Tramontina isn’t one of the best-known names in cookware, but it consistently appears on “best” lists and boasts consistently high ratings from both professional reviewers and real customers. We took an in-depth look at this underground favorite to see if it’s worth the money, and if it stands up to other sets in this price point.
The set we’re talking about today is the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Set. It comes with:
- 8-inch fry pan
- 10-inch fry pan
- 5-quart covered deep sauté pan
- 1.5-quart covered sauce pan
- 2-quart covered sauce pan
- 3-quart covered sauce pan
- 8-quart covered stock pot
Features
As you’d expect from a premium set of stainless, these pots and pans are tri-ply clad construction. The triple layer of metal includes 18/10 stainless steel, an aluminum core, and magnetic stainless steel throughout the entire piece for even heating. The interior is satin-finished.
The handles are cast stainless and riveted, so they have the look and solid feel of premium cookware that is built to last. This set comes with stainless lids that are precision fitted. Many home cooks and pros prefer this style over glass lids, and in this case they definitely feel a lot more professional than most glass lids.
Tramontina offers a lifetime warranty which guarantees their products will be free from defects for the lifetime of the cookware. This cookware is also NSF certified to meet the standards for cookware used in professional kitchens.
The pieces in this set are oven safe up to 500 degrees and are compatible with all cooktops, including induction. They are also dishwasher safe, but as we always say, hand washing is best.
Where is Tramontina Made?
When I started reviewing this set, one of the most notable things about customer reviews is that so many of them received cookware that stated it was made in China. Given the fact that the Amazon listing and the Tramontina website states that the cookware is made in Brazil and assembled and packaged in America, it makes sense that buyers would feel duped.
The answer? I still don’t know.
I reached out to Tramontina USA to find out about this disconnect, but I have yet to hear back from the company. This review from Centurylife states that the Tramontina sold in the U.S. that’s induction ready is all made in China, and the rarer, Brazil-made pieces are all non-magnetized. I’m not sure where this info came from, but I’ll update if I hear back from Tramontina.
Should You Buy Tramontina Cookware?
The 12-piece stainless set is a great set of cookware without a lot of filler like specialty pots or utensils inflating the number of pieces included. It’s made of premium stainless steel and it comes backed with a lifetime warranty. These are all great reasons to buy this set.
Plenty of reviewers — professional and actual purchasers — really like this cookware, and it has more positive reviews than negative. It’s a good set for the $300 price point. The Cuisinart Multiclad 12-Piece is around $100 cheaper and it’s pretty close in what it comes with, but the big difference is the type of steel — the Cuisinart is not 18/10 (despite some claims to the contrary) and this Tramontina set is made of 18/10 grade stainless steel.
The biggest issue with this set is where it’s made. Some consumers simply don’t want to buy products that are made in China, and it seems like the actual details about where this set is made is murky at best. If you’re looking for something made in the U.S., you’ll want to look elsewhere. However, if the country of origin isn’t important to you, then there’s really no reason for us to not recommend it to you if it’s in your budget. 
