The best hard-anodized cookware sets

There's a wide selection of hard-anodized cookware on the market, but the Circulon Symmetry set is the best one you can buy. It lives up to its reputation, whether you're grilling a filet mignon or whipping up a mushroom and spinach mélange.

The set includes a 1-quart pouring saucepan, 2-quart covered saucepan, 3-quart covered saucepan, 8-quart covered stockpot, 8.5-inch French skillet, 10-inch French skillet, and a 3-quart covered sauté pan.

Its elegant, tulip-shaped design looks super stylish. You can expect superior performance and its heavy-duty construction means you can cook your favorite recipes to perfection. You can also stick it in the oven because all the pieces in this set are rated to handle up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each piece in the Circulon Symmetry set features a warp-resistant bonded stainless steel base that is suitable for all stovetops including induction.

One of the big benefits of this set is that it is dishwasher safe but it is also very easy to clean if you prefer hand washing. The rubberized cast stainless steel handles are comfortable to hold, while the vented, shatter-resistant glass lids are tight fitted to lock in the flavors of your favorite recipes.

Pros: Oven safe to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, dishwasher safe, warp-resistant, induction compatible, metal-utensil safe, stay cool handles.

Cons: It is expensive

All-Clad is considered the Grand Dame of cookware and the brand consistently gets top ratings from experts and buyers, but it is also one of the most expensive brands. If you're prepared to spend some money, then the All-Clad HA1 Set really is worth the investment.

This set includes 8-inch and 10-inch fry pans, 2-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 4-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid. All-Clad also sells a 13-piece set.

Sticky sauces fall right off the pan and dishwashing is a breeze, whether you want to do it by hand or simply stick it in the dishwasher.

Not only can you wow your guests with your cooking, they'll be impressed by the set's stylish and modern, rounded design that looks great on the table as well as on the stove. However, a few buyers reported their handles got hot.

The range is oven safe for temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (without lids) and its bonded steel base prevents warping and reduces scratches from stovetop use. It is induction capable, too.

One of the big plusses about the All-Clad HA1 Set is that you can stick everything in the dishwasher, although the company recommends washing it by hand.

Pros: Oven safe to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, induction capable, warp-resistant

Cons: Expensive

You certainly get plenty of bang for your buck with this cookware set from renowned TV celebrity chef, Rachael Ray. The Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Set is one of the most popular sets you can buy.

The set includes a 1-quart, covered saucepan, 2-quart, covered saucepan, 6-quart, covered stockpot, 3-quart, covered sauté, 8.5-inch skillet, and a 10-inch skillet. Rachel ray also sells a 12 and 14-piece set.

The nonstick Eclipse interior certainly held up well in testing and all the pieces can be put straight in the dishwasher. We love the contemporary black designed with brightly-colored orange handles. The handles also come in blue and are made of silicone, so you can avoid burning your hands, although one user did also say the handles get hot.

On the downside, a handful of reviewers did say the pots and pans a bit small and were not as good quality as some of the more premium brands.

Pros: Great price, dishwasher safe, oven safe to 350 degrees.

Cons: Pots and pans are smaller and a bit light compared to some other brands, unsuitable for induction stoves

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