GreenPan is best known for its ceramic nonstick cookware—but does the brand deliver across its full kitchen lineup? Read our honest review.
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The hunt for the best nonstick frying pan has been one of my passion projects for years. I cook almost all my meals at home and feed a small army each evening. Friends and family members kept raving about ceramic-coated GreenPans that are both nonstick and affordable, so I decided to give them a try and ordered a set of two Valencia Pro frypans. My GreenPan ceramic cookware left me shocked—how had I lived without these nifty pans for so many years?
But it’s not just the ceramic nonstick pans that have impressed us at Taste of Home. We tried several other popular items from GreenPan’s extensive product line to see if this viral brand lives up to the hype. Here is our honest review.
GreenPan cookware is made from tough, multilayer stainless steel and then finished with the brand’s ceramic nonstick coating. Much like its far more expensive competitor, Caraway Ceramic Cookware, the GreenPan ceramic cookware line boasts a nonstick coating that is both PTFE and PFO-free, as well as devoid of heavy metals that can seep into your foods as they cook. Those chemicals are often found in Teflon-coated cookware and are fueling the major surge in ceramic cookware popularity.
Ceramic cookware also heats more evenly and is usually safe for all cooktops (including induction). You can even pop it directly in the oven or broiler at temperatures up to 600 degrees. If you read our frying pan guide, then you know that a pan that can transition from the stove to the oven at high temperatures is hard to find!
One of the best things I learned during my GreenPan review was that I’ve been using too much oil and butter all this time. I was coating all sorts of pans with the best olive oils and creamy butter, but with nonstick pans that are truly as slick as these, the extra fat just isn’t necessary. GreenPan recommends using a tiny amount of oil or butter if necessary but avoiding spray oils to protect the finish. The high-temperature capacity and durability of these steel-and-ceramic wonders also really impressed me.
If you want extra durability and easy cleanup on the menu, look to this popular kitchen cookware brand.
We put several of GreenPan’s bestsellers to the test, including the Valencia Pro Cookware, the Spectra Cookware and the Reserve Bakeware. And because we’ve always got dessert on the brain, we also tried the brand’s ice cream and frozen drink maker, the GreenPan Frost.
I’ve had the GreenPan Valencia Pro Frypan set since February 2022. I’ve cooked everything from eggs to salmon and even shakshuka. Here’s how it holds up against each recipe, all of which are notorious for messing up my Teflon-based nonstick pans.
We fry a lot of eggs around here thanks to raising our own chickens and having farm-fresh eggs on the counter at all times. I figured eggs would be the best place to start testing. After all, eggs are the perfect litmus for the true nonstick capabilities of any pan. And no GreenPan review is complete without trying to figure out just how much scraping is necessary. Time after time, the eight-inch GreenPan allowed eggs of all styles to slip effortlessly out of the cookware and onto the plate with little more than a flick of the wrist.
I also tried the bigger 10-inch pan to make an especially cheesy family shakshuka recipe. The combination of eggs, tomatoes and melty cheese is sure to mess this pan up. At least, that’s what I thought. But to my surprise, everything slid right off the pan’s surface and was wiped clean with just soapy water and a typical sponge. Even the burnt bits of cheese that cooked too long came off easily!
The test that sold me, though, was cooking a piece of salmon with little more than a bit of salt and pepper. I am notoriously bad at cooking fish, and I always manage to get bits of expensive fillets to stick on pans, grills and other surfaces. Somehow, I didn’t screw up the salmon fillets in the eight-inch GreenPan. They cooked perfectly! And that’s what convinced me that these otherwise ordinary-looking pans were worth every dollar.
Our Product Testing Team gave the GreenPan Valencia a whirl, too. These folks have ample experience testing everything from the best toasters to the best food processors, so we enlisted their help to find the best cookware of every type. They re-tested GreenPan ceramic cookware to see how it compares to competitors’ ceramic cookware, using a sliding egg test (with and without oil), a searing test with chicken tenderloin and a crepe test to determine how evenly it cooks. In the team’s evaluation, GreenPan offered the best overall performance of all the ceramic pans tested, earning high marks across the board.
For extra durability and endless possibilities, look no further than this cooking duo.
GreenPan’s new Spectra cookware line combines a sturdy stainless steel construction with the convenience of a ceramic, nonstick surface. It’s a more budget-friendly option to the editor-approved hybrid HexClad cookware.
Content Director Nicole Doster tried out the 10-piece set and found it a worthy replacement for her older nonstick set. She’s been impressed so far, particularly the “very nonstick” surface, noting that she followed the brand’s recommendations to keep heat no higher than medium and adding oil or fat prior to cooking.
The set comes with 8- and 10-inch frying pans, a 3.25-quart saute pan with lid, a 1.6- and 3.3-quart saucepans with lids, a 8-quart stockpot with lid and a melamine “Wonder Sponge” for cleanup. Nicole cooked up a variety of foods to test out the set:
Nicole says, “The pan heats up very quickly, which is a perk for impatient cooks like myself. Additionally, it seared foods well. Not as well as my trusty cast-iron, but better than other nonstick pans I’ve used in the past.” The cookware is on the heavier side, not as much as cast iron but certainly more than aluminum. As such, Nicole found herself reaching more often for the smaller 8-inch frying pan during her testing period.
Since there was rarely anything stuck to the cookware surface, cleaning was a cinch. Nicole noted that even browned cooking oil on the stainless steel side wiped away easily—no need to use the Wonder Sponge after all, she notes.
Nicole says, “So far, I’ve been impressed with how quickly the pans heat up and how effortlessly food slides off. Cleanup is quick and easy, too. Plus, the stainless steel finish looks luxe on my stovetop. I’m excited to see how it holds up over time.”
A stainless steel design meets a ceramic nonstick surface in this hybrid cookware that’s easy to use and maintain.
For bakeware that’s as beautiful as it is useful, meet the Reserve Bakeware from GreenPan. This 7-piece set is made from heavy-gauge aluminized steel with a truly nonstick surface. It comes in a beautiful sage green shade with glorious gold handles that aren’t just there for good looks—they stand up to corrosion and wear over time, too.
Nicole tested the set by making cornbread muffins in the muffin tin and chocolate cakes in the 9-inch cake tin and loaf tin. She says, “Both the chocolate cakes and muffins did not stick to the pans, which is great because I skipped using liners — and actually ran out of parchment paper for the cake tins. I was really impressed by this!”
The GreenPan pieces are heavier than Nicole’s previous bakeware. “I’m hoping that that pays off in terms of longevity,” she says. But there’s a drawback to the heftiness. “This may not be the best for folks who like lighter equipment or those with accessibility issues,” she says.
Nicole loved the aesthetics of the sage set. “It feels very photo-worthy,” she says. “The golden handles elevate the bakeware from a cooking vessel to serveware I’d be happy to show off at dinner parties.” The only problem with that beautiful cream interior is that she found residual cooking oil or spray shows up easily on it. “Not the worst thing in the world, but something worth noting if you plan to splurge on this for its looks,” says Nicole.
Overall, Nicole found cleanup easy because the food didn’t stick to the surface. Scratch- and ding-free storage is also a breeze, thanks to the pan protectors that come with the set.
Transform your oven cooking with PFAS-free nonstick for easy release.
GreenPan covers all its bases, or rather, all its courses—yup, including dessert. We here at Taste of Home consider ice cream to be a major food group. And as much as we love a good ice cream subscription, we enjoy making the good stuff from scratch, which is why it was a no brainer for us to try out the GreenPan Frost Ice Cream & Frozen Drink Maker.
Editor Mary Henn had the delicious task of testing the GreenPan Frost. She found it quite easy to assemble, but what made things even easier is that you don’t have to prefreeze any inserts—the Frost has its own compressor. This makes it pricier than models that require you to freeze the bowl for hours, but some ice cream lovers say it’s a feature worth splurging for.
Unlike other ice cream makers that make frozen treats in small batches, the Frost comes with a whopping 64-ounce bowl. You can make some frozen treats in just 15 minutes, but if you’re a fan of vanilla, expect it to take closer to an hour. Mary says, “There’s something really fun—and relaxing, like slow cinema—about watching it churn homemade ice cream. And of course, setting up a parlor-style toppings bar makes it feel like a party.”
The ice cream is delicious, but there are some drawbacks. One is that the Frost can’t handle solid mix-ins, like candy, fruit or nuts. (You’ll have to stir them in by hand or reserve them for toppings only.) Cleanup is also a bit of a hassle. Mary says, “Technically, it has a self-cleaning feature, but I still felt like I had to hand-wash parts (more than once) to get the outer shell of the churning tub truly clean. It’s doable, just not as effortless as I hoped.”
The ice cream—especially the soft serve—is worth the effort, though. Mary says, “If you want a large-capacity, all-in-one machine that cranks out everything from frozen cocktails to creamy soft serve, the Frost delivers. It’s fast, quiet and works like a dream so far.”
Make delicious desserts and treats with this ice cream and frozen drink maker that has a built-in compressor.
Again, the GreenPan is a wallet-friendly alternative to high-end ceramic cookware. But how does it compare to the nonstick Our Place Always Pan and tried-and-true Lodge cast iron skillet?
Similar to the Our Place Pan, the GreenPan is 100% free of potentially toxic nonstick ceramic coatings (think PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead and cadmium, to name a few). And thanks to the diamond-infused nonstick ceramic, it differs from the Lodge cast-iron skillet because, well, it’s not made of cast iron. It’s similar, however, in the sense that you’ll hold onto this pan for years. It’s just that good. (Speaking of quality cookware, have you seen our best Dutch oven picks?)
We understand the hype about GreenPan. Frying pan purists, budget-minded home chefs and anyone who loves to post photos of their in-progress cooking and baking will absolutely love this cookware. The health benefits are there, too: my GreenPan review showed me the ceramic-loving light and reigned in my olive oil habit.
In full transparency, I have found that the nonstick quality does dissipate a little over time. Overall, it’s held up nicely against almost daily use. Wash this cookware with the soft side of a kitchen sponge, though, because more abrasive surfaces tend to leave it looking a little worn out. The same goes for all the cookware, even for those products listed as dishwasher safe—the manufacturer recommends handwashing to preserve their nonstick surfaces. Still, the Valencia pans in particular have held up far better than any of my old Teflon-based nonstick pans. I used to have to replace my black-coated nonstick pans annually, but I’m confident my GreenPan will hold up for at least a few years without worry.
If you rely on just a few key cookware pieces in between your arsenal of microwave-safe bowls (like these Anyday Cookware winners) and slow cookers, the GreenPans are a must-buy. They’re easy to use, even easier to clean and made me feel good about not using pans and cookware loaded with potentially toxic chemical coatings.
From healthier cooking to easier cleanup, GreenPan cookware can help you do it all.
You can find the pans, cookware and other products on the GreenPan website, as well as Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel and Amazon. This way to easier, healthier cooking!
For many home cooks, GreenPan is worth the investment, especially if you care about a non-toxic, easy-to-use cookware experience. Their ceramic nonstick coating heats evenly and releases food smoothly without the chemical concerns associated with traditional PTFE coatings. A lot of users find that this makes everyday cooking more enjoyable and cleanup much easier.
GreenPan originated in Belgium in 2007 and was among the first companies to introduce PTFE-free nonstick coatings to the cookware market.
GreenPan ceramic cookware is safe to use thanks to its chemical-free construction, made without the use of PTFEs or “forever chemicals”.
Much like cast iron cookware, GreenPan’s line of ceramic pots and pans can be used with olive oil, butter and other cooking oils to achieve the ideal results you are looking for.
No, GreenPan does not use Teflon to make their cookware. The nonstick ceramic coating on this cookware comes with the brand’s patented Thermolon technology, which is completely PTFE and PFAS-free.
Yes, GreenPan’s cookware is safe to use in ovens, but be sure to check the temperature restrictions specific to the product you are using, especially if it has handles.
GreenPan is often touted as a more budget-friendly alternative to the stylish Caraway brand. Our Place, Made In and Carote are other nonstick ceramic brands known for their pleasing aesthetics. We’ve also compared the GreenPan Spectra hybrid set to the HexClad set. In terms of durability, GreenPan is sometimes compared to the pricier Scanpan brand.
Bryce Gruber knows what she is talking about when it comes to gift-giving and shopping at Taste of Home. She has collaborated with e-commerce businesses, women’s lifestyle magazines and publications and has been featured on TV shows for her advice, making her an ideal candidate to review GreenPan.
Nicole Doster and Mary Henn are Taste of Home’s Content Director and Shopping Editor, respectively.
Barbara Bellesi Zito contributed additional reporting to this article.
