I’ve Always Had a Love/Hate Relationship With the “Internet’s Favorite Cookware.”
For years, I couldn’t get over how gorgeous Caraway’s Cookware Set looked, and the algorithm knew it. I was consistently being fed 3-5 pieces of Caraway content per day. And, although each week I came tantalizingly close to buying a set, I never did for one reason: I just don’t like non-stick, ceramic pans.
Don’t get me wrong, I support those who do. But I’m somebody who likes to throw things around in the kitchen, sear the s*** out of my steaks, and scrape my pans like a madman with whatever utensils I have lying around. My wife calls me a “Tasmanian Chef Devil.” Admittedly, it’s an apt nickname.
But Caraway’s Cookware Set kept haunting me… in ads, Architectural Digest articles, even Kate Hudson’s Instagram stories. It looked incredible, the magnetic storage organizers were ingenious, and it’s been high time for a kitchen overhaul anyway. But then it happened. Caraway took everything iconic about their 16x-sold-out Cookware Set and made it Stainless Steel.
Due to my years of stalking the Caraway website, I knew that when this internet-famous brand drops any new collection, it sells out almost instantly. I’ve never purchased anything faster in my life.
Everything I Loved About Caraway, Just Built Different
If you somehow haven’t heard about this brand made in home cook heaven, I’ll catch you up. Since 2019, Caraway has been taking the internet by storm with their aesthetically pleasing Cookware Sets featuring a minimalist design, chic colorways, and brilliant storage solutions.
They’re mainly known for their devotion to being non-toxic (Caraway’s founder said he started the company after a frightening bout of Teflon poisoning), but they clearly figured out everything else that goes into high-caliber cookware. Over 60,000 people have given them 4.8/5 stars, and it feels like almost every day, I see some new influencer flaunt these pans on the gram…
I was into everything about Caraway from the first post I ever saw, but I just knew I would destroy those beautiful pans, so I resisted the urge to buy a set. Stainless steel, though? Now we’re talking.
“Stainless Steel Is How Real Chefs Cook” – My Grandpa
My grandfather was a big-shot New York chef in his day, and I credit him for my own love of food and cooking. Maybe it’s his words that ring in my ears, scoffing at “trendy” cookware that can’t hold its own, that always prevented me from buying a Caraway set. Stainless steel was his bread and butter.
Restaurants almost exclusively use stainless steel cookware because of its high-heat resistance, oven-compatibility, and damn near indestructibility. It’s also non-reactive, so it’s safe to use with acidic ingredients, and the metal alloy material makes for a completely safe cooking surface with no possibility of leaching chemicals. (No wonder Caraway got on the stainless steel train.)
It’s worth mentioning that, coming in at $695, Caraway’s Stainless Steel Cookware Set is no ordinary stainless steel cookware. Even for a restaurant-level product, this set goes above and beyond.
Here’s What I Was Most Looking Forward To
Caraway’s Stainless Steel set is constructed with lightweight & durable 5-ply stainless steel, so its built to withstand and seamlessly distribute higher heat. These pans are treated with a proprietary and natural citric wash that creates a protective barrier, extending the life of the pans and making them a breeze to clean and maintain.
As with everything Caraway does, these pans are at the top of their class in material, construction, and design. Non-toxic, non-reactive, non-corrosive… but my personal favorite: both stunning to cook with, and stunning to store.
The reputation that comes with a nickname like the “Tasmanian Chef Devil” includes a pathological inability to keep things organized. That’s why Caraway’s iconic magnetic storage racks (and lid storage) are about to be a complete game changer for me.
Unboxing: I’ve Never Seen Anything More Beautiful
I’m not gonna lie, dishing out $695 for a cookware set wasn’t a light decision to make. But as soon as I opened this stunning silver box and saw what came inside, I knew it was the right decision.
- 4.5 qt Sauté Pan ($235): Perfect for stir frys and sautés.
- 10.5” Fry Pan ($155): It’s a fry pan, but clean.
- 6.5 qt Dutch Oven ($215): The high-heat, non-toxic answer for big batches.
- 3 qt Sauce Pan ($185): Keeping things saucy and shiny.
- Pan & Lid Storage: Updated with premium construction to house these steel beauties.
Let me just start by saying that cookware built to last you a lifetime has no business looking this beautiful. Keeping that rounded Caraway silhouette was definitely the right call—the stainless steel just catches the light in just the right way.
I had a cabinet dedicated to this set, but I honestly might just keep them out on the counter. They work just as well as an art piece as they do a cookware set. And the beauty of the stainless steel construction is that I never have to worry about them losing that shine. These babies will be searing my steaks and searing my heart with love for a long time.
Fast Forward a Few Months…
And I can confirm these pans cook as good as they look. I know from my cooking lessons with Grandpa that stainless steel basically becomes non-stick anyway, once you get it up to a high enough temperature.
It’s been a real joy seeing those drops of oil dance around the pan when I know it’s ready to go. Plus, thanks to Caraway’s brilliant storage idea and the pans’ effortless cleaning routine, my wife no longer compares me to the Tasmanian Devil in the kitchen. Working with these pans is such a pleasure, I’ve become zen (and she can’t believe it).
That said, I’ve certainly banged them around a few times. But hey, stainless steel baby! To this day they look as brand new as the day I first tossed them on the stovetop. My grandfather would be proud…
A Set For the Rest of Us: Caraway Is Everything I Thought It Would Be
Is Caraway’s Stainless Steel Cookware Set expensive? Sure. Will it guarantee you a lifetime of sizzling, searing, and satisfaction? 100%. I’m so glad I decided to make the move and splurge on updating my kitchen with this set. As someone wise once said, you rarely regret something you only have to buy once.
If you’re anything like me and have had your eye on Caraway’s iconic pots and pans but just aren’t that into ceramic, their Stainless Steel set will change your (cooking) life. I could not recommend it more if I tried.
