Building a Kitchen Setup From Scratch? Start Here

Calphalon has a reputation for being a high-performing, yet affordable, cookware brand that can hold its own among the heavy hitters. Its Simply collection is made durable hard-anodized, and each piece can withstand temperatures up to 400°F.

When your cookware looks nice, you're more likely to use it. Equal Parts' cookware is non-stick, Teflon-free, and oven safe up to 450°F. They have a chip-resistant interior, ergonomic handles, smoothed-out edges, streamlined lids, and yes, they look really good.

All-Clad is the Holy Grail of stainless steel cookware. The brand did invent cladded cookware in 1967, which means metals are layered for fewer heat spots, even heating and screaming hot temperatures. The use of copper bumps everything to the nth degree. You don't need to be a Michelin-starred chef to own this line, but you do need a fairly big wallet.

The brand might not say it outright, but Made In is basically a direct response to the exuberant prices of All-Clad pieces. Made In's prices are much more approachable than the legacy cookware company, but its pieces operate pretty much identically. There are cheaper stainless steel skillets, but few come close to Made In's.

If you absolutely need to get a pan that says "All-Clad" on it, then feel free to spend the extra money on it. The brand's been around for over half a century, and no single company will ever bring down its legendary status.

The 10-inch all-in-one cooking tool has a domed lid, nesting steam basket and a detachable wooden spoon. If you need to sauté, sear, steam, boil, fry or braise, you can do it with this. At $145, it's not expensive per se, but when you take into account how many pieces of cookware it replaces, it's a pretty good deal.

This classic-looking pot clocks in at a cool $60. It has an aluminum base to help with even heat distribution while the stainless steel interior gives the pot its rust-resistance. The rim is tapered so you don't wind up with have your food dripping down the side of the pot.

Great Jones' fully clad pot is like All-Clad's but cheaper. It also differentiates itself with its sleek and ergonomic handles. Plus, there's a cool-kid rep that comes with Great Jones and that has to be worth something.

Dutch ovens retain their heat for a long time, and the enameled cast iron makes sure things get super hot. You may recognize Le Creuset's Dutch oven as the go-to for braises and stews, but it performs just as well at boiling water for pasta or getting a pot of rice going.

At about $13 a piece, this is a true essential kit for cooking utensils. A lay-flat design is meant for easy stow away in drawers (but that doesn't mean you can't get a utensil holder), and they're all dishwasher safe for an easier, faster cleanup.

Everything Oxo makes focuses on intuitive designs and high-quality materials. This 15-piece set — 14 utensils and a holder — has everything you need and a couple things you might want in the future. We highly doubt someone just starting a kitchen setup might need a pizza slicer, but hey, it's there if you need it.

From a slotted spatula to a timeless wooden spoon, Material has you covered so you aren't scrambling for a tool you don't have. The additional knives nix the need to buy separate blades, so for $245, this is probably a better deal than you'd expect.

Hands down, Fibrox makes the some of the best affordable knives on the market. They work really well as in they stay sharp for a long time and they're not a pain to use. It may chip sooner than you'd like, but then it's just time to upgrade to the mid-tier pick.

Welcome to the world of Japanese knives. The Tojiro combines the style of German knives with the capabilities of its Japanese counterparts. It's a full tang knife, so expertly balancer, and comes with a stainless steel handle that's easy to care for but still maintains its sharp-as-hell edge.

There are Mac knives, and then there are Mac Pro knives. With a 25-year warranty, the hollow edge is expected to last a long time. It has a high carbon stainless steel blade so it's sharp and dangerous without being prone to rust and corrosion. The dimpled metal takes cues from santoku knives so wet food doesn't get stuck as you're chopping.

For $20 you get a decent hardwood board with a grooved perimeter, so liquids stay on the board and not on the counter. Reviewers note that the board will show signs of wear, but with such a low price tag, you won't feel so bad about tossing this when it's cut to death.

Five Two, the in-house brand of food blog Food52, makes some pretty good, millennial-appealing kitchenware for their matching budgets, and it reaches out to its audience to get feedback for what they look for in cookware. For the cutting board, it meant a juice groove, a pour spout and a phone holder — so you can follow a recipe or FaceTime your friends.

John Boos has been around since 1887, and it's because the cutting boards are just so damn good. Made in the US, this Boos Block is made of sustainably sourced maple that's been found to be one of the more durable materials for a cutting board. The board even has naturally occurring bacteria-killing enzymes.