Caraway Cookware Review: Are These Ceramic Pots & Pans Worth the Investment?
Updated: Mar. 11, 2024
We love the look of Caraway's gorgeous ceramic cookware (hello, Instagram-ready dishes), but how do these pots and pans perform in the kitchen? We tried 'em and can give you the scoop!
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For serious home cooks, choosing the right cookware is a challenging decision. A versatile set takes you from quick weeknight dinners to relaxed weekend brunches and everywhere in between. The right set is also durable, suitable to your cooking style and long-lasting. That’s a tall order!
After reading Caraway cookware reviews, I retired my aluminum set, upgraded to ceramic cookware and gave these gorgeous pans from Caraway a try.
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What is Ceramic Cookware?
Ceramic cookware is metal cookware finished in a ceramic coating. This coating makes these pans stand out from their stainless steel, aluminum and nonstick cousins. The ceramic finish on Caraway pans is free of PTFE and PFO (commonly called Teflon) as well as heavy metals. The mineral coating on ceramic pans is naturally slick so your food won’t stick.
This coating also distributes heat evenly across the cooking surface for correctly cooked food, whether it’s in the center of the pan or at the edges.
Caraway Cookware Features
Part of what made Caraway so appealing to me was that the company offered a streamlined set of cookware: a Dutch oven, a saute pan, a saucepan and a frying pan with corresponding lids. Although I’m a serious cook—I cook nearly every day—I don’t have a large kitchen. The thought of paring down my cookware to these staples was pretty attractive.
To keep the cookware organized, Caraway includes a pot rack and storage for your lids. Everything rests on a single shelf that takes up less than 17 inches of space. This small blueprint provides more breathing room in the cupboards.
Also, Caraway’s cookware line is oven-safe up to 550 degrees, meaning the pans easily go from the cooktop (you can use it on electric, gas or induction burners) right into the oven. That high heat rating definitely gave me some peace of mind because most other nonstick cookware is only safe to about 400 degrees or so.
And how could I forget the major allure of this brand in particular? The colors! Yes, performance comes first, but if I find a terrific product and it’s gorgeous, I’m sold. Caraway offers cookware in sage green, navy, cream, pale gray, marigold and a pink tone called Perracotta. You can also buy a luxe set in black or white.
Bonus: They’ve now launched Caraway mini cookware—ideal for one-pan meals and small kitchens.
How We Tested These Pots & Pans
I got my first two pieces from Caraway in July 2020. Opening up my new cookware, I put it straight to work making dinner for the evening. Using a bounty of fresh veggies from the garden, I prepared a quick curry with a side of coconut rice.
Even with the best nonstick pans, rice—particularly sticky coconut rice—has a tendency to cling. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rewashed my old saucepan after finding rice residue on the bottom (it’s an embarrassing amount). But after letting this ceramic pan cool, I washed it with warm sudsy water and let it dry.
Much to my surprise and delight, it was spotless. As for the curry packed with turmeric, a spice that has the tendency to stain containers and dishtowels, the leftovers slid right out of the pan—no yellow stains to be found.
Later in the week, I whipped up some pork and ginger lettuce cups. The large saute pan heated quickly (way faster than my cast-iron skillet) and evenly to brown the pork. The pan easily accommodates a double batch of this fresh and easy dinner—maybe even a triple batch if I had a lot of mouths to feed.
I’ll admit that after munching on these all evening, I was worried about washing away the hoisin sauce that so often lingers in pans. As with the other dishes I made, cleaning these ceramic pans was a breeze.
I’ve had the complete Caraway cookware set since December 2020, and cooking with them has been a real joy. They perform well, clean up easily and look beautiful on the table. The one thing I have learned, however, is that consistently cooking on high heat will lower the pans’ nonstick factor.
I learned this the hard way when my husband cranked up the stove with the small skillet one too many times, and it definitely lost some of its nonstick power. Minding the heat is especially important when boiling water for pasta. Patience is a virtue!
Still, I love my Caraway cookware. Having pots and pans that double as serveware is a big plus for me—fewer dishes to wash!
Pros
- High-quality ceramic cookware built for life
- Non-toxic (PTFE- and PFO-free)
- Set includes four pieces and lids
- Includes cookware storage
- Beautiful colorways
Cons
- Cooking on high heat can lower the nonstick factor
- Metal utensils scratch ceramic surface
- Not dishwasher-safe
More Ceramic Cookware Considerations
- Hand-washing is recommended. Keep this cookware out of the dishwasher so it lasts for a long time. The good news here is that the nonstick effect of ceramic cookware makes it a breeze to clean up. While you’re at it, skip the abrasive scrubbers. A sponge or dishcloth should do the trick.
- Let it cool down. Although it’s tempting to toss a hot pan right into the sink after dinner, it’s best to let ceramic cookware cool down before dousing it in water. Sudden shifts in temperature impact the durability of any cookware—not just ceramic. It’s the same reason to be careful with extreme temperatures around your Pyrex dishes.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
Read through Caraway cookware reviews and you’ll quickly find other happy home chefs who’ve fallen in love with the collection.
“If on the fence, I’d highly recommend purchasing from Caraway!” writes Pam B., a verified Caraway buyer. “I was very skeptical about ordering this set. We’ve been researching and did not want any type of Teflon nonstick. Enter Caraway. Took the chance and could not be more happy! Beautiful ceramic coating and exterior, bonus storage organizer and cork trivets that I didn’t know I was missing and now can’t live without.”
Sarah H. adds, “I literally mean what I say. This is the [best cooking set ever], and I will be purchasing this again for friends and family.”
Comparison to Other Pots & Pans
When it comes to ceramic cookware, Caraway is the creme de la creme. Similar to the beloved Green Pan, it’s free of toxic chemicals and heavy metals common in ceramic cookware. It’s similar to leading ceramic and nonstick cookware brands, including the Our Place, in the sense that cooking on high heat isn’t recommended. That’s the one caveat with ceramic cookware—it won’t be your best friend for searing. Leave that to your cast-iron skillet.
Final Verdict
Again, I’ve been cooking with Caraway for three years. For the first couple of years, they were my primary cookware (I’d cook with them five to six days per week). And because they’ve seen some serious action, in this third year, I’ve decided to take precautions and cook with them slightly less frequently. This is in hopes of ultimately prolonging their shelf life—they’re worth preserving. That being said, the 4.5-quart saute pan is my favorite pan of all time, so I can’t resist using it for stir-fries and pastas regularly.
Overall, I like how Caraway encouraged me to ditch the bulky 15-piece set of cookware. I’ve learned a lot in my three years of cooking with Caraway. My biggest piece of advice: Mind the temperature and steer clear of high heat.
Sure, washing dishes by hand is a chore many prefer to skip, but the extra effort is worth it for the performance in this case. Right now, I’m looking forward to all the great dinners I’ll cook with my Caraway pans—and how gorgeous the recipes will look served on the pink cookware. All I need is Caraway bakeware to complete my collection.
Where to Buy Caraway Cookware
If you’re in the market for new cookware, Caraway is worth the investment. These pots and pans perform exceptionally well: They heat quickly, distribute heat evenly, and are versatile (hello, stovetop-to-oven cooking) and easy to clean. Those are major considerations when shopping for a new set.
The Caraway cookware set goes for $395 (or $595 for the black and white hues). Pick it up from the Caraway website, Amazon or Nordstrom. Considering the individual pieces go for more than $100 each, the bundle is the way to go. Or, pick your favorite piece now and work your way toward the four-piece set later.
Originally Published: August 03, 2020
