As an aspiring chef and home cook, I am a firm believer in the adage that your cooking is only as good as your cookware. And nobody does cookware better than Italians.
Influenced by the rich culinary traditions of the region, Italian cookware craftsmen create cookware with a distinct aesthetic, high-quality materials, and meticulous attention to detail.
In this article, I’ll share the best Italian cookware brands along with my absolute favorite pieces from each that offer exceptional performance.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Copper Cookware – Lagostina Martellata Stockpot
⬇ Jump to review - Most Versatile Italian Made Cookware – Ruffoni Symphonia Frying Pan
⬇ Jump to review - Best Aluminum Cookware – Barazzoni Saucepan
⬇ Jump to review - Best Cast Iron Cookware – Ballarini Bellamonte Cast Iron Dutch Oven
⬇ Jump to review - Most Affordable Italian Made Cookware – Bialetti Pasta Pot
⬇ Jump to review
(Alternatives – US-Brands Crafted in Italy)
- Best Saucepan Manufactured in Italy – Made In 5-ply Stainless Steel Saucier
⬇ Jump to review - Best Nonstick Crafted in Italy – Hestan ProBond Collection Cookware Set
⬇ Jump to review
What are the Best Italian Cookware Brands?
The best Italian cookware brands include Lagostina, Barazzoni, Ruffoni, Ballarini, and Bialetti. Hestan and Made In are well-known American-owned brands whose products are made in Italy. This list is in no particular order, and each of these brands provide reliable cookware that offers excellent durability, performance, and longevity.
Following are some of the top-rated Italian cookware brands available on the market right now.
Lagostina
Lagostina is an iconic Italian cookware brand that was founded by Carlo Lagostina and his son Emilio in 1901. Initially, the brand focused on manufacturing tin-plated cutlery before branching out into the stainless steel pots, pans, and pressure cookers that revolutionized Italian kitchens.
Even during the downturns following World War I, Lagostina persevered and continued to grow into an internationally recognized brand. Today, this Italian cookware brand is celebrated for a rich catalog that includes all sorts of kitchenware, from tableware and bakeware to pots and pans with removable handles that maximize functionality and storage convenience.
Not all Lagostina’s product lines are currently manufactured in Italy; some are also made in China. Some of Lagostina’s product lines manufactured in China include the Nera Hard Anodized Nonstick and the Tri-Ply Hammered Stainless Steel cookware.
I don’t think we can have a conversation about authentic copper cookware without discussing the Lagostina Martellata Stockpot/Casserole Cookware. This tri-ply constructed piece combines stainless steel on the inside and copper on the outside, with a heat-radiating aluminum core sandwiched in between for fast and even heating across the pan.
This pan displays show-stopping Italian beauty. With a gleaming hammered copper exterior, you can use it to proudly serve your meals. Unfortunately, the bright copper finish will discolor with time. If you aren’t a fan of the oxidized look, you can wash it with copper cleaner cream after every usage. I also like to soak my copper pans in a mixture of salt and vinegar for 1 minute and scrub it down to restore the distinctive shine.
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Ruffoni
If you’re looking for heirloom-quality Italian cookware to grace your kitchen, then something from Ruffoni isn’t only recommended, but required. This legendary Italian brand came into existence in 1962 when Fremide Ruffoni opened his artisanal workshop in Omegna, Italy.
Currently, this brand offers six main product lines, each hand-hammered and beautifully crafted in Italy. Ruffoni’s saucepans, stockpots, and frying pans offer unparalleled heat conductivity and temperature control, while the stainless steel interior provides superior durability.
A classic option from Ruffoni is the Symphonia Frying Pan, which is a hand-hammered pan with a copper-wrapped aluminum core and a stainless steel interior that ensures even heat distribution. The copper-clad aluminum core rapidly responds to temperature changes, giving you precise control when cooking heat-sensitive foods.
The mirror-polished interior requires just a little oil for cooking and makes deglazing a pan effortless. Even after years of daily use, these pans maintain their impeccable performance.
While this frying pan is oven-safe, it isn’t compatible with an induction stovetop. If you have an induction stove, I recommend you check out the Symphonia Prima collection.
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Barazzoni
Most brands on this list have some aesthetic appeal, but Barazzoni is truly a knockout beauty. It makes no compromises on functionality either. Founded in 1903 by Giovanni Battista Barazzoni, this brand started as a modest workshop crafting tin, brass, and copper household items.
By 1969, Barazzoni made serious waves in the industry by introducing the Tummy Line collection. This collection didn’t just cook up good food; it won accolades like the ADI Compasso d’Oro in 1979. At that time, this was the only Italian cookware brand using an impact bonding system for manufacturing pots and pans.
While predominantly known for its cookware, Barazzoni also offers a wide range of other products like tea and coffee makers, baking items, kitchen utensils, and tableware, all dedicated to enhancing your culinary experience.
If there's one thing that I have learned over the years, it's that you can never have too many versatile tools in the kitchen — and with the Barazzoni Gran Sasso Plus Saucepan with Two Handles, you're all set for some elevated cooking experience.
This Italian-made saucepan is crafted from ultra-thick aluminum for superior wear resistance and features a 6-layer non-stick coating that is reinforced with a technology the brand calls Marmotech, adding to its non-stick properties. But what makes this saucepan truly stand out is its dual ergonomic soft-touch Bakelite handles so you avoid those dreaded hand cramps.
Oh, and did I mention that this saucepan is also oven-safe? You can pop it in the oven for broiling or baking without worrying about wrapping or cracking – just don’t heat the bakelite handles above 350°F.
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Ballarini
Established in 1889, Ballarini is one of those do-it-all Italian cookware brands that offers everything from a flip-worthy frypan to that trusty saucepan. I especially love its Parma Plus series which sports an attractive speckled design in a ceramic non-stick coating.
Besides the brand’s signature granite-like ceramic look, Ballarini also offers traditional finishes, including copper, carbon steel, and brushed aluminum.
While most of its products are still made in Italy, the company is now owned by the German group, Zwilling.
While Ballarini is typically known for its non-stick cookware, I want to highlight its cast iron Dutch oven today. Many ‘Made in Italy’ brands make cast iron cookware, but none do it better than Ballarini.
Ballarini’s enameled Dutch oven is like a hybrid between a Staub cocotte and a Le Creuset French oven. Its cream-enameled interior is smooth and creates a great fond like a Le Creuset. But the heavy-weight, tight-fitting lid that comes with self-basting bumps reminds me of a Staub, keeping flavors locked in and your meals moist and tender.
The oversized handles offer ultimate control and maneuverability, even when wearing oven mitts. And so long as you clean and care for it properly, this Ballarini cookware could last for decades.
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Bialetti
While there are several Italian cookware brands worthy of attention, it would be a culinary faux pas not to highlight Bialetti. This renowned brand was founded by Alfonso Bialetti in 1919. It started by only making semi-finished aluminum cookware. The brand later introduced the Moka Express, a classic stovetop coffee maker that has been used by Italians for generations.
Fast forward to today, Bialetti has expanded its product line to include heavy gauge anodized aluminum cookware and stainless steel utensils with ceramic non-stick coatings, ensuring your eggs always slide right off the pan and onto your plate without making a mess.
If you're on a budget but won’t compromise on quality, I recommend the Bialetti Pasta Pot — your one-stop solution for whipping up a great meal.
For starters, this pot is super lightweight, courtesy of its aluminum construction. This makes the pot easy to maneuver even when it's bubbling with your favorite pasta sauce.
Since it’s coated in nonstick PTFE, nothing sticks to the bottom – even if you accidentally boil the sauce too long.
At 5.5 quarts, this pot is wide enough for long, elegant strands of spaghetti yet narrow enough to require less water, leading to quicker cooking. What makes it truly stand out is the twist-and-lock lid with integrated holes that make draining easier.
While this is great for those messy colander tasks, the lid does have a bit of a learning curve. Also, the holes might be a bit big for those tiny pasta shapes or grains, like orzo or pearl couscous, so you may have to drain with caution.
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Brands Located Elsewhere that Manufacture Cookware in Italy
Recognizing the superior craftsmanship and materials available in Italy, there are a handful of brands that are based in the US or elsewhere in the world, but have their products manufactured in Italy. Some of these (like Made In and Hestan) target a US market, and their products are more accessible for those outside of the EU than some true Italian brands.
Made In
Made In Cookware was founded in Austin, Texas in the 2010s by a couple of chefs who admired Italian cookware. Made In pots and pans are very high quality, with modern design features like a “warning bump” on the underside of the handle to prevent you from gripping it too close to the hot pan. Most of the Made In nonstick pans are made in the US. The 5-ply stainless steel sets are made in Italy, in partnership with small family-owned Italian factories.
The Made In stainless steel saucepans have modern and ergonomic design features throughout, from the handle to the flared shape of the pan body. The pan is nearly 3mm thick, with most of that width being a tri-ply aluminum core that makes the pan responsive to temperature changes.
It has 18/10 stainless steel on the interior for corrosion resistance and 18/0 (magnetic) stainless steel on the exterior, to make it induction compatible. The lid is stainless steel as well.
Since this saucepan is fully 5-ply, it will be much less likely to overcook delicate culinary projects like sauces or confections than a cheaper impact-bonded alternative.
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Hestan
Hestan is actually an American-owned brand founded in California by Stanley Cheng. Cheng is the businessman behind the huge cookware company Meyer Corporation, which owns over a dozen brands including Anolon, Breville, and Rachael Ray.
Hestan’s cookware, however, is meticulously crafted in Italy, giving it a touch of authenticity. The brand’s mission goes beyond merely providing cookware; it’s all about celebrating the joy and nuances of cooking, from the cookware itself to the wine that complements the meal.
Hestan offers hard-anodized aluminum cookware in its NanoBond, ProBond, and CopperBond collections. The NanoBond collection features nano-titanium particles infused into stainless steel construction, making it, according to the manufacturer, 400% stronger than the industry average.
The CopperBond collection comes with a stainless-steel exterior and a 100% copper core. This line is popular for its induction compatibility and easy maintenance. As for the Probond collection, it features a triple-bonded stainless steel with a responsive pure aluminum core and Hestan’s TITUM® PTFE nonstick.
When it comes to Hestan’s line of cookware products, my personal favorite is its ProBond Collection 10-piece Cookware Set. What I love about this set is that it’s crafted from triple-bonded stainless steel and features a responsive aluminum core, ensuring optimal heat distribution so you can avoid any hotspots.
With their unique curved sidewalls, the skillets offer a greater cooking surface than many brands of skillets. Unlike most tri-ply stainless steel, this set has sealed rims, so no aluminum layers are exposed along the edges.
Although this set is coated in PTFE, the brand claims that it is both oven and broiler-safe up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if used in the oven, the handle can get quite hot. I like to use a potholder or a thick, dry towel when it’s time to shuffle the pans around.
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The Big List of Cookware Made In Italy
The above brands are world-renowned for their signature Italian quality. But here are some less-noticed, but equally remarkable brands that deserve a shoutout.
Summary
When it comes to Italian cookware brands, you’re spoiled for choices. If you’re looking for the best non-stick cookware, I highly recommend Heston for an enjoyable and hassle-free cooking experience.
On the other hand, if you want affordable yet timeless pieces that can be handed down through generations, Ballarini is your brand. Regardless of the brand you settle on, your culinary masterpiece will ooze that “made in Italy” charm!
Want to share your own Italian cookware tips, success stories, or maybe even a delicious recipe you’ve whipped up? Jump into the comments, and let’s get the conversation cooking!
