14 best pan sets to shop in 2025 from Le Creuset to Stanley Tucci

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Cook up a feast with our expert-tested pans

Our humble pots and pans can be put through a lot in the kitchen, especially if you love cooking and trying out new recipes (we’re guilty of sticking a fair few ‘inventions’ to the bottom of our pans). And while you can upgrade them one pan at a time, investing in a brand new set is likely to save you money, as brands often bundle items together at lower prices.

With our cookware going through so much use, it’s wise to invest in the best pan set you can afford. However, with some coming at premium prices, it can be tricky to know which are genuinely worth your money. That’s where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in.

The best pan sets should heat up quickly and evenly, deliver delicious results, and be easy to clean afterwards (no scrubbing necessary). So, we put the market leaders to the test to find the top buys for home cooks.

With so many brands offering pots and pans, it can be difficult to know what to choose. Celebrity chef, presenter and Great British Bake Off star, Briony May, has some quick tips to consider while shopping the best cookware sets.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we test pan sets using a range of different ingredients – including meat, sauces, caramel and rice – across gas, electric and ceramic hobs. To find the best frying pans, we also flip pancakes and cook eggs, to see if heat is distributed evenly.

Our experts also look at non-stick capabilities and see how easy the pan is to clean after use. If it claims to be oven safe, we test it at its highest recommended temperature, and those that claim to be safe to go in the dishwasher are washed numerous times to see how they fare.

We've listed our best buys for every kitchen below, and keep reading for a handy breakdown of the different pan types and the hobs they work best for.

Score: 92/100

These winning pans made cooking and cleaning easy. The effective non-stick coating meant we only had to wipe them down to clean, while they also stayed in top condition after a cycle in the dishwasher. They’re easy to stack too, making storage simple, and the handles were comfortable to use.

We would have liked the pans to be more responsive when we lowered the heat, as they took a while to cool down, and they were generally slow on induction hobs, but otherwise, they’re super durable and will make a wise investment.

Score: 91/100

With quick heat-up times and a reliable non-stick design, this pan set impressed, especially considering its affordable price tag.

Minced meat browned particularly evenly in the frying pan, and there was minimal food residue left in the pans after use. The full set can also go in the dishwasher for easy clean-up. Note, though, that this set is not suitable for induction hobs.

Score: 90/100

With Gordon Ramsay as the brand’s infamous chef partner, we were expecting big things from these Hexclad pans – and we weren’t disappointed.

From first impressions, it’s clear the set is high quality. Hexclad’s signature hexagonal steel ridges cover the pans, while the stainless-steel finishes are sleek, strong and durable. The hexagonal ridges aren’t just for show though; they house tiny ‘valleys’ and work together to boost searing power while creating a non-stick surface.

The non-stick lives up to its claims too, acing our sticky caramel test, although some food stuck when we used the pans in the oven. We’d have liked a spout to make pouring liquids and sauces easier too, but otherwise, this set excelled across the board, barely dropping a mark on our food performance tests. Of course, the pans are pricey but they’re dishwasher-friendly and come with a lifetime warranty, making them a worthy investment if your budget can stretch.

Score: 90/100

For anyone looking for an affordable set that can be used on induction hobs, try these robust pans. Suitable for all hob types, their handles and lids remained cool on test. The non-stick coating also impressed, with pans needing little more than a quick rinse after use.

Testers noted the particularly effective steam vents and secure lids (even at full boil), while meat browned beautifully and our white sauce reduced at a steady rate. In fact, only our pancake efforts were a tad disappointing, taking a little longer to brown than with some of the other sets we tested. Overall though, this set is excellent value for money.

Score: 90/100

Living up to the brand's stellar reputation, Le Creuset’s set is a quality investment. Cooking notoriously difficult caramel was effortless, as there was no sticking or burning on any hob type and it also rinsed off easily.

After completing all our tests, the pans were still in pristine condition. They’re heavy, though, and the metal handles and lids can get hot, so keep oven gloves close by. They're pricey, but as they come with a lifetime warranty, these may well be the only pans you ever need to buy...

Score: 88/100

Our Place has taken its Instagram-famous Perfect Pot 2.0 and Always Pan 2.0 and made them mini – ideal for singles, couples or those with limited storage space in their kitchens. Both are oven-safe and compatible with all stove tops, including induction hobs. They also boast Our Place’s signature aesthetically pleasing design and come in a range of chic, muted shades.

In our tests, they cooked mince and onions like pros, with Our Place’s special Thermakind™ non-stick ceramic coating ensuring there was no sticking or burning, and cleaning was effortless (note, they aren’t dishwasher-safe, so you’ll need to hand wash). We made some beautiful fried eggs, too. The slot in the handle for storing your spatula also came in handy for mess-free mixing.

The only hiccup came when we were cooking caramel as there was a tiny bit of sticking – but caramel is notoriously tricky. Our testers also found the handles’ square shape took some getting used to and they could sometimes get quite hot, so make sure to use your oven gloves if you’re lifting them. Otherwise, this is a versatile and stylish duo.

Score: 87/100

Designed with Scoville’s innovative Neverstick technology, which the brand claims is five times stronger than other non-sticks, these pans promise top-quality results. Drumroll, the results are in…

Scoring full marks on our pancake, caramel, mince, and fried eggs test, these pots and pans impressed. Heat distributed evenly across all hob types, and any food easily washed out with a soapy sponge.

Milk took a while to boil (over seven minutes on an induction hob) and the saucepans weren’t very responsive to changing temperatures, causing the pan to boil over on both ceramic and gas. They’re not the most comfortable to hold either (especially when full) but they’re durable, easy to stack or hang and great value.

Score: 87/100

These pans are green in more ways than one – they’re made with 75% recycled aluminium and are all recyclable. They also have a plant-based, non-stick coating that’s free from palm oil.

Eco-credentials aside, they were pleasing to cook with too – the non-stick coating meant food slid or poured out easily, leaving little to clean up afterwards. We’d suggest keeping them out of the dishwasher though, as there was some damage after a number of washes.

Score: 86/100

This well-designed pan set was a hit with our testers. The lids include a built-in strainer for easily prepping your cooked rice and pasta while the spouts on the saucepans make transferring sauces a breeze. We had no issues with storage either, as this set is both stackable and easily hung.

Eggs and pancakes both cooked evenly without sticking, but a soapy sponge was needed to remove the residue from thick sauces like caramel. We recommend sticking with the hand washing too – our testers found the pans came out the dishwasher with slight scratches and a dullness around the rim.

Score: 85/100

The Always Pan 2.0 can be placed in an oven up to 230°C, making it even more versatile than the original Always Pan that sparked a waitlist of more than 50,000 people. And this new sturdier pot proved itself to be a reliable addition to the kitchen in our lab tests, cooking mince and onions well with only a little sticking when used on an induction hob; and coping impressively with sticky caramel – washing up required little scrubbing.

The Always Pan 2.0 comes with a steamer basket and colander, a wooden spatula (that can be slotted into the handle when not in use), a steam-release lid and two pouring cups. It’s also made with Our Place’s special non-stick technology. While it impressed in our lab tests, after a few months of using the pan, some of our testers noticed changes in the non-stick and scratches to the pan – something definitely worth bearing in mind if you’re planning to use it almost every day of the week.

All in all, it's a reliable pan that’s light, easy to use, and comes in a range of colours that would suit any kitchen aesthetic.

We’ve also tested the Always Pan Pro (80/100), a titanium and stainless-steel version of this one, which is designed to be more durable and is oven-safe up to 400°C, as well as the Our Place Titanium Pro Cookware Set (85/100), which includes the Titanium Always Pan Pro, a Mini Always Pan Pro, a Perfect Pot Pro, and a mini Perfect Pot Pro with lids, spatula and a spoon.

Score: 85/100

While it’s not the cheapest pan set on test, it is excellent quality for its price. The frying pan reached optimum temperature for frying eggs in a speedy two-and-a-half minutes, and cooked them to perfection.

When cooking minced meat, some stuck to the pan though, and we had to scrub fairly hard to remove it. And despite their ergonomic design, the thin handles weren’t the comfiest to hold, especially if the pan was full. However, well-rounded sides make it easy to serve up food and the pans stack away securely.

Score: 85/100

This set reached 180 degrees in one minute and 50 seconds, making it the ideal choice for those who want speedy meals. The heat was also evenly distributed, meaning our minced meat had an even colour on test, and its non-stick impressed too, making flipping a pancake effortless.

It took a long time to bring our milk to a simmer and, despite having steam vents, we also noticed steam escaping between the pot rim and the lid during our boiling test, which can make the saucepan lids rattle and heat up the handles.

Note, this set isn’t suitable for induction hobs.

Score: 83/100

For those after that sleek, stainless-steel look, this set offers a cheaper alternative to the Le Creuset above. On test, the frying pan scored highly for its non-stick skills, as both pancakes and fried eggs cooked beautifully and slid easily out of the pan. Frying mince and onions created some crispy remnants that needed extra scrubbing, but a little elbow grease did the trick.

It took four minutes to boil milk on both gas and induction hobs and the pans responded quickly by returning to a simmer within 15 seconds, which meant there was no boiling over. The pan’s spout made it easy to pour the milk out afterwards too.

Score: 82/100

GreenPan launched this large 11-piece set in collaboration with actor and foodie Stanley Tucci. And like Tucci, they’re suave and stylish. They’re also designed with versatility and quality in mind. Each pan is made with an aluminium body, and the ceramic non-stick coating contains layers of diamonds for boosting heat transfer and durability. Note, they are heavy, but in test, the non-stick proved effective, with milk boiling in just over three minutes on our gas hob – the fastest of the hob types tested.

Across our food tests, there was minimal sticking or burning, with pancakes coming out evenly browned and fried eggs sliding easily out the pan. Even cleaning out tricky caramel wasn’t difficult – just a quick soak and a wipe down was all that was needed.

You can pop the set in the dishwasher, but we noticed the coating chipped on its fifth cycle, so we recommend hand washing to prolong the quality. These are large pans, so they’ll take up a lot of space in your kitchen, but they look so good, you probably won’t mind.

Before you buy, you need to establish what type of cookware will be suitable for your hob. Many manufacturers put symbols on the bottom of their cookware to show which heat source it will work with.

Here’s a quick guide to the main hob types.

Ceramic hobs

Use any pans except for ones made from copper or stainless steel with an exposed copper base. Make sure the pan has a smooth, flat base to provide the best contact with the hob ring.

Traditional cast-iron pans can be used, but be careful not to drag them across the hob as they may cause damage.

Gas hobs

All pans are suitable for gas hobs. Remember to regulate the flame to prevent it from extending beyond the base of the pan, as this can damage the handle and waste gas.

Induction hobs

Pans must have a magnetic material in the base, such as cast iron or stainless steel, to work on induction hobs. Pure aluminium or copper pans won't work.

An indicator light on the hob will start flashing if it’s not the correct type of pan, or it will simply not heat up.

All sets in our roundup can be used across all hob types apart from the Amazon Basics and Tefal Essential sets.

You also need to consider the material of the pans you’re using. Here are the pros and cons.

Aluminium

Many aluminium pans have an enamel coating on the outside and a non-stick coating on the inside. This makes them tough, easy to clean and resistant to scratching and staining.

You can also get hard-anodised or cast aluminium – which looks like cast iron but has the weight and good heat conductivity of aluminium. Uncoated aluminium pans are not suitable for cooking acidic foods.

Cast iron

This material heats up slowly but retains warmth well, so it’s good for slow, even cooking at a low heat, and achieves the perfect sear on meat. Remember, though, that your food will continue to cook for some time after the heat has been turned off.

Uncoated cast iron is not dishwasher safe but most cast iron pans have enamel exteriors and enamel or non-stick interiors to avoid this problem. Uncoated non-stick cast iron pans will need to be seasoned to build up a patina.

Copper

Copper has excellent heat conductivity. Good copper pans are very expensive but should last a lifetime. As this metal can react with acidic foods, fish and meat, these pans are normally lined with tin or stainless steel to act as a barrier.

Copper pans have to be cleaned with a dedicated copper polish to keep them looking their best.

Hard-anodised aluminium

Distinguished by their deep grey or black colour, these pans feature a hard finish that will not chip, crack, peel or react with acidic foods. You can also use metal utensils, although these can mark the surface.

These pans aren’t usually dishwasher-safe, but their surface is stick-resistant. They’re reasonably lightweight and heat up rapidly, eliminating hot spots, but they don’t work on induction hobs.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel pans are designed to last a lifetime, and won’t react with any food types. They’re also dishwasher safe. Stainless steel on its own is liable to hot spots, so copper or aluminium is usually incorporated into the base.

It’s best to use them on low heat settings and with a splash more oil to avoid sticking.

Non-toxic cookware refers to pots and pans that don’t contain harmful chemicals, such as forever chemicals (a group of man-made chemicals sometimes used in pans and utensils that are resistant to being broken down). These chemicals can potentially lead to health problems including liver damage, thyroid disease and cancer, according to the European Environment Agency.

There is still a lack of data on the toxicity levels of some of these substances, but there are plenty of cookware sets on the market that don’t use them. We’ve added any non-toxic claims into the key specifications of each product in our list so you can assess before you buy.

You’ll most likely see the following chemicals referred to when shopping for pan sets.

PFAS: This is a chemical family of around 5,000 substances that’s often known as “forever chemicals”. Known for their durability and ability to repel grease and water, they’re sometimes used in non-stick coatings. A type of PFAS, called PFOA, are currently banned in the UK.

PTFE: This is a type of synthetic plastic that’s commonly used as a non-stick coating. One study has claimed that at normal cooking temperatures, PTFE-coated pans can release gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity. However, Tefal states that PTFE is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a material that poses no risk to human health, making it safe to use in cookware. As many brands flag products as PTFE-free, we’ve included this as a non-toxic claim so you can make an informed choice.

Lead and cadmium: These substances were originally used in ceramic glazes but have since been recognised as being harmful to the body. There are restrictions in place that prevent these chemicals being used in cookware; however, if you’re concerned, look for sets that say they’re free from both lead and cadmium.

While many pan sets on our list are dishwasher-safe, hand washing with a quick rinse will be enough to clean most non-stick pans. To protect the non-stick, avoid scouring pads, steel wool and abrasives.

For many sets, you can’t use metal utensils either as they can scratch away the non-stick. This isn’t the case for every set though, so check before you buy if you prefer metal spatulas and spoons.

Take care to dry your pans thoroughly before putting them away, too.

Only two points separated our top five but the Ninja Foodi Zerostick 5-Piece Pan Set took the crown thanks to its impressive non-stick and stackable design. The pans are oven-safe too, making them a chef-y addition to your kitchen.

Wondering how the other big brands got on? Our highest-scoring stainless-steel pans were Le Creuset’s 3 Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set, while the Hexclad Hybrid Cookware Set excelled with its high-quality design. The Instagram-famous Always Pan 2.0 proved reliable too.

However, if you don’t want to spend hundreds of pounds, then the Amazon Basics 8-Piece Cookware Set is a standout buy and costs just under £50 (although the pans aren't suitable for induction hobs).

A great pan set is essential for every chef, whether you’re an amateur or a pro, so our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have spent countless hours testing cookware to find the very best. Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, carefully curates a menu of dishes for our testers to make, so we can be sure they work for you at home, whatever you're serving up.

Blossom works with our senior homes & lifestyle writer, Megan Geall and homes editor Hannah Mendelsohn to make sure you have all the information you need to find the best set for you. They both write about kitchen products day-in-day-out, so know all the right questions to ask.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.

When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.

Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.

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