Food and Recipes Kitchen Assistant The 11 Best Bakeware Sets for Perfectly Cooked Cakes, Breads, and More By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. amazon.com Whether the recent sourdough craze is to blame for your new baking habit or you've been layering cakes for years, we've all got a warped, burnt cookie sheet or two. Although it may not seem like a big deal to keep cooking on discolored pans, using the proper bakeware can be the difference between an evenly cooked dessert and a lopsided layer cake. When you're in charge of baking the birthday cake, you don't want to take any chances. A proper bakeware set offers a major upgrade in material and convenience. The best bakeware sets are made from durable materials, like aluminized steel, carbon steel, and heavy gauge steel, that allow for even distribution of heat and long-term use. They come with upgrades your old, flimsy pan just can't keep up with, like silicone grips for easy handling out of the oven, nonstick coatings for bakes that practically slide off the pan, and raised designs that promote airflow and even browning. Some offer a handful of essentials, and others come with as many as 10 pieces. Whether you're looking for an upgrade or just getting started on your collection, these top-rated bakeware sets will give you everything you need. From cupcake pans and cake molds to sheet pans and brownie tins, you can use these tools to bake for any occasion…or just because. Best Overall: Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Bakeware Set Best Porcelain: Made In The Bakeware Set Best Quality: USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Set Most Versatile: Circulon Total Nonstick Bakeware Set Best Rated on Amazon: Amazon Basics Nonstick Bakeware Set Most Durable: Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware Set Best for Storage: Elbee Home Baking Pan Set Most Stylish: Caraway Bakeware Set Most Affordable: Ayesha Curry Nonstick Bakeware Set Best Silicone: Silpat Silicone Ultimate Baking Mat Set Best With Lids: CorningWare French White Bakeware Set Best Overall: Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Bakeware Set BUY IT: $99.99; AMAZON.COM Courtesy of Amazon The red silicone grips on this 10-piece bakeware set from Rachael Ray are just the first of many conveniences. Not only does it include all of the essential bakeware pieces (four cookie sheets, 4 cake pans, two loaf pans, and one muffin tin), its long-lasting, nonstick coating makes food release and cleanup a breeze. Its carbon steel construction also offers a quick reaction time to heat dispersion for fast, even cooking without hotspots. Amazon shoppers give it a 4.8-star rating overall. You can also purchase the set at target.com, wayfair.com, and bedbathandbeyond.com. Prices start at $99.99. Best Porcelain: Made In The Bakeware Set BUY IT: $189 (ORIG. $217); MADEINCOOKWARE.COM Courtesy of Made In Made In's three-piece bakeware set is ideal for making casseroles, pasta bakes, enchiladas, and so much more. Made of French porcelain, the dishes—including one rectangle, one square, and one oval shape—are microwave- and oven-safe in temperatures up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. They're also thermal shock-resistant, non-porous, and stylish enough to display on the dining room table when it's time to eat. "The quality is exceptional," wrote one reviewer. Best Quality: USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Set BUY IT: $99.99 (ORIG. $139.99); AMAZON.COM amazon.com You'll feel like a baking expert with this aluminized steel set. Often the material of choice for professional and commercial bakers, aluminized steel bakes with precision and is built to last. These sheets and pans have a corrugated surface that enhances airflow for even baking and enhances its nonstick properties and warp resistance. "If you do not like scrubbing, soaking, and grating messes off these pans are for you," according to one Amazon shopper. Most Versatile: Circulon Total Nonstick Bakeware Set BUY IT: $99.99; AMAZON.COM Courtesy of Amazon "Total nonstick" is built into the name of this set for a reason. The 10-piece bundle features a PFOA-free coating and raised circles for top-notch, nonstick baking. This raised circle design also boosts airflow to prevent unwanted sticking. Heavy gauge steel construction guarantees even heat distribution and makes for a sturdy set. It includes everything you need to make savory meals, cakes, muffins, and more, plus a handy cooling rack. One rectangular pan even comes with a lid for easy transport and saving leftovers. When vouching for its nonstick goodness, a reviewer said, "If you've ever baked anything and had problems with material sticking to a pan, I can't recommend this enough." You can also purchase the set at target.com or bedbathandbeyond.com. Best Rated on Amazon: Amazon Basics Nonstick Bakeware Set BUY IT: $25.68; AMAZON.COM amazon.com With nearly 11,500 five-star ratings on Amazon, it's easy to trust this set to make the most of any family recipe. This six-piece set is made of heavy-weight carbon steel for even cooking that reliably resists warping. It's oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit with a nonstick coating that will let any recipe gracefully slide from the surface with the touch of a spatula. "These are way worth [the] money," one customer exclaimed in their review. "It's a steal really." Most Durable: Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware Set BUY IT: $44.99; AMAZON.COM amazon.com No hotspots to worry about here. Just six pieces that are made from a heavy-gauge steel core that heats evenly, no matter what you're cooking. The interior of each pan has interlocking, nonstick layers for easy release, and it's dishwasher-safe for those few times you need some extra help with cleanup. The pans even come with a 10-year warranty, so you know you're making a safe investment. "Love the Calphalon quality. It really is good for the price and the pans tend to last for years," one reviewer said. Best for Storage: Elbee Home Baking Pan Set BUY IT: $52.24 WITH COUPON (ORIG. $54.99); AMAZON.COM amazon.com People with small kitchens, take note. This eight-piece set was designed to be stored together, saving your cabinets from a clunky catastrophe every time you cook. All of the pieces can be stacked together to fit in the drawer of most ovens. Dishwasher-safe and built to last, it's made from carbon steel, aluminized steel, and pure aluminum for ideal heat conduction and even baking. "We live in an urban area and space is at a premium," wrote an Amazon shopper. "Love the way these stack and disappear in our oven drawer!" You can also purchase the set at wayfair.com or bedbathandbeyond.com. Most Stylish: Caraway Bakeware Set BUY IT: $245 (ORIG. $265); CARAWAYHOME.COM Courtesy of Caraway This five-piece bakeware set from Caraway puts equal emphasis on function and form. Available in five stunning colors, the ceramic-coated pick features two baking sheets, a muffin Pan, and a rectangular pan, plus a space-saving cabinet organizer for easy storage. Each piece is made from aluminized steel for sturdiness and even heat distribution and designed to be naturally slick for high nonstick performance. "First off, they are beautiful," one shopper wrote. "The non-stick is magical. You won't believe it until you try it for yourself. I would recommend anyone clear out their old stuff because Caraway is the only way." Most Affordable: Ayesha Curry Nonstick Bakeware Set BUY IT: $49.99; AMAZON.COM Courtesy of Amazon An extended edge for easy handling is just the start for this six-piece pan and sheet set, available in copper, copper brown, and silver and priced at less than $50. High-performance steel construction pairs with a diamond textured surface for a durable, nonstick bake that delivers a quality result every time. Oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and dishwasher-safe for an easy clean, this set has all the essential baking bases covered. As one shopper put it, "The price is unbelievable for the quality. The set is also available in a 10-piece option at wayfair.com and a seven-piece option at bedbathandbeyond.com. Best Silicone: Silpat Silicone Ultimate Baking Mat Set BUY IT: $149.95; WILLIAMS-SONOMA.COM williams-sonoma.com Not all essential bakeware sets are aluminum- or steel-based. Silpat is the silicone baking mat your cooking has been missing. Originally created for French patisseries, they're still the choice of many professional bakers and chefs today. Made of a fiberglass fabric that's coated with food-grade silicone for a nonstick finish, you'll be saving yourself a lot of parchment paper with this set. With a half-sheet liner, muffin pan, and madeleine pan, this set is just enough to get you hooked on the way these sheets optimize heat conduction for consistent baking. Best With Lids: CorningWare French White Bakeware Set BUY IT: $86; MACYS.COM Courtesy of Macy's This 10-piece set from CorningWare features two oval baking pans each with two lids—one plastic and one glass—so you can easily take your baked goods from the oven to the fridge without dirtying a storage container. Also included are two 15-ounce oval side dishes and two ramekins. Durable stoneware combined with elegant detailing makes each piece in this set versatile, long-lasting, and high-performing. "They last forever and are easy to use and put in the dishwasher," one Macy's shopper said. "I have mine for over 40 years and they are still great." You can also purchase the set at amazon.com, where it's also available in 12-piece and 20-piece options. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit