Caraway Cookware: An In-Depth Review (With Pictures)

Caraway’s Story

Founded in 2018 by CEO Jordan Nathan, New York-based Caraway is a direct-to-consumer cookware startup that’s already gaining recognition from trusted consumer reviewers 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 it to look stunning.

The brand’s core message is “quality cookware, without chemicals.” They live up to that message by using eco-friendly ceramic rather than polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, like the widely known Teflon, to make their pots and pans.

In this review, I break down the pros and cons of Caraway cookware. 

You’ll learn:

• What it’s made of and why it matters
• How it looks and feels (with lots of pictures)
• How it performs in the kitchen
• What I like and dislike about it
• And much more

So, if you’re shopping for new ceramic-coated cookware and considering Caraway, keep reading.

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.

However, in 2021 Caraway became available at Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and several other retailers.

The brand’s name is inspired by the caraway seed, a versatile and distinct spice used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Now that you know a bit about Caraway, let’s get into their cookware.

Product Offerings

Caraway’s product offerings are simplified. Unlike other brands that have dozens of cookware collections, Caraway only has one. You can save by purchasing their cookware as a complete set, or get exactly what you need by purchasing individual pieces.

The company also offers an array of contemporary kitchen linens such as tea towels, aprons, and potholders, but I’m focusing solely on the cookware in this review.

The Cookware Set

The complete cookware set includes (click the links to see the price of each piece individually):

• 10.5-inch Fry Pan
• 3-qt. Sauce Pan with lid
• 4.5-qt. Sauté Pan with lid
• 6.5-qt. Dutch Oven with lid

You have a choice of five colors: navy, sage, perracotta (a trend-setting blend of terracotta and pink), gray, or cream. These color options will continue to change and expand as the brand grows.

As a bonus when you buy the complete set, you get a storage solution, including four magnetic racks. The racks can be stacked horizontally or vertically.

You’ll also receive a durable hanging lid holder made from hand-washable canvas. You can mount it to any sturdy surface in your kitchen, such as a wall or interior cabinet door, which helps if you have limited storage.

Next up, let’s talk about materials and safety.

Materials and Safety
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.

There are two types of ceramic cookware: 100% ceramic and ceramic coated. Caraway cookware is ceramic coated, meaning it has a metal (in this case, aluminum) core. Ceramic cookware is made from naturally occurring minerals such as clay minerals and quartz sand.

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 gasses PTFE can give off when overheated.

Here’s the key takeaway: PTFE non-stick is definitely safe for cooking temperatures under 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but if you want to guarantee your safety from toxic fumes, ceramic non-stick is a better choice.  

Here are a few tips when using PTFE non-stick cookware:

• Discard cookware produced before 2013 if you’re unsure if PFOA was used in the manufacturing process.
• Don’t overheat your non-stick pan and follow the manufacturer’s heat rating guidance.
• Avoid cheaply made PTFE non-stick and opt for well made, multi-layer non-stick pots and pans such as All-Clad or Calphalon.
• Use nylon, silicone, or plastic utensils to avoid scratching the non-stick surface.

This doesn’t mean you should throw out your PTFE cookware. While there is an ongoing debate in the industry over PTFE, much of the discussion is over a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), previously used to produce PTFE non-stick cookware, but hasn’t been used since 2013.

Next, I’ll discuss how Caraway’s ceramic non-stick cookware is designed.

Design

Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of Caraway’s design. I’ll use the Navy, 10.5-inch Fry Pan to help tell the story.

Pan Interior

As seen in the picture below, the cookware interior is a multi-layer, mineral-based ceramic coating with a naturally non-stick surface. The interior is smooth to the touch and has a noticeable luster to it that adds to its non-stick appeal.

The rims are not flared, which helps prevent spills and makes flipping eggs a breeze, but it’s not the greatest for neatly pouring liquids.

The interior is light gray, making it easy to see what you’re cooking or when browning in the pan.

Pan Exterior

The exterior is also coated in a mineral-based ceramic with a steel base, making it induction compatible. You have a choice of five attractive colors, including navy, sage, perracotta, gray, or cream.

After about a week of testing this pan, I noticed a small chip in the exterior ceramic.

As you can see, the mark is tiny and not a big deal. If you have a gas stove with rough metal grates, be careful when you rotate and lean the pan.

The steel plate should be the only part of the pan that comes in contact with the grates. If the ceramic scrapes

against the grates, there’s a good chance it will chip.

Handles

The handles are made with mirrored stainless steel and are hollow to disperse heat. They provide a beautiful, sleek contrast with the pan’s color but are susceptible to fingerprints, so keep a buffing cloth nearby when having guests over.

As seen in the picture below, the handle is attached to the pan in a Y-shaped with two rivets to secure it.

They are comfortable in hand, but they do get hot closer to the cooking surface. Fortunately, there’s a small bump on the underside to warn you to keep your hands away.

Lids

Lids are cast aluminum and feature mirrored stainless steel, low-profile handles that nearly run the length of the lid. The Dutch Oven lid can also fit the frying pan, so all pots and pans have the option of lidded cooking.

Overall, the cookware has heft. It’s sturdy and well-built but with delicate design features and stunning color choices.

Heat Test Results

I tested the Caraway non-stick ceramic fry pan against a Calphalon Contemporary non-stick pan of equal size to determine the speed and evenness of heating.

I poured two cups of room-temperature water in each pan, placed them on the same sized burner, and set the heat to high. The performance indicators were how fast the water boiled and how evenly the bubbles dispersed.

Here’s what happened:

The Caraway pan boiled water a touch faster than its Calphalon counterpart — about a 25-second difference. It took 2 minutes and 5 seconds to boil water in the Caraway Cookware pan, while the Calphalon took 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Bubbles were evenly dispersed in both pans.

The verdict? For a fraction of the price of a high-end brand like Calphalon, you can get excellent heat distribution with Caraway.

Cooking Performance

Home chefs will appreciate how easy it is to cook with these pans. Let me run down a few pros and cons:

Cooking Performance Pros

• Non-toxic coating is safe
• You don’t need much oil; eggs slide around the pan effortlessly
• Heats fast and evenly
• Walls are tall to prevent spills
• Oven safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit
• Compatible with all cooktops, including induction
• Handles are comfortable and designed to disperse heat
• Simple cleanup with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge or dishcloth

Cooking Performance Cons

• Not the best option for browning or searing because of the slippery surface (opt for cast iron, carbon steel, or stainless steel instead)
• No flared rims for pouring and sliding delicate food to the plate
• Not broiler safe

I’ve tested this pan by cooking eggs, chicken, peppers, onions, and grilled cheese, among many other meals. And, the heat test results don’t lie—this cookware heats up fast and evenly. Food never sticks to the surface, and it’s super easy to clean.