Best Overall
Cuisinart Copper Cookware 8 Piece Set
- Heating Ability5/5
- Design5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Performance5/5
- This set has the aesthetic appeal and heat responsiveness that you’d expect from copper cookware at an affordable price.
This set has the aesthetic appeal and heat responsiveness that you’d expect from copper cookware at an affordable price.
- The sauté pan held more heat near the edges of the pan and the center was slightly cooler.
The sauté pan held more heat near the edges of the pan and the center was slightly cooler.
After our testing, we determined that the Cuisinart Copper Collection Tri-Ply 8-Piece Cookware Set was the top overall pick. With this set you receive a stock pot, saucepan, sauté pan, and two lids for about the same price as a single high-end copper pan.
The cookware is made with a tri-ply material construction that is 2.8 millimeters thick. The tri-ply material has a stainless-steel interior cooking surface, an aluminum core, and a copper exterior. We also appreciated how sturdy and balanced the cookware pieces felt, and we didn’t have any issues with the pieces tipping over during our testing process.
During our testing, these pans were very responsive to heat. Using the 6-quart stockpot, it took five minutes for 4 cups of water to reach boiling. It also cooled down quickly—we went from cooking with one of the sauté pans to cleaning it without any heat left after about five to six minutes.
Though we were impressed with its performance overall, we noticed that the center of the sauté pan didn’t seem to get as hot as the edges of the pan. When browning chicken breasts, we discovered that the chicken near the edge of the pan reached a golden brown finish before the chicken in the center of the pan.
The chicken didn’t stick to the pan, and cleaning it was fairly easy. While cleaning, we did notice that residue around the rivets required a little scrubbing, but it wasn’t so difficult that it negatively impacted our overall impression of the cookware set.
Product Details: Included Cookware: 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet, 2.5-quart saucepan with cover, 4-quart saute pan with cover, 6-quart stockpot with cover | Maximum Oven Temperature: 500°F | Material: Stainless steel, aluminum, and copper
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
Best Splurge
Mauviel Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set
- Heating Ability4.5/5
- Design5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Performance5/5
- Each piece of cookware in this set was well balanced, and the temperature of the pans remained consistent during our testing process.
Each piece of cookware in this set was well balanced, and the temperature of the pans remained consistent during our testing process.
- The 5-quart stock pot in this set isn’t as large as the other stock pots on this list.
The 5-quart stock pot in this set isn’t as large as the other stock pots on this list.
For those who want to invest in a quality copper cookware set, the Mauviel Copper M’200 CI 10-Piece Cookware Set impressed us with its design and performance during our testing.
All the pieces in this set are at least 2 millimeters thick—the skillet is 2.5 millimeters thick, and the saute pan is 2.1 millimeters thick. They are all made with a heavy-gauge copper exterior and an 18/10 stainless steel interior cooking surface. Additionally, the handles are made from cast iron. We could feel the quality of each piece just by picking it up.
We found that the cookware felt balanced while cooking, and the handles were comfortable to hold. However, the handles did feel warm to the touch during testing, so you may want to use a potholder or kitchen towel to move the pieces around.
We cooked a couple of chicken breasts in the sauté pan, and the first piece of chicken had a gorgeous, golden brown color to it. Since the pan was already hot from the first chicken breast, we found that the second chicken breast cooked much faster and was darker than the first one.
We did love that neither of the chicken breasts stuck to the pan, but there was some fond that stuck. The temperature was consistent across the bottom of the pan, and there were no hot or cold spots.
There was a bit of oil residue that required some elbow grease to clean from the pans, but overall, cleaning the cookware pieces was straightforward.
We do want to note that the stockpot is 5 quarts, but other stockpots, like the one in the Cuisinart Copper Collection Tri-Ply 8-Piece Cookware Set, are 6 quarts. Before committing to this set, think about what you will be cooking frequently to determine whether the size will be sufficient for your needs.
Product Details: Included Cookware: 10.25-inch fry pan, 11.75-inch fry pan, 2-quart saucepan, 3.5-quart saucepan, 3-quart sauté pan, 5-quart stew pot | Maximum Oven Temperature: 600°F | Material: Stainless steel, copper, and cast iron
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
Best Hammered Set
BergHOFF Vintage Copper Tri-Ply Cookware Set
- Heating Ability4.5/5
- Design4.5/5
- Ease of Cleaning4/5
- Performance4.5/5
- This lightweight set heated up quickly—it took less than five minutes to boil 4 cups of water in the stockpot.
This lightweight set heated up quickly—it took less than five minutes to boil 4 cups of water in the stockpot.
- It didn’t feel as balanced as other copper cookware sets we tested, and cleaning the pieces required a bit more effort.
It didn’t feel as balanced as other copper cookware sets we tested, and cleaning the pieces required a bit more effort.
The BergHoff Vintage Copper Tri-Ply 10-Piece Hammered Cookware Set is a great fit for a home cook who wants to put their cookware on display. Every piece in this set is made with a tri-ply material that is 2.8 millimeters thick.
It is made with a stainless steel cooking surface, an aluminum core, and a copper exterior. While copper cookware pieces can be a little heavier, we found that this set had a light to medium weight. However, because of its light weight, it didn’t feel quite as balanced as other sets we tested.
During our testing, it took less than five minutes for 4 cups of water to boil in the stock pot. The skillet also heated up very quickly. We tested browning chicken breast by heating the pan on medium-high heat for two minutes and then lowering it to medium heat before adding the chicken to the pan.
Then, we cooked the chicken breast for three minutes on each side and took the chicken breast out to evaluate. This skillet worked well for the first chicken breast, but it burnt the second chicken breast.
Similarly, we noticed while testing the Mauviel Copper M’200 CI 10-Piece Cookware Set that the second chicken breast also cooked faster, so we recommend turning down the heat slightly if you are cooking several cuts of meat back to back with these sets.
Although the skillet did run hot, we appreciated that the heat was consistent, and food cooked evenly wherever it was placed in the pan.
Cleaning this copper cookware set was also a bit of a challenge due to the burnt chicken. However, we found that using a mixture of vinegar and water was the best way to remove the burnt residue.
Product Details: Included Cookware: 8-inch skillet, 9.5-inch skillet, 1-quart saucepan with lid, 2-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 5.75-quart Dutch oven with lid | Maximum Oven Temperature: 400°F | Material: Stainless steel, aluminum core, and copper
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
Best for Induction
Viking 4-Ply Contemporary 9-Piece Copper Cookware Set
- Heating Ability5/5
- Design4.8/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Performance5/5
- It has the thickest core construction out of all of the sets on our list at 3.6 millimeters.
It has the thickest core construction out of all of the sets on our list at 3.6 millimeters.
- It’s not as balanced as other sets we tested.
It’s not as balanced as other sets we tested.
Typically, copper cookware is not compatible with induction stovetops. Induction stovetops require cookware with magnetic properties to work properly, and copper is a non-magnetic metal. However, stainless steel is magnetic, making it compatible with induction stovetops.
Because this copper cookware set has a magnetic stainless steel exterior, it is compatible with induction stovetops. The Viking 4-Ply Contemporary 9-Piece Copper Cookware Set features a four-ply construction that includes both copper and stainless steel.
In addition to being the only induction-safe option on our list, the four-ply construction also makes it the thickest on our list at 3.6 millimeters. During our testing, we appreciated the angle on the sides of the pan which made it easier to pour liquids without spilling.
During our boiling test, it took less than five minutes for 4 cups of water to start boiling, which is a similar result to the other copper cookware sets on our list. When we tested cooking chicken breasts on the pan, the sauté pan impressed us. The chicken was evenly seared on both sides, and it released easily from the pan with tongs.
We found that this set was easy to clean, thanks to its nonstick properties—we only had to use a soft sponge to completely clean it. The main downside to this copper cookware set is that it didn’t seem as balanced as other sets we tested.
Product Details: Included Cookware: 10-inch fry pan, 12-inch fry pan, 3.4-quart steamer insert, 3.4-quart saucepan with lid, 4.8-quart saute pan with lid, 8-quart Dutch oven with lid | Maximum Oven Temperature: 600°F | Material: Stainless steel, aluminum, and copper
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
Easiest to Clean
Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Cookware Set
- Heating Ability5/5
- Design5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Performance5/5
- This copper cookware set has one of the largest stock pots we tested at 8 quarts.
This copper cookware set has one of the largest stock pots we tested at 8 quarts.
- This is a heavy set, and food will add additional weight.
This is a heavy set, and food will add additional weight.
If you want a set that is a breeze to clean, the Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set is the set for you. With a thickness of 2.9 millimeters and a hefty weight, this quality set was among our favorites during testing.
In this stockpot, the 4 cups of water hit the boiling point after about five and a half minutes. This is slightly slower than some of the other products we tested, but it’s also one of the largest stock pots we tested at 8 quarts. For comparison, the Mauviel Copper M’200 CI 10-Piece Cookware Set has a stockpot with a 5-quart capacity.
During the sauté test, the chicken was evenly cooked on both sides, and it released easily from the pan without sticking. However, the feature we liked best was how easy it was to clean. Even after allowing the pan to come back to room temperature with fond stuck to the bottom, we didn’t need to scrub very much to clean the pan.
We also appreciated how well balanced the cookware set felt, and the heat distribution was even and consistent. While we like the heavy feel of high-quality cookware, this could be a drawback for some home cooks who experience muscle weakness. For a more lightweight option, the BergHoff Vintage Copper Tri-Ply 10-Piece Hammered Cookware Set would be a better fit.
Product Details: Included Cookware: 10-inch fry pan, 12-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart and 4-quart saucepans with lids, 4.5-quart saute pan with lid, 8-quart stock pot with lid | Maximum Oven Temperature: Pans are oven safe to 450°F, lids are oven safe to 375°F | Material: Copper, stainless steel
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE