How We Tested

Best of the Year arranged for Caraway Home to ship cookware sets directly to 10 evaluators. The panel comprised Best of the Year analysts, expert judges and consumer testers. A chef judge put the cookware through its paces in the kitchen, while a second chef also used it as part of one tester’s household evaluation. Consumer testers used the set in their homes in place of their regular nonstick cookware.

Testers rated the set’s overall performance, ease of use and effectiveness and reported any problems or concerns. All hands-on users also assessed how easily the pots and pans could be cleaned after use. Specialist reviews included two sustainability judges, and a packaging expert. Judges also assessed consumer need, innovation, functionality, value, everyday practicality, comparative performance, apparent durability and potential claim exaggeration. 

Best of the Year analysts also examined the product’s marketing claims, packaging and material selection, along with purity analyses submitted for review and also made publicly available to consumers.  In addition to their domain expertise, Best of the Year analysts weighed in with their consumer perspectives.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

To say our cooking experts and consumer testers were enthusiastic about this one would be an understatement. The high scores were off the charts, and that feedback was consistent across different kitchens, different cooking styles and different types of dishes. In fact, when we asked what they’d change, most struggled to come up with anything. One consumer tester’s comments pretty much captured it: “Stylish and pretty, and looks great on my stovetop with great performance across a wide variety of foods. Just love!” Another said: “The whole set far exceeded expectations.”

"This was my favorite package of all. Talk about an unboxing experience. Well done, Caraway!" -Best of the Year Judge & Packaging Category Expert

The storage system got almost as much attention as the cooking performance. Testers loved the magnetic organizers and cabinet-door lid holder, with one calling the setup simply “genius.” And our experts saw something bigger in those details. As one cookware judge put it, “The real innovation is that it was designed around the entire consumer experience, not just the cookware itself.” The pans cook well, yes, but someone also thought about where you’re going to put them, what happens to all those lids and whether you’ll actually want the set sitting out in your kitchen.

“The real innovation is that it was designed around the entire consumer experience, not just the cookware itself.” -Best of the Year Judge & Packaging Category Expert

Even the box got noticed. One packaging reviewer called it her favorite package of all, praising the unboxing experience, while the set arrived compact and protected in packaging made almost entirely from recyclable paper and board. That attention to detail carried through the whole experience, and when we asked consumer testers what they would change, most couldn’t come up with anything. Our testers felt the same way about performance. Even one testers, who's been using Caraway pots and pans for almost eight years said the performance holds up, even when the pans show their wear.

To preserve the ceramic cookware's longevity and performance, our experts note the importance of proper care. Follow Caraway’s instructions around heat, utensils and cleaning rather than treating these pans exactly like traditional nonstick. Hand washing especially, will help preserve them.

"Stylish, pretty, looks great on my stovetop. Great performance across a wide variety of foods. Just love!" -Best of the Year Consumer Tester

Best of the Year Bottom Line

Good cookware should make cooking easier, not give you another kitchen problem to solve. Caraway performs well, cleans up easily and comes with a storage system that answers the eternal question of where to put all those pans and lids. And if you’re going to use them every day, it doesn’t hurt that they’re pretty.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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