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The Best Cookware for Induction Cooktops, Tested and Reviewed

Whether you're in the market for a nonstick skillet or a Dutch oven, here's what to get.

By
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Serious Eats
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Associate Editorial Director
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the Associate Editorial Director for Serious Eats. She joined the team in 2021.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated October 11, 2024
pulled pork in two dutch ovens on the stove

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

If you've transitioned from a gas or electric range to an induction cooktop and didn't know that not all cookware is induction compatible, well, that was probably surprising. To be induction-friendly, cookware must have a ferromagnetic base, which works with an induction burner's electromagnetic coil that sits below the cooktop's surface and, when on, generates a magnetic field. But that, in itself, doesn't make anything hot. Only when a ferromagnetic piece of cookware is placed on an induction burner does this field cause an electrical current to flow through the cookware (don't worry—it's not the kind that could shock you!), generating heat. A non-induction-friendly piece of cookware simply won't heat up...at all.

We went through the site to find the induction-friendly cookware we've already tested and loved, making it seamless for us to recommend what you should buy for your own home kitchen. Now, you have one handy "What cookware should I buy for my induction cooktop?" guide that we'll continually update as we test new products.

A note: If you're curious about whether or not a piece of cookware you already own is induction-compatible, grab a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of the cookware, it's compatible. And if it doesn't? Well, you're not out of options: Induction interference disks exist. Place one of these between your induction cooktop and non-compatible cookware, et voila: Your non-induction skillet or saucepan works once again.

FAQs

How do you know if cookware is induction compatible?

To know if your cookware is induction compatible, check its product listing: the manufacturer should tell you. If not, grab a magnet and see if it sticks to the bottom of the pan. If it's magnetic, it's induction-friendly.

Can you use induction cookware on a gas stove?

Yep! You absolutely can. All of our above cookware recommendations can be used on both induction and gas stovetops.

Where do you buy induction-friendly cookware?

While you can certainly shop for induction-compatible cookware in a store (bring a magnet—if it sticks to the bottom of the cookware in question, you found something induction-friendly), you can also buy through our links above. Generally, we don't recommend purchasing cookware sets, as they often include pots or pans you won't actually use.

Can induction-friendly cookware be used in the oven?

This depends on the cookware in question! Some items—like cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens, and stainless steel skillets—are absolutely oven-safe. Others, like nonstick skillets, may be oven-safe, but to low temperatures. It's always worth checking the manufacturer's care instructions.

Why We're the Experts

  • We've spent years testing cookware to land on our recommendations for cast iron skillets, stainless steel pans, Dutch ovens, and more.
  • Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor for Serious Eats. She's reviewed kitchen equipment professionally for more than five years and previously worked for America's Test Kitchen, Food52, and more. She's tested induction burners, air fryers, Ooni ovens, and so much more.

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