My Honest Review of Those Caraway Pans You’ve Seen on Instagram

Caraway, a direct-to-consumer cookware brand, has been taking over my social media pages in recent years with pots and pans in gorgeous colors and clean silhouettes. In fact, Caraway’s cookware is so pretty and so photography-friendly that you’ve probably seen it all over your own Instagram and TikTok — either in ads or your friends’ posts.

Of course, you can’t (read: shouldn’t!) buy everything you see on social media, so we put the brand to the test. Spoiler alert: I’ve been using Caraway’s signature pans for more than four years, and they’re still just as non-stick as they were on day one.

When Caraway debuted in fall 2019, the brand made a splash with cookware in fun colors and with clean lines — and also for its tagline: “Non-Toxic Cookware Made Modern.” It claimed to offer a better kind of cookware both for home cooks and the environment because it used ceramic enamel rather than Teflon or another harmful “forever chemical” to achieve a nonstick surface. 

Since debuting with a cookware line, Caraway has also developed bakeware, a tea kettle, and even mini versions of its best-selling cookware — all of which our team has tested and reviewed.

Caraway doesn’t have a traditional brick-and-mortar store, so you’d have to shop online at its website. You can also buy certain items, including the best-selling 7-piece Cookware Set that I tested, at stores like West Elm, Target, Crate & Barrel, and even Amazon. We’ve got a full list of places to shop here, so it’s worth checking all your options to see if there’s a deal or sale.

Yes, Caraway is currently running a sale on some of its bundles, including the 7-piece set that I tested. Since I’m such a fan, I’ve also scored an exclusive reader discount for an additional 10% off the set through May 31, which means the price is down to $355.50 instead the usual $545. There’s no promo code needed, the discount is automatically applied when you shop through this link.

Caraway isn’t the only ceramic-coated cookware on the market — far from it. But it’s definitely one of the more popular brands I’ve seen recently, especially on social media. I tested the best-selling Cookware Set to try out multiple pieces of cookware that would best represent the brand, and here’s what I though.

I’ve never loved the idea of buying cookware sets because there are usually too many pieces I never use, but Caraway’s was well-curated and I found myself using each item regularly.

The set comes in a bunch of fun colors and the brand is always coming out with limited edition and exclusive shades. Last year, the Copper Collection featured three limited-edition cookware shades with copper hardware. Before that, the Iconics Collection launched with four Millennial-forward shades and gold hardware. That said, you can’t go wrong with Perracotta, the brand’s signature pink-forward terracotta color.

With Caraway’s Cookware Set, you’ll get the following:

• Deep 10.5-inch frying pan
• Slightly smaller 4.5-quart sauté pan
• 3-quart saucepan
• 6.5-quart Dutch oven
• 3 low-profile lids

This set comes with a few useful accessories, too, including a canvas lid holder with rivets so you can hang it on the back of a cabinet door or wall, and a magnetic rack so you can store the pans in a drawer or on your kitchen counter.

The set arrived in a slim cardboard box, and each piece was nestled into slots within the cardboard, so there was no need for a bunch of Styrofoam or plastic to keep them from banging around. It was nice to be able to just recycle one box and not cringe at wasteful packaging.

The first thing I cooked was a fried egg in the smaller sauté pan (which is actually generously sized). I was immediately impressed by the super-slippery nonstick ceramic surface. I then spent the next few weeks cooking omelets, scrambled eggs, more fried eggs, and even dosas. I used very little oil and everything just slipped right out with no sticking.

I turned to the larger pan for sautéing all sorts of veggies for dinner — mushrooms, asparagus, green beans, and more. The veggies got great color and nothing stuck, and I came to love that the pan is deep enough to hold a ton of ingredients. This larger pan is also a dream for tofu.

I’ve cooked small batches of rice in the saucepan with no sticking, and I’ve also used the Dutch oven to make a really thick bean soup. Even when I forgot to stir the dense soup, the beans never stuck to the bottom. And because the pans are so nonstick, cleanup has been ridiculously easy.

The pans are made of aluminum with stainless steel bottoms and handles, so they have really even heat distribution. I didn’t experience any hot spots, and the foods cooked very evenly. The light gray (and subtly sparkly) interior makes it easy to see how things are progressing during cooking.

The one caveat (and this is true for all nonstick pans): I get a deeper color when searing meats and veggies in a cast iron, carbon steel, or traditional stainless steel skillet. The nonstick ceramic coating doesn’t encourage a dark crust and as a result, you get very little fond. For dishes where I really want those browned bits sticking to the pan so I can deglaze and get a rich sauce, I’ll use my other pans. But for everything else? Caraway.

These pans have been a joy to cook with these last few years — they’re lightweight; responsive to temperature changes; truly nonstick; compatible with induction, gas, and electric cooktops; oven-safe to 650 degrees; and they heat evenly. Of course, they look great, too.

I haven’t noticed any big issues with durability. The ceramic nonstick coating is still going strong, though I’m careful not to go above medium heat, I avoid metal utensils, and I always wash pieces by hand. I’ve noticed some dark discoloration on the outside of the larger skillet at the bottom, but you have to really look for it to see anything. All in all? I’m beyond pleased with my Caraway set and will keep reaching for these pieces for years to come.

For small spaces or those cooking for one, the Minis Duo, which we review here, is a great 3-piece set that includes an 8-inch fry pan and a 7-inch sauce pan with the same slick coating and fun colors. There’s also a roasting pan (part of the Squareware collection), as well as a stainless steel set that we’ve also tested and reviewed here.

In addition to cookware, Caraway sells stellar bakeware. Staff Writer Patty Catalano tested the whole line and she was impressed with the quality and the nonstick properties of the bakeware. Plus, like me, she also loved having a colorful set of essentials to complement her kitchen.

The brand has also dropped cutting boards and utensil sets, the latter of which we’re currently testing. To round out the rest of the kitchen, tea drinkers would love the Whistling Tea Kettle, which has a generous 2-quart capacity. When we reviewed the kettle, we were impressed by how quickly and quietly it worked, and how absolutely lovely and relaxing it was to put on a pot of tea before bed.

For more, we’ve got a full list of editor-favorites here to inspire your next shopping spree.

Buy: Caraway 7-Piece Cookware Set, $355.50 (originally $545)

Have you tried Caraway? Do you have nonstick cookware you love?