Top Rated Stainless Steel Cookware Sets For 2014

Like ycyc said, preheat the pan; and what paulj has alluded to, don't overheat the pan. I learned from a cooking show, and have since read here, about the dancing water method...preheat the pan until a water droplet added to the heated surface beads and dances across the surface, stabilize that temp, then add your oil.

Our moms and grandmas understood the importance of investing in good quality stainless steel cookware. Long before non-stick finishes came on the market, we old timers were cooking successfully in plain stainless steel pans that didn't have today's heavy 3-ply base to distribute the heat... and you can do the same thing too.

A great question and one that really depends on several things including your cooking needs, level of cooking, and how much you want to spend. Over the years I purchased a few pots and pans made by Calphalon, still use them today but can also recommend All Clad, Viking and Circulon.

The spate of cooking shows on TV or a recent kitchen remodel might tempt you to replace your tired pots and pans. But don't think the most expensive cookware sets are always the best. And despite the famous names, the chef-endorsed sets weren't that impressive in our cookware tests.