Trying to figure out whether Caraway is worth the splurge? We tested cookware, bakeware and accessories from the trendy brand to help you decide.
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The iconic Caraway cookware set comes in four sizes, with the smallest set featuring four ceramic-coated essentials. New home cooks can sear, simmer, boil and fry in any of eight stylish colors.
Caraway’s ceramic cookware is made from metal with a non-toxic, PTFE- and PFOA-free mineral coating that’s naturally slick and distributes heat evenly. Food won’t stick, and cleanup is a breeze.
Each set includes a magnetic pan rack and lid organizer to keep things tidy.
“I’ve had the complete set since 2020, and it’s a joy to cook with,” says product tester Lisa Kaminski. “They perform well, clean up easily and look beautiful on the table.” One thing Lisa has learned over time: avoid super high heat on these pots and pans, as it can reduce the nonstick effect over time.”
Additionally, the ceramic coating can chip if you use metal utensils, and while it’s technically dishwasher-safe, hand washing helps preserve the finish. “Still, I love my Caraway cookware,” Lisa says. “Having pots and pans that double as serveware is a big plus for me—fewer dishes to wash!”
Cooking for one? These mini-but-mighty pans are up for the task. The Minis Duo includes a scaled-down fry pan and saucepan ideal for single servings without leftovers.
The 8-inch mini fry pan is just 2.5 inches smaller than the standard version, and the 7-inch saucepan is slightly more compact than the regular 8-inch size, but both still hold their own.
“As someone who often cooks for just one or two people, I appreciate smaller cookware sizes because they keep me from having loads of leftovers,” says product tester Madi Koetting in her Caraway cookware mini review. “I heat up soup, make homemade pasta sauce and cook rice in the saucepan, and I’m always impressed with how much it holds.”
“The non-toxic ceramic coating is no joke,” Madi adds. “I’m very careful about cooking on medium to low heat, which is recommended for protecting the ceramic coating. Food still glides off with ease even after several weeks of cooking with the nonstick pan.”
Caraway’s Prep Set is a 10-piece collection of essential kitchen tools, featuring everything from German stainless-steel knives to FSC-certified birch wood utensils. Included are kitchen shears, a paring knife, bread knife, prep knife and chef’s knife—plus tongs, a pasta server, spoon, bowl scraper and spatula.
The birch wood utensils are lightweight, comfortable to hold and safe for nonstick cookware, with no scratching, staining or splintering. A protective coating keeps stains at bay and holds up to heat. After weeks of use, our tester said the Prep Set still looked and felt brand new.
“My tomato-y tortilla soup didn’t cling to the spoon as I stirred. After a quick hit with a sponge and some detergent, it looked good as new,” says Shopping Editor Emily Way. “It also didn’t noticeably sear or burn, even after leaving it on a hot pot for a full minute.”
The kitchen tongs were the weakest link during testing. Emily says they feel too small and light for handling heavier items like steak. However, they’re still handy for lighter tasks and won’t scratch your pans.
Best of all, the set comes with a modular counter organizer: a sleek, modern tray with a magnetic base that securely holds both the knife block and utensil holder. Plus, it wipes clean with just soap and water, perfect for those who value both style and function.
The Caraway Bakeware Half Set includes two baking sheets, a muffin pan, a 13 x 9-inch rectangle pan, a cooling rack and a convenient cabinet organizer for tidy storage. Like Caraway cookware, this bakeware is made with durable aluminum steel and coated in non-toxic, mineral-based ceramic. The pans heat evenly, release food easily and clean up in seconds.
To put the nonstick claims to the test, professional chef and recipe developer Allison Robicelli skipped her usual prep routine. No parchment, foil, butter, or spray. First up? The ultimate challenge: sticky buns topped with honey and walnuts.
“I braced for failure,” Allison says in her Caraway bakeware review. “But for the most part, the buns, nuts and warm, sticky honey slid right out of the pan and onto my serving board. Later, when the pan was cool, I plucked out the walnuts that had chosen to stay behind with my fingertips. I wiped away whatever stickiness was left behind with a damp sponge. No scrubbing, no soaking, no chiseling off burnt caramel bits with the back of a spoon.”
From muffins to macaroons, our tester found the ceramic coating lived up to the hype. The pans are oven-safe up to 550°F, which is worth noting—most traditional nonstick bakeware can release toxic fumes at 500°F. With Caraway, there’s no risk of harmful chemicals or odors, even at high heat.
Caraway’s Food Storage Set features ceramic-coated glass containers that seal in freshness and block odors. The containers are safe in the microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher (just remove the lids and inserts before heating).
Built-in dividers and dot inserts keep ingredients like sauces or crunchy toppings separate. Deputy Editor Katie Bandurski says the set has held up beautifully for three years, though the lids can be tight and the glass a bit heavy.
These containers are definitely a splurge. “All in, I love this set. Even on sale for $245, it’s still very expensive,” Katie says. “However, this could be a great investment for the minimalist who wants to serve and store in the same vessel.”
Shopping Editor Mary Henn swears by this 10.5-inch stainless steel fry pan, crafted from non-toxic, five-ply steel for even heat distribution and durability. “It’s great for sautéing and searing,” she says. “It’s relatively lightweight and incredibly versatile. I use it for everything from searing and grilling meats to cooking veggies and making sauces.”
The sleek stainless-steel surface is smooth and easy to clean once it cools, and the pan is both oven- and broiler-safe. “Like all stainless-steel cookware, there’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re used to nonstick. Delicate foods like eggs or flaky fish can be tricky, but with proper preheating and oiling, they perform well,” Mary says. “However, I’ve found this pan to be a bit less sticky than some of my other stainless-steel pots and pans.”
To identify the best Caraway kitchenware, our editors and product testers incorporated some of the brand’s top-selling products into their daily home cooking routines. Each item was carefully evaluated across multiple factors: packaging and delivery experience, first impressions out of the box, overall quality and durability, ease of cleaning and value for the price.
Recognizing that cookware often shows wear over time, our team committed to rigorous testing. They used every piece consistently for at least six months before drawing any conclusions or recommendations.
To learn more about non-toxic cookware, we asked Gareth Lloyd Jones, the managing director at HIPPO and a waste management expert, for advice on what to look for when shopping for cookware.
“Try to avoid pans that are labelled non-stick but contain harmful chemicals like Teflon. These coatings have been tied to health problems and environmental damage, and they’re very difficult to recycle unless the coating is removed, which rarely happens,” says Jones. “Most of them just end up in landfill.”
Yes, Caraway cookware is widely regarded as non-toxic. The brand’s cookware is free from harmful chemicals such as PTFE (commonly found in Teflon), PFOA, PFAS, lead and cadmium.
Caraway’s ceramic nonstick coating is designed to offer a safer, healthier alternative to traditional nonstick cookware.
You can shop Caraway Cookware directly from the brand’s site or from retailers like Target, Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, West Elm, Sur La Table and more.
Caraway’s cookware and bakeware lines are oven-safe up to 550 degrees. The cookware can easily go from the cooktop right into the oven. That high heat rating is impressive, as most other nonstick cookware is only oven-safe up to about 400 degrees.
If it fits your budget, our product testers and staff have found Caraway kitchenware and cookware to deliver excellent performance. We appreciate the brand’s commitment to non-toxic, high-quality materials. While the products are on the pricier side, the craftsmanship and durability make them a worthwhile investment.
All the products in this roundup were personally tested by Taste of Home staffers, such as Deputy Editor Katie Bandurski and Shopping Editors Mary Henn and Emily Way, among others. Together, they compiled their product testing expertise to select the products worthy of a Caraway review.
Our team has tested the best ceramic cookware and stainless steel skillets from various brands, including GreenPan, HexClad, Lodge, Le Creuset and, of course, Caraway. Like any consumer, we look at quality, safety, performance and price.
