Top 4 Induction Cookware Sets
Renovating your kitchen or upgrading appliances adds value to your home and an important part of the upgrade is deciding on the best cooktop. Modern homes often have a state of the art induction cooktop installed instead of a gas or electric range. If you choose induction, it’s important to understand that you’re also going to have to have compatible cookware.
We’ll give you our top picks for induction cookware and reviews. We’ll go over the important features to consider when checking out the different cookware sets.
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Best Induction Cookware Under $300
#1 Cuisinart Multiclad Pro 12-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
An elegant and versatile, well constructed stainless steel cookware set. Using ‘Heat Surround Technology’, simply means that the heat is distributed evenly throughout the pan resulting in efficient and even cooking.
Brushed stainless steel exterior with a polished stainless steel ‘ lip’ looks good but more importantly performs well. The lip makes pouring from the pans easy. And for continued cooking pans can be transferred directly into the oven. Versatile, and by the way, excellent for glass top stoves.
- Suitable for any cooktop
- Oven safe to 550ºf
- Tapered rims make pouring easy
- Cool grip handles
- Stylish look, brushed stainless steel with polished lip
- Dishwasher safe
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Cleaning the stainless steel needs more care to keep it looking great
#2 Circulon Symmetry Anodized non stick 11 piece cook set
Cookware that ticks all the boxes. Induction, non stick cookware, dishwasher safe, hassle-free cookware. Available in a choice of either black or brown to co-ordinate with your kitchen.
The ‘Total Food Release System’ is the technology used to create the non stick coating on the surface and makes cleaning up easy.
Cookware is light in weight despite the heavy base and so easy to handle.
- Suitable for any cooktop
- Oven safe to 400ºf
- Non stick pots and pans
- Rubberized grip on handles
- Available in black and brown
- Dishwasher safe
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Although diswasher safe, hand washing the pans will prolong the non stick qualities
Best Induction Cookware Under $250
#3 Duxtop 17 piece Stainless Steel Induction Cookware
Duxtop stainless steel cookware was created with induction cooking in mind. The product has been designed by Secura, a popular brand that produces induction cooktops, hence the synergy.
The set includes everything: casserole pan, stockpot, frying pans, steamer basket, in fact 17 quality pieces. The base is made from heavy guage, impact bonded aluminium which provides good even cooking.
A good value buy for induction cooking that will work just as well on all cooktops.
- Commercial grade stainless steel
- Aluminium encapsulated base for even heat distribution
- Suitable for any cooktop
- Ergonomically shaped handles for easy control
- Handles are riveted giving a sturdy, strong feel
- Attractively designed cookware
- Oven safe to 550ºf/ lids to 350ºf
- Safe for freezer
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not non stick
- Frying pans don't have lids
Best Induction Cookware Under $100
#1 T-Fal Professional Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Induction Base Cookware
Cheap on price induction cookware, without being cheap on style and detail.
Outstanding features are the ‘Thermo Spot’ heat indicator that shows when the pan is at perfect cooking temperature. Particularly handy to have for novice cooks.
This cookset offers versatility. You have the ability to transfer the pans directly to the oven to finish off cooking and use on any cooktop. Non stick coating and strong, quality handles.
- Thermo-spot technology
- 'Pro Metal Pro' non stick
- Hard anodized construction
- Suitable for any cooktop
- Handles are riveted giving a sturdy, strong feel
- Oven safe to 350ºf
- Limited warranty
Cons
- Frying pans don't have lids/ lids not interchangeable
- We suggest you don't use metal utensils so you can retain scratch resistance feature
What To Look For When Shopping for the Best Induction Cookware
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Why do I need to find the best cookware for induction cooktops when I already have a set of pots and pans?”
A. The cooking mechanism is different. With induction cooking, a magnetic field between the pot and magnetic coils under the cooking surface heats up. This energy heats the pot and cooks your food.
Induction cooking has 3 benefits.
- It’s much safer (the cooking surface barely gets hot)
- it’s more energy efficient
- your food cooks quicker
When shopping for induction cookware, you should take these factors into consideration.
Number of pieces in the set
Cookware sets will come with a variety of pots, pans, lids, and even utensils or accessories. When you’re looking for the perfect set for your needs, consider what kind of cooking you do and how frequently you cook.
For example, if you don’t cook often, you won’t need a large set. Keep in mind – the larger the set, usually the more expensive.
What materials are the pans are made from
Because induction cooking uses magnetic fields, you aren’t going to be able to use glass, ceramic, or copper cookware – unless they have a magnetic bottom. The most common materials used to make induction cookware include:
- Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is the best material for induction cooking. Unfortunately, not all stainless steel cookware is created the same. Typically, the sets that are on the lower end of the price range will not give you even cooking. There are some brands that will have an aluminum or copper core sandwiched between the stainless steel to make the pan safe for induction cooking and promote even cooking.
- Cast Iron: Cast iron can be a little expensive, but when you take care of it, will last you a lifetime. It provides even heat when it’s on a lower cooking setting. Keep in mind that because cast iron is pretty thick, it’s going to take longer to heat up and cool down, so you’ll want to be mindful of little ones so they don’t accidentally touch the pan.
- Aluminum: Not only is aluminum a great heat conductor, it’s lightweight, affordable, and it isn’t going to rust. Unfortunately aluminum by itself isn’t going to work on an induction cooktop. You’ll need an aluminum pan with a stainless steel plate on the bottom. This plate is going to generate the heat from the cooktop and then pass it through to the rest of the pan for cooking.
Quality Vs Price
When it comes to shopping for your cookware, you need to think about what’s important to you. If you’re on a budget you may opt for a cheaper set. The cheaper set may not be of the best quality. If you don’t want to have to purchase new pans in a few years but don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can choose to purchase higher quality pans as you need them, or a small set of quality pans.
What type of material is the handle made from?
The handle of your cookware is an important factor to consider because you don’t want to burn yourself! The most common types of handles will usually be a rubberized stainless steel or molded silicone.
What’s the warranty like?
Purchasing cookware is going to be an investment and you’ll want to protect that investment by ensuring the cookware set has some kind of warranty. Look for cookware that has a manufacturers lifetime warranty, as it will give you the best protection for your investment.
Our Recommendation
Searching for the best cookware for induction cooktops doesn’t have to be as challenging as you may think. Of all the induction cookware brands on the market, Cuisinart is one of the most notable. We particularly like the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro 12-piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set because it comes with 12 pieces, everything is dishwasher safe and the pieces can be used in the oven. In terms of versatility, this set reigns supreme!
Of course, if you’re on a tight budget, the T-Fal Professional Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Induction Base Cookware set is the best induction cookware set that isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg.
Resources:
- Wikipedia
- The Spruce
- Kitchn
- Cnet
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