Maybe you want to take advantage of holiday sales to finally buy that top-notch skillet or Dutch oven, or maybe your gift list includes someone who needs a whole set of pots and pans.

It’s a good time of year to be in the market for cookware because many stores discount it at the holidays. But they often push huge sets with pieces you’ll never use.

Here are some tips on saving money when choosing pots and pans.

Go for quality. Buying top brands will serve you well in the long run, says cookbook author Jorj Morgan, whose favorites are All-Clad, Calphalon and Le Creuset.

As well as its composition — cast iron, copper, polished stainless steel, scratch-resistant anodized aluminum or another material — consider how the cookware will be used. Aluminum is good for high heat. Stainless steel with a nonstick surface is great for a cook just starting out; just know that some finishes wear through fast. Plain cast-iron cookware, seasoned to create a nonstick surface, is excellent for eggs, while the weight and finish of enameled cast iron make it perfect for braising and stew — and just about everything else.

There are helpful comparison charts at www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/cookware/cookware-compare/ and yourcookwarehelper.com.

Know what’s essential. Decide which pieces are must-haves, like frying pans and a stockpot, and beware that some sets don’t include them.

“For less money, you can customize your preferences,” says Morgan. “Shopping sale items and knowing what pans fit your cooking style is a better choice.”

Read reviews. A good place to start your research is Amazon.com.

“Even if I’m not buying a piece of cookware from Amazon.com, I’ll still go there and read product reviews,” says Amy Sherman, who writes the blog Cooking with Amy, at cookingwithamy.blogspot.com. If lots of people complain about the same feature or product, that’s worth considering when making your purchase, she adds.

Also check other sites, especially www.consumersearch.com, for reviews and recommendations. And ask friends who cook a lot what they use and like best.

Shop around. The timing couldn’t be better to purchase cookware at department stores, such as Macy’s, or lower-price retailers like Kmart, Target and closeout retailer Tuesday Morning, says Simply Recipes blogger Elise Bauer ( simplyrecipes.com ).

“You can mix and match and get some good deals,” Bauer says.

One of her favorite brands is Tools of the Trade, available at Macy’s.

Also try your local restaurant supply store (most cities have at least one, though they generally don’t advertise to consumers; check online or in the yellow pages) for deals on the workhorse equipment that eateries use.

Remember the warehouses. If you’re fixated on buying a set, head to a warehouse store like BJ’s Wholesale Club or Costco Wholesale, says Hugh Rushing, executive vice president of the Cookware Manufacturers Association.

And don’t skip over store-brand cookware, he said, because it’s often made by reputable manufacturers.

“If you’re willing to pay between $150 and $200, you can really get a nice set of cookware that should last you between five and 10 years before it begins to deteriorate,” Rushing says.

A Tramontina 12-piece aluminum set is listed for $129.99 at BJ’s online, and a 14-piece heavy-duty anodized set from Costco’s Kirkland brand goes for $179.99 online.