Our Rating:
Key Features:
No surface burning
Non-stick ceramic layer
Easy to clean
The Only Bakeware Set You’ll Ever Want to Use
The difference between baking with Caraway’s bakeware set and my run-of-the-mill muffin and cookie tins is night and day. These gorgeous pans cook like pricey non-stick options without the risk of plastic chemicals and heavy metals leaching into your food. And they look gorgeous doing it!
Caraway’s ingenious ceramic nonstick coating makes cleanup as easy as can be, so you can spend less time at the sink and more time reaping the goods of your baking. And the included organizers mean you can keep these tins out of the way without resorting to putting them in that dirty drawer under the stove.
Review Criteria Ratings
| Overall Rating | 5/5 |
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Non-toxic non-stick
- Available in seven colors
- Includes 11 pieces
- Comes with shelf organizers
Cons
- Require careful handling
- Loaf pan is a little small
- A little pricey
Should You Buy It?
Whether you love baking and make a habit of it, or only pull out the cookie sheet on the holidays, you need this bakeware set. They may be pricier than bargain tins, but they’re worth every penny. The amount of time you’ll save at cleanup is worth the investment. Plus, they’re super cute!
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Caraway Bakeware Overview
Caraway has made a name for itself with its beautiful array of ceramic-coated kitchenware. Caraway cookware remains my favorite of all the many sets I’ve tested through the years and I recently fell in love with their tea kettle.
All their products are made without plastics or harmful coatings and rely on natural nonstick ceramic. Their manufacturing processes are more earth-friendly than those of chemical-laden options and their packaging is 100% plastic free.
Caraway’s bakeware set promises to be just as safe and usable as its other cookware lines. The set includes 11 pieces, but each is also available as a standalone purchase.
In all, the full bakeware set includes:
- 18” x 13” baking sheet
- 10” x 15” baking sheet
- 12 cup muffin pan
- 9” x 13” rectangle pan
- 18” by 13” cooling rack
- 9” square pan
- 1 lb loaf pan
- Two 9” circle pans
- Two convenient cupboard organizers
- Two cork trivets
The set is available in seven different colors: gray, cream, navy, marigold, sage, slate, and perracotta.
Each pan has an aluminized steel body with a non-toxic ceramic coating. The largest baking sheet features stainless steel handles and the cooling rack is made of food-grade stainless steel.
As a diehard Caraway fan, I was more than excited to get to test out their bakeware lineup. Keep reading to see my full Caraway Home Bakeware Set review and to find out if these tins lived up to my expectations.
How It Performs
Like all Caraway products, my new pan set came in a heavy-duty box without any plastic packaging. It literally only had one small piece of paper tape on it, which was very nice to see.
I pulled out my navy pans (prepacked in their organizers) and got to work testing them with my very messy baking skills.
Cooking
The aluminized steel at the heart of the Caraway pans provides excellent heat distribution. I didn’t find any hotspots during baking.
They also seemed sturdier than standard tins. They didn’t warp or expand in the heat, even after repeated uses. With the muffin tin, both the top surface and the cups heated equally which meant no burnt muffin tops with raw bottoms.
The unique non-stick ceramic layer also helps prevent surface burning. I’ve experienced this phenomenon with their cookware too. The super slick surface retains an air gap between the food and pan which prevents charring.
At 8 inches by 4 inches, the loaf tin is a little smaller than most standard tins. This may be something worth considering if you make a lot of sweet breads.
The other pans were all well-sized. I especially like the extra space on the sides of the muffin tin. These wide handles made it super easy to get it in and out of the oven.
Overall, I really enjoyed cooking with these pans. They were a huge improvement over my cheap baking tins and produced evenly cooked, char-free muffins, cookies, and sweet bread.
Clean Up
While cooking with these pretty pans is a delight, it’s at cleanup where they really earn their price tag.
The ceramic coating on all sides of the pans prevents food from sticking. You still need to apply a thin coat of butter or oil to take advantage of this feature. But if you do that, you’ll hardly have any cleanup at all.
Most of the tiny flecks of food left on my muffin tin and cookie sheet after putting the goods on the cooling rack rinsed away with water alone. And after a quick wipe with a warm soapy rag, the surfaces looked as good as new.
Because I’ve avoided chemical non-stick pans like the plague, I’ve never not had to soak a muffin tin after using it (even with a hefty application of oil). So, for me, this is a huge selling point.
In terms of cleanup, there isn’t much more to say. Which should tell you exactly how easy these amazing pans are to clean.
Storage and Care
The only real con I have found with Caraway’s products is that they require a high degree of care. The awesome non-stick coating is easily scratched by metal utensils, so these are a big no-no. But even stacking these pans with other heavy pans can cause gouges in the ceramic.
I have been using my Caraway pots and pans for nearly a year now and they look almost as good as they did on day one. But I’ve been especially careful with them.
I never stack them, never use anything but wood and silicone utensils, and always hand wash and hand dry them. I expect this bakeware set will require a similar degree of care.
For this reason, I would strongly suggest using the included storage organizers. These make it possible to store the large set without taking up much room. And, more importantly, without stacking the individual pieces.
The cloth storage bins feature a magnetic closure along the front that allows you to access the pans easily even inside a cupboard.
You do need a good amount of vertical space in the cupboard to fit these, but they’re compact horizontally, which is nice. They’re also pretty cute, so they match the aesthetic of the pans perfectly.
Alternatives
The Caraway Bakeware Set comes with everything you need to prepare cakes, bread, cookies, muffins, and more. And the amazing nonstick, chemical-free coating offers hassle-free cleanup no matter how messy you get. But, if you can’t afford to splurge on this premier set, there are some other options.
The All-Clad Pro-Release Nonstick Bakeware Set features ceramic-backed nonstick that’s PFOA-free. These aluminized steel pans are durable, easy to use, and easy to clean. The set includes 10 pieces and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
For nonstick pans that are highly affordable, we recommend the Elbee Home Nonstick Bakeware Set. These aluminized steel pans are more durable than most bargain brands and feature a PFOA-free nonstick coating. The set includes the most important 8 pieces and stacks well for easy storage.
| Features | Caraway Home | All-Clad Pro-Release Nonstick | Elbee Home Nonstick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Aluminized steel with ceramic coating | Aluminized steel with ceramic layer | Aluminized steel |
| Chemical Coating? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pieces | 11 | 10 | 8 |
| Price | $$$$ | $ | $$ |
While these other options are a good choice for those on a limited budget, we highly recommend the Caraway bake set if you have the means to indulge. Not only are these pans more durable than others and completely chemical-free, but they cook and clean like a dream.
To find out more about the Caraway 11-piece Bakeware Set or purchase one for yourself, click here.
