Best Stainless Steel Cookware Made in USA [2023 Guide]
Looking for the best stainless steel cookware made in USA?
You've come to the right place.
These days, it's difficult to find cookware products that are made only in the USA.
Lots of cookware are made overseas now in China and India because of cheaper labour.
However, if you are a chef living in the states, you probably want to buy locally.
When you shop within the US, you are helping to support manufacturing and the economy of your country.
Plus, shipping times are less and you might not have to pay as much to receive your order.
Sounds good right? Let's dive in!
Why Order Locally
If you are an American, you can buy from plenty a brand. Although, you will likely want to consider a USA company first. You will likely be spending less money and receiving a higher quality stainless steel cookware set. Plus, many pots and pans made in the USA are held to a standard that makes them easy to use on the stoves here. For example, your cookware set should be easy to use with electric, induction, or gas stovetops- which are the most common types on an American oven.
In short, there are many reasons to buy "made in the USA" products. Let's begin!
Our Criteria for the Best Stainless Steel Cookware Made in the USA
The Core
Unlike copper cookware or cast iron cookware, stainless steel does not have as much of a heat transfer. That means you will want your skillet to have an aluminum or copper core.
A core can assist wit heat transfer and provides the piece of cookware with more conduction. That means you will want to find a cookware company that offers this feature- many quality brands already do.
Durability
Stainless steel is very durable; even as much as cast iron. That is why pro chefs prefer their set to be made from at least 18/10 stainless steel.
You will want stainless steel on the outer layer of the skillet, as well as the handles. This provides your pots and pans with all of the strength they need to last many years.
Stainless Steel Grade
Speaking of stainless steel, you will want a grade that is reliable. Many professionals in the kitchen want at least 18/10 stainless steel. This number refers to the ratio of chromium to nickel; it will be included in all of the best stainless steel cookware. That ratio is going to be your best option in a stainless steel cookware set.
It offers durability and is extremely resistant to corrosion and other damages. Finally, this material is well known for being healthy. It does not come with a nonstick coating that emits fumes when you heat it and is very safe for food.
The Number of Pieces
Finally, you will want to make sure the order has everything you need. Most sets will come with 10 to 12 items- this includes pots and pans and likely a skillet. However, you will want to think about the amount of pots your set actually needs. If you are moving out on your own for the first time you probably need everything and will want to consider a larger set. But, if you already have a kitchen full of quality tools, your order will not need to contain as many.
Overall, you should consider your kitchen and storage space before you place an order. You will want to know that you have room for more pots at home!
The Warranty
A company should stand behind their product. Be sure that you look into the warranty. If they are offering a lifetime warranty with their pieces, it would be well worth considering. This means the people behind the pieces know that the product quality is great- they are confident that the pan set will last you a very long time.
If you see a lifetime warranty, that made in USA brand is going to offer a durable and reliable product. Plus, you can have peace of mind knowing that your pieces are always going to be covered.
The Price
Finally, a quality set should have a good price. These orders can get quite expensive, but you can still get quality and an amazing cooking performance without breaking the bank. To find the best prices, you will need to conduct some research. We gathered all of the prices here in the list below to make this a bit easier for you.
Top Stainless Steel USA Cookware Products
Image | Food Steamers | Best for | Number of Pieces in the Set | Dishwasher Safe | Induction Safe | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Best Overall | 11 Pieces | Yes, But Mostly Use Hand Wash | Yes | ||
 | Best Lifetime Warranty | 10 Pieces | Yes | Yes | ||
 | Best Handles | 10 Pieces | No | Yes | ||
 | Best Small Order | 8 Pieces | Yes | Yes |
Best Overall:
Made In The Sous Chef
This is the made in USA brand's most popular cookware set. You receive 11 pieces made from a construction of stainless steel, carbon steel, and non stick materials. They are well priced and often come with a heavy discount too. You receive a 10 inch non stick frying pan, a 10 inch stainless clad frying pan, a 12 inch carbon steel frying pan, a 2 qt and 4 qt saucepan with lid, a 3.5 qt saute pan with lid, and finally an 8 qt stock pot with lid. As a bonus, you receive a 2 ox can of carbon steel seasoning wax. This will ensure that your stainless steel products last you a very long time.
If you have induction cooktops, these sauce pans can be used on them. The product works well on them even, easily transferring the heat. Overall, we would have to say that this is the best choice for made in the USA cookware. The set received more awards and recognition than other cookware sets- you would love having these pans in your kitchen!
What We Like:
What We Didn't Like:
Bottom Line
Everyone can benefit from this cookware set. The construction is excellent and the product provides you with amazing cooking performance. They offer excellent heat conductivity and durability as well. We would have to say that this is the best on the list due to all of these features.
Best Lifetime Warranty:
Viking Professional 5-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set
This brand stands behind their lifetime warranty, showing that they are very proud of their products. The construction is very durable and they offer several layers, adding to the quality even further. In all, you will receive an aluminum core that warms quickly, a stainless steel core, another aluminum core, then a final exterior 18/10 stainless steel layer. All of this together provides you with the best quality cookware.
Additionally, all of the items in this set are compatible with an induction cooktop. They are versatile and easily fit all of your cooking needs. The edges are flared out too, which makes pouring liquids from the pans much easier.
What We Like:
What We Didn't Like:
Bottom Line
If something were to damage the surface or handles on your stainless steel cookware, you could receive a replacement. You will want to ensure that you take care of the All-Clad products and always clean food from them properly- so that you do not break the warranty. All-Clad makes the best stainless steel cookware online, so be sure to check them out!
Best Handles:
Viking Professional 5-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set
With this order, you are going to receive a set that has strong, durable handles. Of course, the rest of the construction is also durable to match. The handles come with a special stay-cool feature, something that only this brand can offer at a high quality. No matter your cooking heat and the temperature of your pots and pans, the handles will stay cool to the touch. This ensures that you can always move your skillet off the heat if needed and you will not need to grab the handles with another tool. Many people appreciate this small feature.
The handles are also designed to be comfortable to hold, so you do not drop heavy and full pots. Finally, the handles provide a secure grip and give you more control as you cook your food.
What We Liked:
What We Didn't Like:
Bottom Line
This is one of the best cookware brands out there. If you are looking for a pan with reliable construction, then this brand is for you. The pan cooks food very well and offers a great heat distribution. You will want to make sure the smaller sauce pan is sitting flat on the surface without tipping, however.
Best Small Order:
USA Pan 5-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set
This 8 piece set gives you everything you need to cook delicious food, but takes up slightly less space. If you just want the basics in your cookware set, then this would be the best stainless steel cookware set for you.
This company has been a "cookware made in USA" brand for about 50 years. They take pride in manufacturing their pots and pans in the USA and provide excellent customer service. These options can be used on any kind of oven and are made from surgical grade stainless steel.
Overall, you can make the most use of these made in USA pots and pans if you recently moved or need to replace some of your current cookware set. You are getting a few less pieces, but you are more likely to have the space available to store them in your kitchen.
What We Like:
What We Didn't Like:
Bottom Line
This brand offers a quality made in USA product. They offer some of the best stainless steel cookware, although they do not back it up with a lifetime warranty. You will want to make sure you take additional care of the set, so as to not have any surprises.
How to Choose the Best Cookware Set
When shopping for a new stainless steel set, you want to put as much research and thought into your order as you would for a copper or cast iron cookware set. This is because you want to know that you are getting something that you can cook food in daily. If you order a product that is not going to be useful in the kitchen, it would be a large waste of money.
That being said, many people have issues choosing the best cookware set. Start by considering the surface of your oven. Is it induction, electrical, or gas? You will need a cookware set that is compatible with the type of surface you plan on cooking food on.
Plus, there are plenty of other factors that you will need to consider. They are the following:
The Weight
While a stainless steel pan is going to weigh less than a cast iron one, it should still be a bit heavy.
Quality pans are dense and therefor tend to weight a lot. The weight also ensures that the pans are all durable and going to last you many years. In short, quality stainless steel pans tend to be on the heavy side.
The Grade
While we did talk about this above, it is very important to think about the grades you are seeing on all of the pans you are considering.
The highest quality of grade is the 18/10, which represents the ratio of materials used in the pans. This ratio is important as it indicates the pans are not going to react with your food- meaning they are heat and food safe.
The Material in the Core
You should look for pots or pans that include a core. The core is the layer between two layers of stainless steel that add to the heat conductivity levels in the pan. In particular, the best materials for this are copper or aluminum. Man of the best stainless steel cookware sets will have pans that include cores of both materials.
The Company
Finally, you will want to familiarize yourself with the cookware company. All made in USA cookware brands are easy to find online. It can be worth your time to check out some of their reviews and see how long that they have been in business. This can give you some insight into how they are run and what the quality of your pans will be.
Is Stainless Steel Made in the USA?
Yes, you can find stainless steel made in USA. Stainless steel is produced and traded within this country. You can also find stainless steel that comes from other countries as well.
If you want USA steel in your products, than you will want to ensure you read the description of the order online. Many companies will import their steel, then make the order here. While that technically means the order was made in the USA, the steel came from somewhere else. You can find this information on product pages without much hassle, however.
How to Maintain Your New Cookware
Once you have your order at home, you will be excited to cook your next meal with it! However, stainless steel pans might be a little different than what you are used to. While they are non-stick and can be used on many different cooktops, you still need to be careful with your multi-core stainless steel cookware. You can find many sites detailing the maintenance process.
To start, you will want to follow this list after you cook food. You should always do the following right away:
It can seem like a lot at first. But, once you have worked with stainless steel for a while, it will become a habit to clean your materials right away. Plus, even though they are non-stick, food can still burn to the surface. Luckily, the non-stick effect does make these products much easier to clean than other cookware types.
Dealing With Water Spots
Water contains a high amount of minerals that steel wants to hold onto. These materials can easily absorb water, which leave behind spots on your pots. The stains can even stay there after you clean the item.
To keep your new cookware looking nice, you will want to get rid of spots as they appear. To do this, you can follow these steps:
Start with a wet and thick towel. Dip it in boiled, distilled white vinegar. Set the damp towel over the spot and let it soak into the steel for 30 minutes. This process will remove the minerals, taking the spot out of the material.
You will want to take care that you do not burn yourself. The water and vinegar mixture does need to be hot, so that the vinegar can penetrate the material to lift the minerals.
After you let the towel sit on the spot for 30 minutes, you should be able to clean it off normally with warm water and a gentle soap. Make sure that you do not use an abrasive sponge, as this will damage the surface of your cookware.
Cleaning off water spots might seem frustrating at first, but once you do it the first time, you can realize how easy it is! You may want to watch a free YouTube video on the process before you attempt this DIY project.
The Best Made in the USA Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Overall, we would have to say the best made in USA stainless steel cookware set is the Made in Sous Chef non-stick stainless steel set. You get a large quart sauté pan, as well as many other essential cooking tools. This particular set includes more pieces than their starter kit, but less than their professional chef set- allowing you to receive the perfect amount somewhere in the middle. We would have to say that this makes it great for any home chefs who are looking to broaden their horizons and hone their cooking skills. This brand has plenty of other products that you might also enjoy cooking with.
If you are trying to find the perfect cooking set for your home, be sure that you read more of our articles. We have plenty of content that covers cookware and other useful cooking tools. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us!
