These pots and pans will make you feel like a pro

Delicious homemade meals start with high quality cookware. If you consider yourself an experienced cook in the kitchen, you might be tempted to invest in the cookware of the pros. Many chef-approved brands from competitors—although fantastic—can be costly. That's what modern cookware brand Made In wants to remedy.

Made In cookware claims to be restaurant quality at an affordable price. All of its products are sold with a direct-to-consumer model, which allows for discounted rates that would be pricier coming from competitors and traditional retailers.

So how well does this cookware perform? After crowning its Dutch oven as our favorite overall, we were eager to try out more of the brand's pots and pans in the kitchen.

We tested both stainless steel and nonstick Made In cookware—monitoring for even heating and perfect searing in stainless steel, and easy food releasing in nonstick.

Stainless steel vs. nonstick cookware

Not sure which direction to go when it comes to cookware material? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

First, we think there's a place for both stainless steel and nonstick materials in every kitchen, but the functions differ depending on what you're cooking.

Nonstick is best for cooking delicate items like eggs, pancakes, and risotto, which are prone to sticking to pans and can be ruined without a slick, easy-release material. (Who wants to risk ruining the perfect breakfast sandwich?)

These pans are also great for sautéing when you don't want to use much oil, or if you cook veggies like zucchini and eggplant that break down easily if they stick to the pan.

Most chefs and seasoned cooks will say that stainless steel is great for cooking practically anything else. It's typically more durable and versatile, known for its ability to heat fast and withstand high temperatures.

That makes it ideal for tasks like searing steak and braising meat, as well as any dishes that need to be popped into a high-temperature oven at any point. The fond, or browning on the bottom of stainless steel pans pans, adds tremendous flavor when deglazed into whatever dish you're cooking.

About Made In stainless steel cookware

Made In's 10-piece stainless clad cookware set (which we tested) features all the essentials: an eight- and 10-inch frying pan, a two- and four-quart saucepan, a three-quart saucier, and an eight-quart stockpot. The three pots and the saucier all come with well-fitting lids, and each piece features rolled rims for easy pouring.

All pieces are oven safe up to 800°F, dishwasher safe, and offer a lifetime warranty. These are all made in Italy (as opposed to other pieces from the brand, which come from the U.S. or France).

You can opt for the set, or mix and match with individual stainless clad pieces on the site. Other useful pieces not included in the set include a rondeau, pasta insert, sauté pan (which we also tested), and more.

What we like about Made In stainless steel cookware

Our first impression of this cookware was its gorgeously durable construction.

Made In's signature stainless clad material is made of five layers of materials: Aluminum alloy in the center, surrounded by two layers of pure aluminum, with a layer of pure stainless steel on the interior and high-grade ferritic steel on the exterior (for corrosion resistance).

This combination makes for an incredibly durable design that heats quickly and evenly. We noticed this in a variety of our tests—from boiling water in stock pots to frying in the sauté pan to searing in the frying pan. Food cooked evenly without scorching, thanks to an obvious lack of hot and cold spots.

We also loved how the design of these pots and pans delivered on both aesthetics and function. We were impressed with how cool the handles stayed while the cookware was in use, remaining cool to the touch even when water was boiling and chicken was searing. Made In credits this Stay Cool Handle design to its hollow core that slows the circulation of heat.

We also appreciated the clever rolled rims and impressively tight-fitting lids, which made pouring sauces and retaining heat and moisture a breeze while we cooked.

It's also hard to deny the plain beauty of this cookware set. The durable build translates to a high-end design that will make you feel like you're one with the chefs—at home.

What we don't like about Made In stainless steel cookware

There wasn't much to complain about when it came to the Made In stainless set, but there were a few quirks we noticed during testing.

First, the skillet’s heavy build and design made it less than ideal for tasks like flipping veggies with ease. Although the curved walls are designed for deep searing and easy flipping, we found it difficult to maneuver veggies with the flick of our wrist as they sautéed. The heavy nature of the pan—and its open walls—made flipping tasks difficult (and, candidly, resulted in a mess).

That said, the more we played around with the design and got over the learning curve, the more we found flipping food in this pan achievable. It just takes some getting used to.

We also noticed that these pans dulled significantly after a few uses. This is generally typical of stainless steel cookware, though, and Made In sells a stainless steel cleaner that you can use to maintain that shine.

About Made In nonstick cookware

Made In’s 7-piece nonstick cookware set features a 10-inch nonstick frying pan, a four-quart nonstick saucepan, a four-quart nonstick sauté pan, and an eight-quart nonstick stockpot. All but the frying pan come with well-fitting stainless steel lids, and just like the stainless steel cookware, each piece features rolled rims for easy pouring.

All nonstick pieces are made without PFOA and features a PTFE coating, which Made In claims lasts 70 times longer than ceramic coating. This cookware is also oven safe up to 500°F and is induction-compatible. Hand-washing is recommended for all nonstick cookware, and Made In offers a 1-year limited warranty on this set.

These pieces are all made in the U.S. The set comes in three different interior colors: Graphite, Harbour Blue, and Champagne (which we also tested).

In addition to the 7-piece set, Made In offers a 3-piece nonstick frying pan set in Hudson Green, Graphite, or Harbour Blue.

You can also find a selection of useful individual pieces like the 12-inch nonstick frying pan and the 4-quart rondeau, and more.

What we like about Made In nonstick cookware

There’s no denying the beautiful appearance of the almost-sparkly nonstick surface and matte stainless steel handles. Made In brings an elevated sense of design to nonstick cookware.

Thankfully, the surface also lives up to its nonstick name with a durable slickness that easily released everything from eggs to sausages during testing. Thanks to the 5-ply construction and stainless clad core, these pieces retain heat better than most nonstick cookware we’ve tested. They also sear exceptionally well for nonstick pans.

While the coating is PTFE, not ceramic-coated, it’s all still non-toxic and made without PFOAs. Nonstick cookware isn’t necessarily the go-to for every cooking task, we also love that you can mix and match with individual stainless clad pieces on the Made In site.

What we don't like about Made In nonstick cookware

That superior construction that we do appreciate also means that this cookware is heavier than most of its competitors. While the durability is evident, it may take some getting used to and might be difficult for some users to maneuver.

We also found the narrow handles a bit awkward to hold for tasks like sautéing and flipping food in the frying pans. While the material feels good in hand, the shape could be more substantial to compensate for the weight of the pans.

Should you buy Made In cookware?

Yes, if you’re looking for durable, professional-style cookware

Made In’s cookware is made to last and rivals the quality of its professional-grade competitors—yet its price tag isn’t over the top.

We love the stainless steel's impressively thick, durable material that translated to even heating, perfect searing, and zero hot spots. And the nonstick wowed us with its incredibly slick interior that released food easily with minimal oil. Plus, its hybrid, stainless steel exterior is great for a variety of cooking tasks—even searing and oven roasting.

Whether you choose stainless steel or nonstick—or a combination of the two—you’ll get durable cookware with superior heat retention properties that can help elevate your cooking to a professional level.

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