Caraway Review – The Good, Bad and the Ugly
I had been hearing so much about Caraway cookware that I had to try it out. And after using it for six months, I’m happy to report back with this Caraway review.
I am not a food blogger or a professional chef, but I am a mom. And I do cook a lot. So, if you are in the same boat and want to see how this cookware works for a busy mom, keep reading!
Caraway Cookware Cons
Most review-type posts out there start with the pros. In this case, I’m going to start with the cons. Let’s get down to brass tacks. Most of you want to know what’s wrong with this cookware – and if it’s still worth buying despite its faults. Not even Caraway Cookware.
I will say that I’ve been using this cookware for six months (slightly longer, in fact.) I use the frying pan almost DAILY. The baking pan, probably once a week or so. So what’s the problem with it?
My biggest con is that the nonstick coating has gone a little flat. And by flat, I mean it’s a bit sticky after six months. It started like literal buttah – eggs would slide right out of this thing (almost dangerously fast). Luckily, I managed to get the food on the plate. But now, I find eggs stick a bit more. And it can take some scrubbing to remove the brown residue from cooking.
This could be a user error. Because I found out a little too late that ceramic cookware holds more heat than traditional pans, and overheating the pan will cause the nonstick coating to wear away.
According to Caraway, you should only use low to medium heat with these pans, and 1-2 tablespoons of butter or oil is more than enough to lightly coat the entire pan surface. Allow 20-30 seconds to pre-heat before you add food.
The inside still looks brand new. The outside? Not so much. I could eventually get it off if I scrubbed it with baking soda. But again – busy mom and don’t care that much.
So, did I use the pan on too high of heat? Did I cause the nonstick coating to get a little sticky? Maybe!? But, ok. Is the stickiness enough for me to no longer like and use this cookware? Nope. And I’ll tell you why.
Because, as a Mom, using pans without chemicals is MORE IMPORTANT to me than a pan that sticks a little bit. And more important than having a pan that looks pristine. Yes, my pan looks used because it is used every day.
Any other cons? Yes. It’s not dishwasher safe – you need to handwash it. I’m a lazy a$& cook. I prefer everything to be dishwasher-safe. And let’s be honest. It’s expensive. The frying pan will set you back $95.
Caraway Cookware Pros
The biggest pro for me is the lack of chemicals. Because that is kind of scary. Caraway products are made without toxic materials like PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, or other hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
The one you might have heard before is PFOA. Otherwise known as the chemical compound perfluorooctanoic acid. It’s used in making Teflon and other products. Scientists dub it “the forever chemical” as it stays in the body for years. It’s been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, congenital disabilities, and other health problems. In 2015, DuPont agreed to pay $671 million to settle charges that it had deceived consumers about the safety of its PFOA-containing products.
Yes, chemicals are in just about everything these days. But if I can find a way to limit them somehow, I’ll do it. Bottom line? I don’t want chemicals leaching into my food while I cook. And I doubt you do either.
Another pro? They are pretty enough to leave out on your stove. I love the ivory color, but they have other colors too.
Caraway Review – overall thoughts
Do I recommend it? Yes. I definitely would buy another Caraway pot or pan. While it’s not perfect, it has the most important aspects I would want in a cookware product.
Have a great day, and thank you for visiting,
xo Karen