Stainless steel cookware is known for its durability and the ability to hold in heat for a longer period of cooking time without damaging the pan or pot. Most importantly, it is rust & corrosion resistant and does not react with food, which means it won't leak or seep metals into your dishes.
This type of cookware is best for everyday dishes – whether you need to sauté, fry, sear, caramelize, poach ingredients, or make stews. Also, it only requires minimal cleanup as long as you learn how to prep the pan correctly by using oil or butter. In this article, we prepared a buying guide along with our top 10 recommended stainless steel cookware that you can purchase online.
Stainless steel cookware is made of an alloy or mixture of iron and carbon and then combined with chromium and nickel. For the most part, its composition is essential in selecting the best variant. Let us guide you on what to consider when buying stainless steel cookware.
There are many types of stainless steel according to its composition. Food-grade stainless steel must contain at least 16% chromium by weight. This material gives the cookware its luster and mirror-like finish. Moreover, stainless steel also contains nickel, making it stronger and non-reactive, especially when exposed to acidic ingredients.
Always select stainless steel cookware that is either 18/10 or 18/8. These numbers, which are found in the product description on the e-commerce sites, refer to the amount of chromium and the amount of nickel, respectively. Thus, an 18/10 stainless steel cookware is made of 18% chromium and 10% nickel.
These food-grade compositions are most ideal for cooking since these are more resistant to corrosion and rust.
Stainless steel's main weakness is its poor heat conduction. In other words, it does not quickly transfer heat from the stove to the food you're cooking. So, as a solution, high-quality variants contain either aluminum or copper – both of which are great heat-conducting materials.
These additional metals are placed either in the core or at the bottom of the pan or pot. Cookware brands utilize multi-ply construction or cladding, which refers to using a tri-ply or 5-ply layer in the stainless steel cookware.
This way, the stainless steel pans and pots improve greatly at heating the food quicker and can now be used to cook all kinds of ingredients, even the frozen ones.
Most households here in the Philippines either use a gas stove or an induction cooktop. Practically all kinds of cookware are compatible with a gas stove. On the other hand, an induction cooktop must be paired with a pot or pan that is magnetic for it to work.
In such cases, look for stainless steel cookware with 3 or 5 layers of metal – consisting of a magnetic, nickel-free outer layer or the part that comes in contact with the induction stove.
Stainless steel cookware is highly recommended for everyday cooking. While it is great for searing, it also performs well when steaming, sautéing, frying, boiling, stewing, braising, and poaching ingredients.
When purchasing online, you can pick between getting a complete set for all your cooking needs or buying one pot/pan at a time so you can slowly build your collection based on your current needs and, of course, budget. Either way, cookware comes in different sizes and shapes, which correspond to a specific type of cooking method.
Get to know the types of pots and pans to get yourself more familiar with your choices. A frying pan and a skillet have curved sidewalls, best for searing and scrambling. A sauté pan has a wide bottom area as well as straight & high sides for even distribution of heat. A saucepan typically comes with a lid to fast-track the cooking.
A sauce pot has two loop handles for easy pouring when cooking soups and stews. Lastly, a stockpot features a thick base for slow simmering and tall sides for bubbling liquid when cooking pasta, vegetables, and meat.
Now that you're more familiar with stainless steel cookware, here are 10 excellent online finds that you can purchase while staying safe at home.
**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**
7-pc set
From ₱28,000
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes (Aluminum core) |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 1.5-quart saucepan, 3-quart saucepan, 8-quart stockpot, 10-inch skillet |
7-pc set
From ₱5,400
Type of stainless steel | 18/8 |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes (Aluminum base) |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 18 x 8.5-cm saucepan, 20 x 9.5-cm casserole, 24 x 11.5-cm casserole and 24 x 5-cm frying pan |
7-pc set
From ₱7,299.75
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Not indicated |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 28-cm steel wok, 24-cm saucepot, 18-cm saucepan, and 24-cm frypan |
From ₱5,200
Type of stainless steel | Not indicated |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 28-cm frying pan |
From ₱1,699.75
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 18-cm saucepan |
From ₱1,679.8
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 20-cm stockpot |
From ₱10,200
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes (Aluminum core) |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 5.5-quart sauté pan |
13-pc set
From ₱5,999.75
Type of stainless steel | Not indicated |
---|---|
With cladding | Yes (Aluminum base) |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Not indicated |
Diameter / Capacity | 1.7-quart saucepan, 2.4-quart saucepan, 5.8-quart Dutch oven, 3-quart sauté pan, and 8-inch frying pan |
From ₱5,899.75
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 |
---|---|
With cladding | Not indicated |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 24-cm pasta pot |
3-pc set
From ₱1,250
Type of stainless steel | Not indicated |
---|---|
With cladding | Not indicated |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 24-cm casserole and 24-cm frying pan |
Image | 1 ![]() Cuisinart | 2 ![]() Rossetti | 3 ![]() Chef’s Classics | 4 ![]() Beka | 5 ![]() Neoflam | 6 ![]() Neoflam | 7 ![]() Cuisinart | 8 ![]() Oster | 9 ![]() Chef’s Classics | 10 ![]() Dynamex |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | MultiClad Pro Triple-ply Stainless Cookware | Althea Series Stainless Cookware | Cilantro Stainless Steel Cookware | Chef Fry Pan | Stainless Steel Saucepan | Stainless Steel Stock Pot | MultiClad Pro Sauté Pan with Cover and Helper | Ridgewell Stainless Steel Cookware | Cilantro Stainless Steel Pasta Pot | Premier Stainless Steel Cookware |
Features | Drip-Free Pouring Rim and Cool Grip™ Handles for Easy Cooking | Satin and High-Gloss Mirror Finishes for a Luxe Look | Unique Cookware Line-up and Designed in France | Best Frying Pan for Browning a Steak | Versatile Saucepan for Stewing and Simmering | The Next Upgrade After Your Saucepan | Heat Surround™ Technology for Even Heat Distribution | Tempered and Shatter-Resistant Glass Lids | For the Pasta Lovers | Budget-Friendly and Ideal of Your Starter Home |
Price Starts at | ₱28,000 | ₱5,400 | ₱7,299.75 | ₱5,200 | ₱1,699.75 | ₱1,679.8 | ₱10,200 | ₱5,999.75 | ₱5,899.75 | ₱1,250 |
Type of stainless steel | 18/10 | 18/8 | 18/10 | Not indicated | 18/10 | 18/10 | 18/10 | Not indicated | 18/10 | Not indicated |
With cladding | Yes (Aluminum core) | Yes (Aluminum base) | Not indicated | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Aluminum core) | Yes (Aluminum base) | Not indicated | Not indicated |
Suitable with induction cooktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not indicated | Yes | Yes |
Diameter / Capacity | 1.5-quart saucepan, 3-quart saucepan, 8-quart stockpot, 10-inch skillet | 18 x 8.5-cm saucepan, 20 x 9.5-cm casserole, 24 x 11.5-cm casserole and 24 x 5-cm frying pan | 28-cm steel wok, 24-cm saucepot, 18-cm saucepan, and 24-cm frypan | 28-cm frying pan | 18-cm saucepan | 20-cm stockpot | 5.5-quart sauté pan | 1.7-quart saucepan, 2.4-quart saucepan, 5.8-quart Dutch oven, 3-quart sauté pan, and 8-inch frying pan | 24-cm pasta pot | 24-cm casserole and 24-cm frying pan |
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Stainless steel cookware isn't nonstick, therefore it is quite tricky to fry or sear food if you're not familiar with the right technique of "prepping" your pan. In the YouTube video above by Insider Reviews, executive chef Anthony Vitolo shares some tips on how to cook the perfect steak in a stainless steel pan.
Steps:
Getting a new set of cookware can also inspire you to do a mini overhaul or reorganization in the kitchen. Click the article links below to see our recommended products such as dish racks, food baskets, and containers to create a mini kitchen makeover.
Stainless steel cookware is a popular choice both in regular households and in restaurants. They are durable, rust & corrosion resistant and can endure long hours of cooking time without warping the pot or pan. Multi-ply variants are now available too for faster heating.
With everybody's busy routines and lifestyle, low maintenance cookware will greatly help in preparing delicious meals and in a fuss-free clean-up. Whether you're in the mood for sautéing vegetables, searing meat, or caramelizing a dessert, stainless steel cookware will make cooking a breeze.
Author: Ayeza E. Mangulabnan
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