What makes Caraway different
Caraway started as a direct-to-consumer cookware brand focused on one specific claim: ceramic-coated cookware without PTFE, PFOA, or PFAS. What separates them from most brands in that space is third-party verification. They test every coating batch with third-party PFAS screening covering more than 600 compounds. Most competitors making PFAS-free claims stop at self-certification or manufacturer warranties. Caraway publishes the testing standard and the lab, and the claim is traceable to a primary source.
Their materials page lists exactly what each surface is made from: sol-gel ceramic for their original line, vitreous enamel for cast iron, and uncoated 5-ply stainless for their newer stainless line. Sol-gel is an inorganic coating applied through a chemical vapor process, distinct from spray-on ceramic coatings used in lower-end pans. Vitreous enamel is glass fused to cast iron at high temperature: it is chemically inert under normal cooking conditions and has been used in cookware for more than a century.
Since 2023, Caraway has expanded significantly. The original ceramic-coated cookware now has a stainless steel parallel line and enameled cast iron. All three lines pass our vetting criteria. This guide covers every Caraway product we have vetted and published.
What we look for
The standard that matters most is whether a pan has any PFAS-based chemistry in its coating. This applies to the entire class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: PTFE (Teflon), PFOA, and the hundreds of short-chain substitutes now marketed as safer alternatives. PFAS coatings are persistent in the environment and in tissue, and the newer short-chain variants are mobile in water. A claim of PFOA-free does not mean PFAS-free.
Caraway's enameled cast iron and stainless steel lines eliminate the question entirely: there is no coating chemistry. Their original ceramic line uses sol-gel, which they independently test for PFAS to over 600 compounds. That level of screening goes beyond what the industry norm requires, and we require it as well: for ceramic-coated pans to appear on this site, the brand must document the coating type and provide a testing standard traceable to a primary source.
Enameled cast iron has one additional checkpoint: enamel quality. We verify the brand uses vitreous enamel (glass-fused at high temperature), not a painted enamel that can chip under thermal stress. Caraway uses vitreous enamel and discloses this on the product pages with a source URL traceable to their materials documentation.
600+
PFAS compounds screened per coating batch by Caraway
13
published Caraway products that passed our full vetting
Our picks
1. Caraway Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: Best overall
The 10.5 in. size covers the most common single-serve and two-person cooking tasks: searing, sauteing, and finishing in the oven. Vitreous enamel means the cooking surface is glass fused to cast iron at high temperature, chemically inert under any stovetop or oven heat you would use for cooking. Caraway third-party tests to over 600 forever chemicals and makes the testing standard publicly traceable on their materials page.
For most people building a non-toxic kitchen, this is the piece to start with. It works on all stovetop types including induction, goes from stovetop to oven, and handles the daily workload without the seasoning concerns of bare cast iron. The vitreous enamel interior is nonreactive with acidic foods, which bare cast iron is not.
2. Caraway 6.5 qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven: Best cast iron Dutch oven
The Caraway 6.5 qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is the workhorse pot for braising, soups, stews, and long cooks. At 6.5 qt it handles batches for four to six people. The round shape is the practical default: it fits standard burners, stacks predictably, and handles anything from bread dough to a short rib braise.
Same third-party PFAS testing to over 600 compounds as the rest of the enameled cast iron line. The enamel interior is glass-fused, not sprayed, so it has no coating layers to chip or separate under the thermal stress of a long braise. The lid is also enameled cast iron, which adds significant weight but seals tightly and retains moisture for braising. Sources for materials and testing at carawayhome.com/pages/our-materials.
3. Caraway 8 qt Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven: Best large-format
The Caraway 8 qt Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven exists for whole-bird and large-roast cooking where the oval footprint matters. A whole chicken fits comfortably without turning its legs sideways. Oblong cuts like lamb shoulder or pork loin sit flat rather than folded into a round pot.
At 8 qt and oval, this is a specialty piece. The same vitreous enamel construction and PFAS testing applies as with the rest of the cast iron line. Worth noting: fully loaded with a roast and liquid, plan for 15-plus pounds. That weight is the same reason cast iron is prized for heat retention: once hot, it stays hot through the duration of a long roast.
4. Caraway 3.5 qt Enameled Cast Iron Braiser: Best braiser
The Caraway 3.5 qt Enameled Cast Iron Braiser is shallower and wider than the Dutch ovens: designed for pieces that need surface contact for a sear before a covered braise. Chicken thighs, short ribs, and braised greens all cook better in a wide, shallow vessel than in the deep walls of a Dutch oven.
At 3.5 qt with a wide base, the pan encourages a single-layer braise: everything contacts the heat source, and the tightly fitting lid recirculates steam. Vitreous enamel throughout, same PFAS testing. The wide base also makes it practical as a large skillet when you remove the lid, giving this one piece more versatility than its braiser label suggests.
5. Caraway 10.5 in. Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan: Best grill pan
The Caraway 10.5 in. Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan creates grill marks and surface sear from a stovetop burner. This is exactly where most non-stick-coated grill pans fail: PTFE coatings begin degrading around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and grill pans are typically used at temperatures approaching or exceeding that threshold.
The ridged surface here is vitreous enamel over cast iron, not a non-stick coating. There is nothing to cook off at high heat. Third-party PFAS tested to over 600 compounds as with the rest of the line. The 10.5 in. footprint fits a standard burner and handles two chicken breasts or a few salmon fillets side by side without crowding.
6. Caraway 1.8 qt Enameled Cast Iron Mini Sauce Pan: Best small-batch
The Caraway 1.8 qt Enameled Cast Iron Mini Sauce Pan handles small-volume cooking: a single serving of oatmeal, a sauce reduction, reheating leftovers, or warming a few cups of soup. At 1.8 qt it is small enough to use without waste for everyday tasks while providing the same chemical profile as the larger pots.
Small enameled cast iron pieces are less common than the standard Dutch oven size, which makes this useful for people who want a consistent material set without relying on a thin stainless or non-stick pan for everyday sauce work. Same vitreous enamel construction and PFAS testing to over 600 compounds. The tight-fitting lid comes included.
7. Caraway Stainless Steel Fry Pan: Best coating-free fry pan
The Caraway Stainless Steel Fry Pan is for cooks who want no coating at all. At 10.5 in. and 5-ply stainless construction, nothing touches the food except food-grade steel. The material question is fully resolved without any surface chemistry to evaluate.
5-ply construction means five bonded layers: two outer stainless layers, an aluminum core for heat conduction, and two more stainless layers. Caraway uses this structure for even heat distribution without hot spots. Stainless steel requires more technique than non-stick: proteins need time to release from the surface rather than being moved immediately. That is a use pattern, not a material flaw. Caraway certifies this line free from PTFE, PFAS, lead, and cadmium, all traceable to their materials disclosure page.
8. Caraway 4.5 qt Stainless Steel Saute Pan: Best stainless saute
The Caraway 4.5 qt Stainless Steel Saute Pan covers the broad middle of stovetop cooking: anything where you want more sidewall than a skillet offers but less depth than a saucepan. The straight sides help with liquid reduction and make flipping or stirring with a spatula practical without spillover.
At 4.5 qt and stainless throughout, no coating is involved anywhere in the cook path. The explicit certification for PTFE-free, PFAS-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free is traceable to their materials page. Works on all stovetop types including induction and is oven-safe to high temperatures.
9. Caraway Stainless Steel Sauce Pan: Best stainless sauce pan
The Caraway Stainless Steel Sauce Pan is a 3 qt pan for sauces, grains, and blanching. This is the daily workhorse volume: enough for pasta water in small batches, grains for two to three, or a full pot of sauce without the excess weight of a larger pot.
5-ply construction means the base heats evenly. The stainless interior has no coating chemistry. The glass lid lets you monitor without lifting and is included. For blanching vegetables quickly, the 3 qt volume with tall sidewalls keeps water temperature stable better than a wide, shallow pan.
10. Caraway 6.5 qt Stainless Steel Dutch Oven: Best stainless Dutch oven
The Caraway 6.5 qt Stainless Steel Dutch Oven is the coating-free alternative to the enameled cast iron Dutch ovens above. Stainless steel Dutch ovens are uncommon; most are either bare cast iron or enameled cast iron. This one removes the enamel-chemistry variable for cooks who want maximum material simplicity.
At 6.5 qt it handles the same batch volumes as the cast iron version. The tradeoff is heat retention: cast iron holds heat longer than stainless, which matters for long braises or oven-to-table presentations. Stainless heats and cools faster, which is an advantage when you want to stop cooking quickly or need a lighter pot for stovetop use.
11. Caraway Large Baking Sheet: Best PFAS-tested baking sheet
The Caraway Large Baking Sheet is an 18x13 in. baking sheet with an aluminized steel base and sol-gel ceramic coating. Bakeware is a category where the rest of the market has a near-universal PFAS problem: most non-stick baking sheets use PTFE coatings, and many sheet-pan liners including some silicone mats contain fluorinated release agents.
Caraway third-party tests this coating with the same standard as the cookware: over 600 PFAS compounds, batch by batch. The sol-gel ceramic is the same coating type as their original cookware line. Aluminized steel distributes heat more evenly than standard steel and handles the oven temperatures typical for roasting and baking.
12. Caraway Glass Airtight Container Set, 13-Piece: Best food storage
The Caraway Glass Airtight Container Set, 13-Piece is the only food-storage set on this site with third-party PFAS testing: LightLabs screened more than 600 PFAS compounds and found none. Borosilicate glass bodies resist thermal shock for freezer-to-microwave transitions. Polypropylene lids must be removed before microwaving.
The 13-piece set includes containers sized from 3.2 oz to 135 oz, covering small sauce storage through batch meal-prep quantities. The lids seal with a four-clip airtight closure rather than a friction fit, which reduces leakage when carried in a bag. For a household replacing plastic containers with glass, this kit covers the most use cases in a single purchase.
13. Caraway 10-Cup Coffee Maker: Best plastic-free coffee maker
The Caraway 10-Cup Coffee Maker has a fully plastic-free brew path: glass water reservoir, stainless steel water path and shower head, and a stainless brew basket with a reusable stainless mesh filter. Most auto-drip coffee makers route hot water through plastic components during the brewing cycle.
The carafe is borosilicate glass with a stainless handle. The reusable stainless mesh filter means no paper filter waste. For the non-toxic kitchen audience, this is the most direct answer to the plastic-leaching coffee maker question: no plastic contacts the brew water at any point in the brewing process.
What we passed on
Caraway's original ceramic non-stick cookware (their first product line) used a sol-gel ceramic coating and passed PFAS testing. Several products from that older line are archived on this site as Caraway transitioned its focus toward enameled cast iron and stainless steel. Those archived products were not removed for failing a disqualifier: they were retired as the newer lines became available and the catalog was consolidated around the current product set. The 13 products in this guide represent every currently available published Caraway product that has passed our full vetting.
Care and maintenance
Enameled cast iron requires a few specific habits to preserve the enamel surface. Avoid sudden thermal changes: do not put a cold pan on a screaming-hot burner or plunge a hot pan into cold water. The enamel is glass; thermal shock can fracture it. Use wooden, silicone, or coated utensils rather than bare steel, which can scuff the enamel surface over time. Hand washing is recommended because dishwasher detergents accelerate enamel degradation.
Stainless steel pans develop a rainbow iridescence after high-heat cooking. This is normal oxidation and does not affect performance or safety. A small amount of white vinegar on a cloth removes it. For stuck food, deglaze with a splash of water or broth while the pan is still warm: the liquid lifts the fond without scrubbing.
FAQ
Does Caraway use PTFE or Teflon?
No. Caraway's enameled cast iron and stainless steel lines have no coating at all. Their ceramic line uses sol-gel ceramic, an inorganic coating chemically distinct from PTFE. All three lines are third-party tested for PFAS to over 600 compounds, with results traceable to their materials documentation at carawayhome.com/pages/our-materials.
What is vitreous enamel and is it safe?
Vitreous enamel is glass fused to metal at high temperature. It is used in medical and food-service equipment and has a safety record spanning more than a century of cookware use. The enamel layer does not leach under normal cooking temperatures and is not reactive with acidic foods, unlike bare cast iron.
Is the Caraway ceramic coating the same as PTFE non-stick?
No. PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer that degrades when overheated, releasing fluorinated particles and gases. Sol-gel ceramic is an inorganic silica-based coating applied through a different chemistry with no fluorine compounds. Caraway tests their sol-gel coating for PFAS to confirm no fluorinated compounds are present, with testing covering over 600 PFAS variants.
Can Caraway pans go in the dishwasher?
Caraway recommends hand-washing enameled cast iron to preserve the enamel surface. Stainless steel and the ceramic-coated baking sheet are technically dishwasher-safe but hand-washing extends their lifespan. The glass food storage containers and their polypropylene lids are dishwasher-safe.
What stovetops are Caraway products compatible with?
All Caraway cookware works on gas, electric, and induction stovetops. The cast iron and stainless pieces are oven-safe to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. The baking sheet is rated for standard oven temperatures. The coffee maker is a countertop appliance and does not go on a stovetop.
Cover image: Chaos Tyrone via Pexels (Pexels License). Source.
