We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

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.

Updated June 14, 2024

Braised chicken thighs in a stainless steel pot — Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

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.

The Best Cast Iron Skillet for Induction Cooktops
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
PHOTO: Amazon
$41 $30 at Amazon $15 at Williams-Sonoma $27 $20 at Walmart
Any cookware made from cast iron (including enameled cast iron), is induction compatible, which is great considering how versatile a great cast iron skillet is. After testing 11 cast iron skillets, this one from Lodge came out on top. It performed well in all our tests and has an unbeatable price.
Key Specs
- Material: Cast iron
- Temperature range: N/A
- Care instructions: Hand-wash only (for a cast iron cleaning and care how-to, head here)
To Find the Best Cast Iron Skillets, I Seared Steaks, Baked Cornbread, and Fried Dozens of Eggs
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
The Best Dutch Oven for Induction Cooktops
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven
PHOTO: Amazon
$420 $320 at Amazon $260 at Williams-Sonoma $336 at Sur La Table
A large, enameled cast iron is essential no matter what kind of cooktop you have: For braising, stovetop cooking, boiling, deep-frying, bread baking, and more. After extensive testing, we named this model from Le Creuset our winner. We also recommended this Dutch oven from Staub. For a budget-friendly option, we like this one from Cuisinart.
Key Specs
- Material: Enameled cast iron
- Temperature range: Up to 500°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing is recommended
The Best Dutch Ovens for Braises, Bakes, and Stews (According to Our Tests)
Serious Eats / Will Dickey
The Best Wok for Induction Cooktops
Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok
PHOTO: Amazon
$65 $60 at Amazon View on Yosukata.com
All of our favorite flat-bottomed carbon steel woks are induction-compatible, though we only included the Yosukata above. However, you really can't go wrong with any of them: They're all fairly reasonably priced, heat responsive, and perform exceptionally well.
Key Specs
- Material: Carbon steel
- Temperature range: Up to 600°F
- Care instructions: Hand-wash only
To Find the Best Woks for Stir Frying and More, We Smoked up Our Kitchen
Serious Eats / Tim Chin
The Best Nonstick Skillet for Induction Cooktops
T-fal Professional Nonstick Fry Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$53 $48 at Amazon $31 at Walmart
A good nonstick skillet is mighty helpful to have around when cooking anything delicate or that might otherwise majorly stick—like omelets, scrambled eggs, or fish piccata. This skillet from T-fal is one of our favorites. It's not too expensive (which, in our opinion, is a very great thing in a nonstick skillet, as it'll need to be replaced every few years) and is, of course, induction-friendly. If you want a more durable option and don't mind splurging, HexClad cookware is great for induction cooktops.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel base; titanium nonstick
- Temperature range: Up to 400°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though we recommend hand-washing
We Tested 16 Nonstick Skillets and Still Don't Think You Should Spend a Ton on One
Serious Eats / Donna Currie
The Best Stockpot for Induction Cooktops
Cuisinart 12-Quart Stock Pot
PHOTO: Amazon
$135 at Amazon View on Cuisinart.com
After testing 16 stockpots, we landed on this model from Cuisinart as our top 12-quart pick. It's solidly built, has wide, comfortable handles, and excelled in all of our cooking tests. Our favorite 16-quart stockpot from Tramontina is also induction compatible, should you want a slightly bigger size for making stock, boiling lobsters, or what have you.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 550°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
We Tested 22 Stockpots and Landed on Five Favorites
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
The Best Stainless Steel Skillet for Induction Cooktops
Made In Skillet
PHOTO: Amazon
$129 at Amazon $119 at Madeincookware.com
We love both the 10- and 12-inch Made In Stainless Steel Skillets and think it's worth having both sizes around. (Fact: Their more reasonable price points gave them the edge over All-Clad and Le Creuset during our stainless steel skillet testing.) For a budget-friendly stainless steel skillet, we recommend this one from Tramontina, which is about $50.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 800°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
I Tested 28 Stainless-Steel Skillets—Three Were Sear-iously Good
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
The Best Carbon Steel Skillet for Induction Cooktops
Mauviel Nonstick Frying Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$95 at Amazon View on Mauviel-usa.com
The Best Budget-Friendly Carbon Steel Skillet for Induction Cooktops
OXO Carbon Steel Frying Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$50 at Amazon $50 at Home Depot View on Perigold.com
If you love cast iron, then you should also know about carbon steel. We've called them "skillet siblings" before and it's true: They share a lot of the same features. They both are induction compatible and have excellent heat retention, which makes them great for searing and browning. However, a well-seasoned carbon steel skillet can be more non-stick than a cast iron one. And because of its sloped sides, a carbon steel skillet is better for sautéing (cast iron still takes the cake shallow-frying, cornbread, and pan pizza). After testing, we like pans from Mauviel and OXO.
Key Specs
- Material: Carbon steel
- Temperature range: N/A (manufacturer doesn't specify)
- Care instructions: Hand-wash only
We Seared and Sauteed to Find the Three Best Carbon Steel Pans
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
The Best Saucier for Induction Cooktops
Made In Stainless Clad Saucier
PHOTO: Made In
$159 at Amazon $159 at Madeincookware.com
We're team saucier over saucepan. Why? Well, a saucier does everything a saucepan can do but has rounded edges, which make stirring and whisking in it a cinch. We recommend a 3-quart size, which is versatile without being too large. This model from Made In is our favorite.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 800°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
We're Team Saucier—Here Are Our 3 Favorite Pans After Testing
Serious Eats / Tim Chin
The Best Saucepan for Induction Cooktops
Zwilling Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepan
PHOTO: Zwilling
$120 $85 at Amazon $75 at Sur La Table View on Zwilling.com
All the pros of sauciers being said, there's still a good reason to invest in a 4-quart, straight-sided saucepan for boiling larger amounts of water, cooking grains, or poaching vegetables. Or, maybe, you just prefer a saucepan over a saucier (you do you!). Our favorite saucepan is the one from Zwilling. In our tests, it was heat responsive, wide enough for easy stirring, and had a comfortable, large handle. If you want a 3-quart saucepan, we recommend models from Tramontina and All-Clad.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel; aluminum; tempered glass
- Temperature range: Up to 400°F (with lid)
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
I Cooked 11 Cups of Rice to Find the Five Best Saucepans
Serious Eats / Irvin Lin
The Best Grill Pan for Induction Cooktops
Lodge 11-Inch Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$84 at Amazon $60 $55 at Kohls.com
Another Great Induction-Friendly Option
Staub Cast Iron Grill Pan
PHOTO: Walmart
$150 at Amazon $150 at Williams-Sonoma $150 at Wayfair
Both of our favorite grill pans are induction-friendly. The Lodge is made from traditional cast iron (read: it's nearly indestructible and will get more seasoned with time), while the Staub is made from enameled cast iron (read: easier to clean, but more fragile and it will never build up seasoning). Both are great and yield good grill marks—it's just whatever you prefer.
Key Specs
- Material: Cast iron (Lodge); enameled cast iron (Staub)
- Temperature range: N/A (Lodge); up to 500°F (Staub)
- Care instructions: Hand-wash only (Lodge); dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing is recommended (Staub)
We Tested 10 Grill Pans—Our Five Favorites Got Top Marks
Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
The Best Braiser for Induction Cooktops
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Braiser
PHOTO: Amazon
$290 at Amazon $290 at Williams-Sonoma $290 at Sur La Table
If you haven't heard of a braiser before, now's the time to get familiar. It looks like a Dutch oven but is much shorter and has flared sides. It's good for braises, as well as shallow-frying, pan roasting, searing and simmering, and more. Our favorite braiser is from Le Creuset. It's durable, comes in a range of colors, and has a large lid knob and wide, lopped handles that make it easy to pick up.
Key Specs
- Material: Enameled cast iron
- Temperature range: Up to 500°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is recommended
We Tested 8 Braisers—Here Are the Best Models for Braises, Shallow Frying, and More
Serious Eats / Taylor Murray
The Best Enameled Cast Iron Skillet for Induction Cooktops
Staub 10-Inch Fry Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$160 at Amazon $200 at Williams-Sonoma $300 $100 at Target
We recently reviewed enameled cast iron skillets (again, cast iron equals induction compatible) and came away with a few favorites, including our overall pick from Staub. It performed incredibly well, had flared sides that allowed for easy flipping, and was relatively lightweight.
Key Specs
- Material: Enameled cast iron
- Temperature range: Up to 900°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is recommended
We Tested 8 Enameled Cast Iron Skillets and Found Three Great Options
Serious Eats / Taylor Murray
The Best Saute Pan for Induction Cooktops
Made In Saute Pan
PHOTO: Made In
$169 at Amazon $159 at Madeincookware.com
Our favorite saute pan (and actually all of our recommended saute pans) is induction-friendly. We named the Made In our overall top pick for its wide surface, its flared lip that made it easy to pour from, and its tight-fitting lid. We also liked its handle, which was flat and easy to hold. Its secondary handle was nice and wide, too.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 800°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is recommended
We Tested 9 Sauté Pans, and 3 (Shallow) Fried The Competition
Serious Eats / Jesse Raub
The Best Small Saucepan for Induction Cooktops
Made In Saucepan
PHOTO: Made In
$149 $139 at Amazon $149 at Madeincookware.com
Our favorite small saucepan also hails from Made In and (along with our other small saucepan top picks from Duxtop and All-Clad) is induction-compatible. The Made In had a concave handle that made for easy, secure pouring (no rolling in your palm as it's tilted) and was fully clad for even heating. We also liked its rolled rim, which made for splash-free pouring.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 800°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is recommended
I Tested 8 Small Saucepans and Found Three Picks for Sauces, Browned Butter, and More
Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
The Best Induction Compatible Cookware Set
All Clad Stainless Bonded Cookware Set
PHOTO: Amazon
$700 at Amazon $700 at Williams-Sonoma $700 at Sur La Table
We're usually anti-cookware sets, but this stainless steel one from All-Clad has plenty to like about it: All of the pieces performed exceptionally well and the set is mostly comprised of cookware we've independently tested and recommended anyway. It includes two stainless steel skillets, a saucepan, a saute pan, and a stockpot.
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Temperature range: Up to 600°F
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is recommended
We Tested 20 Cookware Sets–Here Are Five Actually Worth Buying
Serious Eats / Russell Kilgore
The Best Induction Compatible Tagine
Kook Moroccan Tagine
PHOTO: Amazon
$75 at Amazon View on Target
This tagine is made from durable cast iron and has a vent hole that, some say, contributes to more robust flavors in a final dish. When we spent 12 days testing tagines, it was a clear favorite.
Key Specs
- Material: Cast iron
- Temperature range: Up to 450°F
- Care instructions: Hand-wash
We Spent 12 Days Testing Six Tagines to Find the Best Ones
Serious Eats / Taylor Murray
The Best Induction Compatible Tamagoyaki Pan
TECHEF Tamagoyaki Japanese Egg Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$23 at Amazon $28 $19 at Walmart
All of our favorite tamagoyaki pans are induction-compatible, so you have your pick. However, this is the best one. Its rectangular shape made it easy to roll the Japanese egg omelets.
Key Specs
- Materials: Teflon nonstick coating, aluminum
- Temperature range: Up to 350ºF
- Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe, though we recommend hand-washing
To Find the Best Tamagoyaki Pans, I Made Nearly Two Dozen Japanese Omelets
Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

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.