MADISON, Wis. -- Consumer Reports just tested 38 sets of cookware, including ones from celebrity chefs Emeril and Jamie Oliver, as well as pots and pans from newcomers to cookware such as KitchenAid and Viking.

Some sets include all nonstick pans, while others were uncoated - usually stainless. A few of the sets tested include both kinds. Testers put the pots and pans through a battery of tests, assessing how well they simmer a sauce, for example, and how evenly they brown a pancake.

Another test, which evaluates the durability of nonstick pans, simulates months of abuse. After testers scrubbed the pan for 2,000 strokes, some of the nonstick surfaces weren't very nonstick anymore.

Testers also took into consideration what happens if you make the common mistake of forgetting a pot on the stove. Empty saucepans were left on a test stove to simulate a pot that boils dry.

Not surprisingly, most of the pots were ruined. Some had a crust of ash coating the pot. With others, the bottom of the pan warped. In some cases the Teflon coating burned right off.

But with two there were potentially dangerous results. With the Simply Calphalon and Emerilware Stainless pots, the bottoms detached -- and molten metal poured out onto the stove. That could result in a serious burn.

When all the tests were done, Consumer Reports found two sets that offer very good performance at a great price.

For nonstick pans, a set from Costco, the Kirkland Hard Anodized Aluminum set, has 14 pieces and costs just $150. These pans cook very evenly and have a durable nonstick surface.

If you prefer stainless pans, Members Mark from Sam's Club is a very good choice. The Tri-Ply-Clad 11-piece set costs $130. And the stockpot excelled at simmering, with no annoying spatters.

If you're on a tight budget, Consumer Reports recommends the Bialetti Fusion 45459. This nine-piece set wasn't the sturdiest, but it cooks very evenly and you can't beat the price. It costs just $50.

Another great kitchen gift is a good set of knives. But good knives can cost plenty – sometimes hundreds of dollars for an eight piece set.

Consumer Reports tested 33 sets of fine edged knives, ranging in price from $45 to $500. To put the knives through their paces, testers chopped, diced and cut everything from peppers to salami. They also assessed comfort of the handles and how balanced a knife feels.

In the end, Consumer Reports says you don't have to break the bank to get a good set of knives. Testers rated the Chicago Cutlery Metropolitan Knives "very good" overall. A set of eight costs $60.