I remembered Caraway Cookware used to be on my Christmas Wishlist back in 2019. When I moved to New York, the very first thing I did was me wanting and needing to purchase a set of good-looking cookware, something good design that I can put on display and do the job. So I did buy the Caraway Cookware set in Cream with my very own money.
Fast forward to now, spring of 2022, I’m working with Caraway. The Sage set featured in this blog post is gifted as I am now a part of the Caraway Ambassador program. I will make a small commission if you do decide to purchase by clicking on any links embedded in this post. My reviews are always true and honest, and again, thanks for reading!
About Caraway
Caraway was founded in 2018 and is based in New York City.
The brand now has expanded from cookware to bakeware and linens.
SHOP CARAWAY COOKWARE –
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SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE POST TO SKIP THE UNBOXING AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE ONE-YEAR REVIEW OF MY CARAWAY SET IN CREAM.
UNBOXING
1. PACKAGING
The first thing you’d notice when receiving your Caraway box is that it is huge and very heavy. I can lift it up and carry it by myself up the three short sets of stairs and walk about a block. Everything comes in incredibly well-packaged recycled cardboard. The unboxing is an experience on its own, and I think they’ve nailed it with the packaging.
WATCH:
CARAWAY COOKWARE IN CREAM UNBOXING
CARAWAY COOKWARE IN SAGE UNBOXING – KITCHEN TOUR
SHOP:
2. CANVAS LID HOLDER, 2 HOOKS, & 3 LIDS
The first time, I missed the two little hooks for the canvas lid holder and didn’t know they were included and taped in the cardboard piece that covered the lids in the box. For some odd reason, I ended up buying the hooks for the canvas lid holder myself on Amazon, and they weren’t even heavy-duty enough.
Because the three lids are incredibly heavy, I’d recommend choosing a flat surface and avoiding painted walls or uneven surfaces. I had mine on the side of the laundry cabinet, and all I did was wait a day for the glue to fully stick before hanging the lids. I had to contact Caraway customer service for hook replacement because I ruined them the first time. Luckily, I caught them midway falling, so no accident happened. It was a trip!
CANVAS LID HOLDER: 12.8″ width x 22.2″ height
3. COOKWARE
WEIGHT & DIMENSION:
2.7 qt Fry Pan: 2.8 lb w/o lid, 4.8 lb with lid, 10.5″ in diameter
3 qt Sauce Pan: 2.6lb w/o lid, 4 lb with lid, 8″ in diameter
4.5 qt Sauté Pan: 4 lb w/o lid, 6.8 lb with lid, 11.8″ in diameter
6.5 qt Dutch Oven: 4 lb w/o lid, 6.2 lb with lid, 10.5″ in diameter
Cookware in Storage Caddies: 17″ width x 12″ height x 21″ depth
Magnetic Pan Racks Combined: 16.8″ width x 5.9″ height x 6.5″ depth
Set also comes with 2 cork trivets and a care guide.
4. MATERIALS
Non-Stick ceramic-coated aluminum cookware, aluminum core, stainless steel handles with a non-toxic coating (Free of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFEs), such as Teflon® which is in 95%+ of non-stick pans. They’re also free of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, nickel, and other toxic metals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs).
OTHER FACTS AND TIPS TO KNOW:
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Use on low and medium heat ONLY.
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Pan & Lid Storage Solution, Oven Safe Up to 550°F.
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Stovetop Agnostic (Induction, Gas, & Electric Safe). (I have an electric stovetop!)
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Not dishwasher safe. Handwash recommended!
ONE-YEAR REVIEW
Again, this is the review of my Caraway Cookware set in Cream. I purchased them at the end of June 2021, so it’s due for a one-year review. I paid $365.55 (15% discount code + NYC tax). The Sage set is new, and I don’t plan on using them anytime soon.
Is it worth the hype?
Absolutely!
Is it worth the money?
To me, it is! For almost $370 worth of 2 pots and 2 pans, one can think it is a lot of money. Yes, because you’re paying the whole set.
Caraway has an option for you to purchase their pots and pans separately, and there are definitely better alternatives if you’re looking at each type of pan and pot separately. In terms of cookware longevity, I do think there are better options out there. For a set of Caraway Cookware, you’re paying for the Caraway look and the design, and until this day, I still think it is worth it.
How’s the one-year condition?
I don’t have pictures to show you, but my Cream pans and pots look like they have been through a lot (because they are!). They wear very different, and you can tell which one has been used a lot. There are food and oil stain spots all over, and I’m a messy cook if I have to be honest with you. I cook a lot and use multiple pans and pots at the same time, well, at least I try to since it saves me time and money to cook in. However, I do eat out a lot as well if you know me or follow me on IG.
The Frying Pan looks the worst in terms of its appearance because it’s been used the most. Note that I have an electric stovetop, and I often time do cook multiple dishes all at once. So food stains and oil stains are permanent and to be expected. I do use a steel scrub to clean the bottom plate only, but it does also pick up some surrounding paint in some areas and reveals the metal inside. The inner pans and pots also have food stains and burnt marks, and I think I need to seek out some chemical help because scrubbing does not do the job. It’s also not very nonstick anymore. Next is my Saute Pan, Sauce Pan, and the Dutch Oven which I use mostly for pasta and soups.
Just like shoes and bags, I don’t mind paying the retail price since I know I’m paying for the brand name I love, craftsmanship, quality, durability, longevity, and design. My shoes and bags have scratches and imperfections here and there with use, and there’s nothing wrong with the look of well-used and well-loved things. I don’t abuse but don’t really take too good of care with my stuff. To me, it’s not about keeping my stuff perfect and pristine for the future. It’s about something that serves its purpose, is well-designed, and sparks joy now. After about 5 months, I start to notice the nonstick started to wear out but knowing how to deglaze helped cut down on the scrubbing and cleaning afterward.
For Caraway Cookware, the only thing it lacks is longevity, and it comes down to material choices. Regardless of how beat mine looks, I still use all of the pans and pots often. I don’t have any other places to store my cookware, but I don’t have any problem with them being out on display regardless of the conditions. I hope it won’t come down to the day when they become annoying to cook with. If that happens, I will update y’all with it for sure!
CONCLUSION
PROS:
The design is modern, fun, and sophisticated. They do look and feel expensive, and I’ve gotten many compliments about them. The pots, pans, and lids serve most of my cooking needs except for when I make steak or want to grill something. For steak, I’d actually reach for my Le Creuset pan for its higher heat capability. I love how big the Dutch Oven and Saute Pan are because I make a lot of soups and stir fry a large number of veggies every time.
The magnetic holders and lid organizer make them easy to store away in the cabinet as well put out on display. The materials and thick tall wall design help retain a lot of moisture when cooking, so I guess it’s good because I don’t end up eating burnt-up food as compared to me when cooking with other cookware in the past. I also use less oil in my cooking thanks to the nonstick.
Free shipping, free return within 30 days. Responsive customer service and Instagram messages.
CONS:
Caraway Cookware pans, pots, and lids are SO HEAVY! They make transporting and handling incredibly difficult. I can’t cook with high heat because it will damage the nonstick. As an Asian who loves her Asian cooking and food, that’s the biggest thing I cannot follow. I think that’s why my Caraway pans and pots look so beat! Next, it’s not recommended that you drag, lift or shake the pan, and I think that’s a general rule here. They are also super heavy which makes doing any of those impossible. I don’t own a wok anymore because I don’t feel the need for it anymore. It’s weird saying this because my wok used to be my ride-or-die.
CARE TIPS:
Know what you’re getting yourself into!
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The exterior is susceptible to chipping when used on rough cooking surfaces, so handle with CARE! Don’t drag and clean up cooking surfaces before cooking with these.
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The nonstick will eventually wear out because it’s the nature of nonstick ceramic material.
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The clean-up is easy, but there will be stains and spillage that are impossible to get off of a regular soft sponge and Dawn soap. You’d just have to accept the fact that they will not look perfect as how they look right out of the box.
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Avoid metal utensils like spoons or spatulas when cooking or moving food. Not the best cookware for searing or browning meat. I use my Le Cruiset pan for this!
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I hand wash all of my pans and pots and note that these are OVEN SAFE BUT NOT DISHWASHER SAFE.
What I wish Caraway would improve on:
I truly believe you’re getting your money worth with Caraway Cookware. Yes, they might not look as new after a few uses. Yes, there are too many things to watch out for in order to maintain the cookware’s nonstick capability. Yes, they are heavy. And they might not fit or look good in everyone’s kitchen. I understand and hear many people’s concerns and doubts, and this blog post is not to persuade you to buy anything. I simply couldn’t take my eyes off of them, so I got them and never looked back since.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below. Hope this review is helpful.
