The 5 Best Ceramic Cookware Sets, Tested and Reviewed

Jun 15, 2023

Ceramic cookware is having a moment right now, and we know just the way to do it.

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Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Sleek, modern, and impossibly nonstick, you’ve likely seen colorful, aesthetically pleasing sets of ceramic cookware peddled on every social media channel. Indeed, all that glitters isn’t gold, but good ceramic cookware is not just ‘grammable — it serves home cooks well. Its increase in popularity may seem like it's all about looks, but good ceramic cookware is highly effective. It’s a fantastic alternative to traditional nonstick pans, offering the ideal surface for delicate cooking, like rolling omelets and flipping flaky fish filets. We dig that, but we really love the notion that it’s purportedly safer at higher temperatures than other non-stick coatings. It’s also sturdier than others: unlike earlier non-stick opinions, it is nearly impossible to chip, dent, or scratch a ceramic pan. And, if this preamble has you mentally comparing ceramic pans to your favorite, tried-and-true stainless steel skillet, know that ceramic is easier to clean and often cheaper, too.

Metal-utensil-compatible, stylish, and durable, we tested ceramic-coated cookware sets until we found the best options for any cook in any kitchen. We also consulted James Beard, semi-finalist and the chef-owner of Stages at One Washington, Evan Hennessey, for expert advice on cooking with ceramic kitchenware. P.S. He’s a fan. Here are our favorites ceramic cookware sets for every type of home cook.

Amazon

The beautiful, modern design of this cookware set is reliable, well-made, and attractive.

There’s little variety in the set’s pieces, but a storage solution and sleek appearance make up for it.

A favorite of home cooks, these colorful pans are ultra-sleek and store easily. This collection is made up of the high-quality pots and pans you'd expect in a nonstick cookware set at this price point, plus a pan rack and lid holder to make storage an aesthetically pleasing breeze. Additionally, the slick coating means virtually no oil is required for cooking, so light-as-air cookery is possible.

We experienced little to no sticking when cooking and releasing an egg, onions, and rice, and every dish was cooked evenly without hotspots. The pieces are rather bulky to handle, but the handles stay cool when heated and are sturdy enough to lift with ease.

To clean, wash the pans with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge or dishcloth until the pan is spotless before storing. The pieces are dishwasher-safe, but the manufacturer cautions overuse of the dishwasher to affect the longevity of the pans. Dry with a soft, non-abrasive dish towel or set in your included pan racks to dry.

We wish more pieces were included at this price, but our testers agree that the Caraway Cookware Set hits every mark, making it our best overall pick.

Price at the time of publish: $395

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Amazon

We love these pans for their even heating and foolproof nonstick coating.

Be careful, as these handles conduct heat. We feel the need for a potholder is outweighed by this set’s assets.

The nonstick surface of these pans is unique; the brand uses a “Micro Divot surface” that allows for even heat distribution so that food releases from the pan easily, even when using a hard sear. When combined with its thick aluminum bottom, this technology allows Bialetti Ceramic Pro pans to conduct heat with lightning-fast efficiency. This set’s Dutch oven brought water to a boil faster than almost every pot we tested.

The specialized divots ensure that oil doesn’t in any of the pans that make up the Bialetti Ceramic Pro 10-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set. One downside to this set’s impressive heating abilities is that the handles are made of stainless steel, so they become extremely hot extremely fast; potholders are required. The versatility of the items that make up this set means it is well worth $140, cementing Bialetti’s spot as our best value pick.

Price at the time of publish: $100

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Amazon

Ideal for a beginner chef, this set provides necessary pieces of versatile cookware.

Discoloration may be an issue, but it’s worth the excellent performance this cookware provides.

A feat of stainless steel perfection, the GreenLife Stainless Steel Pro set brought water to a boil the fastest of all the pans we tested. Be warned that we noticed a water ring in the stock pot after this test — however, there was no discoloration on the outside of any of the cookware, which we consider a win. The pots and pans in this set are lightweight enough to easily and comfortably maneuver when cooking — whether transferring ingredients from a pan to a plate or tossing ingredients over high heat.

The included set of bamboo utensils is as cute, practical, and convenient as the set itself. The GreenLife Stainless Pro 10-Piece Cookware Set is a worthwhile purchase for more experienced cooks looking for cookware with great heat conduction properties. It is also so easy to use that it would be an excellent option for a beginner needing an all-inclusive set of ceramic pieces.

Price at the time of publish: $174

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Nordstrom

For the cook who values aesthetics and performance worthy of a higher price point.

Impossibly easy to clean, comfortable to use, and classically beautiful, this set receives no complaints from us. That said, it's expensive.

The GreenPan GP5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set is so beautiful; it’s the kind of kitchen tool we keep in our bookmarks and stare at longingly. If you’re looking for a splurge option — especially if you want to settle on a set built to last a lifetime — this is it. The contents of this set are so classic and stylish that they belong on the stovetop in any kitchen. We really love this set’s gold-toned handles against the contrast of their stainless steel bodies. Not that looks are everything, but these pieces will retain their appeal as they age. Safe to use with metal utensils and seemingly impervious to discoloring, this set is meant to last.

During testing, foods slid off and out easily without help from a spatula. We didn’t detect any serious hotspots, and overall, we felt the pans were evenly balanced. Though dishwasher-safe, the manufacturer recommends cleaning with a soft sponge instead.

Price at the time of publish: $700

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Walmart

An ideal set as either a starter for a newbie or a complete replacement for the more experienced cook.

Drew didn’t let us down — and this set is, indeed, beautiful. However, some exposed hardware means it's harder to clean.

We’re impressed with Ms. Barrymore’s breathtaking foray into ceramic cookware. This set performed excellently in our tests, primarily because of its smart, attractive design and the heavy bottom on the skillets and sauce pot (making for consistent, even heating every time). The stunning Drew Barrymore Beautiful 12-Piece Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set comprises lightweight pieces that are easy to lift, toss, transfer, swirl, and utilize in the kitchen. We appreciate that these pieces are affordable, too.

Price at the time of publish: $130

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

The Caraway Cookware Set checks all our boxes: it’s pretty, functional, and versatile. This set earned a nearly perfect score in every category and through the gamut of trials and tribulations we concocted. It deserves its title as our favorite ceramic cookware set for its design and efficacy. It doesn’t hurt that it suits a cook at any level or experience. All-in-all, it’s a beautiful set built to last.

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

We’re nothing if not thorough. Our rigorous testing included a trial by fire (literally) of nineteen separate ceramic cookware sets. Three stages of testing were run.

We began with the ultimate basic: boiling water. In each set’s stock pot or Dutch oven, we recorded how long it took for water at 72 degrees Fahrenheit to boil (212 degrees Fahrenheit). This provided a glimpse into how well the pots conducted heat and allowed us to observe whether the bottom of each pot was discolored after its initial use.

Then we heated every skillet over medium-low heat and fried a single undisturbed egg for three minutes. We used a metal turner for those pans designated as compatible with metal utensils and noted any scratching on the surface. This allowed us to measure the ceramic’s nonstick capabilities and the evenness and speed of surface heating. We also logged how difficult it was to wash and dry each skillet by hand.

Third, we scrambled rather than fried. We wanted to note two things: how nonstick each sauté pan/coating is and the ease of use related to each pan’s design. For this, the delicate nature of scrambled eggs is a perfect test. Scrambling eggs (particularly the Frenchy technique where outer edges are pulled slowly to the middle of the pan) requires far more wrist movement and manipulation of the pan. This test is a fast indicator of poor design.

Lastly, we needed to see if these nonstick pans retained their nonstick nature for longer cooking times. We made rice pilaf in each saucepan. First, we boiled liquid, then cooked rice before holding the hot pilaf for a set period off the heat without discoloring the food that had direct contact with the pan.

The ceramic aspect of this kind of cookware is typically a coating layered onto another material. The internal part of the pan is usually made of stainless steel, aluminum, or a combination of the two. Fully aluminum and aluminum-cored pans heat more evenly and conduct heat better overall. If the core is aluminum, an additional complication can be that the pot or pan can’t be used on an induction cooktop. Stainless steel, while versatile enough to be used on any stovetop, doesn’t conduct heat as well as aluminum.

Some sets are made up of a few skillets, while others are more comprehensive and have a more extensive variety of pieces. The number of pieces you need depends on what you tend to cook and how stocked your kitchen is. A smaller set will suit your needs if you own several other pans or don’t cook often. If you’re starting with nothing or looking to make a switch, a more extensive set is better, especially if you frequently cook for family. James Beard semi-finalist and chef-owner of Stages at One Washington, Evan Hennessey, advises that “...you need to think about yourself before selecting the right pans for you. My first suggestion is to piece-meal your collection.”

If you have an induction stove, you already know that not all cookware is compatible with its unique technology. Induction burners use magnets to detect cookware, so non-magnetic surfaces don’t activate the burner. Aluminum is the most common material found in pans incompatible with induction. But if you have induction burners, you can still reap the benefits of aluminum as long as it’s clad with another induction-friendly material, typically stainless steel.

No one loves to do dishes. A significant advantage of ceramic cookware is that its slippery, nonstick surface requires low effort when tidying up. If dishwasher-safe is important to you, be sure to shop for a set that fits that requirement.

“It can after a while, and if you don’t use it correctly (if not taken care of, cleaned carefully, or stored properly), then it’s possible,” says Hennessey. While many pieces of ceramic cookware are compatible with metal utensils, only using wooden and silicone tools can extend the life of your pans.

You may have heard some things about the safety of nonstick cookware. Thankfully, ceramic cookware is actually among the safest coatings for cookware. Its coating doesn’t peel or scrape off like more traditional nonstick coatings. And, if it does, it’s non-toxic, so the pan is still safe to use.

Ceramic coating is one of the most nonstick coatings on the market. It creates an ultra-smooth surface that is nearly impossible for food to cling to. Ceramic differs from traditional nonstick coating in almost every way; it’s thinner and usually lasts longer. “It's excellent for fish searing,” says Chef Hennessey. “It’s just gentler and ideal for my favorite: sauces. It also works well for eggs.”

Ceramic is ideal for nonstick cooking, but there are better tools for techniques like searing and building up fond. Ceramic pieces are designed to prevent food from sticking to the pan, so you won’t be able to crisp chicken skin properly (and flavorfully) in most ceramic pans. Nonstick cookware, ceramic included, isn’t suited for high heat; stainless steel is the better choice for higher temperatures.

Like most cookware, hand washing is always the better cleaning method for ceramic cookware. The nonstick surface also means that ceramic cookware rarely requires any scrubbing; just a gentle wipe-down with the soft side of a soapy sponge should do it. Some manufacturers claim their cookware is dishwasher-safe. A dishwasher’s high heat, pressure, and harsh soap are much harder on your pans than gentle hand washing. Cleaning all your pots and pans by hand will extend their lifetime.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Vitale 10-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set ($550 at Amazon)

This set performed well but not notably better than many of its cheaper counterparts. Considering the price is close to a splurge, this set was demoted for its price.Blue Diamond Ceramic Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set ($80 at Amazon)

This is a good set for a first apartment. We worry about its longevity, but the low price and performance make us confident that this is a solid cookware set for beginners.CAROTE Granite 10 Piece Nonstick Cookware Set ($98 at Amazon)

Another decent starter set at a reasonable price; we wish it were oven-safe. We loved the construction of the handles, however — very comfortable!Frieling Black Cube Quick Release 7-Piece Cookware Set ($450 at Frieling)

This set showcased perfectly even heating, but occasionally food stuck to its surface. Considering the price, we expected a perfect nonstick experience that paralleled our other frontrunners.Farberware Ecovantage Ceramic 13-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set ($120 at Amazon)

A simple but varied selection of pots and pans boasts a classic design. This cookware would also suit a newer cook — nothing but the basics.

Though we loved and would recommend many of the sets we tested, some fell short in our testing. A few other sets from GreenPan left more to be desired in the performance and cleaning departments. In addition, sets from KitchenAid, Cuisinart, T-fal, Farberware, and Gotham Steel were among the others that left us less-than-impressed.

Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. Her respect for simplicity and uncluttered counters in the kitchen ultimately fuels a desire to find and own well-designed, multi-purpose, best-in-class kitchen tools. For this piece, she used Food & Wine testing insights as well as spoke to a professional chef for further insights.

Nick DeSimone, a freelance writer and chef, also contributed to this piece. They have spent nearly a decade working in professional kitchens.