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For most, the move to their first apartment is filled with nervousness, excitement, and a little bit of joy about striking out on their own. Of course, moving to your first apartment also means that you’ll need to furnish it—from the living room furniture to cookware and other appliances.
As you read, you’ll learn more about some of the best cookware sets for a first apartment and what you should look for while shopping.
In a hurry? This is our winner!
- 【Nonstick Cookware Set】: Our 15-piece nonstick cookware set includes everything you need to cook up a storm -1 quart and 2 quart saucepans with lids, 3 quart casserole with lid, 5 quart stock pot with lids, 8 inch and 10 inch frying pans and 5 piece utensil set with pasta server, soup ladle, slotted turner, serving spoon, and slotted serving spoon.
- 【Sturdy Aluminum Construction】: Made of high-grade aluminum with excellent heat conduction and even heating, our kitchen cookware pots and pans are designed for durability and scratch resistant corrosion and warping.
- 【Effortless Cleanup】: Aluminum body with non-stick coating cooking set prevents food from sticking and makes cleanup effortless. Pot set handles are comfortable and stay cool while cooking.
- 【See-Through Lids】: Our pots and pans Non-Stick with tempered glass lids and steam vent that allow steam to escape for viewing food while cooking. The lids even fit on the fry pans!
- 【Works on Most Stovetops】: Non-Stick basic kitchen cookware set works on gas, electric, glass, halogen and etc, suitable for major kinds of stovetops. The cookware sets match with any kitchen, and accommodate all your cooking needs, Dishwasher safe.
Best Cookware Set for a First Apartment – Runner Up
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Best Cookware Set for a First Apartment – Comparison Table
Best Cookware Set for a First Apartment – Reviews
The Cook N Home 10-Piece Ceramic Coating Cookware Set includes 8-inch and 9.5-inch frying pans, 1- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, a 3-quart casserole dish with a lid, and a 5-quart dutch oven with a lid. It also includes several spoons and spatulas.
The core of the pan is made of thick-gauge aluminum for good conductivity and the non-stick cooking surface makes it easy to clean. You’ll also use less oil while cooking.
The lids included are tempered so you can view the food while it’s cooking, while the handles stay cool while cooking. These pans cannot be used on induction ranges or in the oven.
- Comes with all the pots and pans a first-time apartment needs
- Holds heat well and heats up fast
- Coating is non-stick and easy to clean
- Handles stay cool on the pans
- Thick-gauge aluminum has good conductivity
- Handles can get hot on the pots
- Not dishwasher, oven, or induction safe
For apartment owners who want an oven-safe option, we recommend the T-Fal B209SI Initiatives Nonstick Cookware Set. This set has 18 pieces, including a 10-inch skill and lid, 8-inch and 11-inch frying pans, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-quart saucepans with lids, and assorted spoons and spatulas. The set is available in red or black.
These cost a little more than the other options, however, you end up with more pans for your kitchen. They’re coated in a non-stick interior and have an aluminum core. They are also dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 350-degrees.
- Comes with a wide range of cooking pots and pans
- Utensils included
- Oven safe
- Dishwasher safe
- True nonstick coating for no sticking
- Handles stay cool
- Handles loosen over time
The Amazon Basics 8-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set is ideal for someone low on space that only wants the essentials. It comes with 8-inch and 10-inch frying pans, 1.5- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, and a 3-quart casserole pan with a lid. This is perfect for the new apartment owner on a budget because of its low price.
The lids have vents in them that let steam escape, making it easy to see while your cooking. There are also stay-cool handles. Under the non-stick coating, an aluminum body conducts heat well.
These must be washed by hand to preserve the non-stick coating. They cannot be used in the oven or on induction ranges.
- Comes with just the basics
- Perfect first cookware set on a budget
- Stay-cool handles
- Vented lids
- Aluminum heats evenly
- Non-stick surface is easy to clean
- Cannot be used at high temperatures
- Not dishwasher, oven, or induction range safe
Best Cookware Set for a First Apartment – Buyers Guide
As you consider the best cookware set for your first apartment, think about what you are going to need. The major advantage of buying a set of cookware instead of individual pieces is that you can get everything you need for your first kitchen with one simple purchase. Additionally, cookware sold in sets is usually cheaper than buying pieces individually. This is also nice for matching pieces to a color or design theme, especially if you decide to invest in a higher-quality set that you can add to at a later time. Here’s a look at some of the things we considered while choosing the best apartment cookware sets.
Pieces Included
When you’re shopping for a first apartment, the best place to start is with the basics. Some of the things you’ll want to look for include:
- Saucepan– Saucepans are great for reheating leftovers, making small portions of soup or canned goods, and preparing sauce or side dishes.
- Stockpot– Stockpots are best for boiling pasta or entertaining guests. They are also good for slow cooking soup, chili, and stews, especially if you want to have leftovers for another night.
- Frying/Saute Pans– It’s useful to have a smaller frying pan that is good for eggs, grilled cheese, and other simple dishes. A larger saute pan is also useful, especially for cooking meats and veggies.
The cookware you’ll want to choose should reflect the apartment buyer’s cooking style. For example, while some people might want a stockpot for entertaining guests or preparing homemade soups and stews, others will not use it.
Materials Used
Some of the most common materials used to cookware include:
Aluminum- Aluminum cookware is usually affordable and a great conductor of heat. It heats up evenly and responds to changes in temperature quickly. The downside of aluminum is that it is prone to damage, including scratching and chipping. Since aluminum is not a non-stick surface, it is not uncommon to find it coated with stainless steel on the inside and outside. A non-stick surface like PTFE or thermolon may also be used to make aluminum non-stick.
Stainless Steel- Stainless steel is the best choice for induction ranges because of its magnetic properties. It is known for its durability and is easy to clean when food is cooked properly. Even though it is not as non-stick as a surface like PTFE, using the right heat and enough oil prevents sticking. It is also dishwasher safe. The one downside of stainless steel is that it heats up slowly and does not conduct heat well. It is not uncommon to see it combined with other metals or used as a coating for this reason.
Copper- Copper is the best conductor of heat, however, it is also one of the most expensive materials. It is also heavy and delicate, which might make it a poor choice for first-time apartment renters. Copper should not be used for acidic foods and copper pans require a lot of maintenance. Often, copper is used alongside other metals like aluminum to make hybrid pans.
Ceramic- Ceramic pans are often coated with a product called Thermolon, which creates a non-stick surface. Many say ceramic pans are superior to those coated with PTFE because they are good conductors of heat. Additionally, unlike PTFE, they won’t chip or peel at higher temperatures. Something to note is that ceramic pans can be heavy and are more expensive than traditional non-stick pans. Thermolon also requires a small amount of oil to remain non-stick.
PTFE- PTFE or Teflon-coated pans are non-stick, affordable, and a common choice for first apartments. Something to note is that you should not heat PTFE pans to high temperatures because it releases toxic gases once 4-500 degrees Fahrenheit is reached. PTFE is the only true non-stick surface and today’s pans are often scratch-resistant, though you’ll want to clean them properly and avoid using metal utensils.
Cast Iron- If you are going to buy any single pan for your apartment, cast iron would be a good choice. Cast iron is most commonly found as a skillet and it is great for searing meats and cooking foods at high temperatures. While cast-iron needs to be carefully cared for and maintained, the high-quality cast iron pans can last for decades.
Other Considerations
As you shop for the best cookware set for your first apartment, it’s important to consider how you’ll be using the pots and pans. Someone who likes cooking roasts might prefer a pan that can easily be transferred to the oven to finish cooking. When considering oven-friendliness, you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for heating the pan to see what temperatures it can withstand before incurring damage. You’ll also want to consider the oven-safety of the lids (if you’ll be cooking with a lid) and the handles on the pot.
Something else to consider is how the handles and lids are designed. Some pans do not come with lids at all, while other sets come with lids that fit more than one pan. When looking at handles, you’ll want to choose something that does not conduct heat as much if you want to avoid having to use potholders every time you pick up the pan. However, for pans with oven-safe handles, you may have trouble finding handles that don’t heat up too much.
Finally, think about how much room you’ll have to store your cookware. Smaller kitchens might require pots and pans that are safe to stack together or multi-purpose cookware.
Final Words
Choosing the best cookware for a first apartment is about choosing what works best with the space you have and your cooking style. We chose our top pick (the Cook N Home 10-Piece Red Cooking Set) based on the nonstick ceramic coating. However, it is not oven-safe so we’d recommend the T Fal set for people who want the option to use their pans in the oven. Either comes with all the essentials you need to get started cooking in your new home!
