Absolutely, buy the pans of different sizes. That would be a wonderful gift!
Sets are good, too. My cookware came individually priced, and in sets for a giver's convenience.
Also take advantage of things that are purchased individually, but many of the same thing is needed. Place settings, like china and silverware, can be purchased in any quantity you want. Just make sure that the individual boxes get marked with who gave them, or they could be lost or cause confusion.
Long story, but I got invited to a wedding by the bride's Mom, I had never met the bride. Her husband to be forbade her to have a registry, but with pressure from the family, relented. But, they treated the registry like a joke, and asked for everything, grabbing anything that they thought to giggle over.
Rivers and a friend did not know what to do about that, so I bought her a box full of kitchen gadgets from Macy's, including an $8 measure cup, and a expensive spatula.
The bride did not like it, I was told. I had given her a recipient's receipt, so she was welcomed to take it back.
It is up to the guest to decide what present is really needed, and what might be a joke.
Rivers, back in the day, would have killed to get a box full of kitchen gadgets, high end or Walmart! That stuff can get expensive!
Other things that she will need if she is setting up a household for the first time could be put into sets/kits. How about a box full of good quality metal bake ware: Loaf pan, 13x9 cake pan, cookie sheets, round cake pans, etc.
Do the same thing with Pyrex glassware, and do look for their gift box. It is often on sale.
Do something cute, like buying a selection of spices. Garlic powder, cinnamon, bay leaves, sage, onion powder, oregano, and on and on. This can get expensive too. this might make a cute shower gift! If she has room, buy a spice rack for inside of a cabinet.
If you wish, select something from the registry that you can make into a kit. These are very popular right now. For instance, if she asks for a pasta boiling pan, fill it with appropriate spices, like oregano, and include some hand done recipe cards or a cookbook, and some gadgets like spaghetti tongs.
Or something as simple as a loaf baking pan, can be dressed up with wire racks, oven mitts, recipes and cook books, spices, even a package of chocolate chips or a package of nuts. Theme it all, like the stuff needed for banana nut bread. Vanilla, pecans, recipe.