The 6 Best Stackable Cookware Sets for a Tidy, Organized Kitchen

Best Overall

Tramontina Nesting 11-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

$124 at Amazon $160 at Target $111 at Wayfair

When it comes to space-saving cookware sets, Tramontina tops the list with its innovative design: All pieces nest in a single stack that’s less than 12 inches tall and they're super stylish. The company says the set takes up 50 percent less space than other cookware, and our tester really noticed the difference in comparison to her old pile of pots and pans.

When stacked, each tempered glass lid nestles below its pot, maximizing space. The lids are rimmed with silicone rather than metal, so they’re less likely to scratch the pots’ nonstick interior during storage. The lid knobs double as spoon rests, and the pots’ long handles lock together, stabilizing the stack and spacing the pots to reduce scratches.

This set comes in several stylish colors. It’s built from heavy-gauge aluminum, making it suitable for gas, electric, and glass-top stoves. The triple-coated nonstick interior makes the pans easy to use and clean. During testing, we made a white wine reduction for a mushroom pan sauce and curried sweet potatoes with perfect, crisped edges. All the food slid right off the nonstick interior and drips along the porcelain enamel exterior wiped off easily with a damp cloth. "With this set, the heavy-gauge aluminum heated rapidly and evenly, even over medium heat, and the pan responded promptly when I turned down the gas burner beneath it," Julie Laing, our product tester, says.

The only downside? You can't use this cookware for final browning in the oven. It's oven-safe to a maximum of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

What's Included: 1.25-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans with lids; 3-quart casserole and 4.75-quart saucepot with lids; 12-inch sauté pan | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel, silicone, nonstick interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 350 degrees | Induction-Ready: No | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Most Compact

Meyer Accent Series The Essential Set

$110 at Amazon View on Meyer.com

When space is limited, this cookware set fits. The pieces stack neatly, and soft pan protectors are included so the pots won’t scratch each other. The set includes four pots in useful sizes, along with two lids that each fit two pots. The pots are designed to thwart boil-overs, but the curved shape is also attractive.

The 5-quart stockpot is the only piece with a stainless steel interior, while the rest are nonstick coated. That stockpot is perfect for making soups and sauces and the unique shape makes it nice enough to bring to the table to serve. The chef’s pan can be used as a frying pan or a wide saucepan, where the width makes it efficient for reducing sauces. 

The pot handles are silicone coated, so they stay cool, and the top handles on the lids also stay cool during short cooks—but a mitt is a good idea because the lids themselves get hot. This set is dishwasher safe, but hand washing is simple because of the nonstick, and is likely to preserve the look of the set. We tested the matte black color, which was attractive, but it also comes in Cinder & Smoke, which is shades of gray, as well as Spark, which is shades of yellows and oranges.

What's Included: 2-quart saucepan, 5-quart stockpot, 10 ¼-inch chef’s pan, 11-inch nonstick skillet, large and small universal lids, 3 pan protectors | Material: Hard anodized aluminum, stainless steel, nonstick interiors (except stockpot) | Oven-Safe: Up to 445 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Best Budget

T-Fal Stackable 12-Piece Cookware Set

$132 at Amazon $197 at Walmart

For stackable cookware at an affordable price, T-Fal offers one of the largest sets. The pots, sauté pan, and fry pans form a tall, yet stable tower when stacked with their lids. When the lids are stored separately, the cookware nests neatly, which T-Fal says gives you 45 percent more storage space in your cabinet.

Vented glass lids with easily graspable handles fit the two larger pots. A flat, plastic lid lets you refrigerate leftovers directly in the midsize pot. T-Fal is known for its built-in temperature sensor: When the pans are evenly preheated, the center turns a solid red, taking some guesswork out of cooking.

What's Included: 1-, 2-, and 4.2-quart saucepots; 10-inch sauté pan; 11- and 12-inch fry pans; 3 lids; 3 utensils | Material: Aluminum, silicone, nonstick interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 400 degrees | Induction-Ready: No | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Best Stainless Steel

Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Cookware Set

$439 at Amazon $406 at Walmart $280 at Target

Calphalon wears its reputation for high-end cookware well, but it also offers midpriced lines for homecooked meals. The stainless steel, space-saving set from its Select collection features everyday pans with flat tempered-glass lids. Calphalon says the set saves you 30 percent more space compared to its non-stacking cookware. The pots and pans can be used on induction, gas, electric, and glass stovetops.

This set improves on many stackable cookware collections by letting you layer the pans and their lids in any order in two 8- and 10-inch-diameter stacks. They also hook into each other at the handle and opposing edge to keep the stacks from shifting.

What's Included: 2.5- and 3.5-quart saucepans, 3-quart sauté pan, and 5-quart Dutch oven with lids; 8- and 10-inch fry pans | Material: Stainless steel, silicone | Oven-Safe: Up to 400 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Best Copper-Colored

Gotham Steel Stackmaster 10-Piece Cookware Set

$84 at Amazon $84 at Walmart $84 at Wayfair

E. Mishan & Sons, the company behind Gotham Steel and Granitestone, sells its Stackmaster series under both brand names in a range of materials and combinations. This copper-colored 10-piece set offers the best value, yet still saves space. Its sole accessory, a stainless steel fry basket, can join the stacked collection or be stored separately.

The pans’ nonstick surface is friendly to metal utensils, and three of the tempered-glass lids are interchangeable. The lids and pans can be stacked together in one tower or split into two shorter stacks, which Gotham Steel says saves 30 percent in space. The pans’ stainless steel base makes them compatible with all stovetops.

What's Included: 2.75- and 3.5-quart saucepans, 5.35-quart stockpot, 8- and 10-inch fry pans, 4 lids, fry basket | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic interior | Oven-Safe: Up to 500 degrees | Induction-Ready: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Best for Microwave

Joseph Joseph 4-Piece Stackable Cooking Set

$35 at Amazon $46 at Walmart View on Josephjoseph.com

Joseph Joseph’s product lines focus on functional, space-saving designs, and its M-Cuisine cooking set is no exception. Most microwave "cookware" is really aimed at reheating, which makes this set stand out even before you consider its stackability.

This cookware features four interchangeable components: pot, steamer, griddle, and lid. When inverted, the lid solos as a plate or sits as a base for the griddle. The cookpot has a decent 2-quart capacity when used alone. Or, you could go big, stacking all the pieces to cook a full, one-person meal. Built-in pot and lid handles make the cookware easy to move. The entire set sits just over 6 inches high.

What's Included: 2.1-quart cooking pot with steamer, griddle, and lid | Material: BPA-free plastic | Microwave-Safe: Up to 900 watts | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes