In this article, you’re going to find our waterless cookware reviews in 2021.
As a chef, I find the concept of waterless cooking intriguing. We’re so used to traditional cooking styles that it seems unusual that waterless cooking is even possible. But it is. Take a look at our reviews to pick the best cookware set for your kitchen.
Our best overall pick is the Maxam 9-Element Waterless Cookware Set. Made from stainless steel; this set will withstand a test of time. The built quality is excellent, and it’s an excellent value for money. Lids seal the pots tight, and steam valves are perfect for controlling temperature. In my honest opinion, this is truly the best budget waterless cookware you can buy.
Keep on reading because all five cookware sets we reviewed are excellent. Perhaps you’ll find the one that fits your requirements and needs best.
Our Top 5 Waterless Cookware
- Maxam 9-Element Waterless Cookware Set (Best Waterless Cookware Overall)
- Swiss Inox 18-Piece Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware Set (Best Budget Waterless Cookware Set)
- 360 Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware (Best Most Durable Waterless Cookware Set Made In The USA)
- Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set (Best Value For Money Waterless Cookware Set)
- Duxtop Professional Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware Set (Best Rated Online Waterless Cookware Set)
Top 5 Best Waterless Cookware Reviews
Take a look at our waterless cookware reviews in 2021. This detailed review and analysis will help you to pick the best set for your kitchen.
Maxam KT17 17-Piece 9-Element Stainless-Steel Waterless Cookware Set Review
- Material: Stainless steel
- Oven safe: No
- Nonstick: No
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Induction compatible: Yes
- Come with lids: Yes
- Set includes: 11 3/8”-skillet with helper handle, 7.5-quart roaster with cover, 3.2-quart double boiler, 2.5-quart saucepan with cover, 1.7-quart saucepan with cover.
The best overall waterless cookware set is Maxam KT17. It’s an excellent value for the money. Set includes 17 pieces of high-quality stainless steel cookware. I like the build quality; it looks and feels premium. Handles feel tight and comfortable when holding. The added features like steam valves and temperature gauges make waterless cooking effortless.
This cookware set is made from stainless steel, which is not the best heat conductor. Thankfully it’s waterless cookware, and the 5-ply base retains heat perfectly. To make the most out of this type of cookware, heat conductivity is not that important. Heat retention is what makes this cookware perfect for waterless cooking.
Stainless steel and a 5-ply base add a lot of weight to the cookware. And when you have a full pot of stew, it does feel heavy. Though I have to say I love the mirror finish exterior and satin finish interior – it looks premium.
Cooking with this Maxam KT17 set does not require high heat. Low to medium heat is best for this cookware. Anything more than that can result in food sticking to the surface.
There are a few complaints online that customers are having issues with food burning quickly. We have no problems with that because we only cook on low to medium heat. Anything more than that and food tends to stick to the interior surface easily.
Steam valves let you open or close the valves completely. It enables you to have control over how much steam you want to use. It’s handy for cooking veggie dishes as it allows you to steam them until they become crispy or soft.
Lidls are heavy and seal cookware well as they should for waterless cookware. Lids don’t rattle when stew or soup is boiling.
Yes, it requires getting used to cooking with stainless steel cookware. Remember one thing to keep the heat between low to medium for optimal performance.
When it comes to durability, I’m sure this cookware set is going to last for years. Build quality seems excellent. Though the handle came loose, however, that’s not much of an issue. It took me a minute to screw it back in place.
Cooking on a gas stove, I noticed something is burning – it was plastic handles. It didn’t melt; however, the smell is not very pleasant.
Maxam KT17 cookware is easy to clean. I would not recommend putting it in a dishwasher as with any other cookware. Clean it with dishwashing soap and dry it with a towel. It is the best way to maintain your cookware in mint condition.
In general nonstick cookware is easier to maintain. You can use a paper towel to wipe off excess food. However, if you burn food on the surface of the Maxam pan or pot, it’ll be a nightmare to clean. Food tends to stick more on a stainless steel surface; therefore, it’s much harder to clean.
Overall I like this waterless cookware set. It’s an excellent value for the money. The built quality is excellent. Materials fell premium. I’m not too fond of plastic handles that smell like they’re melting when exposed to heat for a longer time.
Pros
- Good value for the money
- Feels premium
- Lids sit tight
- Durable
- Looks good
Cons
- Not oven safe
- Handles get hot, and when they do, it smells like they are melting even though they are not!
Swiss Inox 18-Piece Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware Set Review
- Material: Stainless steel
- Oven safe: No
- Nonstick: No
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Induction compatible: Yes
- Come with lids: Yes
- Set includes: 1.6 L Casserole with lid, 3.1 L Casserole with lid, 6.3 L Casserole with lid, 2.9 L Frying pan with lid, 3 L Steamer, 1.8 L Saucepan with lid, 8” Mixing Bowl with lid, Frying Basket, Bakelite Mat x 2 pcs, Suction Knob.
Swiss Inox 18-Piece Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware Set is excellent for someone who’s on a tight budget. One thing that I miss is a steam valve. Other than that, I would only recommend this cookware set for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on waterless cookware. The build quality is ok though it could be better as some parts tend to come loose. Design-wise it looks excellent, but the handles are not as comfortable as on the Maxam KT17 set. Most importantly, the cooking performance is excellent.
Stainless steel is one of the toughest materials used in cookware. When you take this cookware out of the box, it feels solid and well built.
As we already know, stainless steel is not the best heat conductor. However, Swiss Inox has a 9-ply capsuled bottom that retains heat well, making it great cookware for waterless cooking.
It’s also induction compatible, which makes it versatile cookware. It takes a few minutes on an induction stovetop for a full pot of water to boil.
I wish they rounded or polished the corners around handles as they are sharp. When carrying a full pot of food, especially when you have bigger hands as I do, I can feel those sharp edges on my fingertips.
So the cookware performs well when cooking. It retains heat exceptionally well. It takes some time to get used to cooking on stainless steel, especially for a home cook who never used stainless steel before. Make sure you cook on low to medium heat for the best performance.
Lids are heavy and seal the pots well. Keep in mind I’ve seen many people complaining that knobs from the lids are coming off. I hope only very few have these issues.
There’s a tiny gap between cookware and the handle where fingers can get trapped. Trust me; it can be painful. When talking about the design, they could improve on those handles.
To maintain Swiss Inox in top condition, I highly advise not to use a dishwasher. The knobs on the top of the lids can get damaged when in a dishwasher. And overall, if you’re going to wash your cookware regularly by hand, the lifespan of your pans and pots increases substantially.
If you burn your stainless steel cookware, it won’t be as easy to clean as a nonstick one. Food tends to stick to stainless steel much harder; therefore, it’s more challenging to clean it.
To sum it up, I think this cookware is excellent for someone on a tight budget. You get good cookware set for your money. Yes, some things can be annoying, like the handles and the knobs on top of the lids. But cooking performance matters the most, and in this regard, this Swiss Inox waterless cookware set is an excellent choice.
Pros
- Excellent value for the money
- Performs great
- Induction compatible
- It has a temperature gauge
Cons
- Build quality could be better
- Fingers can get trapped in handles
- Sharp edges around the handles
360 Stainless Steel 9 Piece Waterless Cookware Set Handcrafted in the USA Review
- Material: Surgical Grade Stainless Steel
- Oven safe: Yes
- Nonstick: No
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Induction compatible: Yes
- Come with lids: Yes
- Set includes: 3-quart saucepan with cover, 2.3-quart casserole pan with lid, 3.5 quarts sauté pan with lid, 6-quart stockpot with lid, 11.5” fry pan.
This 360 Stainless Steel 9 Piece Waterless Cookware Set is one of the most versatile and durable sets you can buy for your kitchen. Not only it excels at waterless cooking it’s also a great all-around cookware set. Handcrafted in the USA, therefore, comes with a price tag to match.
This cookware is made with the highest quality stainless steel. It looks and feels premium. Everything about this cookware materials and craftsmanship is top of the line.
This cookware set is heavy. Aluminum is sandwiched in between two layers of stainless steel. The inside layer is from surgical-grade stainless steel. The outside layer is from a T-400 series stainless steel, and aluminum is sandwiched in the middle.
You can feel the weight of these pots and pans. So if you prefer lighter cookware, this is probably not the best option for you.
Overall, build quality, as I mentioned, is top of the line. Everything feels solid. The base of the pan is thick, and so are the sides. Handles are comfortable and stable. Nothing came loose in our review. Lids are built exceptionally well to trap the vapor inside.
When it comes to cooking performance, this 360 cookware set is one of the best you can buy. Even though stainless steel is not the best heat conductor, the aluminum layer helps with that. Food cooks fast and evenly.
Of Course, surgical grade stainless steel does not have a nonstick layer. You have to be careful when cooking food as it sticks more quickly than your regular nonstick pan. To get the most out of 360 cookware, use low to medium heat to cook food.
Lids are designed to create a vapor seal, and it does that exceptionally well. It makes cooking more energy-efficient. Another added benefit is that you can cook without any fat or excess water.
Most waterless cookware brands are not oven-safe. This 360 set is oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s handy because it allows you to utilize this type of set in many different ways.
With such an excellent build quality, this cookware set will last a lifetime.
Thankfully stainless steel maintenance is not as tricky as cast iron. You can wash it in a dishwasher, but I highly advise you to wash this cookware by hand. The chemicals in the dishwasher can be harmful to the beautiful design leaving nasty spots.
In conclusion, 360 is excellent all-around cookware with the added feature of waterless cooking. In my opinion, as a chef, it doesn’t have any significant or even minor flaws. It performs well. Build quality is outstanding.
Pros
- Build quality
- Performance
- Easy to clean
- Oven safe
- Extremely durable
Cons
- Heavy
Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 2-Piece Waterless Cookware Set Review
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Oven safe: Yes
- Nonstick: No
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Induction compatible: Yes
- Come with lids: Yes
- Set includes: 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans, 8- and 10-inch open skillets, 3-1/2-quart covered saute pan, 8-quart covered stockpot, steamer insert with lid.
If you’re looking for the best value for money, Cuisinart MCP-12N waterless cookware would be your best option. It’s durable. It’s well built, and it performs excellent when cooking.
This set is made from stainless steel and aluminum. Because stainless steel is not the best heat conductor, there’s a layer of aluminum core in between stainless steel sheets. It provides even heat distribution.
Triple-Ply construction makes this Cuisinart MCP-12N a heavy cookware set. It’s not as heavy as 360 cookware. Still, nevertheless, it has more weight than a standard hard-anodized aluminum pan or pot.
When you take this cookware straight out of the box, it looks shiny and solid. The handles are sturdy. Lids are heavy and fit nicely.
However, the rims on these pots and pans are too sharp. They should have rolled the edges.
Also, I noticed that these pans and pots are prone to scratching. It’s a common issue for most stainless cookware. Many cookware manufacturers use lower-quality stainless steel to keep the price low. However, it doesn’t affect cooking performance.
I found a few customers complaining that their cookware started to discolor. And some complained that their skillets warped.
Working with many different cookware brands, I know issues can occur. Even the best brands suffer from manufacturing issues. When you ship hundreds or even thousands of cookware, some may have defects.
All in all the quality is reasonable taking into consideration how much it costs.
Cooking on this set is a pleasant experience. I know most home cooks prefer nonstick cookware, and this set doesn’t have a nonstick surface, but still, it performs excellently.
Handles are comfortable, making it easy to handle and toss food around, especially in a 10-inch skillet.
Cook on low to medium heat to avoid food burning onto the cookware surface. Due to a thick bottom, this cookware retains heat perfectly, making it excellent for waterless cooking. Lids keep vapor inside without letting any moisture escape.
Another great feature is using these pots and pans in the oven up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some home cooks may find it difficult to clean these Cuisinart pots and pans as food sticks quickly if you leave it for a minute or two without stirring. In this regard, nonstick cookware is easier to keep clean.
Avoid dishwashers as they may be harmful even though Cuisinart claims otherwise. Wash it by hand instead.
Cuisinart MCP-12N is excellent cookware. It’s well priced, making it an excellent purchase for someone who wants to explore waterless cooking. It’s durable. The design has some flaws like sharp edges, but non or less, it doesn’t make it a bad set.
Pros
- Looks good
- Performs well when cooking
- Comfortable handles
- Lids keep moisture inside really well
- Excellent value for the money
Cons
- Sharp edges
- It can be challenging to clean
- Heavy
Duxtop Stainless Steel 17-Piece Waterless Pots and Pans Set Review
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Oven safe: Yes
- Nonstick: No
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Induction compatible: Yes
- Come with lids: Yes
- Set includes: 1.6-quart & 2.5-quart saucepan with lid, 4.2-quart casserole with lid, 8.6-quart stockpot with lid, 5.5-quart saute pan with helper and lid, 8-inch & 9.5-inch fry pan, 9.5-inch boiler basket, 9.5-inch steam basket, 2-prong fork & solid spoon & slotted turner.
Duxtop Stainless Steel Waterless Pots and Pans Set is an excellent purchase for someone looking for a versatile cookware set. It’s not flawless – it’s aging poorly, and the buzzing noise on the induction stovetop can be irritating. Still, it’s an excellent value for the money. According to the reviews online, many home cooks are happy with this set. And in our review, it performed well.
This set is made from a premium food grade 18/10 stainless steel which perhaps doesn’t tell you much. This material should keep the flavor of the food. And since stainless steel is not that great at heat conductivity, there is a heavy-gauge aluminum core. It’s sandwiched between stainless steel on the bottom of the cookware. It helps to cook food more evenly. The thick heavy base is also excellent for retaining heat.
When you take these pots and pans out of the box, they feel heavy. Heavier than your typical Teflon nonstick cookware.
Most would be pleased with how well this cookware set looks. It has a minimalistic design to it which makes them look sleek and professional.
The tight-fitting tempered glass lids are also heavy and probably not as durable. Time will show. I would prefer to have stainless steel lids instead.
Overall, build quality feels solid. The handles are screwed well. The weight adds a more premium feel to the set.
Using these pots on the gas stove, I noticed that they stain easily on the bottom, and it’s hard to clean them off. Also, it tends to make this buzzing noise when cooking on an induction stovetop. It’s hard to tell why? At first, I thought perhaps the bottom of the pot was moist, but no.
I’ve seen people complaining about blue discoloration. I did not notice that. Perhaps it happened because they were using a dishwasher to wash them.
Cooking food with Duxtop will be an easy task for most home cooks. To those who never owned stainless steel cookware, it can be challenging.
Remember a few things. First, lightly season your cookware before you use it for the first time. And last, cook it on low to medium heat only.
I’ve read a few reviews online of people complaining about how their food sticks when cooking. Well, most of the time, it happens because they’re using their cookware wrong.
All in all, I have to say this cookware performs well. The tight-fitting lids are excellent for waterless cooking. Pots and pans have fast and even heating. Heavy bottoms retain heat well. You can also use this cookware to cook food in the oven up to 550°F, which is an excellent feature that many home cooks want.
When it comes to maintenance, it’s not the easiest set to maintain clean. If you burn food, it’s way harder to clean this Duxtop cookware than a Teflon pan. Remember not to use the dishwasher to clean this set. Use hands to wash it only.
Pros
- Great value for the money
- Oven safe
- Comfortable handles
- It’s a 17 piece set
Cons
- Stain underneath
- It makes weird buzzing noise on an induction stovetop
What is Waterless Cookware?
Waterless cookware is a type of cookware that allows cooking without adding any fat or liquid. Food consists of a lot of water which, when cooked, is released slowly. This moisture turns into steam, allowing for the food to cook evenly on all sides.
But how does waterless cookware work? It has at least 3, and up to 12 metal layers sandwiched into one tight metal construction. Although this cookware looks a lot like your regular cookware, it’s quite a bit heavier. The most commonly used metal in this type of cookware is stainless steel and aluminum.
Stainless steel is not the best heat conductor. To work around that Cookware manufacturers came up with a solution to sandwich an aluminum layer in the middle. It ensures a better heat conductivity and overall performance of the cookware. So waterless cookware has excellent heat conductivity, which allows for a more even cooking. The best feature is that it retains heat well. And when your cookware retains heat well, you can save money on gas and electricity bills. Cooking food with this type of cookware doesn’t require much energy.
Waterless cookware has lids that fit incredibly tight. It helps to trap moisture inside the cookware. Some lids even come with a steam valve and temperature gauge. These valves allow you to control the amount of steam that is trapped inside the pot. And the temperature gauge is handy because it’ll let you know the exact temperature.
Main Features of Waterless Cookware
Here’re the four main features of waterless cookware.
Heavy Bottoms
Because of the Multi-ply construction, waterless cookware has thick and heavy bottoms. In general, if you compare side by side a regular hard-anodized pot and a waterless pot – the waterless pot is going to be much heavier.
Lids That Seal Tight To Protect Moisture From Coming Out
Lids are heavy and designed to fit extremely tight to seal the pot. Not all, but most lids come with a steam valve and temperature gauge for better heat control.
Multi-ply Construction
Waterless cookware contains not one but three or more layers of metal sheets. They are sandwiched into one tight and heavy metal construction to ensure incredible heat retention.
Stainless Steel Exterior and Interior
Stainless steel is commonly used in waterless cookware. It’s not the best heat conductor, but it’s very durable, and it looks great.
7 Things To Know Before Buying Waterless Cookware
Before buying waterless cookware, pay close attention to the seven things listed below.
Material
You can buy cookware in many different materials like copper, stainless steel, aluminum, or a combination of both stainless steel and aluminum. Some cookware brands combine even three different materials into one pot or pan like stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. The problem is that not all cookware materials are the same. Some perform better and are more expensive. For example, copper cookware has a higher price tag than stainless steel. So you should take into consideration what is more important to you – quality, performance or price.
However, most cookware brands choose to use stainless steel as it’s cheap and looks good. One problem, though, stainless steel is one of the poorest materials in heat conductivity. Later in this article, you’ll find a chart of all materials and their heat conductivity.
To sum it all up, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid waterless cookware in stainless steel. Manufacturers came up with a brilliant solution to combine more than one material in cookware. Typically you’ll find a combination of stainless steel and aluminum in most waterless cookware.
Heat Conductivity
Here’s a table of different materials used in cookware and their heat conductivity. It’ll give you an idea of which one performs better.
| Metal | Thermal Conductivity [BTU/(hr·ft⋅°F)] |
| Copper | 223 |
| Aluminum | 118 |
| Brass | 64 |
| Steel | 17 |
| Bronze | 15 |
However, keep in mind that material like copper is more expensive than stainless steel.
Manufacturers combine more than one material for better heat conductivity and a lower price. All cookware set reviews in this article use more than one material. Typically stainless steel and aluminum for better heat conduction.
Reactivity
Different materials react with food differently. For example, using too much acid like lemon or wine when cooking on copper cookware will result in copper leaching into the food.
You should consider that, mainly if you use products like tomatoes, lemons, or limes when cooking regularly.
You don’t need to worry about stainless steel as it is considered one of the safest cookware materials.
Durability
Not all cookware is durable. It all depends on built quality and materials. Since most waterless cookware uses stainless steel, we know this material is rigid; therefore, it will be durable.
Pay close attention to built quality like handles and lids. These parts tend to break the most.
Talking about stainless steel, here’s an excellent article explaining how tough this material is.
Maintenance
Owning stainless steel cookware means you’ll have to deal with burned food more frequently. Since it doesn’t have a nonstick layer, accidental burns are more frequent. And we all know how hard it’s to scrape burnt food off the pot or pan.
Copper, cast iron, and ceramic require more maintenance because you have to season and be very delicate when washing it.
Here’re two articles on how to maintain both ceramic and cast iron.
If you’re looking to purchase a set of waterless cookware, don’t be afraid of maintenance. Remember to cook on low to medium heat to avoid food sticking on the cooking surface.
Price
A good quality cookware set has a high price tag. Try to go for the best value for money. Some cookware is overpriced, and some are good value for money. I know it’s hard for you to distinguish which is which, but that is why we’re here – to help you out to pick the best one for your kitchen.
Warranty
Warranty is a good indicator of how much trust do cookware brands have in their products. A lifetime warranty suggests that cookware is built well. In contrast, a one or two-year warranty doesn’t put much trust in the product.
Our Verdict
The best overall waterless cookware set is Maxam 9-Element. It has all the features. It’s well built and durable. Also, it’s an excellent value for the money. However, if you are looking for something more premium, you have to go with the 360 Waterless Cookware Set. It’s one of the best sets you can get.
