We Tried Caraway Bakeware: It’s Pretty, Practical and Worth the Price

Katie Bandurski/Taste of Home

I’ve seen plenty of gorgeous (yet expensive!) cookware on Instagram over the past few years. Whether it’s the timeless Made-In porcelain baking slab, the colorful Great Jones Holy Sheet or the do-it-all Our Place Always pan, it’s easy to wonder whether these vessels are as practical as they are pretty.

As a food writer, cookbook author and former professional baker, I’m always skeptical about cooking equipment that looks too good to be true. But I’m also intrigued if new technology can make my baking better. So when I got the opportunity to test out Caraway’s latest nonstick bakeware, I jumped at the chance. Here’s what happened when I put the Caraway 5-piece baking set through the paces in my home kitchen. (Psst! Check out the mini-yet-mighty launch of Caraway mini cookware, too.)

What is Caraway Bakeware?

Caraway launched in 2018 with a line of revolutionary eco-friendly pots and pans. They’re made from aluminum and coated in ultra-slippery ceramic. Unlike many nonstick pots and pans on the market, Caraway’s products are free of potentially toxic materials like heavy metals, PTFE, PFO (a.k.a. Teflon) and PFAs. We tested Caraway cookware—and loved it.

Three years after taking the cooking world by storm, Caraway introduced ceramic-coated bakeware in the fall of 2021. It’s available in bundled sets as well as individual pieces.

Caraway’s bakeware line includes eight kitchen essentials:

• 9-inch circle pan
• 9-inch square pan
• 13×9-inch rectangular baking pan
• 18×13-inch baking sheet
• 15×10-inch baking sheet
• 1-pound loaf pan
• 12-cup muffin pan
• Stainless steel cooling rack

You can also choose from a variety of bakeware bundles, including:

• 11-piece bakeware set
• 5-piece bakeware set (which is what I tested)
• Baking sheet duo
• Baking sheet and cooling rack set
• Circle pan duo

All Caraway bakeware comes in the brand’s stunning colors: cream, navy, slate, perracotta, sage and marigold. It’s also available in a traditional gray hue.

How We Tested the Caraway Bakeware

Katie Bandurski/Taste of Home

I tested Caraway’s 5-piece baking set, which contains two different sized baking sheets, a muffin pan, a rectangle pan and a cabinet organizer for storage.

Now, normally when I bake, I almost always line my pans with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In the rare event I don’t, I’ll still generously grease the pans with butter or cooking spray and a dusting of flour or sugar to ensure nothing sticks.

But to test whether or not Caraway’s ceramic bakeware is as nonstick as it claims, I skipped my usual prep process. I tested a number of different sweet and savory recipes without lining or greasing my pan. And I also made sure to test ooey gooey recipes that are notorious for sticking.

First up? The stickiest of all baked goods, which is, of course, the sticky bun. I made a big batch of honey and walnut-topped sticky buns, put them directly into Caraway’s rectangular 13×9-inch baking pan, and braced for failure.

When I unmolded the hot sticky buns, there were a few walnuts that stubbornly remained attached to the bottom. But for the most part, the buns, nuts and warm, sticky honey slid right out of the pan and onto my serving board. Later, when the pan was cool, I plucked out the walnuts that had chosen to stay behind with my fingertips. I wiped away whatever stickiness was left behind with a damp sponge. No scrubbing, no soaking, no chiseling off burnt caramel bits with the back of a spoon. Caraway bakeware literally takes seconds to clean. (If you ever are in a pinch, here’s how to clean a burnt pan.)

For my next test, I kept with the honey-glazed theme and made a pan of sweet corn muffins with honey butter. I deposited each spoonful of batter directly into Caraway’s muffin pan without cupcake liners. Once cool, the muffins slipped right out without any need for loosening them with a butter knife or giving the pan a few good thumps on the countertop.

To test the Caraway baking sheets, I whipped up a batch of my favorite quick and easy coconut macaroons, which are little more than coconut flakes and sticky sweetened condensed milk. Once cool, all it took to remove the cookies from the pan was a slight tilt. The coconut macaroons slid right off!

Caraway Bakeware Features

Now that we’ve established that the Caraway 5-piece baking set does a remarkable job of actually baking things (that’s most important!), it’s safe to gush about how beautiful it is. Available in seven gorgeous colors, the set looks and feels luxurious, making it well worth its price tag.

Caraway pans are made from sturdy, high-quality aluminum steel, which is renowned for its ability to heat up quickly and evenly, and for holding a steady temperature. The outside is glazed mineral-based ceramic, which is made from natural materials.

Caraway bakeware is oven-safe up to 550 degrees F. Though it may seem silly to mention that a line of bakeware is oven-safe, it’s important to note that when traditional nonstick pans heat to 500 degrees, they can potentially release toxic chemicals and noxious odors. With Caraway, there’s no need to worry.

Pros

• Truly nonstick
• Performed flawlessly in testing
• Hefty weight
• Easy to clean
• Even heating
• Gorgeous colors
• Baking sets are easy to store with included organizers
• Made with eco-conscious materials and fair labor practices

Cons

• Higher price point
• Not dishwasher-safe

Caraway Bakeware FAQs

Katie Bandurski/Taste of Home

What’s so special about Caraway cookware and bakeware?

Caraway makes some of the safest cookware and bakeware on the market. It offers nonstick cooking surfaces without the use of harsh, toxic chemicals. Compared to traditional nonstick coated pans, Caraway pans are eco-friendly, too. They release 60% less CO2 during the manufacturing process and ship in recycled cardboard packaging with low impact print dyes and zero plastic. Caraway cookware is also ethically made. The company works with manufacturing partners where employees work in safe conditions, and are paid fairly with health benefits.

Can you use metal utensils on Caraway?

Just as with other nonstick cookware, metal utensils can scratch and chip ceramic coating. Stick to wood, nylon or silicone utensils to keep Caraway in good condition.

Speaking of nonstick cookware, you might like the new Caraway steamers (they deliver perfect dumplings in minutes!).

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

5-star reviewer, Michael, says: “This is a very nice set. I found the cooking very evenly distributed. Cleanup was very easy with this ceramic finish. Very pretty pans too. They are definitely expensive, but seem worth the cost as they should last hopefully a lifetime.”

“The best bakeware set I’ve ever owned!” verified purchaser, darianne, writes. “I don’t think I have had nonstick trays that actually don’t have things stick. I’ve already made batches of muffins, and they slip out easily making for such an easy clean-up!”

Laurie agrees, explaining: “Got this after falling in love with Caraways cookware set, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful design, sturdy durable ceramic make and just amazing nonstick surfaces. Has everything you need for any baking recipe and organizes super well. Love it!”

Final Verdict

There’s no denying that Caraway bakeware is pricey, but there’s also no denying that it’s worth every single penny. This is a bakeware set that, if cared for correctly, may very well last you a lifetime. It’s a worthwhile investment that will likely save you money in the long run.

I’d recommend purchasing pans individually if you’re giving them as a gift, and these would be a truly spectacular gift for any person in your life who’s serious about baking. They fit right in with our other gift ideas for cake bakers, bread bakers and pie bakers!

But if you’re purchasing Caraway bakeware for yourself, it makes sense to splurge on our tested 5-piece bakeware set, which costs $50 less than if you purchased all the pieces individually. Or the 11-piece bakeware set, which will save you $150. We expect to see it added to many wedding registries, too!

Where to Buy Caraway Bakeware

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You can pick up Caraway bakeware at a variety of retailers. Grab the 5-piece set on Caraway’s website, Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond for around $250. While you wait for your brand-new bakeware to arrive, start daydreaming about all the delicious baking recipes you’re going to make!

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