You can’t beat the financial deal that you get on a cookware set. These sets offer everything you need in one convenient package. A cookware set by the top manufacturers such as All-Clad or Calphalan may be the perfect “cooking rig” that some cooking enthusiasts need. On the other hand, if you do a lot of specialty cooking you may want to supplement a cooking set with other types of non-matching pieces that are made for specific purposes. Most of the top cookware manufactures put out a great product selection and you can mix and match items to create a top of the line cookware set that meets your particular cooking needs. When purchasing cookware sets you must pay attention to the sizes of the cookware offered in these packages! Stray away from manufacturers that announce a cookware set that includes many variation of one type of pot or pan. You probably will be left using one of the three similar pans while the other two sit on the pot rack and look pretty! If you know you’re not going to be using the odd shaped pans included – don’t purchase the set. Buy your items individually. Sure this may increase the cost slightly, but it’s about having the right tools to do the job. If you’re in the market for a cookware “set” its important to buy one that will withstand the different types of cooking methods you will be using. These sets are designed to be used in “all-purpose” situations. It’s recommended that you buy a stainless steel cookware set because it will not pit, corrode and will not react with acids. When buying stainless steel, make sure that the set comes with good heat conducting mechanisms. These would include a thick copper or aluminum disk on the bottom of the pan. Don’t be let down by the price of some of these sets. You will be a lot happier and your meals will turn out a lot better with a quality cookware set offered by the top manufacturers. If you buy low quality, you will pay more in the long run and not just with money, you pay with quality. Good cooks need good tools.