: $150
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 8-inch skillet, 10.25-inch skillet, 10.5-inch griddle, 5-quart Dutch oven, and 10.25-inch iron cover
Material: Cast iron
Temperature Range: Up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven, broiler, stovetop, grill, and campfire
Related:The 6 Best Cast Iron Skillets of 2023
Cooks Standard Classic Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Best Stainless Steel Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who want stainless steel cookware with handles that stay cool as you transfer it from the stovetop to the oven and back.
Who it isn’t for: People who want a cookware set that comes with a saute pan.
There's a reason stainless steel appliances and cookware are such a hit. Not only are they easy to keep clean, but they're attractive to boot. That's why we love this 10-piece stainless steel set from Cooks Standard. It features two fry pans, two saucepans with lids, a universal steamer, and a covered stockpot.
It's made of 18-10 stainless steel, meaning it has 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel for superior rust resistance. The bottoms of the pots and pans feature an impact bonding aluminum disc that helps heat to be evenly distributed without any hot spots. The handles remain cool, so you can take the pots and pans from the cooktop to the oven (max 500 degrees Fahrenheit) with ease.
Price at time of publish: $200
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 1-1/2-quart and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8-inch and 10-inch open skillets; 6-quart covered stockpot, and universal steamer insert with cover
Material: Stainless steel
Temperature Range: Oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but manufacturer recommends low-to-medium heat on cooktop
Related:The 5 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets, According to Our Tests
Gotham Steel Hammered Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set
Best Copper Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who like the look of copper cookware but need an induction-safe set.
Who it isn’t for: People who want genuine copper cookware.
Copper conducts heat extremely well and distributes that heat evenly to avoid hotspots. This means newbies and experienced home chefs will cook food like a pro with less burning and, even better, less sticking to the surface of the cookware. However, copper on its own is not compatible with induction stovetop. Fortunately, this set from Gotham Steel marries the look of hammered copper cookware with the conduction of aluminum and the easy cleanup of ceramic nonstick. Not only will you save energy on scrubbing pots when you’re done cooking, but you’ll also save fat and calories because you won’t need butter or oil to keep your food from sticking in the first place.
You’ll have a fully loaded kitchen with this set, which comes with a stock pot, two saucepans pots, a steamer insert, and two fry pans. The nonstick surface is highly durable—it even stands up to metal utensils, so no need to go out and buy a whole new set of spoons and spatulas. The pots and pans are oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, even the lids, which are made from tempered glass. The hammered copper pots are even easier to keep clean—just put them in the dishwasher when you’re done.
Price at time of publish: $180
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 8.5-inch fry pan, 10.25-inch fry pan with lid, 1.5- and 2.5-quart saucepans with lids, 5-quart stock pot with lid, and a stainless steel steamer
Material: Aluminum core with titanium and ceramic coating
Temperature Range: Up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Oven and dishwasher
T-fal Professional Nonstick Cookware Set
Best Nonstick Induction Cookware Set
Who it’s for: People who want a comprehensive nonstick cookware set that stores together neatly.
Who it isn’t for: People who want cookware that’s broiler safe or oven safe past 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nonstick coatings make a world of difference in the kitchen for both beginner and experienced home chefs. Not only do nonstick surfaces on cookware make for much easier cleanup, but you don’t have to resort to using so much butter and oil to keep your food from sticking in the first place. We like this 10-piece nonstick set from T-fal because it has everything you need to cook up both small and large dishes.
Aside from the variety in this set—two fry pans, three saucepans, a Dutch oven, and lids—we like the features. This set is oven safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, plus there’s a thermo spot on the frying pans to tell you when the pot is hot enough to begin cooking. The set is dishwasher safe, though the nonstick coating should make it easy enough to wash by hand as well. We love that you can use metal utensils on the nonstick coating—not a given with all nonstick sets. Every component stacks up neatly, too, so you won’t have to worry about it taking up too much space in your cabinets.
Price at time of publish: $285
Product Details:
Included Pieces: 8- and 10.25-inch fry pans; 1-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids; 5-quart Dutch oven with lid
Material: Stainless steel with nonstick coating
Temperature Range: Up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe For: Dishwasher and oven
Related:The 8 Best Nonstick Cookware Sets of 2023
Final Verdict
We like the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply Stainless Cookware Set best of all because it comes with all the pots and pans any home cook could ask for. What’s more, it's safe for induction stovetops, as well as the oven, dishwasher, broiler, and even the freezer. For a more budget-friendly option, the Ninja Foodi NeverStick Cookware Set has a nonstick surface that’s chip-resistant and can be used on a variety of cooking surfaces, including induction stovetops.
How to Shop for Induction Cookware Sets Like a Pro
Material
Sitrin explains that cast iron and enameled cast iron are induction compatible, though not all stainless steel cookware is. (The Cooks Standard Classic Stainless Steel Cookware Set that made our list is indeed induction compatible.) “Some manufacturers make stainless steel pans that would not be compatible with induction, but then they apply a layer of magnetic compatible stainless steel to the bottom of the pan to make it work on induction,” explains Sitrin.
Temperature Range
As with all cookware, induction or otherwise, you’ll want to ensure that the temperature range will allow you to cook the way you want to. Want to put your cookware under the broiler? Better make sure it’s oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. For stovetop cooking, some cookware is better for use on low-to-medium heat, so check temperature ranges before you purchase any cookware sets.
Care and Cleaning
Sitrin says it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for care. He notes that not all finishes are dishwasher safe, and you should also hand wash anything with a plastic or wood handle. “I always hand-wash my cookware and store them stacked with a soft piece of fabric or packing material to prevent chipping, scratching, and dents,” he says. Avoid placing a hot pan in cold water, as it can warp. For baked-on grease, Sitrin recommends using Bar Keepers Friend.
Included Pieces
Sitrin recommends the following pieces to build a good set of cookware: a 10- or 12-inch skillet, a large Dutch oven, a 12-inch straight-sided sauté pan, an 8-inch nonstick pan, a large stock pot, and 2- and 4-quart sauciers or saucepans. Nearly all of the products on our best induction cookware sets fit the bill, though he notes these are the same size pots he’d recommend regardless of the type of stovetop you’re using.
Related:The 9 Best Cookware Sets of 2023
Questions You Might Ask
What are the pros and cons of induction?
“[Induction cooking is] a very efficient way to transfer energy into heat,” says Sitrin. “It’s fast and accurate.” He notes that its energy efficiency means it’s better for the environment, too. However, the drawback is that the pan must always be on the hot cooktop in order for it to cook well. “This can be inconvenient if you are used to taking the pan off the surface of the stove to shake it while sautéing,” he explains.
What is the best cookware to use on an induction cooktop?
Sitrin notes that there are many cookware brands that are suitable for induction cooktops. “Remember all cast iron and enameled cast iron pans are induction ready,” he says, though he admits the price point and heaviness of cast iron isn’t for everyone. “Manufacturers like All-Clad, T-fal, and Cuisinart all make induction-compatible stainless-steel pans that are both lighter and less costly,” he says. Those are indeed the reasons all three brands made our best induction cookware list.
How do you tell if a pan is suitable for induction?
You won’t ruin a non-induction pot by putting it on an induction stove, but you won’t be cooking any food anytime soon. That’s because induction cooktops transfer heat through a magnetic field, which is why you also need cookware to be magnetic. Induction cookware will be marketed accordingly, but if you want to make doubly sure, Sitrin says try the magnet test: If a magnet sticks to the bottom of the pot or pan, it’s compatible with your induction cooktop.
Sitrin also says your pots and pans should not be rounded on the bottom: “It is important that the bottom of your pan be as flat as possible,” he explains. “Poor contact with the cooktop will prevent the pan from heating.”
Related:The 10 Best Frying Pans of 2023
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, New York. To compile this list of best induction cookware sets, she researched products from top brands while considering their material and construction, the number and variety of the cookware pieces, and what temperature range they are suitable for, among other features. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing induction cookware sets, Barbara consulted Roger Sitrin, lead recreational chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.
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