Any home cook struggles with stacking their pots and pans at some point. No matter how hard you try, you end up with a pile of cookware that becomes a tangled mess of handles and lids.
Pots and pans with removable handles are a genius solution in this situation, and a stackable design takes them to the next level. They nest into each other from biggest to smallest, so the whole stack doesn’t take up much more space than the footprint of the largest pot. Removable handles make this possible!
What is the Best Cookware Set with Removable Handles?
Best Overall
Our rating:
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
T-fal Ingenio Nonstick Cookware Set
#2 Best Choice
Our rating:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
MAGMA Stainless Steel Cookware Set
#3 Best Choice
Our rating:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Country Kitchen Pots and Pans Set
The best cookware set with detachable handles is the T-fal Ingenio Nonstick Cookware Set. This non-stick set features handles with a three-point safety mechanism that offers a firm and secure grip when you do put them back on the pots.
Best Overall: T-fal Ingenio Nonstick Cookware Set
Top Pick
Our rating:
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
If your cabinet has 11 inches of cubic space, you have enough room for this stackable 14-piece set! All the pieces, excluding the handles, fit snugly together to form a tower.
The high-quality non-stick coating on this set is made of T-fal’s five-layer platinum technology, which, according to the manufacturer, lasts 10 times longer than regular non-stick coatings. These thick, durable coatings are extra important for stacking pans, so you can nest the pieces without them scuffing each other and ruining the coating. Even most of the lower-rated reviews on Amazon don’t mention them scratching!
Users do complain that the handles have a major flaw. They attach to the pan’s body with a metal clamp, which scratches the pan’s coating near the top. A workaround is to use heat-proof silicone tape at the rim of the pan and attach the handles there.
The silicone handles also get pretty hot when you’re using them. But the lock and unlock mechanism is really simple. The handles snap right into place with a button push. The patented design attaches at three points, bearing up to 22 pounds.
The pots and pans feature T-fal’s Thermo-Spot technology. A dotted pattern in the center acts as a heat indicator that turns solid red once it reaches 375°F (190 °C). According to T-fal, that’s the ideal temperature to achieve fully non-stick performance when searing or frying food.
Finally, I like this set because it comes in different colors to match your kitchen decor.
Quick Overview:
Pros
Cons
Best Stainless Steel: MAGMA Products A10-360L-IND
#2 Best Choice
Our rating:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
This Magma stainless steel cookware set is popular among campers and for a good reason. It’s compact and fully stackable, with a nesting style perfect for small spaces like RVs and camper vans. You can put everything inside the biggest pot with the lid on. Then, place the biggest pan upside down to serve as the top. Secure the entire stack with the bungee cord to prevent the pieces from flying around in the RV.
This USA-made set is made of durable 18/10 stainless steel – which means it contains more chromium than lower grades of stainless steel. Chromium makes stainless steel corrosion-resistant, particularly at high temperatures. That’s a great feature for campers, who may cook over an open fire and need something to withstand the high temperatures. The thumb release handles are easily removed with the push of a single finger, making the set easy to use.
The mirror finish makes cleaning the pots and pans a breeze while making them scratch-resistant.
The pots and pans feature a tri-clad base made of an aluminum sheet sandwiched between two stainless steel layers. However, since only the bottom is tri-clad, it may not be perfect at heat conduction. Since stainless steel isn’t conductive, only the base distributes heat evenly, not the walls.
This all-stainless steel set contains 10 pieces, but the brand also has 7-piece and 10-piece sets of stainless steel cookware that have a non-stick coating.
Quick Overview:
Pros
Cons
Best Ceramic Pots with Removable Handles: Country Kitchen 13 Piece Pots and Pans Set
#3 Best Choice
Our rating:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
If you’re looking for non-stick pots and pans with detachable handles, this Country Kitchen set is for you.
The set comes in two attractive colors: cream and black. The lids are sleek-looking glass with plastic rims and handles.
Customers are amazed at how easily it cleans up, even after burning food. You can cook scrambled eggs with minimal oil and see them slide off the pan, thanks to the granite-infused silica coating.
The set is dishwasher-safe. However, the manufacturer recommends hand-washing. If you dishwash the pans, take them out prior to the drying cycle, as high-heat drying will reduce the life of the nonstick coating.
The set has four star-shaped felt protectors that you can put between the pots and pans to protect against scratches.
My favorite thing about these pots is that the handles are very easy to use. They have a button on the top. When you push this button, the mechanism snaps open, and you can attach it to the pot. It doesn’t have metal parts, so the pans and pots don’t get scratched.
Quick Overview:
Pros
Cons
Best Frying Pans Set: Carote 4-Piece Set
#4 Recommended
Our rating:
3.8 out of 5.0 stars
This set is perfect for those looking only for stackable pans, not pots. With a 5.5” storage height, it’s the ultimate space saver with just four pieces, including:
The high-quality granite coating offers even cooking and fast heat distribution. Plus, the handles are sturdy and made of silicone and Bakelite, a type of plastic with high heat resistance.
This granite pan set is part of Carote’s Click series. This means you can find pots, pans, or saucepans in their sets. For example, you can purchase this 11-piece Carote set if you want saute pans and saucepans.
They come in an attractive beige color, but you can also get them in blue, red, and multi-color combos.
Quick Overview:
Pros
Cons
Most Affordable Pots and Pans with Removable Handles: ROCKURWOK
#5 Recommended
Our rating:
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
Here’s another non-stick cookware set with non-toxic materials. The high-quality ceramic coating is durable since you can use metal utensils with it. You’ll likely get a good couple of years out of the ceramic coating. However, like any other ceramic cookware, you shouldn’t expect it to last a lifetime. Depending on usage, ceramic cookware loses its non-stick quality after 1-3 years.
The lids are tight-fitting with a plastic handle that doesn’t heat up. The set comes with a silicone seal that you can use for storing food in the fridge.
The removable handles differ slightly from the other products in this article. While most have a one-click mechanism, this set has a two-step attaching and detaching mechanism. First, twist a small lever and then push a button on the handle. This mechanism offers a firmer grip, allowing the handle to support up to 26 pounds.
It also comes in different colors, including blue, red, and sapphire blue.
Quick Overview:
Pros
Cons
Why Cookware Sets with Removable Handles?
If you’re on the fence about getting a cookware set with removable handles, knowing their advantages may help you decide. After all, they can seem a bit unorthodox compared to the firmly bolted handles on other cookware. Here’s what they bring to the table:
Disadvantages of Removable Handles
Most cookware sets with removable handles come with one or two handles. They’re designed to be interchangeable between different pieces. So, not all of them have a handle.
That poses issues if you use all of your pots and pans in a single cooking session since the lack of handles can make cooking difficult and create safety problems.
In addition, the detachable handles tend to get lost or misplaced often. You may constantly look for them if you don’t store them with the pots and pans.
Finally, you may not want to stack your cookware because you have enough space or don’t want them scratched.
If you want stackable pots and pans but prefer welded or riveted handles, I recommend Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Pots and Pans. This 10-piece set features premium quality, fully-clad stainless steel, offering even cooking and heat distribution. It provides excellent space-saving benefits compared to non-stackable sets from the same brand.
Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
Features premium quality, fully-clad stainless steel, offering even cooking and heat distribution. It provides excellent space-saving benefits compared to non-stackable sets from the same brand.
Safety Considerations in Cookware with Removable Handles
Safety is critical in stackable cookware with detachable handles.
Since detachable handles aren’t riveted, they must grip the pots firmly to prevent drops and accidents. So, before purchasing (if you see them in store) or before the return window closes on pans you order, test the handles by attaching and detaching them several times. Jostle the pots to make sure the handles offer a good grip.
The unlocking options are also important. They should be easy to handle but secure at the same time. This way, you prevent inadvertent unlocking by pushing the button accidentally.
Finally, handles must be heat-resistant. Silicone is better than plastic. In addition to being more durable and softer, it doesn’t heat up easily. It’s best to use oven mitts when handling cookware, especially if you have the heat on high.
Conclusion
Even if you have enough space in your kitchen, you could use a space-saving set of pots and pans to keep things nice and tidy. Stackable cookware sets with detachable handles are what you need.
#1 Recommendation: T-fal Ingenio Nonstick Cookware Set
Top Pick
I recommend the T-fal Ingenio Nonstick Cookware Set because of the safe and secure gripping mechanism. It’s also made of high-quality non-stick material that’s durable and dishwasher-safe.
If you have experience using pots and pans with removable handles, please share your insights below in the comments.
