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Since there is an increasing interest among consumers to buy products made in the United States, we wanted to share our research on the best stainless steel cookware made in the USA.
Stainless steel cookware is great for sautéing, searing, and browning. A high-quality set of stainless steel pots and pans is durable, corrosion free, and conducts heat well.
Determining where a specific cookware piece or cookware set is manufactured, and the source of the raw materials is not easy. If you are researching cookware online, you’ll notice some brands divulge the information on their website while others do not.
If you can’t find manufacturing and raw material information on the manufacturer’s website, the next step is to contact customer service via chat, email, or telephone. Most of the time, you can get the information you seek, although it may take a few emails back and forth.
If you have access to the actual product, the country of origin is sometimes listed on the packaging, the barcode, or the price tag. Some brands engrave the country of origin on the product.
Examples of raw material source and manufacturing location possibilities
Raw Material Source | Manufacturing Location |
|---|---|
USA | USA |
Global | USA |
Global | Global or USA* |
USA or Global | USA or Global** |
- * For example, a handle is made in China and shipped to the US for final assembly while the other parts of the pan (lid, body, disk, rivets etc.) are manufactured in the US.
** A pan sold individually is made outside the USA, however, if the pan is part of a specific product line, it is manufactured in the USA.
This table shows the raw material origin and manufacturing location of the cookware discussed in this article.
Product | Raw Material Source | Manufacturing Location |
|---|---|---|
All-Clad D3 | USA | USA |
All-Clad D5 | USA | USA |
Viking Culinary Professional | USA & Japan | USA |
Made In Stainless Steel Frying Pan (sold individually) | USA | USA |
Heritage Steel 5-pc Essentials Set | USA & Global | USA |
Best Stainless Steel Cookware Made in USA
All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 5-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
The All-Clad D3 collection is manufactured in the USA with American raw materials. Cookware sets are available in 5, 7, 10, and 14-pieces and are compatible with conventional and induction cooktops.
The pieces in the All-Clad D3 cookware set have 3-ply bonded construction with alternating layers of stainless steel and an aluminum core for even heating throughout.
What's Included in the 5 pc set: 10" fry pan, 3-qt saucepan with lid, 3-qt sauté pan with lid.
What We Like
- 3-ply construction throughout the pots and pans
- Even heat distribution
- Made in the USA with American-made stainless steel
- Solid construction
What Is Not Ideal
- A concave handle may be hard to grip
- Expensive
All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 7-Pc Cookware Set
The All-Clad D5 Brushed Stainless Steel 7-Pc Cookware Set is constructed with American-made metals and is manufactured in the USA.
There are 5, 7, 10, and 14-piece sets available, all of which are compatible with all cooktops, including induction.
What's Included in the 7-piece set: 10" fry pan,1.5 qt saucepan with lid, 3 qt sauté pan with lid, 8 qt stockpot with lid
The layers are the inner cooking surface of 18/10 stainless steel, an aluminum layer, a stainless steel core, an aluminum layer, and an outer layer of magnetic stainless steel.
The starburst finish on the interior helps prevent food from sticking. This is not a chemical; instead, it is a process whereby the surface is finely sanded with a machine.
The outer finish on the cookware and lids are highly-polished.
The handles are long, solid stainless steel, and solidly attached to the pan with stainless steel rivets. When scrambling eggs, the handles do not get very hot. However, when cooks use pots and pans with metal handles, they often wrap them with a towel or silicone sleeve, especially when cooking food at high temperatures.
One thing to be aware of is that the handles on the lids get relatively hot if the temperature is high enough so that steam or heat travels to the cover. The stainless steel lids fit tightly to the pots and pans.
The high-quality stainless steel used in manufacturing the All-Clad D5 collection and the proper pre-heating of the pan makes cooking very easy. Heat is evenly distributed, thus eliminating food being burnt and undercooked on the inside. We found that we didn't need the heat as high as other cookware.
Although All-Clad states this set is dishwasher safe, the pans are easily cleaned with warm soapy water. Barkeeper's Friend or baking soda will keep the pans looking new.
Metal, plastic, and wooden utensils can be used.
All-Clad provides a limited lifetime warranty for all of its cookware products.
What We Like
The All-Clad D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 7-Pc Cookware Set is for casual and serious cooks. Although a bit pricey, it is a great value given the superior construction, durability, versatility, and quick and even heating of the pots and pans.
- 5-ply construction throughout the pots and pans
- Even heat distribution
- Versatile - stovetop, oven, broiler safe
Additionally, it is a good investment as, with proper care, you can rely on these pots and pans to last through years of regular use.
We appreciate that American-made metals are used, and the pots and pans are manufactured in the USA.
What Is Not Ideal
Viking Culinary Professional 5-Ply Stainless Steel 5-Pc Cookware Set
The Viking Culinary Professional Stainless Steel Cookware Set is manufactured in the USA. However, according to Viking customer service, some raw materials used to make this set are sourced in the United States, and some are from Japan.
There are 5, 7, and 10-piece sets available, all of which can be used on induction as well as conventional cooktops and stoves.
What's Included in the 5-piece set: 10-inch Frying Pan, 3.4-Qt Everyday Casserole Pan w/ lid, 6-Qt Stock Pot/Dutch Oven w/ lid
These pots and pans have five-ply construction of mixed metals, which helps maximize heat transfer and reduce energy usage.
The interior and exterior layers of the pans are made of stainless steel. The interior layer is 18/10 stainless steel and is nonreactive and nonporous. The exterior of the pots and pans is made of magnetic stainless steel so that it cooks evenly and efficiently on all cooktops, including induction.
Three layers of aluminum (aluminum alloy, pure 3004 aluminum, aluminum alloy) are sandwiched between the two stainless steel layers. The pure aluminum inner layer is one of the most conductive materials used in cookware. This, combined with the stainless layers, gives the pot stability while preventing warping and allowing for easy maintenance.
These five layers work together to allow for quick heat transfer while using less energy to reach the cooking temperatures you need.
They deliver superior cooking performance, and each metal layer makes cooking efficient. The cookware is durable and designed to last a lifetime.
The pots and pans are attractive, with ergonomic handles designed to stay cool. They are easy to hold and maneuver while being comfortable in your hands. They are attached permanently with stainless steel rivets, and you will have balance and control.
The larger items also have loop handles to help you hold them. In most conditions, the handles will stay cool to the touch. If you use the pots and pans in the oven, you will need heat protection before lifting them.
This set is dishwasher safe and easy to clean. You can rinse them in the dishwasher, and they will not lose their functionality or warp.
You can easily hand wash them by filling the sink with warm water and wiping them clean with a nylon sponge after letting them sit for a minute. If necessary, you can use BarKeeper's Friend for tough residue and to keep them looking new.
What We Like
This is a durable set if you want to bring commercial-grade cookware set into your home kitchen. It offers the pots and pans you need to prepare most meals.
- Ergonomic, stay-cool handles
- Heats food evenly and through to the center
- Interior capacity markings for easy measuring
- Oven, broiler, and grill safe
What Is Not Ideal
- Handles can get hot if pots are crowded
- Material can scratch with metal utensils
- Expensive
Heritage Steel 5 Piece Essentials Cookware Set
In 1983, Donald Henn purchased the consumer division of Vollrath Cookware and their factory in Clarksville, TN forming New Era Cookware. Heritage Steel is a brand owned by New Era Cookware.
The stainless cookware manufactured by Heritage Steel is fully clad – the body of the cooking vessels contains five layers of metal.
This 5-ply cookware has three aluminum layers sandwiched between two layers of stainless. One layer of aluminum alloy is between two layers of pure aluminum (bonding layers) to ensure even heating.
The external stainless layer is 439 stainless, making the cooking vessel induction compatible and providing additional durability. 316Ti stainless is used on the interior cooking surface. This contains titanium and molybdenum, making it more corrosion resistant than 18/10 or 18/8 stainless.
What We Like
- High-quality stainless steel - 316Ti/439
- Heats quickly and evenly
- Durable and non-reactive
- Comfortable handle
- Made in the USA
What Is Not Ideal
- Expensive
- Rivets are not flat against the pan
What’s Included: The set includes the 3-quart saucepan with lid, the 4-quart sauté with lid, and the 10.5" fry pan.
Made In Cookware Stainless Steel Frying Pan
The Made In Stainless Steel Frying Pan is made with four different metals in five layers. The composition is stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, aluminum, and magnetic stainless steel.
The metal composition is the same for their other stainless steel clad products.
The stainless steel clad frying pan is manufactured in the USA. The other stainless pieces, such as the saucepan, sauté pan, stockpot, saucier, and butter warmer, are manufactured in Italy.
| Name | Price | Product |
|---|---|---|
| All-Clad BD005707-R D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set, 7-Piece, Silver | Check Price |  |
| All-Clad 401599 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set, 5-Piece, Silver | Check Price |  |
| Viking Culinary Professional 5-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 5 Piece, Silver | Check Price |  |
| Heritage Steel 5 Piece Essentials Cookware Set - Titanium Strengthened 316Ti Stainless Steel with 5-Ply Construction - Induction-Ready and Fully Clad, Made in USA | Check Price |  |
A few words about manufacturing country of origin
Many consumers want to buy USA-made products for a couple of reasons. First, to support the American economy. Second, some people are troubled by the reported human rights and environmental abuses in China and other countries. Third, some offshore factories produce low-quality products.
However, it is important to know some offshore companies produce high-quality products using safe materials and processes and treat their employees humanely.
Some companies own the factories in China that produce their cookware. This affords them control over the raw materials used and the manufacturing process. They can also supervise quality control and set the standards for employee treatment.
Suppose you want to purchase cookware made in the USA. In that case, there are two factors to be aware of: 1) the country of origin of the raw materials and 2) the location of the factory that manufactures the raw materials.
As you are probably aware, high-quality USA cookware is usually more expensive than pots and pans manufactured in countries such as China and Thailand, where labor is cheaper.
