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What So Great About Caraway?
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 purported to offer a better kind of cookware both for cooks and the environment because the pots and pans are coated in ceramic enamel rather than Teflon or another harmful “forever chemical” to achieve a nonstick surface. Since then, it’s launched bakeware, a tea kettle, and even mini versions of its best-selling cookware — all of which have been super popular.
As with many DTC brands, you can’t buy Caraway products in a brick-and-mortar store — pieces are only available online. However, you can buy its best-selling Cookware Set in West Elm and Crate & Barrel stores, so it’s worth checking all three options to see if there’s a deal to save some money.
Are There Any Caraway Deals?
An Honest Review of Caraway Cookware
Caraway isn’t the only ceramic-coated cookware on the market — far from it. But it’s definitely one of the more popular brands that I’ve seen recently, especially on social media. Ceramic coatings are quite slippery and nonstick at first, they can get stickier over time. Trying out multiple pieces of cookware for various dishes would best represent the brand, so I chose to test the best-selling Cookware Set.
We’ve never loved the idea of buying cookware sets because there are usually too many pieces we never use, but Caraway’s was well-curated and I found myself using each item regularly. Economically, for those with space, it also makes the most sense to buy a set.
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 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 use 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.
What Else Does Caraway Sell?
For small spaces or those cooking for one, the Minis Duo, which we reviewed here, is a smart investment. The three-piece set includes an 8-inch fry pan and a 7-inch sauce pan with the same slick coating and fun colors we’ve come to expect from Caraway.
Have you tried Caraway? Do you have nonstick cookware you love?
