Disclaimer: I received products from Caraway to conduct this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest.
About Caraway
Caraway is a kitchenware company known for their non-toxic cookware. They offer pots, pans, bakeware, and linens that are very aesthetic and minimalist.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Jordan Nathan, the New York-based Caraway brand started as a direct-to-consumer cookware startup. They quickly started gaining recognition from trusted consumer review sites such as Good Housekeeping and CNET.
Jordan’s idea for Caraway came from an accident. He forgot a Teflon pan on a burner for about 45 minutes, which filled his apartment with fumes and made him feel lightheaded. He wanted to create a safer alternative to traditional non-stick cookware. But he also wanted the cookware to look stunning.
The brand’s core message is “quality cookware, without chemicals.” They try to live up to that message by using eco-friendly ceramic rather than polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE chemicals found in Teflon cookware.
Like other cookware startups, such as Made In Cookware (see my review), Abbio, Great Jones, and Misen, Caraway started as a direct-to-consumer company, selling exclusively on its website.
In 2021 Caraway became available at Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and now at Amazon.
The brand’s name is inspired by the caraway seed, a versatile and distinct spice used in both sweet and savory dishes.
We decided to try out Caraway to see if their kitchen set was worth it. And we’re happy to say that we love our set!
Below we share our in-depth review of the Caraway Cookware Set to help you determine if it’s worth buying.
Great question. As I mentioned, Caraway is exclusively-non-stick, and their non-stick coating of choice is ceramic – as opposed to the traditional matte-black polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that’s almost definitely covering a few of the skillets in the cabinet beneath your sink. In recent times, there’s been some skepticism toward that coating (which is no longer manufactured in the US using the hazardous compound PFOA), and that’s part of the reason why companies like Caraway, Great Jones, and Our Place are going the ceramic route.
Frankly, I’m on board. The downsides are that you aren’t supposed to use ceramic on high heat (you can still achieve crisp browning on low-to-medium), and the coating will eventually wear away. But any other non-stick coating will do the same, and if you actually manage to wear off all the ceramic on your Caraway pans, you should probably just take that as a sign that you sure do cook a lot, repeatedly, for years.
As for the actual bones of the Caraway pots and pans, they’re made from aluminum with stainless steel as the base. They’re noticeably heavy (which you can attribute to the stainless steel), and they retain heat quite well. A batch of silky congee felt like a natural fit in my sauce pan. And I ate it throughout the day. (Despite the congealing, cleanup took a matter of seconds.)
How Do You Care for Caraway Pans?
High heat and rapid heat changes are the enemy of ceramics. With that in mind, you should keep these pots and pans over low-to-medium heat, and, when cleaning, you should allow your Caraway products to cool down for a few minutes before immersing them in water. If that sounds intense and high-maintenance, know that these are general guidelines. I heavily seared both steak and pork chops in my fry pan, and absolutely no cataclysm occurred.
Unlike the ceramic-coated Always Pan, Caraway cookware is also oven-safe – and I know this for a fact, because I roasted a whole chicken in my Dutch oven. A shallower cast-iron pan would have made for crispier skin (because air circulation), but this bird was delicious and well-browned nonetheless. I ate it by myself.
Caraway recommends you hand-wash their products (as opposed to throwing them in a dishwasher), and, since very little sticks to these pans, that’s really nothing to complain about. Use a soft sponge, and avoid any abrasive implements that could wear down the ceramic.
Caraway Review
Caraway’s focus is on kitchen minimalism without toxic materials. They intentionally developed a 5-piece set to serve every cooking function.
Caraway’s main value proposition is that its products are “Better for you, and better for the planet.” But that message can be a bit deceiving. Let me explain.
Caraway cookware is made with a heavy-gauge aluminum core free of lead, cadmium, and other toxic metals.
Its interior and exterior are coated in a proprietary, mineral-based ceramic and features a stainless steel plate on the bottom, making it compatible with induction cooking. The cookware gets its non-stick quality from the multi-layer, mineral-based ceramic.
Ceramic is a more earth-friendly option than PTFE (Teflon) and doesn’t use the man-made chemicals associated with PTFE non-stick cookware. Another benefit to ceramic non-stick is the lack of harmful gases PTFE can give off when overheated.
Prior to receiving my Caraway set, I was using my Abbio stainless steel set (now discontinued). I also have an Always Pan that I use a lot to heat up dumplings and steam food.
Related: Always Pan Review
After receiving my set, I quickly offered up my old cookware set on a local Buy Nothing Group and was excited to dig into my new kitchen gear.
What comes in a Caraway cookware set?
My Caraway set came neatly packaged in a large box. The Caraway Cookware Set comes with the following items:
- Sauce Pan & Lid
- Sauté Pan & Lid
- Fry Pan
- Dutch Oven
- Canvas Lid Holder with hooks (hangs on a cabinet door)
- Magnetic Pan Racks (for stacking your pans neatly)
- 2 Cork Trivets
Caraway Pros
- Pans are 100% non-toxic. Caraway uses ceramic to coat its cookware, which means it does not have PFOAs or other harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process.
- Beautiful Cookware – There’s no denying how pretty the pans are. They are gorgeous, Instagram-worthy, modern and timeless looking.
- Includes a convenient storage system. The lids some with wall hanging storage, and the pans come with magnetic storage partitions.
- The hollow design of the handles helps with heat dissipation, but the handles still get extremely hot as you reach closer to the pan walls. We recommend using silicone heat pads or mittens when handling the handles.
- Even heat distribution. We boil tested our Caraway pan, and it appeared to start heating in the middle and distribute evenly. We did a heat test by boiling a cup of water in the non-stick pan and saw that bubbles were distributed evenly throughout the pan.
- Affordable when compared to an All Clad level product, and is more than half price off. It is a little pricier than other digitally native brands.
- Oven Safe – Caraway pans are oven-safe, so you can prepare your dishes from start or finish in the oven. The non-stick cookware is oven safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Attractive and SUSTAINABLE Packaging – Each Caraway pan came in a cardboard box with the pans laid out in an appealing way. Caraway designed its packaging with the environment in mind by eliminating unnecessary plastic, foam, or other waste beyond the bare minimum required to keep the cookware safe during transit. The company’s dedication to sustainability is also worth mentioning. Their entire collection is shipped in recycled cardboard (zero plastic!) made with low-impact print dies. Each purchase also includes a 100 percent biodegradable cork trivet for simple serving come mealtime.
- Easy to clean. Their pots and pans are NOT dishwasher safe. Caraway recommends hand washing your pots and pans to preserve the non-stick coating.
- Works with all cooktops. The set is stove agnostic and works on all stove tops. We have an induction oven at home, and it heats up quickly and evenly. It would definitely work well with gas and coil cooktops.
- Caraway has a 30-day return policy, no questions asked.
- Comes with a limited one-year warranty. Caraway will replace any product with defects due to materials or craftsmanship.
Caraway Cons
- Hollow handles – Compared to other brands with solid handles, we find that this made our Caraway cookware lighter in general. But because they are hollow, there is a chance they may dent and bend.
- Cookware is manufactured in China in a production facility shared with some of the most prestigious and expensive cookware brands sold in the United States market.
- Cannot be used on high heat. Caraway’s instructional booklet recommends only using medium to low heat to preserve the ceramic coating. This is annoying if you’re a high heat cook (like me!). Medium heat ranges from 200-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Expensive – Caraway cookware is not cheap. Most nonstick cookware sets retail for about $200, and Caraway is double the price. However, most nonstick cookware sets are not guaranteed nontoxic, but Caraway is.
- Not dishwasher safe– Most nonstick cookware is not dishwasher safe. The high heat in the dishwasher can wear away the coating. Caraway products should always be washed by hand.
- Coating eventually wears away. All nonstick cookware will eventually lose its “nonstick-ness.” The only timeless cookware is really stainless steel or cast iron, which is expensive but will last a lifetime. Caraway also sells stainless steel cookware that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
- Prone to staining – If you cook on a gas stove, the flames may stain the lighter color cookware. This may happen even if you follow all the rules given by Caraway. We use an induction oven at home, which cooks evenly, quickly, and works great to preserve the life of our Caraway set.
Should I Buy Caraway?
One of the major drawbacks of Caraway is that you cannot cook on any setting higher than medium (200-400 degrees Fahrenheit). This means that boiling and cooking may take longer than usual.
Another drawback is that the cookware is not machine-washable.
However, if you’re looking for non-stick cookware that works and looks gorgeous, Caraway is definitely for you.
This is a good set for beginner to advanced home chefs. It’s also a great set for small kitchens. You get everything you need to do a wide range of cooking.
This line of cookware will definitely last you for years to come.
For now, I will be keeping my Abbio set and using it alongside my pretty Caraway pans.
If you are looking for pans with an exceptionally nonstick surface and an attractive look, Caraway’s Cookware Set is an excellent option. The pots and pans are visually pleasant to cook with, and I will continue to use them long after this review. However, if your pots and pans tend to take a heavy beating, online reviews and my own experience suggest that these pans are not the most durable option. If you don’t want to commit to the whole set, but you are looking for an alternative to traditional nonstick, I would suggest going for just the fry pan ($95) for cooking delicate foods like eggs, fish, pancakes, or anything that has a tendency to stick to the pan and tear.
If you spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen and are looking for new cookware that’s free of harmful chemicals, offers even heat distribution, and is easy to clean, Caraway(opens in a new tab) is definitely worth it.
It’s easy to cook a variety of different foods thanks to the cookware’s truly non-stick surface. I found myself using way less oil than I usually do while cooking, and cleanup took literal seconds, even though the cookware isn’t dishwasher safe. The pans are durable, too — I haven’t experienced any chipping or staining on the ceramic coating, nor has the interior of the pan gotten scratched (though I’m careful to always use wooden utensils).
If Caraway is not in your budget, I would highly recommend Quince. Quince is a brand known for making high-end dupes of popular products ranging from apparel, accessories, bedding, furniture, and even housewares!
Where to Buy Caraway
Caraway Cookware can be purchased directly from their website.
You can buy their pieces individually or as a set for the discounted price of $365 (normally $675).
Caraway is also sold at the following retailers:
If you found our Caraway review helpful, please share it with someone who loves to cook! Thanks for your support!
Leave a Reply