When it comes to cookware, there’s nothing more essential than a good nonstick frying pan.
Over the last century, Le Creuset has become one of the most recognized and respected cookware brands in the world, with its durable, beautiful, and versatile cookware.
However, they are also well known for their above-average price tags.
Is the Caraway fry pan just as good as the Le Creuset frying pan – for a lower price?
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Contents
Le Creuset Pan vs. Caraway Frying Pan – Which is Better?
Both Le Creuset and Caraway have beautifully designed fry pans – the Le Creuset offers a classic, timeless design, and the Caraway offers stunning pastel colors and gorgeous handles. Though the Le Creuset is slightly better at searing and browning, the Caraway can withstand higher oven temperatures.
Both brands include PFOA-free and non-toxic materials, and excellent nonstick qualities. While the Le Creuset fry pan price is higher, it comes with a longer trial period and a lifetime warranty.
Caraway vs. Le Creuset Brands
Le Creuset is a French brand manufacturing durable and some of the best-designed cookware since 1925.
Their timeless Dutch Oven was the first colorful cookware and is now considered iconic, but they also offer high-quality enameled cast iron, stoneware, non-stick, and much more.
In 2023, one of their most popular collections is the Toughened Nonstick Pro collection, which includes pots and pans up to four times stronger than the average cookware.
Here, we are going to focus on their Toughened Nonstick Fry Pan – with sizes available from 8” to 12” inches.
Caraway is one of the popular new kids on the block, giving Le Creuset a run for its money, and gaining recognition from trusted consumer review sites online.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Jordan Nathan, New York-based Caraway is a direct-to-consumer cookware startup, offering eco-friendly ceramic cookware, selling exclusively on their site (which enables them to cut prices).
We’ll take a closer look at the Caraway fry pan, and compare it with Le Creuset’s toughened nonstick frying pan.
Where is Caraway Cookware Made?
All Caraway cookware is made in world-class factories based in China and India, all of which maintain the required standards for BSCI or SMETA.
Where is Le Creuset Cookware Made?
For the past 90 years, all Le Creuset cookware is made in France – about 100 miles north of Paris.
Le Creuset Nonstick Pan & Caraway Fry Pan Pros & Cons
| Le Creuset | Caraway | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Le Creuset * High quality & durable * 90-day trial & lifetime warranty * Reputable company * Better at browning and searing * Heats evenly * 5 sizes to choose from * Not made in China * Compatible with all cooktops * Oven safe up to 550 degrees | Caraway * Non-toxic coating is safe * No need for oil, everything glides off easily * Heats fast and evenly * Tall edges prevent spills * Oven safe up to 650 degrees * Compatible with all cooktops * Simple cleanup * Price is lower than the Le Creuset |
| Cons | Le Creuset * Pricier than the Caraway - check today's price * The pan may turn sticky after about a year | Caraway * The slippery surface may not allow for deep browning * Restocking fee applies if you return the pan damaged |
Expert Opinions
The Kitchn reviewer was immediately impressed by the super-slippery nonstick ceramic surface of the Caraway skillet, and by the fact that it can hold a ton of ingredients, and is very easy to clean. Another Kitchn reviewer claims it has the Le Creuset frying pan for 5 years and it still cooks as if it is brand new.
Prudent Reviews was impressed with the heat distribution of the Carway pan and thought it was just as good as high-end skillets like Calphalon, but didn’t like that there are no flared rims for pouring and sliding delicate food to the plate.
Materials
The Le Creuset fry pan is made of forged hard-anodized (and dishwasher safe!) aluminum that enhances its strength and durability, while ensuring quick and even heating. The company claims it is four times stronger than average, with a triple-reinforced PFOA-free surface that wipes clean and is tough enough to use metal utensils.
You just have to look at the width of the gage to see how substantial the pro pan is and how it will last for years.
The plate at the bottom makes them induction cooktop-safe, gas, electric, and oven-safe (up to 500°F).
The textured triple-reinforced PFOA-free coating will not chip or flake, it is completely flat and is ideal for browning and searing – with or without oil – and is super-easy to clean. You can even use metal utensils with this one.
The hollow handles remain cool on the stovetop, however, they will become hot when used in the oven.
In comparison, the Caraway fry pan is made from an aluminum core (free of lead and cadmium) coated with its proprietary, mineral-based non-stick ceramic enamel (Teflon-free) and a stainless steel plate at the bottom for induction cooking.
Their pots and pans are lightweight, truly nonstick, compatible with gas, electric, and induction stovetops, oven-safe to 650 degrees (compared with 500 degrees for the Le Creuset), and they simply look gorgeous.
The interior is smooth to the touch and has a noticeable soft glow to it that adds to its appeal.
The light gray coating makes it easy to see how the cooking is progressing. However, we wouldn’t use metal utensils with this pan.
Design & Versatility
Both frying pans are safe for gas, induction cooktop, and electric cooktops, and are oven-safe up to 500 F (Le Creuset) and 650 F (Caraway).
The Le Creuset Pan features its classic and chic design, with a matte black finish and a stainless steel handle. It also has the Le Creuset logo imprinted on the handle.
Caraway offers pots and pans in gorgeous colors and silhouettes. We feel the design is so gorgeous it actually calls you to use them, and cook more.
The frying pan is available in 5 unique colors – Cream, Grey, Perracotta (pink terracotta), Sage, and Navy. You can also purchase a magnetic rack or a canvas holder for the lid and pan – when you buy the entire cookware set.
The Caraway handle is rounded and super comfortable, and it doesn’t slip in your hand when you tilt or pour. It is made with mirrored stainless steel and the middle is hollow, which disperses heat and allows the handle to stay cool. There’s even a small bump on the underside to warn you to keep your hands away from the heat.
And what about oven safety?
While both are oven-safe, Le Creuset is oven-safe only up to 500 F, while the Caraway is oven-safe up to 650 F.
Price & Warranty
| Price/Shipping | Trial/Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Fry Pan | $110-$158 at Le Creuset Free shipping in the US | 90-day trial Lifetime Warranty |
Caraway Fry Pan | $85 at Caraway Free shipping in the US | 30-day trial |
The Caraway 10.5″ fry pan costs $95 with free shipping and returns, and you get a 30-day trial. If you are not satisfied with the pan, you can send it back (in its original packaging) and get a full refund.
However, Caraway reserves the right to charge a 15% restocking fee if the pan is damaged and components are missing.
The Le Creuset nonstick pan comes in 5 sizes (8″ -12″) and is priced between $110-$158 accordingly. Compared to the Caraway 10″ pan, the Le Creuset 10″ pan costs $130, with free shipping, a 90-day trial period, and a lifetime warranty.
And, if you add about $100, you can purchase the Le Creuset 3-piece toughened nonstick pro set, which includes the 10″ Toughened Nonstick PRO fry pan and 4 1/4 qt. Toughened Nonstick sauté pan with glass lid.
In comparison, the Caraway cookware set ($395) includes the 10″ fry pan, the 3qts saucepan, the 4.5 qt sauté pan, and the 6.5 qt Dutch oven – in 5 beautiful colors and designs.
What Utensils Can I Use With Caraway and Le Creuset Fry Pans?
For both Le Creuset and Caraway, we recommend only using silicone (or nylon) and wooden utensils. Other utensils, especially metal with sharp edges, can damage the frying pans. However, the Le Creuset manual states that you can use metal utensils when cooking with their nonstick pan.
👉 See the top-rated cooking utensils sets of 2023!
Are Le Creuset and Caraway Pans Dishwasher-Safe?
You should only wash the Carway pans by hand. In comparison, Le Creuset is dishwasher-safe!
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The KM Team
