The 20 best budget cookware essentials, tested and reviewed
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Once you have the recipe, ingredients, and hungry guests, the next step is pulling out the perfect pots and pans. Even the most experienced cooks rely on quality cookware to make gourmet meals. Fortunately, the Insider Reviews team spends countless hours testing cookware and, in our guides, we usually list a budget option. This collection has all the best affordable cookware in one place to make your shopping effortless and cost-effective.
Cookware sets
Whether you're refreshing your collection or outfitting a brand new kitchen, you need a set of basics. We've done the research and found the best cookware sets for a variety of needs. The best copper cookware is for those looking for luxury on a budget, while the best fully-clad stainless steel pots and pans will survive any cooking mishap. And if you just need a few extra skillets, check out the best nonstick pans.
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Best cheap cookware setT-fal All-in-One Hard-Anodized Cookware Set The T-fal set comes with everything you need to fry, saute, boil, and more. We've used it for four years and are impressed by its durability.
Best copper cookware on a budgetMauviel Copper Triply Set You can get the beauty and impressive heating of copper cookware for a fraction of the typical price. These four pans that will cover most of your cooking needs.
Best budget stainless steel cookwareCuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set Fully-clad cookware features a layer of highly conductive aluminum between two layers of stainless steel. These pots and pans are durable and heat evenly.
Best nonstick pan on a budgetTramontina Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan A good nonstick pan is an indispensable tool. Our best overall pick is budget friendly, has a removable silicone handle cover, and heats evenly.
They might not be exactly cookware, but small appliances like the best air fryer or the best food processor are the heroes of mealtime. The best toaster oven gives you the option to keep your kitchen cool and still make a batch of cookies, and thanks to the best Instant Pot, you can come home from work to a dinner already cooked. Small appliances don't have to cost a fortune and are priceless kitchen additions.
Best budget food processorHamilton Beach 70730 Food Processor You can prep food in a fraction of the time with a food processor. In our testing, this one was easy to use, clean, and store, all without breaking the bank.
Best budget pressure cookeInstant Pot DUO 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker (6-qt) An Instant Pot is a great appliance to have when entertaining or meal prepping. Luckily, one of the most popular models happens to be one of the most affordable.
Best budget toaster ovenBlack+Decker Crisp 'N Bake Air Fry Toaster Oven Toaster ovens are great for preparing a large meal or a quick snack. We liked how this oven cooked evenly, had accurate temps, and preheated quickly.
A cookware set might not have the best wok for stir fry, or maybe you just need to replace your best Dutch oven or stockpot. Either way, individual cookware pieces are cheaper than buying a new set and allow you to shop for your exact needs. Plus, most sets don't include one of our favorite kitchen tools of all time: the best cast iron skillet.
Best budget Dutch ovenLodge 5qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven Both the enameled and seasoned Lodge Dutch ovens are under $70. The ovens bake perfect loaves of bread and roast delicious cuts of meat.
Best cheap cast iron skilletLodge Pre-Seasoned 10.25 Inch. Cast Iron Skillet No kitchen is complete without a cast iron skillet. In our tests, this pan was fully nonstick after just a few uses. It also heated evenly, and we like that it has a built-in pour spout.
Best stockpot on a budgetT-fal Specialty Total Nonstick Stockpot Stock pots are ideal for simmering stocks, soups, or cooking up large batches of pasta. This one features stay-cool handles and is dishwasher- and oven-safe.
Best budget wokNordic Ware Spun Wok 10-Inch The best stir-fries are cooked in a wok. Our top budget wok is easy to maneuver with a lightweight design and great curvature. The handle stays cool and feels comfortable to hold.
Before you get started on Christmas cookies or mastering a new bread dough, you'll need to stock up on bakeware. You can save money by getting cheaper versions of the best cake pans or the best baking sheets. We recommend spending more for the best hand mixer or a KitchenAid: any one of the best KitchenAids will be pricey, but the less expensive options still last for decades.
Best budget cake panAmazon Basics Nonstick Rounds (9", 2-pack) Cake pans can be used for so much more than cake, including roasting side dishes and small cuts of meat. These inexpensive pans did well baking in our tests.
Best budget baking sheetNordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Baking sheets handle everything from pizza and meatballs to cookies and fudge. They're also useful for protecting your oven from spillover when you overfill a casserole dish.
Best budget KitchenAid stand mixerKitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer This versatile appliance is a mainstay in the kitchens of discerning chefs. The brand's most affordable mixer still offers the power and durability of more expensive models.
Best budget hand mixerBlack+Decker Easy Storage 6 Speed Hand Mixer If you're tight on space, a good hand mixer can do most of what a stand mixer can. Our top budget pick has six speeds and a surprisingly powerful motor.
They might not be as fun as a new appliance, but tools like the best oven liner and a reliable meat thermometer are kitchen essentials. For prep work, we even found quality options for the best knife set and a budget cutting board to work on. If you're going to spend more on anything, go with the knives.
Best cheap knife setVictorinox 3-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles These knives are all you need for most cutting tasks. In our tests, these knives retained a sharp edge and were easy to sharpen.
Best budget cutting boardTotally Bamboo Cutting Board Set Our best bamboo cutting board pick is the cheapest in our guide. Bamboo is a great material for cutting boards because it's sustainable and stain- and odor-resistant.
Best cheap oven linersMyhomyline Oven Liners All of our top picks for oven liners are budget friendly, including the best overall. Oven liners keep your oven clean and prevent grease buildup.
Best budget meat thermometerThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 Take the guesswork out of cooking with a meat thermometer. This in the newest version of our favorite entry-level thermometer that was accurate and fast in our tests.
James Brains Senior Reporter, Insider Reviews James is a Senior Reporter for Insider Reviews, specializing in sleep, HVAC, vacuums, and kitchen appliances. He has tested more than 70 mattresses from startups like Casper and legacy brands like Tempur-Pedic, using his background in experimental psychology to develop objective tests and evaluate comfort, support, motion transfer, and more. He authors our guide to the best mattresses. In addition to being Insider Reviews' mattress expert, James has extensively covered vacuums, air conditioners, air purifiers, and more within the HVAC space. He's tested more than 40 vacuums from brands like iRobot and Dyson and is no stranger to keeping his house at a chilly 60 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks on end, all in the name of testing air conditioners.He's a multifaceted writer who has covered everything from health and fitness to consumer technology. His mission is to help people get the most value for their money by guiding them in making informed buying decisions.James lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, two kids, a tabby cat, and a rambunctious rat terrier. When James isn't testing products and writing for Insider, he helps run a popular local Facebook group, Lansing Foodies, and plans the Olive Burger Festival.See below for some of his work:
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
Redeem now Best cheap cookware set T-fal All-in-One Hard-Anodized Cookware Set The T-fal set comes with everything you need to fry, saute, boil, and more. We've used it for four years and are impressed by its durability.
Best copper cookware on a budget Mauviel Copper Triply Set You can get the beauty and impressive heating of copper cookware for a fraction of the typical price. These four pans that will cover most of your cooking needs.
Best budget stainless steel cookware Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set Fully-clad cookware features a layer of highly conductive aluminum between two layers of stainless steel. These pots and pans are durable and heat evenly.
Best nonstick pan on a budget Tramontina Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan A good nonstick pan is an indispensable tool. Our best overall pick is budget friendly, has a removable silicone handle cover, and heats evenly.
Best budget food processor Hamilton Beach 70730 Food Processor You can prep food in a fraction of the time with a food processor. In our testing, this one was easy to use, clean, and store, all without breaking the bank.
Best budget pressure cooke Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker (6-qt) An Instant Pot is a great appliance to have when entertaining or meal prepping. Luckily, one of the most popular models happens to be one of the most affordable.
Best budget air fryer Beautiful 6 Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer by Drew Barrymore Our top pick for a cheap air fryer is from Drew Barrymore's cookware line, costs less than $70, and cooks food quickly and evenly.
Best budget toaster oven Black+Decker Crisp 'N Bake Air Fry Toaster Oven Toaster ovens are great for preparing a large meal or a quick snack. We liked how this oven cooked evenly, had accurate temps, and preheated quickly.
Best budget Dutch oven Lodge 5qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven Both the enameled and seasoned Lodge Dutch ovens are under $70. The ovens bake perfect loaves of bread and roast delicious cuts of meat.
Best cheap cast iron skillet Lodge Pre-Seasoned 10.25 Inch. Cast Iron Skillet No kitchen is complete without a cast iron skillet. In our tests, this pan was fully nonstick after just a few uses. It also heated evenly, and we like that it has a built-in pour spout.
Best stockpot on a budget T-fal Specialty Total Nonstick Stockpot Stock pots are ideal for simmering stocks, soups, or cooking up large batches of pasta. This one features stay-cool handles and is dishwasher- and oven-safe.
Best budget wok Nordic Ware Spun Wok 10-Inch The best stir-fries are cooked in a wok. Our top budget wok is easy to maneuver with a lightweight design and great curvature. The handle stays cool and feels comfortable to hold.
Best budget cake pan Amazon Basics Nonstick Rounds (9", 2-pack) Cake pans can be used for so much more than cake, including roasting side dishes and small cuts of meat. These inexpensive pans did well baking in our tests.
Best budget baking sheet Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Baking sheets handle everything from pizza and meatballs to cookies and fudge. They're also useful for protecting your oven from spillover when you overfill a casserole dish.
Best budget KitchenAid stand mixer KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer This versatile appliance is a mainstay in the kitchens of discerning chefs. The brand's most affordable mixer still offers the power and durability of more expensive models.
Best budget hand mixer Black+Decker Easy Storage 6 Speed Hand Mixer If you're tight on space, a good hand mixer can do most of what a stand mixer can. Our top budget pick has six speeds and a surprisingly powerful motor.
Best cheap knife set Victorinox 3-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles These knives are all you need for most cutting tasks. In our tests, these knives retained a sharp edge and were easy to sharpen.
Best budget cutting board Totally Bamboo Cutting Board Set Our best bamboo cutting board pick is the cheapest in our guide. Bamboo is a great material for cutting boards because it's sustainable and stain- and odor-resistant.
Best cheap oven liners Myhomyline Oven Liners All of our top picks for oven liners are budget friendly, including the best overall. Oven liners keep your oven clean and prevent grease buildup.
Best budget meat thermometer ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 Take the guesswork out of cooking with a meat thermometer. This in the newest version of our favorite entry-level thermometer that was accurate and fast in our tests.