Having great cookware is important for any guy, and convenience is a must. This is the best cookware for men this year.
Life as a guy can get hard. You’ve got things to do, places to be, and needs that have to be met.
Especially exercise and nutrition.
But it’s not easy. Going to the gym takes time, and making quality food requires a certain level of knowledge and flair.
The alternative is just eating out, and that’s not good for anyone. Not to mention, maybe you’re trying to impress a girl… so you need to know how to cook!
I wanted to find the absolute best cookware for men in 2024. So, I rounded up the best brands available today for real, hands-on testing. My goal was to determine which ones were the best in areas like durability, ease of cleaning, materials, and more.
How I Tested
I broke up my research into three areas that you’ll encounter the most in your day-to-day life: grilling meats, making eggs, and actually cleaning them when you’re done.
I cooked everything with my go-to lubricant, butter, and seasoned the steak and eggs with just salt and pepper.
The Steak Test
Every man should know how to cook a proper steak. It’s high in protein, has important nutrients, and is (mostly) loved by everyone.
My friends at Porter Road, an online butcher shop that offers the best cuts available delivered to your door, sent me over some of their tender Flat Iron cuts. I was excited to get a better idea of how each pan sears a high-quality piece of meat.
For this, I put the burner on medium heat to get a nice char while not overcooking the meat. Find out how they taste more in-depth below. (Spoiler alert: They’re incredible.)
I used Legend’s 8” Edge Knife to cut these steaks into nice little hors d’oeuvres — it’s dangerously sharp and weighty.
The Egg Test
Eggs are a go-to for anyone’s diet, especially males, because of their nutrient density and overall versatility. You can easily whip up scrambled eggs in the morning or fry one over easy for a burger at dinner.
But… eggs are difficult to prepare (for me, at least). One, because they’re notoriously sticky, so not every pan will allow the egg to glide right off. And two, they’re difficult to clean due to the residue they leave.
I wanted to find out how each pan could handle one of the most popular ingredients.
For the egg test, I set the burner to a medium-low temperature to ensure they were fully cooked. I also added a fatty combination of butter and olive oil, which allowed the eggs to (mostly) slide off nicely.
Pro tip: Using both butter and olive oil will create a creamy blend and the olive oil ensures that the butter won’t burn. For additional nonstick-ness, sprinkle some table salt before you place the eggs in the pan.
The Wash Test
Finally, because you probably don’t have time to be doing dishes the whole night, so how easy the cookware is to clean is of utmost importance.
The best cookware for men should be able to get cleaned in a few minutes, ideally. Preferably, it should also be dishwasher safe so you don’t have to clean it by hand.
I followed the manufacturer’s instructions to see how much additional time and headache these pans took to clean.
The Best Cookware for Men of 2024
These are the best a man can get this year.
I tested steak, eggs, and cleaning to find out:
Best Overall: HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan Set With Lids, 6pc
Materials: Stainless Steel, Aluminum | Features: Nonstick, Oven Safe | Durability: 4.5/5 | Value: 4/5
I’ve been a fan of HexClad for a few years now. Maybe it’s because of their partnership with Gordon Ramsay or their mesmerizing cooking videos. Either way, I wanted to put them to the test. As a disclaimer, I’ve used them in the past and have really enjoyed their convenience.
The Steak Test: HexClad claims to have the searing power of cast iron while still being nonstick. I found that to be true.
I cooked each side for about five minutes, and this resulted in a nice crisp with a tender inside. In addition to the cast iron pan I tried, HexClad delivered perhaps the best steak frying capabilities that I’ve ever seen.
The Egg Test: Frying eggs on the HexClad is pretty good, but not the best of what I tried. While it is non-stick, HexClad also has a protruded hexagonal pattern that increases the friction between egg and pan.
If you’re properly seasoning the pan beforehand, this shouldn’t be a problem. That said, I wouldn’t fry an egg without butter or oil, even though it technically is a nonstick surface.
The Wash Test: This is why HexClad takes the prize. While it did require some scrubbing to get the eggs off, you can easily throw the pans in the dishwasher. They’ll come out almost as good as new. I think the time saved by that alone is worth its weight in gold.
My Overall Thoughts: HexClad’s versatility and convenient cleanup make it great for a wide variety of foods and save time.
Best Budget: ZWILLING 2-pc, Stainless Steel Frying Pan Set
Materials: Stainless Steel, Aluminum | Features: Flared Rim, Oven Safe, 3-Ply Construction | Durability: 4/5 | Value: 5/5
If you’re looking for a simple, low-cost set of cookware that gets results, ZWILLING could be for you. The set has two stainless steel pans at under $100, which is almost unheard of for cookware of this caliber.
The Steak Test: I love stainless steel for cooking steaks. It can get sticky, certainly, but it cooks them very nicely.
I put a solid helping of butter in the pan before placing the steak down. There was definitely some hold when flipping the meat, but all in all, it came out similar to what a cast iron skillet could cook.
The Egg Test: The important thing to remember when cooking eggs in stainless steel is to make sure the pan is hot before cooking.
The butter-oil blend was enough to create a non-stick coating, and after I slid my spatula under them, the eggs quickly cooked and slid off easily.
The Wash Test: For stainless steel, you’re supposed to use a non-abrasive sponge. I did notice that after cooking the steak, the burnt parts were difficult to clean.
My Overall Thoughts: Stainless steel is a great material; this set is hyper-affordable and does a great job with most foods.
Best Stainless Steel: Legend Cookware 5-Ply Stainless | 14-Piece
Materials: Aluminum, Ceramic | Features: Natural Nonstick | Durability: 3/5 | Value: 4/5
I hadn’t heard of Legend before doing this test, but I was excited to try it because of its no-frills approach: “Cookware for cooks. Not for social media.”
Plus, the reviews from past customers were excellent, and they were very affordable. In real life, Legend didn’t disappoint.
The Steak Test: As expected, the stainless steel performed very well with steak. Perfect, no notes:
The Egg Test: Again, I was genuinely impressed by how sleek the surface was for eggs. I have tried cooking eggs on stainless steel before with no luck, but these handled the runniness well.
The Wash Test: Perhaps my favorite part about these is their durability. They’re easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.
Although I scrubbed them with a Scrub Daddy, I would have no hesitation putting them in the dishwasher.
My Overall Thoughts: I’m a huge fan of Legend after testing them in person. They have a lifetime warranty, they perform very well, and they’re almost indestructible.
Not to mention, getting a 14-piece set for around $600 is an incredible deal.
They don’t have the most hype online, but I think that will naturally change in the near future. Also, its Edge Knife is a beast.
Best Luxury: Sardel Stainless Steel Set (5-piece)
Materials: Stainless Steel | Features: Heat-Resistant Handles, Oven Safe | Durability: 4/5 | Value: 3.5/5
Sardel makes their equipment in Italy with a multi-generational, family-owned factory. I really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into these.
The set definitely isn’t cheap, but it comes with just about everything you’d need in a kitchen for one person.
The Steak Test: As expected, the stainless steel cooked the steak very well. I also appreciate the ergonomic handles. They always stayed neutral while the pan was hot, so handling it wasn’t a problem.
The Egg Test: Like the ZWILLING, I had to break up the hold with a spatula, but once I did. The eggs came off pretty effortlessly.
The Wash Test: I found the cleanup to be surprisingly easy for stainless steel — warm, soapy water and some elbow grease did the trick. If you have deeper marks, the brand recommends boiling soapy water in the pan.
My Overall Thoughts: While this Italian-made brand could be aspirational for many, if you can afford it. It’s a killer set to have for its performance and look. It also makes for a great present, whether it’s for birthdays or weddings.
Best for Apartments: Heritage Steel Eater Series 5 Piece Essentials Set
Materials: Stainless Steel | Features: Oven Safe, Non Toxic | Durability: 4/5 | Value: ⅘
If you’re looking for quality essentials and nothing else, this Eater x Heritage Steel set is perfect for small spaces. It comes with a 10.5” fry pan, saucepan with lid, and sauté pan with lid. There’s basically everything you need cookware-wise if you’re living by yourself.
The Steak Test: I really liked the rounded shape of this pan compared to others I’ve tried. It keeps the heat and focus in the center while also helping the butter form in the middle versus going around the edges.
The steak came out especially juicy, likely from the liquid being concentrated in one place.
The Egg Test: The eggs got fried perfectly in this, but I’d recommend doing no more than three at a time, otherwise, they’ll pack on top of each other and get undercooked.
The Wash Test: This was also fairly simple to clean up. I would recommend letting them soak in warm water after use for about 30 minutes. Then everything comes right off.
My Overall Thoughts: I think this is one of the best sets for any guy out there for a few reasons: First, it doesn’t take up too much space.
And second, because it comes with a lifetime warranty, so even if you move often or are generally rougher on your equipment, you’re covered.
Best Design: Great Jones the Fry Family
Materials: Stainless Steel, Ceramic | Features: Natural Nonstick, Oven Safe | Durability: 3.5/5 | Value: 4/5
Great Jones makes, in my opinion, some of the most attractive cookware available. The Fry Family pans come in a bright, clean white (called “Salt”) and have contrasting welded handles.
These pans are also made without PTFE and PFOA chemicals.
The Steak Test: These pans have a ceramic coating, which is typically great for just about everything other than steak.
I was genuinely surprised at how well it cooked the steak (photo below). If you were cooking hamburgers, this would also be the perfect level or slip and sear.
The Egg Test: While ceramic usually isn’t my favorite for steaks, for eggs it’s absolutely fantastic. It functions like a nonstick but without the potentially toxic chemicals. In short, the eggs slid right off.
The Wash Test: Cleaning was also fairly simple. However, I would be more delicate with ceramic than stainless steel or nonstick.
My Overall Thoughts: I really appreciate the aesthetic of this set. It’s clean and almost has a Scandinavian level of simplicity. It’s great for both eggs and steak.
All in all, I love it, but I am concerned about its durability, as the brand suggests not using metal utensils due to potential chipping.
Best Cast Iron: Field Company the Starter Set: No.8 Cast Iron Skillet With Care Kit
Materials: Recycled Iron | Features: Natural Nonstick | Durability: 5/5 | Value: 3.5/5
I really like cast iron, but I’m a bit overwhelmed by its maintenance and upkeep, in addition to its notorious sticky nature. Field Company attempts to combat both stereotypes.
The Steak Test: What more to stay? Cast iron is absolutely amazing for steak, and this pan didn’t disappoint. The only suggestion I’d make is to cook one steak at a time, as the surface area is ideal for just one cut.
The Egg Test: I was genuinely surprised at how nonstick the pre-seasoned coating was. It comes with three coats of organic grapeseed oil, essentially taking away the need to spend hours on seasoning, which you typically have to do with other brands.
The Wash Test: There’s no beating around the bush: Cast iron is hard to clean.
My Overall Thoughts: Field Company takes cast iron to a new level. I love how versatile, simple, and low-effort this pan is. Add on top of that, it’s made in the USA, which is a nice bonus.
Best Non-Stick: Henckels Capri 10-pc Cookware Set
Materials: Aluminum, Granitium | Features: Nonstick | Durability: 3.5/5 | Value: 4.5/5
This Henckels set has just about everything you could need for a home kitchen. The Granitium look and feel is different, but still performs well.
The Steak Test: Typically I haven’t been a fan of steaks cooked on a nonstick, but this cut got cooked evenly with nice, slightly burnt edges.
The Egg Test: The eggs were no challenge for the pan’s nonstick coating.
The Wash Test: Cleaning nonstick is always easy, though I’d suggest not using any utensils or abrasive sponges that could cause scratching or knicks.
My Overall Thoughts: Nonstick is great for the right person. Though the chemicals are hotly debated in today’s cookware game, it does do what it’s intended for. This set is pretty affordable and has everything you need.
Best Ceramic: Our Place Cookware Set
Materials: Aluminum, Ceramic | Features: Natural Nonstick | Durability: 3/5 | Value: 4/5
Our Place became known for their 10-in-1 Always Pan — you’ve likely seen their ads on Instagram. It’s made of an aluminum body with a non-toxic ceramic coating. Let’s see how this unique pan stacks up.
The Steak Test: I was a little weary of how this would handle steak, considering my previous experience with ceramic-coated pans. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it actually produced a good char.
If you’re cooking for one, I recommend using the Mini version and the regular-sized Always Pan for multiple pieces.
The Egg Test: This is where Our Place really excels. The nonstick ceramic easily handles eggs. Even though I used the butter-oil mixture, I think just oil or just butter would also work very well.
The Wash Test: Cleaning was a bit of a challenge with these pans. They’re not dishwasher safe, and you shouldn’t use abrasive cleaning tools. While not the worst, it wasn’t the easiest.
My Overall Thoughts: I really enjoyed cooking with the Always Pan. It can handle just about any dish, which is great if you’re limited on space.
My biggest hesitation is the long-term durability of the pan and how heavy it is to hold.
Best Copper: Sertodo Season Copper Pan
Materials: Copper, Tin | Features: Patented Handle, Natural Nonstick | Durability: 4/5 | Value: 3.5/5
Sertodo takes copper seriously. They make everything by hand in their Austin, TX shop or in Mexico. Although pricey, copper looks stunning in the kitchen.
The Steak Test: It’s tin-lined, so cooking steaks in this was similar to stainless steel. Here’s how my sear came out:
The Egg Test: I was a little weary of the tin lining. “Gliding” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I think of tin, but, like some of the stainless steel on this list, it performed well after using my spatula.
The Wash Test: Copper requires a bit more care than other materials. They should be hand washed with a soft sponge and warm, soapy water, and definitely not put in the dishwasher.
The other important thing is to immediately dry them — copper left damp can become spotted due to a chemical reaction with tap water.
My Overall Thoughts: I think that copper is one of the most beautiful materials for cookware. It looks great, makes for good conversation, and performs well.
It’s probably not the best though if you’re just getting started out cooking or are a frequent mover. But, these would make for an excellent wedding present or gift for the serious chef in your life.
Sertodo is offering an exclusive 10% off deal for our readers; use code MODEST10 at checkout!
Best Carbon Steel: Made In Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan
Materials: Carbon, Stainless Steel | Features: Oven Safe, Natural Pre-Seasoned Nonstick | Durability: 4/5 | Value: 3.5/5
Made In has made a name for itself for being professional-grade cookware actually used by well-known chefs in their restaurants. I had never used carbon steel before, so was excited to see how the cast iron-esque material performed.
The Steak Test: I’m not sure if it was the cut of meat or where the heat was dispersed on the large pan. Either way, I wasn’t super happy with how this particular cut of meat came out — it was cooked, but didn’t have much char.
The Egg Test: I do appreciate the natural shea nut oil and coconut oil pre-seasoning, it feels like a more “organic” layer, but the eggs stuck a lot. You can see the base of the pan in this photo, they didn’t come off easily, even after using a spatula.
I wouldn’t recommend cooking just one or two eggs in this particular pan.
The Wash Test: Like cast iron, this should be hand washed only. It’s a bit of a hiccup, and being able to throw pans in the dishwasher quickly is nice to have, but it’s pretty easy all in all.
My Overall Thoughts: I don’t know what to think of this pan; perhaps it was an off day, or perhaps it was just too large. Either way, it didn’t cook the eggs or steak well. It felt like it had the worst parts of cast iron without some of the benefits. I think a large part of this was that the heat didn’t get spread out evenly.
Cookware Tips & Considerations
Here are some things to consider when buying new cookware:
Full Set vs. Individual Pans
The decision to get a full set or just one-off pans depends on how often you cook and how much space you have.
If you’re whipping up meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, having different pans and pots for different dishes could be extremely helpful. Especially if you don’t want to clean them after every use.
However, if you have just a few go-to dishes like chicken or eggs, it may be smart to find one really, really good pan that you like and that’s easy to clean. Especially if you’re limited on cabinet space.
Materials
Some materials are just better than others, no question about it. But, there are options that are at least good for many things. To break it down, here’s my opinion on what materials go best with what food groups:
Stainless Steel and Copper: Best for vegetables and stir-fries
Cast Iron and Carbon Steel: Best for meat
Nonstick and Ceramic: Best for eggs and liquids
Maintenance
A big factor when deciding what cookware to get is how much time and effort caring for it takes. Typically, nonstick and stainless steel cookware can simply be thrown in the dishwasher, while finer elements like copper need to be hand washed.
Look at the tradeoffs and how passionate you are about the material in question when deciding which style to go with.
Cookware FAQs
The answers to some of the internet’s most-asked questions.
What Is the Healthiest Type of Cookware?
Generally, cookware that uses natural materials like stainless steel are the healthiest, as they don’t have so-called “forever chemicals” that are potentially harmful. Nonstick is known for having these, which could cause issues if cracked or chipped.
What Kind of Cookware Is Best for Everyday Use?
The best cookware for daily use is a matter of personal preference. However, cookware that can cook multiple food types, is dishwasher safe, and is durable is the best.
Why? Because you won’t have to spend time on care and maintenance, and it saves space.
The Final Verdict
I genuinely liked all of the cookware on this list. Some were better for steak and meats, others were better for eggs and sauces, but they all had qualities that easily put them ahead of cheap off-brand pans.
My overall top pick is HexClad because of its ability to cook a wide range of dishes, the fact that it is dishwasher safe, and its overall durability. I think that any guy could use HexClad and find something to rave about.
If you’re a bit more established, you might consider getting a full set from a brand like Legend Cookware or Sardel, but it will definitely be more expensive than just getting one or two pans.
If you have a smaller space or don’t cook as frequently, I’d recommend Our Place’s Always Pan because of how many things it does or a single cast iron pan like Field Company’s. You can’t really go wrong by having one reliable cast iron.
Leave your questions and comments below!
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