When it comes to investing in kitchen essentials, few things make as big of an impact as a quality cookware set. Over the years I’ve tried my fair share of pots and pans, but it wasn’t until I discovered Caraway that I finally felt like I had found the perfect balance of function and style.
You may have seen these beautiful, non-toxic pots, pans, and bakeware sets all over social media. It’s how I found Caraway, too. And although the non-toxic materials are a big part of Caraway’s selling point, I must admit that I was originally drawn to these ceramic pans because of their gorgeous sleek design, contemporary colors, and non-stick surface.
These look beautiful on your stovetop, but what’s better (and arguably most important) is their performance and superior ease when it comes to cleaning. Simply put, a win-win in my book, and I’ll even go so far to say that this brand has somewhat reignited my love of cooking.
I’ve owned Caraway products for the last few years, and in this Caraway cookware review I’m sharing my honest experience with their ceramic non-stick pots, pans, and bakeware, including what I love, what could be better, and why I think they’re worth the investment.
Shop Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic
Cookware Set
Tea Kettle
Bakeware Set
About Caraway Cookware
Brand Philosophy
Founded in 2019, Caraway creates eco-friendly, non-toxic cookware with stylish design.
Jordan Nathan, Caraway’s founder, accidentally heated a non-stick Teflon® pan. After getting sick and doing lots of research, he found that it only takes a couple of minutes for Teflon non-stick pans to heat to 500ºF to begin releasing toxic fumes into the air.
At the time of this incident, most traditional non-stick cookware was made with PTFE (aka Teflon®). After realizing this, Jordan set out to create Caraway pots and pans, free of toxic chemicals with function and design in mind.
What’s Included in a Caraway Cookware Set
The original Caraway set features ceramic non-stick coating and comes with the following items:
- Large frying pan
- 3-quart sauce pan with lid
- Large sauté pan with lid
- Dutch Oven with lid
- Storage system
- Canvas lid holder
All non-stick Caraway pans and pots have a ceramic non-stick coating, work on all stovetops, and are oven safe up to 550ºF.
Other Items from Caraway
The brand started with a classic cookware set with ceramic coating, and in recent years has expanded their assortment to include stainless steel and enameled cast irons sets, along with bakeware, tea kettles, food storage, kitchen tools, and accessories. All of their items are made with non-toxic materials for peace of mind when cooking and storing food.
You can purchase individual pieces, but the sets provide cost savings for a better value.
Caraway Cookware Review
I don’t own any of the brand’s stainless steel or cast iron products (yet!), so for the sake of this post I’m focusing solely on their non-stick ceramic cookware.
I’ve owned the Tea Kettle since 2022, the Cookware & Minis Set since 2023, and just recently upgraded to the Bakeware Set. To say that I love this brand is an understatement. Here is my full review on these items.
Aesthetic & Design
There is no denying that Caraway cookware is pretty to look at, and when I’m buying items for my home, this is a big factor for me. While yes, it’s super important that what I own is functional, it’s icing on the cake if it can be beautiful, too.
Caraway’s ceramic-coated products come in several stylish colors. These feel modern and work with any home style or decor, but they’re also designed to work together in case you want to mix and match individual pieces or collections.
I have the gray pots and pans, and opted for the cream color for my bakeware set. I love how these products look in my kitchen, and I often leave the tea kettle on the stove simply because it looks so pretty on the burner.
The stainless steel handles feel hefty and strong, but it’s important to note that they sometimes get hot and if you grab too close to the pot or pan, you can risk getting burnt. I always keep a pot holder close by whenever I’m using these products.
I love how sleek the lids look, but if I had one complaint about Caraway’s design, it would be these. They are extremely flat with barely any lip, so when you lift one and place it face up on a kitchen counter, any water, steam, or liquid tends to make a bit of a mess on your surface. It’s not a deal breaker, but it is a little annoying.
Each cooking set comes with magnetic pan racks that stick together for vertical storage, along with a lid holder that sticks to an interior cabinet. We have space for the storage system and the included canvas lid holder, but this may not be the best solution for every household or kitchen layout.
At over two years in I’m happy to report the lid holder has stayed in place, securely housing my lids without any issues.
Unboxing & Setup
I am always pleasantly surprised at how Caraway packs their items, and unboxing the product feels like a real treat. Opening one of these boxes feels a little bit like unboxing an iPhone; a small card is perched at the top (you can register your items for their warranty!), then you remove a top piece to dive into your cookware or bakeware set. Each item is perfectly held in place by recycled cardboard, and organized just so, in the way that you’d store the pieces in your kitchen. It feels silly to say, but it’s kind of exhilarating taking everything out of the box.
Cooking Performance
Of course, looks aren’t everything, and Caraway ceramic cookware doesn’t disappoint in the performance arena, either. After hundreds, if not thousands of uses, I’m still just as impressed with Caraway cookware as the day I first got it.
Shop Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic
Cookware Set
Tea Kettle
Bakeware Set
Heating and Heat Distribution
I’d like to think I owned nice pans before my Caraway set, but after seeing how quickly these heat up, I questioned their existence. One of the first things I noticed when boiling water in my Caraway pot was how much faster it heated compared to my previous cookware.
The pans heat much quicker than traditional ones, so there’s no need to ever use high heat with them (and this will shorten their lifespan, more on this later).
From the tea kettle to the pots to the bakeware, Caraway’s heat distribution is impressively even, regardless of whether I’m cooking, baking, or sautéing.
Non-Stick Ability
Caraway’s non-stick surface is the best selling point of these products and my favorite thing about owning these products.
When I say food magically glides off my Caraway pans, I mean it. I am continually shocked and impressed with this, making it a treat to serve up a meal, and an even bigger delight when it comes to cleaning.
We are not afraid of healthy fats in this household, but I only really used oil as a non-stick mechanism, not necessarily to add additional flavor. Now, I never use it for this, and there’s no longer a need for non-stick cooking spray in my cabinet. Everything slides off so easily, including grease, sautéed veggies, and baked desserts. It’s something you really have to see to believe.
Cleaning and Maintenance
As mentioned above, the non-stick surface makes cleaning up after cooking an absolute breeze. Dare I say I even enjoy it a little? (And this is coming from someone who hates cleaning up after cooking.)
Most food remnants rinse off in a flash with this cookware, and those that normally require a bit of elbow grease can be quickly cleaned with a light rub of a soft sponge. I’ve baked several messy things and have never been defeated by food stuck on the surfaces. The ease of cleaning has really removed the pain point of cleaning for me and it saves time, too.
As with anything, it’s important to take care of your items so they last for a long time. Caraway recommends using a low to medium heat setting, and to avoid high heat. I personally haven’t had any issues using a lower setting, and find that the cookware heats evenly and cooks my food just fine and according to the recipes I follow.
They also recommend hand washing to preserve the non-stick ceramic coating. It’s important to note that this isn’t unique to Caraway, and washing instructions for most ceramic cookware advise to avoid the dishwasher.
I’ve read a few reviews that Caraway is prone to chipping. I haven’t experienced this, but I also follow the heat settings, hand wash everything, and avoid metal utensils as recommended by the brand.
Pros and Cons of Caraway Cookware
Here’ s a bulleted list of the pros and cons of Caraway ceramic cookware so that you can get a quick overview.
I don’t find any of the cons to be absolute deal breakers, but if you’re someone who is really adamant about using metal utensils or putting your stuff in the dishwasher, you may want to skip purchasing these products.
Pros
- Unbeatable non-stick performance
- Super easy clean up that doesn’t require overnight soaking
- Pots and pans quickly heat
- Even heat distribution, even with the bakeware
- Works on a variety of cooktops (gas, electric, and induction)
- Oven safe up to 550ºF
- Sleek, modern design
- Thoughtful, designer-inspired colors
- Non-toxic ceramic coated interior
- Third-party tested to be chemical free
- Sets come with storage system for easy organization
- Available in sets or individual pieces to fit your needs
Cons
- Not compatible with metal utensils
- Hand washing highly recommended
- Storage system may be irrelevant depending on kitchen size and layout
- Stainless steel handles can get hot if touched too close to pots and pans
- Lids tend to drip onto cooking surface and can be annoying
- Price point
Shop Caraway Non-Stick Ceramic
Cookware Set
Tea Kettle
Bakeware Set
Are Caraway Pots and Pans Worth It?
For me, absolutely yes. If you’re a busy home cook who wants super easy cleanup, I really can’t recommend Caraway ceramic cookware enough.
The non-toxic materials are another major selling point. Even if this isn’t your priority, it’s a great bonus and a benefit I’ll gladly accept.
And of course, at a visual level, these are chic pots and pans.
Over the last couple of years using my cookware pieces I’ve found that they provide quick heating, even cooking, and annoyance-free fast clean up with its magical non-stick surface. Compared to my previous non-stick set, it has been night and day.
My one gripe is that the lids get a bit messy when laying them on a kitchen counter due to their flat design, but it’s the only con that really gets to me and the other benefits drastically outweigh this personal annoyance.
When it comes to household items, I want things to be functional, efficient, and thoughtfully designed, and Caraway checks all three of these boxes.
Caraway definitely isn’t the cheapest ceramic cookware brand on the market, but for all the reasons listed above, I do think these products are high quality and worth the investment.
Where to Buy Caraway Cookware
For the full assortment of Caraway cookware, including their cast iron and stainless steel cookware, food storage, and more, you can shop directly on the Caraway website.
You can also find Caraway products at these retailers:
