The Homes & Gardens' Expert Guide to Buying the Best Cookware

Choose the Best Cookware – Our Chef's Guide

The best cookware in a rustic kitchen with green panelled backsplashes and matching cabinets, an old gas stove, and kitchen decor on shelving.

Buying the best cookware will ensure you get the best results in the kitchen. Leading our team of cookware testers is our Kitchen Appliances Editor Lydia Hayman, a chef who trained at London's famous Leiths School of Food & Wine. Lydia has put together this comprehensive guide so that you can shop the best of every piece of cookware you could ever need to cook for your family and friends. Beyond the 'must-haves' and brands to shop, Lydia also regularly updates the best cookware deals to shop right now, too.

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The Best Non-Toxic Cookware

Using the best non-toxic cookware is a safer way to cook (you know those pans you have that flake? They're releasing toxins, so swap them pronto with Lydia's tried-and-trusted recommendations. You can see her pick of the best non-toxic kitchen appliances in our separate guide.

Best Non-Stick Frying Pans

'The best non-stick pans should be free from forever chemicals and deliver golden results without much oil, making it simpler to cook healthier meals,' says Lydia. 'I've spent months finding the best non-stick frying pans out there. These are the only three pans I recommend.'

The Best Turkey Roasting Pans

If ever you need to shop around for the best turkey roasting pan, it's right now. However, 'the best roasting pan isn’t just for the holidays,' says Lydia. 'It should be perfect for lasagnas, casseroles, roast vegetables, and more, making it an investment you'll use year-round.'

Best Cast Iron Cookware

'If you want cookware that looks beautiful, performs exceptionally, and lasts a lifetime, the best cast iron cookware is the way to go,' says Lydia. 'With its almost indestructible build and naturally low-stick surface, it could easily be the only cookware you ever need to buy.'

The Best Dutch Oven

'I use a variety of pots and pans when I'm cooking professionally, but at home, my Dutch oven is my one-pot hero,' says Lydia. 'They can be used to bake cheesy pastas, slow-cook stews, simmer soups, braise meat, and even bake bread. I tested 12, and list my favorites here.'

The Best Induction Pans

If you've just upgraded your kitchen with a sleek new induction hob, you will need to invest you've got a full selection of compatible induction pans. In this guide, Lydia walks you through what makes a pan compatible with induction hobs and shares her trusted top picks.