After 3 Years of Testing, We're Still Sold on Caraway

Nonstick cookware has slid right into many kitchens in recent years, and with its popularity rising, numerous brands have introduced their nonstick versions of frying pans, sauce pans, Dutch ovens, and more. Caraway is one of the more buzz-worthy of these brands, and its 4-piece set quickly took over the market because of a few unique features. 

While other nonstick cookware pots and pans are coated with PTFE, PFAs, PFOA, or heavy metals, Caraway’s features ceramic-coated aluminum free of those chemicals. The pots and pans also have a clean, aesthetic look and come in over a dozen vibrant colors. But just like other viral products, the big question is if this set is worth it.

The Caraway set has over 41,000 reviews on the brand’s website rating it 4.8 stars out of 5, but we decided to take matters into our own hands. In the years since its release, we have completed several rounds of long- and short-term testing of the cookware set. We’ve collected insights and info from amateur and intermediate cooks, a private chef, and our dedicated Lab testers who evaluated it side by side against the competition. We wanted to know how it performs with everyday kitchen tasks and if you should care or if you should look away (we can never resist a play on words!).

For full transparency, we were impressed with the set before we even used it. (There's a reason we awarded it "best design" in our ranking of the best cookware sets.) The packaging it is shipped in is all cardboard—and fully recyclable—but still ultra sturdy to keep the contents safe in transit. Inside is a 10.5-inch Fry Pan, a 3-Quart Sauce Pan, a 4.5-Quart Saute Pan, and a 6.5-Quart Dutch Oven, in addition to some added accessories—three lids, a hanging canvas lid holder, four magnetic pan racks for storing the set, two cork trivets, and a soft sponge for any tough spots that appear while in use. 

Picking them up, you will notice they are heavy, weighing 2.6 to 4 pounds without the lids and 4 to 6.8 pounds with the lids (and that's before any food goes in). This makes them slightly difficult to hold with one hand and means the set may not be the best option for anyone with limited mobility or strength in the arms or hands. 

However, we quickly discovered why the pots and pans need to be so heavy. The nonstick ceramic and aluminum core of the pots and pans in the Caraway Cookware Set heats everything evenly—and we mean everything. One round of recent testing revealed the following: Rice won't stick, a fried egg won't stick, and scrambled eggs won't stick. A professional private chef we tasked with testing told us the scrambled eggs came out the cleanest of any nonstick pan they have ever used. The only con we've noticed in this area is that it is slightly hard to slide food out of the pots and pans because of the high-walled design, which does not feature pour spouts.

After testing the set consistently for over three years, we found that the nonstick coating does not wear down, even with everyday use. (And we have truly used the 3-Quart Sauce Pan nearly every day since April 2021.) The nonstick ceramic is so reliable there’s really no need for oil or butter when cooking, even when some marks and scratches inevitably appear. We use bamboo, wood, or soft silicone utensils when stirring or scraping with this set in order to avoid damage.

In all of our tests we did notice one common issue: Although the stainless steel handles are easy to grip, they do tend to get hot. Over the years we have learned to keep a kitchen towel or oven mitt nearby, or we just use our sleeve, especially when using the Dutch oven, which has two handles on either side of the pan. Keep this in mind when using high heat, especially because the pots and pans heat up quickly.

Speaking of high heat, we recommend this set for any braising or browning you wish to do. We found that the large nonstick surface makes searing and working with hot temperatures incredibly easy, and we have found success cooking everything from ribeyes to onion to Halloumi cheese. We also love that these perform well on gas or electric stovetops, and are actually oven-safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

To clean the set we use soap and a soft sponge. Throughout our long-term testing, we found that if stubborn burnt pieces won’t come off, a paste of baking soda and water left on for at least 30 minutes usually does the trick. Technically these pieces are dishwasher safe, but the company recommends limiting how often they go through a cycle. For our most extensive long-term testing, we have opted to keep the pans out of the dishwasher.

We will readily admit that this isn’t a cheap cookware set. But after years of testing, we think it is a fair price and would recommend it to beginners as well as those who know their way around the kitchen.

In the end, lots of people have ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron, and glass pots, pans, and dishes that have lasted years and years. Despite there being a ton of products to choose from nowadays and the more expensive price, we think the four pans in the Caraway set will last just as long as others.