BEST · Knives
The Best Chef Knives
German or Japanese steel, and why sharpening habits matter more than either.
The Best Cookware Sets
Heat distribution mapped with a thermal camera.
By Naomi Park, Kitchen Editor · Published August 6, 2026 · 2 min read
Photograph: ela haney / StockSnap
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We thermal-imaged every pan at three heat settings and cooked identical omelettes, sauces and sears.
Sets are usually the wrong purchase
Most sets pad the count with lids and pans you won't use. Four good pieces beat a twelve-piece box.
What to buy instead
A 28 cm stainless skillet, a 24 cm nonstick, a 3 L saucepan and a heavy casserole cover almost all home cooking.
Methodology
Every product here was tested in a working home against standardised tasks. Scores are the mean of five measured criteria and are never adjusted for commercial reasons. How we test · How we review.
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