10 Best Stainless Steel Pans 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Stainless Steel Pan

Stainless steel pans are fast and easy to cook with. They heat quickly and most of them are versatile enough to be used in the oven or under the broiler. There are a lot of options to choose from so whether you’re looking for a single pan or a full set, we researched the best options out there and put together this review for you. Before we get started, let’s take a look at some of the key features you should consider while you shop.

Pieces: Whether you’re looking for the perfect saute pan or a whole set of cookware, we found something for you. We included a few awesome single pans as well as sets with as many as 13 pieces.

Non-Stick: These pans are all made of stainless steel which you probably know isn’t non-stick. One of the reasons stainless steel is so popular is because it doesn’t have any chemical coatings. Our advice? Use oil or a non-stick cooking spray.

Lids: All of these pans come with lids. Some of them are glass while others are also stainless steel. Lids are important when cooking. They seal in a lot of the moisture and nutrients that you would otherwise lose.

Stovetop Type: It might surprise you to learn that all of these pans are compatible with the most common stovetops like gas, electric, and even induction. That said, if you use halogen or another rare stove, make sure to check compatibility.

Dishwasher Safe: Because stainless steel is so tough and durable, all of these pans can be put in the dishwasher. That said, some of the glass lids should be washed separately so make sure you check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Warranty: A lot of these pans come with a lifetime warranty so you can be pretty confident that you’ll be using them for a long time to come. We did find one that’s covered for 10 years and another for only 90 days.

Top 10 Products

Now that you have a better idea of what to look for, let’s move into our top ten products. If you’re in a hurry, start right at the beginning with our top and budget picks. That’s the best way to get some idea of the range that’s available. Keep reading if you can, though. We really found a lot of great products and you never know which one will be for you. Alright, are you ready? Let’s get cooking!

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Cookware Set

Our pick for best stainless steel pan set is this Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Cookware Set. This 12-piece set has just about everything you need including two saucepans, two skillets, a stock pot, and steamer insert. Suitable for all stovetops, this cookware has a beautiful polished cooking surface that won’t discolor or react with food. The brushed outside is easy to clean and won’t show any dings or scrapes. Tapered edges allow for easy, mess-free pouring and the tight-fitting lids help seal in nutrients while cooking. All of the pots in this set feature cool grip handles for safety. That’s not all, they’re secured in place with stainless steel rivets which gives them a cool, industrial look. This cookware is oven safe up to 550 degrees and can be put in the dishwasher without any issues.

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Calphalon Classic Saute Pan

If you’re just looking for great cheap stainless steel pans, take a look at the Calphalon Classic Saute Pan. Calphalon is a well-known name when it comes to cookware and their quality is second to none so we had to make this affordable option our budget pick. It’s made of impact-bonded aluminum so it heats up fast and evenly. That’s not all, you can also put it in the oven, under the broiler, and pop it in the dishwasher for cleaning. The long ergonomic handle is double-riveted by hand and provides a secure, stable grip even when the pan is full. Inside, there’s a two-quart fill line to make measurements easy and the wide, flat bottom is ideal for searing as well as creating sauces, cooking vegetables, and more. One more thing, this pan is covered by Calphalon’s lifetime warranty.

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T-fal Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Next is the T-fal Stainless Steel Cookware Set. It comes with 13 pieces and each of the included pans features a copper bottom for fast, even heating. They’re oven safe up to 500 degrees F and can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. This set comes with three different sized frying pans, three saucepans, and a large covered stew pot. Each features a riveted stainless steel handle that’s ergonomically designed for comfort. You can use these pans on any stove, including electric, gas, and induction and they’re safe to use with metal utensils. The glass lids feature stainless steel loop handles and help keep in heat, moisture, and nutrients while you cook. One more thing, all of the pieces in this set are covered by T-fal’s limited lifetime warranty.

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Calphalon Everday Pan

If you’re building your cookware collection one piece at a time, consider adding the Calphalon Everday Pan. It features a heavy-gauge aluminum core between two layers of stainless steel for superior conductivity and even heating. This is a great all-around pan that’s great for everything from browning to making casseroles. It’s shaped like a traditional saute pan but has two large loop handles for easily handing when moving it from the stovetop to the oven. That’s not all, the extended handles are made of brushed stainless steel and stay cool on the stovetop. The non-porous surface can be used with any utensils, too. This pan comes with a clear tempered-glass lid that’s also oven-safe so you can finish off your dishes or keep them warm right in the oven. One more thing, this pan is covered by a lifetime warranty.

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Farberware Millennium Cookware Set

Up next is the Farberware Millennium Cookware Set, a great 10-piece set that includes two different sized saucepans, a stockpot, saute pan, and two different sized skillets. Whether you want to make a big pot of oatmeal, homemade spaghetti sauce, soups, or pasta, this set has the pans you need for just about anything. The gentle tulip shape adds a little bit of style and the polished stainless steel construction is extremely durable. These pans are dishwasher, broiler, and oven safe up to 500 degrees F. Inside the stainless steel base is a thick aluminum core that provides exceptional heat distribution and can be used on any stovetop, including induction. A glass lid is included which not only allows you to monitor progress but also helps keep in moisture and nutrients while you cook.

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Secura Duxtop Saute Pan

If you’re looking to add the best stainless steel pans to your collection, we recommend the Secura Duxtop Saute Pan. This three-quart saucepan has an aluminum core that works with electric, gas, induction, and halogen stovetops. The structure of the pan eliminates hot spots and ensures even heating so you don’t have to worry about some parts of the pan burning your food. The stay-cool stainless steel handle is riveted to the pan and provides good grip whether you’re moving it from the burner to the oven or using the drip-free pouring design to pour out drippings for gravy. In addition to being over safe up to 500 degrees, this pan is dishwasher safe and can even be used in the freezer for food storage. That’s not all, it’s covered by a limited lifetime guarantee.

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Cooks Standard Saute Pan

The Cooks Standard Saute Pan is a must-have for every home chef. It’s made of stainless steel with an aluminum disc bottom for fast, even heating. The flat base and large size are great for frying, steaming, and boiling and the flared sides are great for pouring without making a mess. This pan includes a stainless steel lid to keep in heat and moisture as well as riveted stay-cool handles so you can easily move it from the stovetop to the oven. That’s right, it’s also oven safe up to 500 degrees F while the glass lid is safe up to 350 degrees F. That’s not all, this pan works on just about any stovetop you can think of, including gas, electric, induction, and halogen. This amazingly versatile pan is also covered by a 10-year warranty.

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AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Another great choice is the AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Frying Pan. This eight-inch frying pan has a special matte finish to hide and prevent the inevitable scratches that happen over time. The outside has a shiny mirror finish that looks clean and polished. Something really cool about this pan is that it’s designed to heat quickly to save up to 35% of the energy it takes to heat comparable pans. The base features aluminum encapsulation which distributes heat evenly, preventing hot spots that can burn your food. It’s safe to use with any stovetop including gas, electric, halogen, ceramic, and induction. The shatterproof glass lid features a silicone-covered handle to prevent it from getting hot and there are pour spots on either side of the rim to accommodate both left and right-handed chefs.

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BONAZZA Fry Pan Set

The BONAZZA Fry Pan Set is a great addition to your kitchen. It includes both an eight and ten-inch pan. Each has a wide base and stainless steel stay-cool handles for safety and convenience. The premium construction includes a layer of aluminum sandwiched between two stainless steel which provides even heat distribution and no hot spots to worry about. You get the heating properties of aluminum with a stainless steel cooking surface so you don’t have to worry about any of your food tasting metallic. These pans are compatible with all stovetops and are oven safe up to 500 degrees. That’s not all, you can even place them under the broiler. They’re dishwasher safe and can even be put in the freezer if needed and are covered by a lifetime guarantee.

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Heim Concept Stainless Steel Pans

Last but not least in our list of best stainless steel pans is this set of Heim Concept Stainless Steel Pans which has exactly what you need to cook everything from chowder to pasta to sauteed vegetables. This 12-piece set includes a frying pan, saucepan, and four different sizes of casserole dishes. Each features a mirror polished finish both inside and out as well an encapsulated bottom. This helps the pans heat quickly and evenly and provides amazing heat retention. The riveted steel handles are exceptionally strong and durable plus they’re really easy to hold. The rims are designed for drip-free pouring and the pans are dishwasher safe so they’re easy to clean. These pans are suitable for all cooktops, including electric, gas, ceramic, and induction. One more thing, they’re covered by a 90-day warranty.

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Learn more about Heather

Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

See more reviews:

Best Stainless Steel Pans

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Cookware Set

Calphalon Classic Saute Pan

How to Choose the Best Stainless Steel Pan

Top 10 Products

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Cookware Set

Calphalon Classic Saute Pan

T-fal Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Calphalon Everday Pan

Farberware Millennium Cookware Set

Secura Duxtop Saute Pan

Cooks Standard Saute Pan

AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Frying Pan

BONAZZA Fry Pan Set

Heim Concept Stainless Steel Pans

About the Author

TOP PICK

Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Cookware Set