Caraway and GreenPan are the two best-known names in ceramic nonstick cookware. Both make pans whose slick surface comes from a ceramic coating instead of PTFE, the material behind traditional nonstick, and both sell single pans as well as full sets. Caraway is known for its colors and for sets that come with storage; GreenPan, which makes its Thermolon coating, has a much wider range at more price levels.
This guide compares the two brands the way a buyer meets them: what each one makes, what America’s Test Kitchen found when it tested a frying pan from each, how long the coating lasts, heat, care and safety records. Then it gives our picks from each side, all in stock when we checked.
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Quick verdict: Caraway or GreenPan?
For most people, choose GreenPan, specifically its Valencia Pro line. In America’s Test Kitchen’s 2026 ceramic skillet review, the GreenPan Valencia Pro 12-inch was the winner and “one of only three pans to pass our test of nonstick coating durability”, while the Caraway Fry Pan was “Not Recommended” because its coating started to fail by the second round of egg tests. Choose Caraway only if its colors, matching lids and storage matter more to you than coating life, and plan to cook on low to medium heat and wash by hand, as Caraway says to.
Caraway vs GreenPan, side by side
| Caraway | GreenPan | |
|---|---|---|
| Best known for | Colorful ceramic sets sold with kitchen storage for pans and lids | Thermolon ceramic coatings across many lines, from Swift to Valencia Pro and Reserve Pro |
| ATK 2026 rating | Caraway Fry Pan: “Not Recommended” | Valencia Pro 12-inch: winner, “Highly Recommended” |
| Coating durability (ATK) | Coating “started to fail” on the second round; 36 of 50 eggs released | Passed ATK’s durability test; “remained” slick |
| Coating claims (maker) | Made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS | PFAS-free ceramic nonstick (Valencia Pro listing) |
| Oven-safe to | 550°F | 600°F on Valencia Pro (lids 425°F) |
| Induction | Yes | Valencia Pro yes; some other lines, such as Swift and Reserve Pro, no |
| Dishwasher | Hand wash only | Dishwasher safe, but hand washing recommended |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | Limited warranty; terms on greenpan.us |
| CPSC recalls found | None returned for Caraway | 2020 recall of SimmerLite Dutch oven lids (20-151) |
What each brand makes
Caraway’s range on Amazon is fairly small: fry pans, sauté pans, sauce pans, a Dutch oven and griddles, many sold in matching sets. Its 10.5-inch fry pan has an aluminum core with “two layers of clean, non-stick ceramic” and steel handles, weighs 2.7 pounds, is oven safe to 550°F and works on gas, electric and induction stoves, according to Caraway (Caraway). Caraway says the pan is made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS, and an image on the same page says it is made without lead or cadmium.
GreenPan sells many more lines. Valencia Pro is its hard-anodized line with a diamond-infused coating that the listing calls metal-utensil safe, induction-ready and oven safe to 600°F. Swift and Reserve Pro are other lines; their listings say they do not work on induction. When you compare the two brands, compare a specific GreenPan line, not GreenPan as a whole.
What America’s Test Kitchen found
ATK’s “The Best Ceramic Nonstick Skillets of 2026”, by Kate Shannon Levine, Crispín López, Valerie Sizhe Li and Sarah Sandler, tested one pan from each brand (America’s Test Kitchen).
The GreenPan Valencia Pro 12-inch won. It “arrived slick and remained so throughout cooking and abuse tests” and was “one of only three pans to pass our test of nonstick coating durability”. ATK noted it “runs a little hotter than our favorite regular nonstick skillet”, so you may need to turn the heat down or shorten cooking times. It has “a comfortable handle”, weighs 2.60 pounds, and is oven safe to 600°F and induction compatible. ATK’s text also recommends the 10- and 8-inch Valencia Pro pans.
The Caraway Fry Pan was “Not Recommended”. It released all 50 eggs at the start, but on the second round “the nonstick coating started to fail, with only 36 eggs releasing properly”. Some scratches appeared on the bottom of the pan, though its cooking surface stayed intact, and ATK found it “easy to hold and maneuver”.
How long ceramic coatings last
Whichever brand you buy, expect a ceramic pan to lose some slickness. ATK explains that “ceramic surfaces are brittle by nature and thus more likely to develop microscopic surface cracks during everyday use”, that “the rougher a cooking surface becomes, the more likely food is to stick to it”, and that even the best models “quickly deteriorated with use”. Its summary is blunt: “ceramic nonstick isn’t quite as nonstick or as durable as traditional nonstick.”
That is why the durability result matters more than color or price class. GreenPan’s Valencia Pro held up in ATK’s abuse test and Caraway’s fry pan did not. If you want a pan that stays slick longer, ATK’s findings point to traditional nonstick. Carbon steel and cast iron are the other route: they build up seasoning with use instead of wearing a coating away. Our cast iron vs nonstick pan guide covers that choice.
Heat and cooking
Ceramic pans heat fast. ATK says ceramic cooks hotter and faster than PTFE nonstick because PTFE acts as an insulator, so you may need to lower the flame or take the pan off sooner. For eggs on low to medium heat, it suggests “a bit of oil or butter”.
Both makers say the same thing about heat. Caraway says to cook on low to medium heat and warns that high heat can damage the coating. GreenPan’s care page says “LOW TO MED HEAT IS BEST” (GreenPan). That suits eggs, quesadillas, fish and warming tortillas. For a hard sear on fajita meat or charring chiles, use cast iron or carbon steel instead.
Care and cleanup
Here the brands differ. Caraway says to hand wash only, with warm soapy water and a soft sponge, and to avoid oil sprays and cooking aerosols. GreenPan says its pans are dishwasher safe but recommends a soft sponge and warm, soapy water, and says to let the pan cool first to avoid thermal shock. It also says to “avoid all oils in spray form”, because they can burn and carbonize on the pan, and suggests a melamine sponge for stuck-on carbonized spots.
The no-spray rule applies to both, and it is the easiest way to shorten a ceramic pan’s life by accident. GreenPan recommends silicone or wooden utensils to help the coating last, even though the Valencia Pro listing calls the pan metal-utensil safe.
Warranty and safety records
Caraway’s fry pan page lists a 1-year limited warranty plus a 30-day trial. GreenPan’s terms of sale point to a limited warranty published on greenpan.us; we could not read the terms in full, so check them before you buy.
In July 2020, The Cookware Company recalled about 11,160 GreenPan SimmerLite Dutch ovens because “the lid on the dutch oven can explode while it is inside the oven”; there were four reports and no injuries (recall 20-151) (CPSC). That recall covered a Dutch oven’s glass lid, not the frying pans on this page. A search of the CPSC recall database for Caraway returned no recalls.
Choose Caraway if… / Choose GreenPan if…
Choose Caraway if…
- You want matching colors, glass lids and storage more than the longest coating life.
- You will cook on low to medium heat and hand wash every time.
- You cook on induction and like Caraway’s look.
Choose GreenPan if…
- You want the ceramic pan with the strongest independent durability result (Valencia Pro).
- You want a pan that is oven safe to 600°F.
- You want the option of the dishwasher, even if hand washing is better.
Our picks on each side of the Caraway vs GreenPan choice
One GreenPan and two Caraway listings, all in stock when we checked. The GreenPan set is sold by Amazon.com; both Caraway listings are sold by Caraway Home, the maker’s own Amazon store. The Caraway fry pan is a model that appears on another of our guides in a different color; we explain why below.
1. GreenPan Valencia Pro 3-Piece Ceramic Skillet Set – The Line That Won ATK’s Test
This set gives you three Valencia Pro frying pans: 8, 9.5 and 11 inches. Valencia Pro is the line whose 12-inch pan won ATK’s 2026 ceramic skillet test and passed its coating durability test. The sizes here are different from the pan ATK tested, but they share the line’s hard-anodized body and diamond-infused ceramic coating, according to the listing.
The listing describes a PFAS-free, metal-utensil-safe coating, riveted stainless steel handles, compatibility with all stovetops including induction, and oven safety to 600°F (lids to 425°F, though this set has no lids). It is dishwasher safe, but GreenPan’s own care page recommends hand washing to help the coating last.
Three sizes cover most nonstick jobs: the 8-inch for one or two eggs, the 9.5-inch for quesadillas and omelets, and the 11-inch for a family breakfast or a batch of vegetables. Valencia Pro pans in other sizes and sets appear on our other cookware guides; this 3-piece set does not.
Why we like it
- From the line that won ATK’s 2026 ceramic skillet test.
- Induction ready, oven safe to 600°F.
- Three useful sizes.
- Sold by Amazon.com at the time of writing.
Key specifications
| Model | CC005038-001 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 8″, 9.5″ and 11″ frying pans |
| Body | Hard-anodized aluminum |
| Coating | Diamond-infused ceramic, PFAS-free |
| Induction | Yes |
| Oven-safe to | 600°F |
| Dishwasher | Yes (hand wash recommended by GreenPan) |
| Lids | None included |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want ceramic nonstick with the best independent durability result and pans in three sizes.
Skip it if you need lids or a 12-inch pan; this set tops out at 11 inches and has no lids.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Line rated “Highly Recommended” by ATK.
- Works on every stove, including induction.
- High oven rating.
Cons
- ATK found Valencia Pro runs a little hot.
- No lids.
- Like all ceramic, it will lose some slickness over time (ATK).
2. Caraway Ceramic Fry Pan 10.5-Inch – Caraway’s Signature Pan, With a Caveat
This is Caraway’s 10.5-inch, 2.7-quart fry pan in cream. Caraway describes an aluminum core with two layers of ceramic nonstick, steel handles, a weight of 2.7 pounds, oven safety to 550°F and compatibility with gas, electric and induction stoves. It says the pan is made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS, and that it is made without lead or cadmium.
This is the pan to know about before you buy into Caraway: ATK tested the Caraway Fry Pan and rated it “Not Recommended” because its coating began to fail on the second round of egg tests. ATK did find it easy to hold and maneuver, and its cooking surface stayed intact.
The same model appears on our best ceramic nonstick pan guide in a different color. We include it here because it is the Caraway pan ATK tested, so it is the fairest single comparison with GreenPan. If you buy it, follow Caraway’s rules: low to medium heat, a little oil or butter, no sprays, and hand washing only.
Why we like it
- Works on induction; oven safe to 550°F.
- Easy to hold and maneuver (ATK).
- Made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS, per Caraway.
- Sold by Caraway’s own Amazon store.
Key specifications
| Model | Fry Pan 10.5″ (Cream) |
|---|---|
| Pieces | One 10.5″ fry pan |
| Body | Aluminum core, steel handle |
| Coating | Ceramic; made without PTFE, PFOA, PFAS |
| Induction | Yes |
| Oven-safe to | 550°F |
| Dishwasher | No, hand wash only |
| Lids | None included |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you love Caraway’s look and will baby the coating.
Skip it if coating life matters most; ATK’s test favored GreenPan’s Valencia Pro.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear maker statements on coating materials.
- Induction compatible.
- 1-year limited warranty and a 30-day trial, per Caraway.
Cons
- Rated “Not Recommended” by ATK for coating durability.
- Hand wash only.
3. Caraway Fry Pan Trio With Glass Lids – Three Sizes and Matching Lids
This six-piece set pairs three Caraway ceramic-coated fry pans (8, 10.5 and 12 inches) with matching glass lids, in cream. The listing says the pans are oven safe to 550°F and made without PTFE and PFOA. It is a newer Caraway listing with only a short description, so the details above come from its title and from Caraway’s fry pan page.
Lids are what this set adds: a lid on a small pan helps melt cheese on a quesadilla or steam an egg, and the 12-inch pan gives you room for a family breakfast. The coating is the same kind of Caraway ceramic that ATK found wore quickly in its fry pan test, so the same care rules apply: low to medium heat, no sprays, hand wash only.
The listing title misspells the brand as “Carway”, but the seller is Caraway Home, the maker’s own store.
Why we like it
- Three sizes with matching glass lids.
- Oven safe to 550°F, per the listing.
- Sold by the maker’s own Amazon store.
Key specifications
| Model | CW-BN57-101 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 8″, 10.5″ and 12″ fry pans with glass lids |
| Body | Not stated in the listing |
| Coating | Ceramic; made without PTFE and PFOA |
| Induction | Not stated in the listing |
| Oven-safe to | 550°F |
| Dishwasher | Not stated in the listing |
| Lids | Glass, three |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want Caraway’s look in three sizes, with lids, and will hand wash.
Skip it if you want a detailed listing or the most durable ceramic coating; the GreenPan set is the stronger buy on the evidence.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lids included.
- Three sizes in one box.
Cons
- Very short listing; several specs not stated.
- Same coating type ATK found wore quickly.
- No independent review of this set on the pages we read.
Caraway and GreenPan questions, answered
Is Caraway or GreenPan better?
On the evidence, GreenPan’s Valencia Pro line. ATK named the Valencia Pro 12-inch its winner and rated the Caraway Fry Pan “Not Recommended” for coating durability.
Are Caraway and GreenPan free of PFAS?
Both makers say so. Caraway says its fry pan is made without PTFE, PFOA and PFAS, and GreenPan’s Valencia Pro listing calls its coating PFAS-free.
Can Caraway and GreenPan go in the dishwasher?
Caraway says hand wash only. GreenPan says its pans are dishwasher safe but recommends hand washing with a soft sponge.
Do they work on induction?
Caraway’s fry pan does. GreenPan’s Valencia Pro does, but some GreenPan lines, including Swift and Reserve Pro, do not, so check the line.
How long does a ceramic pan last?
Less long than traditional nonstick, according to ATK, which found even the best ceramic pans “quickly deteriorated with use”. Low to medium heat, no sprays and gentle washing help.
Our last word on Caraway and GreenPan
Buy the GreenPan Valencia Pro set if you want ceramic nonstick that held up best in an independent test. Buy Caraway if you want its look and lids and accept a shorter coating life. For more from each brand, see our best Caraway cookware and best GreenPan cookware guides, or compare all brands in our best ceramic cookware guide.
And if you would rather skip the cooking tonight, see the menu or call to order.