Is Farberware a Good Cookware Brand? An In-Depth Review

Farberware has been in business for over 100 years, but is it a good cookware brand?

In this review, I break down the pros and cons of Farberware pots and pans. You’ll learn about its style, construction, materials, and performance.

After testing it for several years, I reveal the good, bad, and everything in between.

---

Use the links below to navigate the review:

• Farberware Cookware Review: Key Takeaways
• Design
• Materials and Construction
• Performance
• Farberware vs. the Competition
• Price
• Downsides
• Farberware Cookware FAQs
• Bottom Line: Is Farberware Cookware Worth Buying?

---

Design

Farberware cookware’s design is functional, not fancy. In this section, you’ll get a close look at the brand’s most popular collection, Farberware Classic. I’ll also point out some standout features from other collections.

Exterior

The Farberware Classic exterior is polished stainless steel. The skillets have a traditional shape with rolled rims and sloped sides.

They feature a stainless steel base with an aluminum core.

The Millennium collection is also stainless steel with a thick steel base and aluminum core. But unlike Classic, the skillet walls are straighter (less sloped).

Farberware’s Smart Control, Cookstart, and Glide use a non-stick silicone polyester finish on the exterior. The finish makes it easier to clean up, keeping the cookware looking newer for longer.

Across all three collections, you can choose exterior colors like red, light blue, black, gray, and copper.

Interior

The Classic and Millennium collections have brushed stainless steel or black non-stick interiors.

Classic Traditions stainless interiors feature a dimpled surface that aids in searing and food release. That is also true of High Performance, although the textured surface is non-stick.

One of the main benefits of the Classic (Series and Traditions) collections is their rivet-free interiors. Without rivets, you get a completely uninterrupted cooking surface that’s easier to clean.

Alternatively, Millennium cookware has exposed rivets on the interior.

The Smart Control and Cookstart collections use DiamondMax Nonstick. Farberware claims the finish is three times more durable than traditional non-stick coatings. The interiors are dark or light-colored.

The DuraStrong collection features a black non-stick interior called PowerDiamond. Farberware claims that the surface is 2.5 times more durable than traditional non-stick.

Two collections have copper-colored interiors: Glide and Classic Traditions. With Glide, the copper presents a pleasant contrast to the black exterior.

Handles

Across the brand, the handles are primarily black and made of phenolic material — a durable plastic that can withstand heat up to 350°F.

The Classic collection features shiny black phenolic handles. The handles have a vintage look with an upward curved edge designed to provide a sturdy grip.

There’s a small ring at the end of the handle so that you can hang the pan on a hook.

The Classic Series and Classic Traditions handles are screw welded to the sides of the cookware.

The Classic and Glide collections are the only options for welded handles (the others are riveted). Glide has copper-colored accents on the handles, while Classic handles are all black.

Classic handles are noticeably shorter than many other brands. The handle on the 10-inch skillet is a little over 6 inches. Most 10-inch skillet handles are around 8 inches.

Lids

The Classic Series is the only collection with stainless steel lids. The rest use tempered glass lids.

The Classic Series lids have black phenolic knobs. There are many shapes and styles of lid knobs and handles across the Farberware collections. For example, DuraStrong offers a round knob with a recessed top, while Millenium features an arc-shaped handle.

One of the most interesting knob designs is on the Smart Control collection. The knob has a built-in vent. When pressed, steam is released.

Materials and Construction

Farberware makes three types of cookware: stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, and aluminum.

The chart below shows the different types of construction available within each collection:

Collection	Interior Material	Exterior Material
Classic	Stainless Steel or PTFE Non-Stick	Stainless Steel
Classic Traditions	Stainless Steel or Ceramic Non-Stick	Stainless Steel
Eco Advantage	Ceramic Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
DuraStrong	PowerDiamond (PTFE) Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
Glide	Ceramic Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
Millennium	Stainless Steel or PTFE Non-Stick	Stainless Steel
High Performance	PTFE Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
Cookstart	DiamondMax (PTFE) Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
Smart Control	DiamondMax (PTFE) Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish
Neat Nest	PTFE Non-Stick	Aluminum with Silicone Polyester Finish

The stainless steel pans are not fully-clad. Instead, it’s made with a thick, tri-ply steel base with an aluminum core. This type of construction is often referred to as an impact-bonded base.

Fully-clad cookware heats more evenly and lasts longer because the bonded layers are present throughout the pan (even up the sides).  

Learn more about the differences between fully-clad pans and pans with an impact-bonded base in my guide to cookware materials.

The Classic Series and Millennium feature stainless steel or PTFE non-stick interiors. Classic Traditions only has stainless interiors.

The aluminum cookware features a silicone polyester exterior coating for easy cleanup. The interior is coated with either PTFE (Teflon) or ceramic non-stick material.

Farberware offers two specialty PTFE non-stick coatings. The strongest is DiamondMax. Farberware claims that it is three times more durable than traditional non-stick coatings.

The second is PowerDiamond, which is touted as 2.5 times more durable than traditional non-stick.

Farberware offers ceramic non-stick in the Glide and Eco Advantage collections if you prefer a PTFE-free option.

Performance

I’ve been rigorously testing Farberware pans for over a year. Here’s how it performs.

On the positive side, Farberware pans heat up extremely fast. These pans are much thinner than brands like All-Clad, Made In, and Demeyere. And because of that, heat distributes quickly through the material.

If you need to boil water or grill a sandwich for an impatient child, this cookware gets the job done fast.

Similarly, since the walls are relatively thin, Farberware pans are lightweight and easy to maneuver. Although there are better-performing lightweight pans, these are some of the lightest.

For example, the Farberware Classic 10-inch skillet weighs 1.3 pounds. Most 10-inch skillets weigh well over 2 pounds, sometimes over 3.

Unfortunately, thin, lightweight cookware presents some issues. Because Farberware cookware is so thin and light, it’s challenging to control the heat.

The pan’s temperature fluctuates significantly as you add and remove ingredients, making it difficult to get consistent results.

I found it incredibly difficult to brown chicken cutlets evenly in the Farberware Classic pan. The pan got way too hot and browned the breading before the chicken could cook at all. 

As I cooked each piece, the pan’s temperature fluctuated. Some cutlets browned much faster than others.

Another negative is that the sides of the pan don’t heat at the same rate as the bottom. Since Farberware stainless steel pans have an impact-bonded base (aluminum at the bottom but not up the sides), the bottom gets hot while the sides stay cool.

The temperature of the bottom and the sides is so different that I can keep my hand on the sides without feeling any heat while the bottom is warm.

While the lack of heat up the sides won’t impact meals like chicken or steak that cook primarily on the flat cooking surface, it leads to uneven results when sautéing, stir frying, or any other meals where ingredients touch the sides.

Another downside worth mentioning is the short handles. At only 6 inches, the handles on the 10-inch skillet force you to place your hand closer to the heat and don’t give you much leverage for shaking or flipping.

Also, the ring on the handle gets in the way and can be distracting while you cook.

Overall, Farberware is not the best-performing cookware. It’s thin, lightweight, and heats up fast, but it has poor heat retention, making it difficult to get consistent results. 

Farberware vs. the Competition

Based on my testing in the kitchen, Farberware doesn’t offer the best heat conduction and retention. But how does it compare within those categories against the competition?

To find out, I conducted two simple tests. First, I poured two cups of cold water into a Farberware pan. Then, I set the pan on the stove and turned the heat to high.

After only 1 minute and 2 seconds, the water began to bubble. After 1 minute and 29 seconds, it came to a full boil.

The water bubbles formed a ring around the center of the pan, indicating cold spots in the center and along the edges. I was not surprised to see that because this pan only has heat-conductive material (aluminum) at the base (not up the sides).

I conduct this same test with every cookware brand I review, and below are the results. As you can see, the Farberware pan heated faster than nearly 20 other pans. While this can be a positive (fast-heating pans save you time), it’s also a negative (fast-heating pans are thin and don’t retain heat well).

Pan	Time to First Bubbles	Time to Boil
Farberware	1 minute and 2 seconds	1 minute and 29 seconds
Made In fry pan	1 minute and 40 seconds	2 minutes and 21 seconds
Misen fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 25 seconds
Anolon fry pan	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 27 seconds
HexClad fry pan	1 minute and 40 seconds	2 minutes and 30 seconds
Zwilling fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 31 seconds
T-fal fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Gotham Steel fry pan	1 minute and 58 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Rachael Ray fry pan	1 minute and 47 seconds	2 minutes and 36 seconds
Viking fry pan	1 minute and 42 seconds	2 minute and 39 seconds
Calphalon fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 40 seconds
Pioneer Woman fry pan	2 minute and 2 seconds	2 minute and 46 seconds
Hestan fry pan	1 minute and 52 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
GreenLife pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
Tramontina fry pan	1 minute and 53 seconds	2 minutes and 52 seconds
Circulon fry pan	2 minutes and 7 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
All-Clad skillet	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
Demeyere Industry fry pan	2 minutes and 3 seconds	3 minutes and 10 seconds
Ballarini fry pan	2 minutes and 15 seconds	3 minutes and 12 seconds
Heritage Steel fry pan	1 minutes and 59 seconds	3 minutes and 15 seconds
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	3 minutes and 25 seconds

After the water boiled, I removed the pan from the stove and set it aside.

After five minutes, I measured the water temperature. It was 112.0°F.

After ten minutes, the water was 95.4°F.

As the benchmarks below show, Farberware has one of the lowest heat retention scores. Again, I expected these results. Throughout my testing in the kitchen, I repeatedly noticed the lack of heat retention.

Pan	Temperature After 5 Minutes	Temperature After 10 Minutes
Made In fry pan	121.1°F	106.6°F
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	122.0°F	106.3°F
Misen fry pan	118.6°F	103.4°F
Zwilling fry pan	121.1°F	103.0°F
Rachael Ray fry pan	126.3°F	102.7°F
HexClad fry pan	120.7°F	102.4°F
Circulon fry pan	133.3°F	102.0°F
Tramontina fry pan	118.5°F	101.3°F
Calphalon fry pan	112.8°F	101.1°F
All-Clad skillet	111.6°F	100.9°F
Ballarini fry pan	120°F	99.9°F
Heritage Steel	120.1°F	98.2°F
Hestan fry pan	114°F	98°F
Demeyere Industry fry pan	115.2°F	96.6°F
Viking fry pan	106.6°F	95.9°F
Farberware fry pan	112.0°F	95.4°F
GreenLife fry pan	119.0°F	95.0°F
Gotham Steel fry pan	113.0°F	95.0°F
Anolon fry pan	112.7°F	90.9°F
Pioneer Woman fry pan	104.3°F	90.9°F
T-fal fry pan	108.7°F	88.0°F

Price

One of the greatest benefits of Farberware is its low price. Simply put,  Farberware is one of the most affordable cookware brands. Its target market is budget-conscious home cooks.

For perspective, for the cost of one All-Clad D3 stainless steel skillet, you can buy four Classic fry pan sets that include 8.25-inch and 10-inch skillets — that’s eight Farberware skillets for the price of one All-Clad pan.

Pricing varies by collection and where you buy it. For example, the most expensive collection is Millennium, while the least costly is Easy Clean Pro.

But no matter the collection you choose, you can get multi-piece cookware sets for the cost of one or two skillets from a brand like All-Clad.

The chart below shows the current prices for the most popular Farberware pots, pans, and sets, on Amazon. Click the prices to learn more about each item.

Downsides

Although Farberware cookware is affordable, don’t buy it until you understand the downsides.

Uneven Cooking: Uneven heat distribution is a common complaint about Farberware cookware. Hot spots can burn the outside of vegetables, meat, and fish and leave them uncooked or undercooked inside.

Poor Heat Retention: My testing proved that Farberware cookware has poor heat retention. If you attempt to sear steak on these pans, bring the meat to room temperature first. Placing a cold steak on these pans will significantly lower the cooking surface’s temperature and make it difficult to get an even sear.

Plastic Handles Limit Oven-Safe Temperatures: Some collections, such as Classic and DuraStrong, use phenolic or other synthetic plastic handles. These handles limit the oven temperature to 350°F.

Short Handles: The handles within the Classic collection are two inches shorter than most brands. Because of that, your hand is closer to the heat. Also, the dangling hook ring at the end of the handle means you must choke up and grip even closer to the pan.

Loose Handles: Since the handles in the Classic collection are screwed onto the welded bracket, they often become loose. Although you can quickly tighten them with a screwdriver, it’s risky to cook with handles that can become loose or unhook and detach. 

Food Sticks to Stainless Steel: Sticking food on stainless steel cookware is a common complaint among customers on Amazon and Walmart.com. Even in my tests, I noticed how easily food stuck to the pan. You can reduce sticking food by using a high smoke point oil and allowing the pan to properly preheat before adding food.

Food sticks to ceramic non-stick: The ceramic non-stick coating (Eco Advantage and Glide collections) works well initially, but food begins sticking after several months. If you’re considering buying Farberware non-stick cookware, go with a collection featuring DiamondMax or PowerDiamond non-stick coating — those coatings perform better and last longer.

Farberware Cookware FAQs

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about Farberware cookware.

Bottom Line: Is Farberware Cookware Worth Buying?

Now that you have the facts — is Farberware a good brand?

This Farberware review taught you about the brand’s materials, construction, performance, price, and more.

If you are still on the fence, here’s a quick recap of why you should or shouldn’t buy Farberware.

You should buy Farberware cookware if:

• You are looking for affordable cookware.
• You want thin, lightweight cookware that heats fast.
• You prefer a brand with a long history. Farberware is over a century old.
• You want a brand you can see and touch before you make a purchase (it’s available in several stores).
• You are looking for cookware that offers time- and space-saving designs.

If that sounds like you, check the current prices on Amazon and Farberware.com.

You should not buy Farberware cookware if:

• You are looking for cookware that will last ten years or more.
• You want pans that will heat evenly and retain heat well.
• You want broiler-safe cookware.
• You prefer long stainless steel cookware handles.
• You want to use high-heat techniques, such as stirfrying or searing.
• You want multiple induction-compatible collections.

Bottom line — Farberware is decent low-cost cookware but has several flaws. The quality and performance aren’t comparable to more expensive brands. In other words, you get what you pay for. It’s the type of cookware you’ll find at a vacation rental house. It gets the job done, and if it gets damaged or worn out, you can replace it cheaply.

If you’re looking for an affordable pan to make eggs and cook simple meals, Farberware is a viable option. But if you’re serious about cooking and plan to use it for searing, browning, braising, frying, and other more advanced techniques, I don’t recommend it.

If you can afford it, consider brands like All-Clad (All-Clad.com, Amazon) and Made In (MadeInCookware.com, Amazon). Check out my head-to-head comparison of the two brands to learn more.

Another solid alternative is Misen. It’s a relatively new brand, but the cookware is well-made, and the prices are fair. Learn more in my Misen cookware review.