Calphalon Stainless Steel Cookware Review: How Great Is It?

We've got the answers. It's time to up your cooking game. 

We invested over 18 hours using these pots and pans. Stainless steel cookware is perfect for at home cooking. This material does not rust, offers excellent heat distribution, and is non-stick. Even if you burned your food, cleanup should still be easy. Calphalon offers a quality product made from this material. Their pan is well known for its design.

However, exactly how good are these products? If you are considering buying some new cookware for cooking at home, you will want to read this article first. We are going to be covering everything you need to know about Calphalon products in these reviews. 

Calphalon Stainless Steel Cookware set

When thinking about buying new cooking items and brands, you will also want to consider what kind of set you need. Some include 5 pieces, while others can include many more. Do you have kitchen storage for 13 new pots and pans, or would a smaller set be better for you? Calphalon has many different cookware options for you to sort through.

Here is what you need to know!

Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Calphalon Cookware Set

When you want to choose the best Calphalon cookware set, there are several aspects that you will want to consider. That way, you know you are getting the best value from your order.

These are some of the factors you will want in your new cookware:

  • Stainless Steel: You will want pots and pans that are made from stainless steel. This material is found in a variety of kitchen tools, as it is easy to clean and resists corrosion. It is also difficult for food to stick to it.
  • Amount of Pieces: You also should focus on orders that have all the pieces you need. For a basic set, a sauce pan, fry pan, and pots is usually enough. Those making complex meals will likely want more options. You will also want to be sure you have enough room in your kitchen for the size of the set.
  • Dishwasher Safe: Most stainless steel items are dishwasher safe. However, it never hurts to check. That way, you know the clean up will be easy.
  • Compatible With Your Stove: You will need to ensure the pots and pans can be used with your stovetop. Most Calphalon products can be used with glass, gas, induction, and electric stovetops. You will want to be sure before you make the final order.

Why Calphalon is a Good Brand

Calphalon Cookware Brand

Calphalon is a good brand because they make quality cooking items. They are durable, made from stainless steel, dishwasher safe, oven safe, come with an impressive warranty, and can be used to make a wide variety of meals. These are some of the best stainless steel cookware there is.

The brand has also been in business since the 1960s. During that time, they have been working on perfecting the construction of their pots and pans. The company has many positive reviews that include many 5 stars ratings. Overall, we would have to say that this company really does know how to make good cookware! 

Top Calphalon Cookware Sets

Image

Name

Best For

Included Pieces

Price

Calphalon Premier 8 Piece Set

Best Overall

8" Fry Pan, 10" Fry Pan, 2.5 Quart Sauce Pan With Lid, 5 Quart Sauce Pan With Cover, 6 Quart Stock Pot With Cover

Calphalon Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Best For Budgets

8" Fry Pan, 10" Fry Pan, 1.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 2.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover 3 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 7 Quart Dutch Oven

Calphalon Premier 11 Piece Set

Best For Home Chefs

10" Fry Pan, 12" Fry Pan With Lid, 1.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 2.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 3 Quart Sauté Pan With Cover, 8 Quart Stock Pot

Calphalon Premier 13 Piece Set

Best For Large Families

10" Frying Pan, 12" Frying Pan With Cover, 1.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 2.5 Quart Saucepan With Cover, 5 Quart Sauté Pan With Cover, Multi-pot With Cover, Pasta Insert, Steamer Insert

Calphalon Premier Space Saving Supper Club Set

Best For Limited Space

4 Quart Chef's Pan, 8 Quart Stock Pot With Cover, 5 Quart Sautee With Cover

Calphalon Premier Space Saving 15 Piece Set

Best Premium Option

8" Fry Pan, 10" Fry Pan, 12" Fry Pan, 2.5 Quart Saucepan With Lid, 3.5 Quart Saucepan With Lid, 4.5 Quart Soup Pot With Lid, 3 Quart Saute Pan With Lid, 5 Quart Sauteuse With Lid, 8 Quart Stockpot With Lid


Calphalon Premier 8 Piece Set

This set is our top overall pick for many reasons. The cookware is reliable and can be used for cooking plenty of meals. You receive all of the basic items to use for home-cooked meals. We appreciated that you got a few different sizes of pots and pans in this order too. That way, you can find more uses for them and they work well for different portions. In the Calphalon VS All Clad debate, these are the best options to compare.

The items in this set are also oven safe, up to 450 degree F and compatible with all types of oven stove tops. They are dishwasher safe and will not scratch the surface of your counters- all great reasons to try them out! 

What We Like:

  • Construction: The handles and design are very well constructed. The product feels durable and the covers are strong as well. The brand says they include a 3 ply metal construction and core.
  • Easy Cleanup: The product is very easy to clean, as it is dishwasher safe.
  • Good Amount: You get all the pieces you need in this order.

What We Don't Like:

  • Burn Marks: These items always look great at the start. However, after using them, they start to become discolored. No matter how much you clean them, it will not go away.

Bottom Line

Overall, this set would be great for anyone, as long as you have the room for it. This is the standard Calphalon nonstick cookware set, so you will see a lot of these items in other orders. If you want the most basic, classic option, then it would be this one.


Best For a Budget: 
Calphalon Classic 10 Piece Set

Calphalon Stainless Steel Cookware Set

This option is similar to the Best Overall although it is designed for a budget. You can find the product at a much lower price and get some additional pieces. The items are made with an impact-bond aluminum base, which allows heat to be distributed well. Plus, you also get stainless steel handles that stay cool to the touch.

What We Like:

  • Warranty: Even with its lower price, this product comes with a lifetime warranty.
  • Basics Covered: This order also comes with all of the core tools you need for cooking.
  • Dishwasher Safe: The materials make clean up easier and do not allow food to stick to their surface.
  • Cost: Very low cost, when compared to other items on this list. You can use them in the same way and they have a good design, but are more affordable.

What We Don't Like:

  • Steel Pot Lids: The material on the glass pot lid heats up. You will want to make sure your using an oven mitt when moving them.
  • Stains: As you cook with them, the metal will become discolored. This is a problem with most metal cookwares.

Bottom Line

This Calphlon set is perfect for any home-cooking use. The product is also a lot more cost efficient than most of the brand's other kitchen items.


Best For a Home Chef: 
Calphalon Premier 11 Piece Set

Calphalon Premier 11 Piece Set

Do you love cooking all of your meals at home? If so, then this option has all the items you will use the most. You can find a use for everything in this kit. 11 pieces may be too many pieces for most people, but if you love to cook, then you will not have a problem finding new ways to use them!

What We Like:

  • Easy to Use: These items are easy to care for, clean, and use.
  • Pieces: 11 pieces is a lot for a product. If you have room for them, you will always have what you need.

What We Don't Like:

  • Check Your Order: You will need to check the product for missing pieces. Some customers complained that they were missing a glass lid.

Bottom Line

If you love cooking, then this set would be the best for you! It has everything you need to cook tons of food- you could add many options to your menu with this kit.


Best For Large Families: 
Calphalon Premier 13 Piece Set

Calphalon Premier 13 Piece Set

For those with large families who love to cook, it can be very helpful to have additional lids and pots. If you have the space, this product can supply a purchaser with everything they need to cook large portions.

What We Like:

  • Most Pieces: You get the quality Calphalon design in bulk. The pieces do take up a lot of space, but you have enough for cooking a lot of food.
  • Well Liked By Home Chefs: We asked many home chefs what they thought of this set. They all agreed it's a complete set!

What We Don't Like:

  • Takes Up Too Much Space: 13 pieces is a lot to store. If you have limited space, there would be nowhere to keep them. Make sure you have enough space before ordering.

Bottom Line

This product is great for anyone who has a lot of cooking to do for a large family. Plus, having more pans allows your family to cook more when they need to. Just make sure everyone knows how to cook with oil, since these are stainless steel items.


Calphalon Premier Space Saving Supper Club Set

Do you live in an apartment or dorm? These items are designed to stack into smaller sizes, saving you 30% more space, according to the brand.

What We Like:

  • Stack Smaller: The design helps you to stack and save space at home. This is perfect for smaller kitchens.

What We Don't Like:

  • Less Value: You are only getting 5 pieces for the cost.

Bottom Line

If your space is limited, you will need to find features that keep the item and lids small. Doing so can help determine whether this item will fit in a small kitchen cabinet.


Calphalon Premier Space Saving 15 Piece Set

Do you have limited storage space, but are a purchaser with a large budget? You might want to look at this review, because this item would be for you! These pots stack and are made with premium features in mind.

What We Like:

  • Save Space: The design features a space saving look. This can be helpful for any purchaser to keep their kitchen organized.
  • Many Pieces: With this option, you get 15 pieces. That would be great for anyone who needs a lot of pans, but has limited locations to store them.

What We Don't Like:

  • Price: The price tag in the store might be out of a lot of people's budgets for good pans.

Bottom Line

As the premium option, these pans are going to last you a very long time. You may appreciate the stacking features, which allow you to place cookware more efficiently. Stackable cookware sets are becoming more and more popular today. You might want to consider them if you think you can not hold new cookware at home.

Conclusion

Calphalon offers a wide range of cookware to fit your home cooking needs. They are space saving and look great in your home kitchen. If your in the market for some great cookware, check out Circulon as well. It will definitely compliment your Nesco roaster oven.

About the author 

Katie McDonald

I have been feeding my family from my kitchen for over 15 years, and I love it. Cooking is more than a passion for me, it makes me happy.

I am also a healthy mom of 4 kids, and love to practice yoga.

My core strengths include being detail-oriented, quick learner and fast to hop on trends.

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