Before you buy any cookware or kitchenware, please take a look at these tips, so you will buy the best product for best value that will last longer and save you money in long run.
Step 1:
Know who are you buying for. Are you buying for yourself or someone else? What will you be cooking in it? What features are important to you: is it cheapest, easy to wash, dishwasher safe, easy to hold during cooking? Do you care for colors, look and shape etc and so on. Ask these questions before choosing a cookware or cooking set.
See Choosing Best Cookware Feature Guide for more details on what makes great cookware experience.
Step 2:
Next step is to figure out, what type of cookware material is important to you? If you want to buy all steel, non stick or cast iron or other type of material first and do research on these products and safety features. We have done extensive research on best features for cookware for you, so check it out.
Type of Cookware materials are;
| Stainless Steel |
Non-Stick | Copper | Cast Iron |
| Hard Anodized | Multi-Ply or Clad | Aluminum | Enamel Cast Iron |
Click here to see Cookware Material Guide
Step 3:
Pick a brand, which brand would you like to prefer, and why. Look for customer and expert review on quality of each brand for type of cookware you want to buy. Click top cooking brands to learn more about it.
- AllClad
- Calphalon
- Anolon
- Circulon
- Cuisinart
- Farberware
- Rachel Ray
- Emeril Lagasse
- Kitchenaid
- Le Creuset
- Staub
- Lodge
- Emile Henry
Click on our detailed guide Top Cookware Brands to Trust to find out about all top brands and what type of cookware they offer and other details.
Also check out Learning About Cookware Brands.
Step 4:
Once you have done top 3 steps, look for the best prices or best values for the cookware you want to buy. Price should not be your first criteria for choosing. Cheap brands are cheaper for reason but best cookware does not need to be the most expensive one either. We often get special deals and discount codes, so look for it on our blog or check out online.
Click Cookware HQ Articles, Reviews and Recipes
Our best priced Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
Best quality cookware: Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Step 5:
Decide if you want to buy individual pieces or whole set. Buying a whole set is usually cheaper compared to buying each product, if you are going to buy other pieces later on anyways. It will add up to lot bigger price tag. If you are going to buy whole set eventually, buy the set together, it will save you bunch of money in long run.
Check out our, Cookware Pieces Guide
Step 6:
Use products based on its instructions that comes with the box. For some expensive cookwares can be only hand washed and can not be used in dishwasher. Some cookware may not do well in high heat cooking, do not use metal spatula in non-stick pan and so on. If you follow manufacturer instruction, your product will last longer for you.
All of our reviews are clearly shown if the cookware or kitchenware need to be handwashed or dishwasher safe.
Check out our Cookware Reviews
Check out our Top Rated Cookware Picks
Step 7:
Some cookware material such as cast iron have reaction to acidic food, if you let salt or acid sit in it for long time. So for these cookware, you want to remove the food soon after cooking to make sure it does not lose its coating. Most of these are non-stick type of cookware product.
Click here to see Cookware Material Guide, Also each of our cookware reviews are clearly shows pros and cons of each cookware set and pieces.
Step 8:
Some thick layer pans and thin layers pans will cook same food differently and can burn food if not done properly. Best practice is choose multi layered cookware which will have thicker bottom and side walls.
Click here to see our Multi Ply or Clad Cookware Choices
Emerilware Pro Clad Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 12-Piece Cookware Set
Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless-Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set
Worlds Finest 7Ply Steam Control 17pc Surgical Stainless Steel Waterless
What is Multi-Ply or Clad Cookware?
Step 9:
Handle and lid handling can make a huge difference during cooking process. I know some handles are fits right in your palm of you hand and much easier to flip, lift and handle these pans, others may look cute and handling by hand is not so easy. Some lids have a place for putting mixing spoons, which can be beneficial for some. Our reviews mentions ease of handles and lids in each of our reviews whenever applicable.
Check out Cookware Pieces Guide
All-Clad 8-in. Copper Core Fry Pan
Step 10:
Always read unbiased reviews, do some research and ask people who have used the product for other possible positive and negatives of cooking in it and their experience.
We are not in business of selling products so we can be unbiased and bring you reviews with pros and cons of each cookware set and product we review. Also, we try our best to share best low price for the cookware, so that you can save money.
Check out:
Cookware HQ Articles, Reviews and Recipes