Cookware Registry Guide
Wedding and gift registryA great kitchen begins with great cookware—let us help you choose the perfect
pots and pans for the way you cook. We'll guide you through a variety of cookware
materials, then describe the ideal pieces for every culinary task.
Go For Variety
In addition to a multitasking cookware set, register for an assortment of individual pieces. This ensures you'll have the perfect pans for your favorite culinary techniques—and gives your guests a range of prices from which to choose.
Consider Your Cooking Style
When you're registering for cookware, choose the materials and finishes that best suit your cooking style. For example, bonded stainless-steel and hard-anodized aluminum are both great choices for everyday cooking, but stainless-steel cookware typically requires less care. If you prefer low-fat cooking, choose pieces with nonstick interiors. Copper cookware offers the best heat conduction and temperature control—and goes beautifully from the stovetop or oven to your dining table.
Pick the Right Material
Choose the right material for your cooking task. For example, enameled cast-iron is great for techniques like slow-cooking and braising, while materials like hard-anodized aluminum, bonded stainless steel and copper are good choices for searing, sautéing and making pan sauces.
Keep Care in Mind
Remember that different cookware fabrications require different levels of care. Overall, bonded stainless-steel cookware requires the least maintenance—and is easily cleaned in the dishwasher.
Materials & Care
Choose the right material for the taskAttractive and easy to care for, bonded stainless-steel cookware features a pure aluminum-core base for rapid, uniform heat conduction. The cooking surface resists sticking and won't react with acidic ingredients. This low-maintenance cookware is oven and dishwasher safe.
Hard-anodized aluminum is a favorite with professional chefs because it's extremely durable and highly temperature responsive, conducting heat quickly and evenly. Nonreactive cooking surfaces resist sticking—and promote excellent browning, searing and caramelization. This efficient, all-purpose cookware is oven-safe and easy to clean.
If you're a fan of healthy, lowfat cooking, choose cookware with durable, PFOA-free ceramic nonstick interiors. Featuring an exceptionally durable ceramic nonstick coating, these pots and pans require little or no oil for top-notch searing, frying and browning, with with effortless release and quick cleanup.
Copper is the most responsive of all cookware
materials, heating and cooling quickly for maximum
temperature control. Most pieces feature a stick-
resistant, nonreactive interior made of durable, easy-
care stainless steel. The rich warmth of copper creates
beautiful presentation at the table. Pieces do
require occasional polishing to maintain their
gleaming exteriors.
Enameled cast iron conducts heat slowly and gently, then distributes and maintains the desired heat with exceptional efficiency. Porcelain-enameled surfaces are nonreactive, stick-resistant and require no seasoning. They also resist chips, cracks and scratches. These pieces are great for both stovetop and oven use—and they're dishwasher safe.
These modern versions of classic cast-iron cookware give you all the benefits of the high-performance originals—but require no seasoning. Each piece offers slow, even heat conduction, whether you're gently simmering or high-heat searing. After achieving your desired temperature, cast-iron cookware maintains heat flawlessly—it won't cool down even after cold foods are added.
Traditional stovetops generate and transmit heat using a process known as thermal conduction, while induction cooktops use oscillating magnetic heat. One of the benefits of induction cooktops is that they're exceptionally efficient: only the cookware heats up—not the cooktop or burner. Induction-compatible cookware is made of a magnetic material that works with this system. Examples include cast iron, steel and magnetic stainless steel.
The Necessities
Choose the right cookware for the taskWhen you're registering for cookware, start with the essentials. We've configured our exclusive cookware sets to include the pieces you'll use every day—from saucepans, fry pans and sauté pans to generously sized stockpots. Round out your collection by choosing pieces designed for your favorite culinary techniques.
Best For:Getting your cookware collection off to a great start. Sets include every cook's most commonly used pots and pans.
Consider This:Register for a cookware set in the material that best suits your everyday culinary style, then add individual pieces that will help you cook up the specific dishes you love most.
This classic straight-sided pan is one of the most versatile in any cook's kitchen. It's great for techniques that involve cooking with liquids, such as simmering, boiling and poaching.
Best For:Count on this all-purpose pan for everything from cooking veggies, grains and hot cereals to simmering soups and whipping up homemade sauces.
Consider This:Most cooks find 1.5-qt., 2–2.5-qt., 3-qt. and 4-qt. saucepans to be the most useful sizes—but if you have to choose just one, we recommend a 3-to-4-qt. saucepan.
(Suggested Quantity: 2)
This is ultimate pan for shaking, tossing or stirring food over high heats. "Sauter" is a French word that means "to jump."
Best For:With a wide, flat cooking surface and long handle, this versatile pan is ideal for everything from sautéing, searing and browning to quick stir-frying.
Consider This:A 4-qt. sauté pan is generally considered to be the most versatile. To achieve the best browning and caramelization, it's a good idea to register for at least one sauté pan with a traditional cooking surface (i.e. other than nonstick).
(Suggested Quantity: 2)
A mainstay in every kitchen, a good fry pan combines gently flared sides with a wide, flat cooking surface, making it ideal for frying and searing. Traditional
pans promote optimal browning and deglazing,
while nonstick pans ensure easy release with
minimal added fat.
High-heat cooking techniques, such as searing, frying and browning.
Consider This:Most cooks find 10- and 12-inch diameter fry pans to the most useful. It's a good idea to register for at least one fry pan with a traditional surface for high-temperature cooking, plus at least one nonstick fry pan for cooking eggs and other delicate foods.
(Suggested Quantity: 2)
Generations of cooks have relied on these traditional pots for preparing hearty homemade classics. The heavy-gauge pot is perfect for browning foods on the stovetop, then adding liquid and covering for long, slow cooking in the oven or on the stovetop. A tight-fitting lid helps circulate heat and moisture.
Best For:Classic slow-cooked dishes such as stews, braises, pot roasts and casseroles.
Consider This:5-qt. and 7-qt. Dutch ovens are typically considered to be the most useful sizes. For a quick calculation, assume one serving for every quart of the pot's capacity. If you'd like a Dutch oven that's great for both cooking and serving, consider registering for a colorful enameled cast-iron pot.
This do-it-all pot is ultimate stovetop multitasker.
It's perfect for quick one-pot meals—the versatile stockpot comes with a pasta insert and vegetable steamer.
Use this pot's handy pasta insert for cooking and draining noodles—the veggie insert is ideal for steaming crisp-tender vegetables. You can also use the stockpot on its own for simmering soups, stews and homemade pasta sauces.
Consider This:If you love pasta and veggies for quick weeknight meals, this hardworking pot is a true kitchen
essential. Multipots are typically available in 6-qt.,
8-qt. and 12-qt. sizes—choose the one that works best for you.
This heavy-gauge pot is designed to heat up quickly, then maintain your chosen temperature—from the gentlest simmer to a fast, rolling boil. The tall, narrow shape melds and enriches flavors during cooking—and a tight-fitting lid helps circulate heat and moisture.
Best For:Culinary techniques that involve cooking with liquids, such as boiling and simmering. For steaming, add a perforated insert.
Consider This:Since a soup pot, stockpot and Dutch oven are often interchangeable, consider registering for soup pot or stockpot with a capacity that differs from your Dutch oven. This will give you optimal versatility.
A heavy-duty roaster is the pan of choice for oven-roasting meats, poultry, fish or vegetables. Low, straight sides promote perfectly even browning—and generously sized handles are easy to grasp when you’re lifting the pan in and out of the oven.
Best For:Cooking in the dry heat of the oven at relatively high temperatures. Some roasters are also ideal for making pan sauces and gravies on the stovetop.
Consider This:Roasters with a traditional cooking surface are great for deglazing—the secret to rich, flavorful homemade gravies and pan sauces. If you're looking for the quickest cleanup, choose a roaster with a nonstick finish.
A classic griddle is an exceptionally versatile piece with a large, smooth cooking surface that's ideal for cooking everything from breakfast favorites to burgers and sandwiches.
Best For:Cooking morning classics like bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes and French toast; making grilled sandwiches for lunch; searing steaks, chops and burgers.
Consider This:If you plan on cooking meats on your griddle, look for a pan with a well around the perimeter to collect fatty drippings. For family-sized meals, register for a double-burner griddle.
Ideal for easy, efficient grilling on your stovetop, grill pans are designed to retain heat beautifully. High ridges sear foods with authentic grill marks, while allowing fatty drippings to drain away.
Best For:Quickly grilling meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables over high heats.
Consider This:If you're planning to cook for a crowd, register for an extra-large grill pan that spans two burners on your stovetop.
A stainless-steel insert has a perforated design that allows moist heat to circulate evenly—perfect for steaming everything from fresh veggies and seafood to dim sum and tamales.
Best For:Quickly steaming foods to retain maximum flavor, color and nutrients—easily fits insides many saucepans, soup pots and stock pots.
Consider This:Adding a steamer to your registry gives you optimal culinary versatility and efficiency—it partners perfectly with your existing cookware. To simplify healthy cooking, register for the Calphalon Steam & Poach. This special set pairs a Dutch oven with a dual-function insert. The reversible stainless-steel insert works as a steamer on one side and a poacher on the other. You can also use the Dutch oven on its own.
A stovetop kettle is designed to boil water quickly—perfect for brewing tea or pour-over coffee. Many models have a melodic whistle that lets you know when water has reached a rolling boil.
Best For:Boiling water to make tea, coffee or other hot beverages.
Consider This:Tea kettles come in a variety of beautiful, efficient materials—from gleaming stainless steel to polished copper. Choose a kettle that complements the style
of your kitchen.
The Well Equipped Kitchen
Depending on your interests as a couple, you may want to register for some
specialty cookware pieces. Consider the following options:
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