This “Brilliant” Cooking Pan Has a Secret Space-Saving Feature (So Smart!)

If you’ve ever heard of Joseph Joseph, you probably know the brand for its stylish and innovative homeware and kitchenware, like the under-shelf cutting board set or the DrawerStore Bamboo Large 2-tier Knife Organizer. Recently, the brand has taken a foray into cookware with its new Space line. 

The cookware is professional-grade and features a nonstick surface, but the standout feature of the new line is a space-saving design that allows you to fold in the handles and nest the cookware together. It’s an ingenious innovation and one that my own kitchen has benefited from these past few months. Here’s my full review. 

Joseph Joseph is a U.K.-based homeware brand founded by twin brothers Antony and Richard Joseph in 2003. When they started the company, their goal was to make functional products that could make everyday life more efficient. From their initial glass cutting board to their new Space cookware, their products continually meet their own goal of solving problems around the home. 

The brand also aims to reduce waste by creating high-quality products that are designed to last a long time. The Space cookware, for example, was developed over five years and tested over 15,000 cycles to simulate daily use over 20 years. 

When you first look at the Space cookware in use, it might be hard to tell what’s so innovative about it. Sure, it’s high-quality nonstick cookware, but that’s nothing that hasn’t been done before. What’s innovative, and what I love most about the line, is the way it nests together for storage. 

With the tagline “Half the space. Twice the pan,” the collection is designed to save up to 50% space in your kitchen. The line features folding handles so pots, pans, and even lids can nest and be stored together, as well as a space-saving lid holder and felt pads for extra protection. The handles also lock in place so there’s no worry of your cookware suddenly developing a mind of its own and crashing onto the counter.

The cookware is compatible with all cooktops, including induction, and it’s oven-safe up to 450ºF while the lids are oven-safe up to 392ºF. It also comes with a 20-year guarantee. The material is made of an aluminum body with non-toxic, nonstick ceramic coating free from PTFE, PFAs, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. Hand-washing is encouraged, but the cookware is also dishwasher-safe. I wouldn’t recommend running them through the dishwasher after every use, but it’s nice to be able to in a pinch. 

The cookware is sold at Joseph Joseph, Williams Sonoma, and Macy’s. It’s available in various sets or as standalone products, although I recommend buying a set to really take advantage of the space-saving feature. Sets include a 10-piece cookware set, a 6-piece saucepan set (which I tested), a 2-piece pan set, and a 3-piece roasting pan set. You can also purchase various standalone products such as a 12.5-inch wok, pots, pans, and accessories like pan protectors, a trivet, and lid holders. 

I tested the 6-piece saucepan set over the last few months. Saucepans are such an underrated piece of cookware, and one that I use regularly. Each piece featured in the set I tested is also available individually — but for me, the set was more useful. 

Not only has the set been a huge space-saver in my kitchen, but it also has been a dream to cook with. I’ve made various dishes in all three saucepans, from pasta to chili. I also exclusively hand-washed the saucepans, which is what I usually do with my cookware and what is recommended. 

Here are some of my thoughts on the collection. 

Appearance: The Space cookware has a sharp, sophisticated look. I really like the matte midnight blue color, and it looks even better in person. The stainless steel handles look sharp, too. I’ve been careful not to use metal utensils or spatulas, and I haven’t noticed any scratches or damage due to cooking or cleaning. 

Storage: Of course, as I’ve already noted, this is my favorite part. I can’t praise the storage of this set enough. Not only does it save space, but it also helps me keep my pots, pans, and lids more organized. To nest the saucepans together, you just put them inside each other then pull a trigger under the handle of each saucepan to fold it over. The set even comes with felt pan protectors to prevent scratches while they’re stored together. The lids are flat and have folding handles as well, so they don’t take up as much space as some of my other pan lids that curve and have protruding handles. 

Functionality: The pans function very well, and like most nonstick cookware they’re very easy to use. I didn’t have any issues with food getting stuck either during cooking or washing, which can sometimes be an issue when I simmer soups for a long time. The locking technology on the handles is very easy to operate, and I never feel like it’s going to fail or that the handles are going to fold in on me.

This saucepan is small but mighty, and I love using it because it’s not so unwieldy to wash like larger saucepans can be. I also like to grab it because it sits at the top of the nest of saucepans, so it’s the easiest one to pull out. 

The saucepan is perfect for cooking a side of vegetables or heating up a can of soup. I’ve noticed that all of the saucepans, including this one, heat very evenly. I’ve regularly used it to heat up a serving or two of lunch for my kids, from mac and cheese to chicken with rice. 

A medium size, the 2.9-quart saucepan makes for a versatile option. It’s ideal for cooking dinner for two or for warming up larger portions of sauce. It has been my go-to for warming up things like pasta sauce and stewed tomatoes to go along with the main course of our meal. I’ve also found it to be the perfect size to cook rice for my family of five. When the rice is done cooking, it slides right out of the saucepan with ease. 

Of the three saucepans I tested, the larger 5.4-quart one is probably the one I reach for most often due to its size. It’s large enough to cook a meal for my family, be it spaghetti or soup. In addition to the long handle, there is a helper handle on the opposite that that can also fold down for storage. This makes it easy to transfer a heavy pot full of water from the sink to the stove. The nonstick surface works so well that my husband once thought the pot was clean after I poured out the food I was cooking.