Is Caraway's Colorful Non-toxic Cookware Worth It? An Honest Review
Caraway pots and pans are a game changer when it comes to eco-friendly, non-toxic cookware.
Made from ceramic-coated aluminum and featuring a mineral-based non-stick coating, Caraway's gorgeous safe cookware is free from potentially toxic materials like PFOA, PTFE, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, or toxic metals making it a healthier choice for conscious consumers and the environment.
This Caraway pan review is on-going. I first published the review in 2021 when I was gifted the pans and have updated it on how the pans are holding up, how long they lasted, and when I parted ways with my original set of Caraway cookware.
I hope this in-depth review helps you decide if Caraway is a good fit for your kitchen.
This post contains some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer receives a commission from your purchase, however, this is at no additional cost to you! :) If you choose to make a purchase we appreciate your support. The commissions allow us to keep the website up as a free resource for conscious consumers.
Why should I choose non-toxic cookware?
Unfortunately there is some scary stuff in traditional cookware. One of the most common materials used in non-stick cookware is teflon.
Teflon is made from toxic chemicals called Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) over time as we use our pans and they begin to chip away these materials can leach into our food which is unsafe and unhealthy.
There have also been reports that these harmful materials can be associated with cancer.
On top of being unsafe for humans, the creation of traditional non-stick coatings is also bad for the environment.
Making Teflon is a resource intensive process that releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. Thankfully Caraway’s sustainable cookware is changing this.
Caraway reports that the production of their non-stick coating releases up to 60% less CO2 when manufactured compared to traditional non-stick coatings.
As conscious consumers it is important to make a safe choice when it comes to healthy cooking. That’s why I love what Caraway is doing!
Safe Non-Stick Cookware by Caraway
Healthy & Safe Non-toxic Pots & Pans
Caraway products are made without any toxic materials like PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, or other hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
This eco-friendly cookware brand uses a mineral-based coating that won't leach toxic materials into consumer’s food. This allows home chefs to enjoy the clean & healthy ingredients without worry.
Beautiful Design & Easy Cleaning
Not only are these pans practical and great for cooking, they are a work of art. The sleek modern design and stunning colors make a great statement in any kitchen.
Caraway designs the pans with storage in mind offering magnetic pan racks and canvas lid holders for those who purchase a full set.
Since these pans are naturally non-stick they are easy to clean allowing these works of art to be a staple of your kitchen for years to come.
Ethically Made Cookware & Sustainable Packaging
Caraway’s manufacturing partners work to ensure employees are safe, paid fairly, given benefits, and work regulated hours.
On top of creating a high quality ethically made eco-friendly cookware this brand ships their orders in recycled cardboard with zero plastic bags, low impact print dyes, and 100% biodegradable cork trivets.
Caraway Pots & Pan’s Review
Recently I was gifted the sage fry pan and dutch oven pan from Caraway. And I’ve been loving them. I honestly didn’t know you could fall in love with cookware, but you really can!
The even cooking and ease of cleaning is life changing if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I’ve also been loving the sage color because it’s bold yet timeless. So far I’ve had wonderful experiences with my two pans. For reference we have an electric stove top!
Caraway Fry Pan Review
When Caraway says their pans are non-stick, they truly are. I didn’t know what I was missing. So far I’ve cooked scrambled eggs and stir fry in the Fry Pan and had a great experience. The Fry Pan cooked evenly, the non-stick worked beautifully and made clean up SO easy.
Caraway Dutch Oven Review
With the dutch oven pan, this one has also cooked beautifully. It heats up fast and cooks evenly.
I love that this pan has a lid and is great for keeping dishes warm and serving house guests. So far I’ve cooked pasta and soup in the dutch oven pan. While I haven’t tried putting it in the oven yet, this pan is over safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
When I first received the pans I was bummed they couldn’t go in the dishwasher…until I realized how easy cleaning them really is.
Seriously the food just slides off, minimal scrubbing required. I actually enjoy washing the pans because it’s so satisfying and I know hand washing will ensure they last for years to come.
10% Off Caraway Discount
If you’re interested in giving Caraway pans or bakeware enjoy a discount. Use my referral link for 10% off your purchase.
Is Caraway Greenwashing?
Personally, I don't think so.
I don't think that any cookware company is perfect and I think Caraway has room for improvement, but I think Caraway is genuinly a better choice for non-stick cookware because of their less toxic materials, zero waste packaging, and quality of goods.
A key aspect in sustainability is investing in quality products that are crafted to last and I can say with confidence this cookware is.
I think there is room for improvement such as being transparent about the carbon footprint of their production process and exploring third party sustainability certifications. But overall I feel confident in Caraway products and have even purchased a few to go along with my gifted set.
One Year Product Review Update on Caraway Pans
As I'm updating this post for 2022 a follower has brought this article to my attention. This post features some at home testing in which Caraway tests positive for some metals.
I think it's great people are continuing to do further research on these subjects and overall you have to do your research and make the judgement call for what is best for your family.
For me personally, I choose to trust the third party reports Caraway provided such as the California Prop 65 leaching test, FDA leaching tests for lead and cadmium, NSL Analytical PTFE Detection Test, and LFGB test report for PFOA, PFOS, and extractable metals. I've been using Caraway pans for over a year and have been really pleased. I think when the coating begins to wear off, this is a point that I would be wary of using the pans, but for the past year my pans have remained in great condition and I feel confident using them.
How Caraway Pans Hold Up After Two Years of Use
I have had my pans for almost two whole years. Yes, I still have my original set. Let’s discuss how they’ve held up. For the most part I think they’ve held up pretty well, especially considering how often I use them. I use the fry pan and sauté pan almost daily.
Does the non-stick coating still work?
Yes, for the most part. It’s definitely not as good as when I first got the pans, but it still works. I make eggs pretty regularly for breakfast. The eggs used to slip right off the pan and now I add a bit more butter to help get them to slide. It’s still non-stick, but you can tell it’s not as slippery as when they first arrived. They’re still easy to clean!
The fry pan and the sauté pan are the two pans I use most frequently and I can tell that they stick a bit more than the other two pans which I use less often.
I’ve been incredibly careful and followed the care instructions for hand washing and using gentle scrubbers which is why I think my pans have lasted so long.
Does the color on caraway pans scratch or come off?
A few readers have asked me if the color of the Caraway pans comes off. Like I said I’ve been incredibly careful with using my pans and following the care instructions so you can see the images a few small scratches on the two pans I use most often, but it’s nothing too significant.
The scratches mainly happen towards the bottom of the pan and I believe were the result of being moved around to different burners on our gas stove. I think if you’re careful and are gentle with your pans they hold up pretty well.
In 2024 we decided to part ways with our original set of Caraway cookware. Our original cookware set lasted about 3 years before we felt the non-stick coating wasn’t working.
We enjoyed our cookware so much and we do have a new Caraway cookware set which I love!
Hopefully this two year in-depth review of Caraway cookware has helped you decide if Caraway is the right fit for your kitchen.
If you decide to give Caraway a try be sure to use my affiliate link for 10% off.
Meet the Author
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelors degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, and practicing slow living.
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