GreenPan vs. Caraway: Which Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Is Better?

Are you shopping for new non-stick ceramic cookware and considering GreenPan or Caraway?

GreenPan is a Belgian brand and one of the pioneers in the ceramic non-stick cookware movement. 

Caraway is a new, fresh-faced startup offering ceramic non-stick cookware that’s colorful, fun, and uniquely designed.

So, which ceramic non-stick cookware is better?

In this GreenPan vs. Caraway comparison, you’ll learn how their cookware differs in terms of:

• Construction and materials
• Design
• Performance
• Price
• And more

I’ll also cover the FAQs about both brands to give you a complete overview.

By the end, you’ll know if GreenPan or Caraway is the better choice for your home.

Let’s get into it!

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• GreenPan vs. Caraway: Comparison Chart
• Introducing GreenPan
• Introducing Caraway
• Construction
• Design
• Heat Conduction and Retention
• Warranty
• Price
• FAQs About GreenPan and Caraway Cookware
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy GreenPan or Caraway Cookware?

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GreenPan vs. Caraway: Comparison Chart

If you’re in a rush, this chart gives you a quick breakdown of the differences and similarities between GreenPan and Caraway.

	GreenPan	Caraway
Founded	2007	2018
Where It’s Made	China	China and India
Number of Non-Stick Collections	Over 10	1
Number of Stainless Steel Collections	1 (exterior only, cooking surface is non-stick)	0
Price	$$ – $$$ (view on Amazon)	$$$ (view on CarawayHome.com)
Base Material	Aluminum, hard-anodized, or fully-clad 3-ply stainless steel	Heavy-gauge aluminum with a steel induction plate
Cooking Surface	Diamond-infused ceramic non-stick	Ceramic non-stick
Oven-Safe	Between 350°F and 600°F, depending on the collection	500°F
Induction-Compatible	Yes (10 collections)	Yes
Dishwasher-Safe	Yes (except the Lima collection)	Yes
Top Reasons to Buy	Natural non-stick materials, variety of styles and colors, excellent heat conduction, affordable	Natural non-stick materials, modern and colorful design, simple shopping experience (one collection)
Top Reasons to NOT Buy	Less durable than traditional non-stick, low oven-safe temperatures (certain collections)	More expensive than most GreenPan collections, exterior coating is prone to chipping

Introducing GreenPan

GreenPan debuted in 2007 as a flagship brand of The Cookware Company, founded by Jan Helskins and Wim De Veirman. The founders’ mission was to create safe non-stick cookware without the use of PFOA and PTFE.

By 2008, they had the answer: Thermolon. We’ll get more into the details of Thermolon later, but for now, just know it’s a diamond-reinforced coating utilized by GreenPan to make its cookware non-stick.

GreenPan prides itself as a sustainable company. They use upcycled steel and aluminum to reduce waste, and the manufacturing process emits 60% less CO2 than traditional non-stick during the curing phase of production.

GreenPan has several ceramic non-stick collections (view all on GreenPan.us):

• Barcelona Evershine
• Chatham
• Hudson
• Kitchen Stories
• Levels Hard Anodized
• Levels Stainless Clad
• Lima
• Padova
• Paris Pro
• Premiere (exclusive to Williams Sonoma)
• Reserve
• Rio
• SearSmart
• SmartShape
• SmartShape Design
• Valencia Pro
• Venice Pro
• Venice Pro Noir

Each collection offers a different look and feel, but all use Thermolon as the non-toxic, non-stick surface. GreenPan also sells an induction cooktop and cutlery.

Introducing Caraway

Caraway is a startup cookware brand founded in 2018. It launched as a direct-to-consumer company, selling exclusively on CarawayHome.com. However, in 2021 Caraway became available at Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and several other retailers.

The startup brand leverages social media and brand evangelists to get the word out, and in just a few short years, consumers are taking notice.

Caraway has a laser-focused set of offerings — a frying pan, saucepan, saute pan, and Dutch oven. In short, the company provides everything you need to make most meals. Caraway offers no specialty cookware, but you can buy the individual pieces if you don’t want the whole set.

The set includes (view details on CarawayHome.com):

• 10.5-inch Fry Pan
• 3-qt. Sauce Pan
• 4.5-qt. Saute Pan
• 6.5-qt. Dutch Oven

Other than the ceramic non-stick cookware, Caraway sells kitchen accessories such as oven mitts, pot holders, and tea towels.

Learn more about Caraway in my in-depth video review below (you can also watch the video on YouTube).

Construction

GreenPan and Caraway coat all of their cookware with ceramic non-stick materials. And both take pride in being an eco-friendly alternative to traditional Teflon-coated cookware. However, the way they make the other parts of their cookware is quite different.

GreenPan:

GreenPan has three choices of cookware construction:

Fully-clad stainless steel: Two layers of stainless steel with an aluminum core ideal for heat control and transfer.

Hard-anodized aluminum: An extremely durable type of aluminum that is resistant to corrosion, harder than stainless steel, and provides fast and even heating.

Standard aluminum: Offers good heat conduction and is a more affordable choice.

Each material offers different benefits, as well as a range of price points. For example, the GreenPan fully-clad stainless steel cookware is more expensive than its aluminum (hard-anodized falls in the middle).

The cooking surface of all GreenPan cookware is coated with Thermolon, a proprietary ceramic non-stick material derived from sand. GreenPan didn’t invent Thermolon, but they have a long-standing partnership with this unique material’s makers.

Depending on which collection you buy, you’ll experience different versions of Thermolon, but all versions share these features:

• PTFE-free: PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene is a highly-durable polymer found in traditional non-stick, like Teflon. It can be used safely as long as it is not overheated or scratched off.
• PFOA-free: This is a human-made chemical with known health risks. It used to be a key element in the manufacture of traditional non-stick. Since 2013, it’s been discontinued by most cookware manufacturers.
• PFAS-free: This is a group of chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, and more. They are harmful to the body.

The three types of Thermolon are Thermolon Minerals, Thermolon Minerals Pro, and Thermolon Diamond Advanced. 

All three use the same proprietary ceramic non-stick coating, but Thermolon Diamond Advanced is reinforced with synthetic diamond-infused layers, making it more durable and metal utensil-safe.

Finally, some GreenPan collections (Venice Pro, Valencia Pro, and Levels) feature a Magneto induction base fused with ferromagnetic and copper particles to provide excellent heat induction efficiency.

Caraway:

Caraway cookware has one type of construction: heavy-gauge aluminum core with a proprietary mineral-based ceramic coating on the inside and exterior of the pan, as well as the lids.

Why does that matter? Because, sometimes, the outside of a pan or top of a lid gets dirty, and it’s nice to know that it’s designed to repel stains and food particles that could get stuck on while you cook.

The all-over ceramic non-stick coating is free of PTFE, PFOA, and other toxic materials such as cadmium that have been known to leach into food.

One part of the cookware is not non-stick: the magnetic stainless steel plate on the bottom. This plate adds durability but also makes the cookware induction-compatible.

Except for the frying pan, all pots come with a matching lid.

Finally, you may also like that Caraway offers free storage solutions, including a canvas lid holder that you can hang and a modular, space-saving pan rack that stores each pan on its side.

Clearly, GreenPan and Caraway have differences in construction. If you prefer stainless clad, GreenPan gives you that option. If you prefer an interior/exterior ceramic non-stick experience, Caraway has you covered. Both utilized safe, sand-derived ceramic non-stick coating.

Each brand has a unique flair for design. When it comes to GreenPan vs. Caraway, both brands have a style that will undoubtedly appeal to an array of home chefs.

Design

GreenPan offers a more traditional design with nuances in handle design, lids, and shape. Caraway boasts a modern, minimalistic appeal and shines in terms of color offerings.

Let’s take a closer look at each brands’ design, starting with GreenPan.

GreenPan:

Overall, GreenPan’s offerings include either stainless steel, various shades of gray, or black (hard-anodized). The Padova and Rio collections offer some light pastels, such as turquoise and pink.

Pots and pans have a glossy finish, brushed stainless, or matte look. In other words, a variety of looks to suit different tastes.

The handles vary by collection, but all provide a comfortable grip and are riveted in place for stability.

GreenPan handles are either brushed stainless steel, polished stainless steel, silicone-wrapped stainless steel, wood/Bakelite hybrid, or black plastic Bakelite.

One of the newest collections, Reserve, features stunning gold-toned, stainless steel handles that offer a nice contrast against the black cookware.

Lids are either tempered glass or stainless steel. Some collections, such as Levels Stackable, feature recessed straining lids for easy draining of liquids while cooking and space-saving when storing.

Glass lids are oven-safe between 350 and 425°F, depending on the collection. Stainless steel lids are oven safe up to 600°F.

With GreenPan, you’ll find various designs and features that reflect the way you cook and live.

Caraway:

If you’d rather keep it simple, Caraway makes it easy by offering one collection in five different colors: cream, gray, sage, navy, or perracotta (a terracotta/pink mix).

A high sheen finish inside and out gives it a monochromatic look — contrasted by the lighter interior cooking surface and the elongated, stainless steel lid handle.

The lid handles are inspired by the shape of the caraway seed, hence the company’s name.

The side handles are also stainless steel and parallel with the cooktop, while GreenPan handles are angled upward.

All Caraway cookware is oven safe (including lids) up to 550°F.

After reviewing both brands’ designs, it’s clear that GreenPan has the upper hand in terms of variety, but Caraway has a unique, eye-catching look.

Heat Conduction and Retention

I conducted a simple test to determine which brand heats quicker and retains heat longer — two attributes of high-performing cookware.

After pouring precisely two cups of cold water in Caraway and GreenPan pans, I placed each on the burner and turned the heat to high.

To find out which conducts heat quicker, I measured the time it took for the water to boil.

The water in the Caraway pan boiled first at 2 minutes and 37 seconds, and the GreenPan was right behind it at 2 minutes and 51 seconds. Both pans distributed the heat evenly, as evident by the uniform distribution of bubbles.

Next, I poured the water out of each pan at the same time and set the empty pans on the counter. After five and ten minutes, I placed my hand on each pan. 

After five minutes, the GreenPan was still very warm, but the Caraway pan was only slightly warm. After ten minutes, the GreenPan pan was somewhat warm, and the Caraway pan had lost its heat.

One major caveat to mention is that I used the GreenPan Paris Pro pan, which has a hard-anodized aluminum base. If I had used a pan from another collection with different construction, my results might have differed.

Ultimately, both pans heated quickly, evenly, and retained heat well.

Durability

It’s important to know that non-stick cookware will eventually wear down and need to be replaced no matter what it is made of. 

It’s not like cast iron or stainless steel, both of which can last for generations with proper care. You can expect both brands to perform well and hold up for between two and five years.

That said, there are important differences between Caraway and GreenPan in terms of durability.

GreenPan offers cookware with stainless steel and hard-anodized exteriors, which are ultra-durable. With these collections, you don’t need to worry about exterior scratches, corrosion, or warping.

Caraway cookware comes with only one exterior: ceramic-coated aluminum. While the aluminum is durable, the coating is prone to scratches and chips. Rough stove grates will easily scratch and damage the coating, revealing the bare aluminum underneath.

If you’re careful and ensure only the steel plate bonded to the bottom touches the grates, you can avoid this problem. But don’t be surprised if the exterior gets a bit chipped after a few months.

Another essential difference is the durability of the non-stick coating. Caraway and GreenPan use similar materials; however, GreenPan also offers collections (ex. the SearSmart collection) that feature a diamond-reinforced ceramic coating. 

That coating, called Thermolon Diamond Advanced, is not indestructible, but it should last longer than Caraway’s coating.

Warranty

With GreenPan, you get a two-year warranty on the ceramic non-stick coating and a lifetime warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.

Caraway offers a one-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects. That only applies to purchasers in the United States.

Some higher-end brands may have more extended warranties, but what both brands offer is pretty standard for non-stick.

Price

To be clear, these brands are not budget buys. They offer an excellent product for the price, but Caraway positions itself as a higher-end brand with higher prices overall.

In some cases, the brands are similar in price depending on what you buy. For example, the fry pans are about the same cost, depending on which Greenpan collection you choose.

The difference is that GreenPan offers high-quality materials like fully-clad stainless steel at nearly the same price as Caraway’s aluminum options. So, if you’re looking to maximize value, GreenPan has Caraway beat.

Check the current prices for Caraway cookware on CarawayHome.com and GreenPan on GreenPan.us or Amazon.

FAQs About GreenPan and Caraway Cookware

Here is what most home chefs want to know when it comes to GreenPan and Caraway cookware.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy GreenPan or Caraway Cookware?

Now that you’ve learned how both brands compare, which is the right one for you?

Here’s a brief recap:

Variety: With over ten unique cookware collections, GreenPan offers a lot more variety in construction, design, and price. Caraway keeps it simple with only one collection.

Non-Stick Coating: GreenPan and Caraway both use ceramic non-stick coating made from similar materials, but GreenPan also offers a diamond-reinforced coating that’s metal utensil-safe and longer-lasting.

Performance: Based on my testing, Caraway heats up quicker, but GreenPan retains heat longer.

Durability: With its 3-ply stainless steel and hard-anodized aluminum exterior options and Diamond Advances non-stick coating, GreenPan offers more durable options.

Warranty: GreenPan has a more extended warranty than Caraway.

Price: GreenPan has some more affordable options than Caraway. Caraway is generally the more expensive brand of the two.

Bottom line — both are excellent choices for ceramic non-stick. If you’re looking for only the essentials with a modern design, Caraway is a solid choice. If you are looking for a brand with budget-friendly options and sturdy construction, go with GreenPan.

If you’re ready to buy or just want to learn more, check out Caraway on CarawayHome.com and GreenPan on GreenPan.us and Amazon.