Caraway Bakeware Review: Brilliant Nonstick, With Conditions

Noting it plainly: affiliate links appear in this article and a purchase through one earns us a commission. It didn't stop us writing a whole section on the four things you can no longer do in your own kitchen.

Let's settle the main question early, because two independent testers already have.

The nonstick works. Genuinely, impressively works. So this Caraway bakeware review isn't going to spend a thousand words proving something nobody disputes. The interesting part is what you agree to in exchange, because this set comes with rules, and those rules change how you bake.

What's in the Box

1. Two baking sheets, an 18 by 13 inch and a 10 by 15 inch
2. A 9 by 13 inch baking pan and a 9 inch square pan
3. Two 9 inch round cake pans
4. A 12-cup muffin pan and a 1 lb loaf pan
5. A cooling rack, cork trivets, and two cloth-lined storage organisers
6. $445 on Caraway's site, down from $605, with a five-piece half set at $275

The storage organisers are more useful than they sound. They hold everything vertically so the pans don't stack and scratch each other, which on a ceramic coating is the difference between a set that lasts and one that doesn't.

The Nonstick, Actually Tested

Taste of Home's reviewer went after the claim properly. Sticky buns, corn muffins and coconut macaroons, all baked with no grease and no liner.

Results: the muffins “slipped right out without any need for loosening,” the macaroons released with a slight tilt, and the sticky buns came away cleanly apart from a couple of walnuts that lifted off by hand. Cleanup took seconds.

The Kitchn's tester, running the set for over 18 months, reported the same thing. Everything released without added fats or parchment, and a badly burned sheet pan of sauce came clean with surprising ease.

Two testers, two kitchens, same verdict. That's about as solid as this kind of evidence gets.

The Four Rules

Now the part the product photos leave out.

None of these is unreasonable for ceramic. All of them are real constraints, and two deserve extra attention.

Not being broiler-safe means anything you'd normally finish under a grill needs another pan. And not preheating empty rules out the trick of getting a sheet pan screaming hot before the vegetables hit it, which is how you get proper caramelisation.

The Browning Trade-Off

This one is genuinely under-discussed and it's a baking-performance issue, not a nitpick.

Caraway's pans are light coloured. Light surfaces reflect heat where dark surfaces absorb it, so bakes come out paler than they would in traditional dark metal. The Kitchn's reviewer noticed exactly that with the muffin pan, reporting lighter browning than she was used to.

For cakes and delicate bakes, that's arguably a feature. Nobody wants scorched edges on a sponge. For cookies with crisp bottoms, deeply browned muffin tops, or roasted vegetables with real colour, you'll be adding a few minutes or accepting a paler result.

Worth knowing before you replace every dark pan you own.

Buy Now

Does It Last?

The most valuable thing in any Caraway bakeware review is long-term data, and The Kitchn has it.

After more than 18 months of regular use with proper care: no staining, no chipping, no coating deterioration. The surface held up.

Two honest caveats sit alongside that. One large baking sheet buckled while heating and returned flat once cooled, which the manufacturer documents as normal behaviour rather than a fault. And as Taste of Home put it, “any baking cookware with a ceramic coating will chip or scratch eventually.” Care extends that. It doesn't cancel it.

Who Should Buy It

Buy it if you bake often, want to skip parchment and grease, care about avoiding PTFE and PFOA, and are willing to hand wash. The materials story here is real, not marketing.

Skip it if you broil regularly, if your baking depends on dark pans and deep browning, or if a dishwasher is non-negotiable in your kitchen. And if you only bake occasionally, the five-piece half set at $275 covers most of what you'd actually reach for.

Final Verdict

The Caraway bakeware set earns its reputation. Two independent testers found the nonstick performs exactly as advertised, and one confirmed the coating survives 18 months intact. What it costs you is flexibility: no broiler, no empty preheat, no dishwasher, and paler browning than dark metal gives you. Accept those and it's excellent. Resent them and you'll have spent $445 on a set you keep working around.

FAQs

How much is the Caraway bakeware set?

$445 on Caraway's site against a $605 list price, with a five-piece half set at $275. The brand discounts continuously, so check current pricing.

Is Caraway bakeware oven safe?

Up to 550°F, but not broiler-safe, and you shouldn't preheat the pans empty.

Can you put it in the dishwasher?

No. Hand wash only, and stick to wood or silicone utensils to protect the coating.

What is the coating made of?

A ceramic coating over an aluminized steel core, free of PTFE, PFOA, cadmium and lead.

Does food really not stick?

In independent testing, yes. Muffins, macaroons and sticky buns all released from ungreased, unlined pans.

How long does the coating last?

One reviewer recorded no chipping or deterioration after 18 months of regular use. Ceramic will wear eventually, so careful handling matters.

Pricing was accurate at the time of writing. Caraway runs near-permanent promotions, so confirm the current price before ordering.