Three pans, three price points, three different takes on ceramic nonstick cookware. If you are trying to ditch PFAS-coated pans and want something that actually works, GreenPan, Caraway, and Our Place are the names you keep running into. I have cooked with all three brands extensively, and the differences between them are bigger than the marketing would have you believe.
Here is what actually matters: how safe each coating is, how long the nonstick surface lasts under real cooking conditions, and which one gives you the best value for the money. Let me put them side by side.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | GreenPan Valencia Pro | Caraway Cookware Set | Our Place Always Pan 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (set) | $250-$400 | $395 (4-piece) | $150 (single pan) |
| Coating | Thermolon Minerals | Ceramic nonstick | Ceramic nonstick |
| PFAS-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PTFE-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oven Safe | Up to 600F | Up to 550F | Up to 450F |
| Induction Compatible | Yes (Magneto base) | Yes | Yes (2.0 version) |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes | Yes (hand wash recommended) | No |
| Body Material | Hard-anodized aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Country of Origin | China/Italy | China | China |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime |
| Certification | GREENGUARD Gold (coating) | None specific | None specific |
The Coating: What Each Brand Actually Uses
All three brands claim to be free of PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. That is the baseline. But the coatings are not identical, and the differences affect performance.
GreenPan uses Thermolon, a proprietary ceramic coating developed by the company that essentially invented ceramic nonstick. They have been at this longer than anyone else. Thermolon is a sand-derived coating that GreenPan manufactures themselves, and it carries a GREENGUARD Gold certification for low chemical emissions. According to Dr. Philip Landrigan, who has studied the health effects of environmental chemicals extensively, ceramic coatings represent a meaningful improvement over fluoropolymer-based surfaces because they do not release toxic fumes when overheated.
Caraway uses a proprietary ceramic coating that they describe as mineral-based, but they have not disclosed the specific formulation the way GreenPan has. Their marketing emphasizes what is absent (PFAS, PTFE, lead, cadmium) rather than what is present. The coating is applied in multiple layers, which Caraway says improves durability.
Our Place also uses a ceramic nonstick coating, similar in general composition to Caraway’s. Their transparency about the specific coating chemistry is limited, but independent testing has confirmed it is free of the chemicals they claim to exclude. Our Place added a diamond-infused ceramic to their 2.0 version, which they say improves scratch resistance.
Winner for safety: GreenPan. All three are free of known harmful chemicals, but GreenPan’s Thermolon coating has the most third-party testing behind it and carries actual certification. The other two are safe by available evidence, but GreenPan has done the most to prove it.
Cooking Performance Head to Head
This is where the conversation gets interesting, because a pan is only as good as what it does on a stove.
Heat Distribution
GreenPan’s Valencia Pro line uses a hard-anodized aluminum body with their Magneto induction base. The heat distribution is excellent and noticeably more even than the other two. Cold spots are minimal. Caraway’s aluminum body distributes heat well but not quite as evenly as the hard-anodized GreenPan. Our Place has the weakest heat distribution of the three, with the center running noticeably hotter than the edges.
Nonstick Performance
When all three are brand new, the nonstick performance is comparable. Eggs slide. Pancakes flip. Everything works. The real question is what happens over time.
After six months of regular use, GreenPan held its nonstick properties the best. The Thermolon coating on the Valencia Pro line is thicker and more durable than what I experienced with either competitor. Caraway maintained good nonstick for roughly four to five months before I started noticing slight sticking with eggs. Our Place was the first to show degradation, with nonstick performance declining around the three-month mark with daily use.
Dr. Shanna Swan, whose research focuses on environmental toxicology, has noted that while ceramic coatings are safer from a chemical perspective, consumers should understand that they inherently have a shorter nonstick lifespan than PTFE-based coatings. This is true across all three brands. The question is just how long each one lasts.
Versatility
Caraway wins here because of the set format. You get a fry pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and Dutch oven that cover the vast majority of cooking needs. GreenPan sells similar sets and individual pieces across many product lines, giving you the most flexibility. Our Place is designed as an all-in-one, and while the included steamer basket is genuinely useful, you cannot sauté a large batch of vegetables in the Always Pan the way you can in a proper 12-inch skillet. The sloped sides limit capacity.
Durability Over Time
I tracked all three brands over a full year of cooking, and here is how each one held up.
GreenPan Valencia Pro: The hard-anodized exterior resisted scratches and maintained its appearance. The ceramic coating showed minor wear after about eight months of regular use but remained functional. No warping, no handle loosening.
Caraway: The exterior stayed beautiful, and Caraway’s matte finish hides minor scuffs well. The ceramic coating degraded faster than GreenPan’s, but the pans remained usable. Some users report warping with high heat, but I did not experience this because I follow the brand’s recommendation to use low to medium heat.
Our Place Always Pan 2.0: The 2.0 version with the diamond-infused coating lasted longer than the original, but still showed the most wear of the three. By month eight, the nonstick was noticeably inconsistent. The pan body itself held up fine, but the coating is the limiting factor.
NonToxicLab’s testing across all three brands confirmed what many owners report: ceramic nonstick cookware is a consumable item, not a buy-it-for-life purchase. Plan on replacing your pan every one to three years depending on use intensity and which brand you buy.
Winner for durability: GreenPan, followed by Caraway, then Our Place.
Price and Value Breakdown
Comparing price requires looking at what you actually get.
| What You Get | GreenPan Valencia Pro | Caraway Set | Our Place Always Pan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$60-80 per pan | $395 for 4 pieces | $150 for 1 pan |
| Cost per piece | $60-80 | ~$99 | $150 |
| Includes storage | No | Yes (magnetic racks) | No |
| Replacement cost | Individual pieces | Full set | Individual pan |
| Extras included | None | Lids, storage | Steamer, spatula |
If you are building a full cookware collection from scratch, Caraway’s set offers strong value because you get everything you need in one purchase, plus the storage solution (which is genuinely nice for small kitchens). The cost per piece works out to roughly $99 each.
If you want to buy individual pieces and mix with other cookware you already own, GreenPan gives you the most options and the lowest per-piece cost. Their sales are also frequent and significant.
Our Place is the most expensive on a per-pan basis, but it includes a steamer basket and wooden spatula, and the design appeal is part of what you are paying for.
Winner for value: GreenPan for budget buyers, Caraway for set buyers.
Design and Kitchen Aesthetics
This matters more than cookware purists want to admit, because your pan is going to sit on your stove or hang on a rack every day.
Caraway wins the aesthetics category by a wide margin. The color options (Sage, Cream, Navy, Marigold, and seasonal releases) are genuinely beautiful. The matte finish looks premium, and the magnetic pan racks solve a real storage problem. If how your kitchen looks matters to you, Caraway is hard to beat.
Our Place is a close second. The Always Pan looks great, and the color naming (Steam, Spice, Blue Salt) feels intentional and design-forward. It photographs well, which is why you see it all over social media.
GreenPan prioritizes function over aesthetics. The Valencia Pro line has a professional, utilitarian look. It is attractive in a “serious cook” way but not in the lifestyle-brand way that Caraway and Our Place have mastered.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy GreenPan If:
- You cook frequently and prioritize coating longevity
- You want the best nonstick durability in a ceramic pan
- You prefer buying individual pieces over a set
- You use high oven temperatures (up to 600F)
- Budget matters and you want to start with one or two pieces
Buy Caraway If:
- You want a complete set in one purchase
- Kitchen storage and aesthetics are a priority
- You primarily cook on low to medium heat
- You like a curated, matching set
- You are replacing all your cookware at once
Buy Our Place If:
- You want a single versatile pan for a small kitchen
- You steam frequently and value the included steamer basket
- Design and color options matter more than maximum durability
- You are looking for a gift (it presents and unboxes beautifully)
- You do not need large-capacity cooking
The Overall Winner
For most people switching to non-toxic cookware, GreenPan is the best overall choice. It has the most established coating technology, the longest nonstick lifespan, the best oven tolerance, and the most flexible product lineup. You can start with a single fry pan for under $60 during sales and build from there.
Caraway is the best set purchase if you want everything at once and care about how it all looks in your kitchen.
Our Place is the best gift or single-pan purchase for people who want one pan that does a reasonable job at many things, though it is not the strongest performer in any single category.
None of these are bad choices. All three are genuinely free of PFAS and the other chemicals that make conventional nonstick cookware concerning. The differences come down to how long the coating lasts, how well they cook, and what you are willing to spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are GreenPan, Caraway, and Our Place really PFAS-free?
Yes. All three brands have been tested and confirmed free of PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. GreenPan has the most extensive third-party testing and carries GREENGUARD Gold certification for their Thermolon coating.
Which ceramic pan lasts the longest?
GreenPan’s Thermolon coating consistently outlasts both Caraway and Our Place in real-world use. Expect roughly 1.5 to 3 years of good nonstick performance from GreenPan, 1 to 2 years from Caraway, and about 1 to 1.5 years from Our Place with daily use.
Can I use metal utensils on these pans?
None of these brands recommend metal utensils. Ceramic nonstick coatings are harder than PTFE but still scratch when exposed to metal. Use wood, silicone, or bamboo utensils to maximize the lifespan of any ceramic pan.
Why do ceramic pans lose their nonstick over time?
All ceramic nonstick coatings degrade with use because the microscopic surface texture that creates the nonstick effect gradually wears smooth. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, who has researched the health implications of cookware materials, has noted that this degradation is a trade-off for avoiding the forever chemicals found in traditional nonstick coatings. The worn ceramic is not harmful; it simply stops being nonstick.
Is it safe to use these pans if the coating is chipped?
Yes. Unlike PTFE coatings, ceramic coatings are made from inorganic minerals (primarily silica). If small chips occur, the exposed aluminum underneath is not ideal for direct food contact, but the ceramic particles themselves are not toxic. That said, once a pan is chipped, its nonstick performance is compromised and it is time to replace it.
Do any of these brands offer recycling programs?
Our Place has a recycling partnership where you can send back old pans. GreenPan does not have a formal take-back program but their pans are recyclable as aluminum scrap. Caraway does not currently offer a recycling program. If sustainability is a priority, check each brand’s current policies, as these programs change frequently.
You Might Also Like
- Best Non-Toxic Cookware - Full roundup of every safe cookware option
- GreenPan Cookware Review - In-depth look at GreenPan’s full lineup
- Caraway Cookware Review - Detailed Caraway set review
- Our Place Always Pan Review - Initial impressions and safety analysis
- Caraway vs GreenPan - Head-to-head between these two
- Caraway vs Our Place - Direct comparison
- Best Non-Toxic Bakeware - Safe options for the oven
- Best Non-Toxic Air Fryers - PFAS-free air fryer picks
- Best Non-Toxic Food Storage - Safe containers for leftovers
- Best Cooking Oils for a Non-Toxic Kitchen - Oils that pair well with ceramic pans
Sources
- GreenPan Thermolon Technology documentation (greenpan.us)
- Caraway materials and safety certifications page (carawayhome.com)
- Our Place Always Pan 2.0 product specifications (fromourplace.com)
- GREENGUARD Gold Certification standards (ul.com)
- Environmental Working Group cookware safety guidelines (ewg.org)
- Swan, S. “Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts.” Scribner, 2021.
- Trasande, L. “Sicker, Fatter, Poorer.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019.
