CALPHALON CERAMIC COOKWARE – THE BEST 2021 SETS REVIEWED

the luxury Calphalon ceramic pots and pans on the grey kitchen

About Calphalon

Calphalon is a well-known, reliable cookware brand founded in 1963. (1) The company is owned by Newell Brands, who owns several other big brands such as Rubbermaid. They make a wide range of cookware, bakeware, kitchen utensils and cutlery manufactured in Toledo, Ohio in the US.

making food in ceramic pan

You might know Calphalon from their classic nonstick, stainless steel or hard-anodized line as they have been around for longer. Their Classic Ceramic cookware line is one of the newer additions to their lineup. Let’s put it to the test and see how it fares in the kitchen!


Calphalon Ceramic Cookware Sets Reviewed 

We have included 2 set options available to purchase, the full 11-piece set and a set of the 2 frying pans. Most of the individual pieces are also sold separately.

*We select and review all products independently, based on our opinion and customer feedback. Some links on this page are affiliate links and if you make a purchase we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more info on our disclaimer page.

#1

Calphalon 11-Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

- Base material: hard anodized aluminum
- Interior: ceramic nonstick
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top

Our Rating

7.6

#2

Calphalon 2-Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Omelet Chef Pan Set 

- Base material: hard anodized aluminum
- Interior: oil-infused ceramic nonstick
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top

Our Rating

8.4

#1

Calphalon 11-Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

- Base material: hard anodized aluminum
- Interior: ceramic nonstick
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top

Our Rating

7.6

#2

Calphalon 2-Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Omelet Chef Pan Set 

- Base material: hard anodized aluminum
- Interior: oil-infused ceramic nonstick
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top

Our Rating

8.4

Calphalon 11 Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set 

Design: 

True to the name, the set features a classic look with shiny white interior and space grey exterior. It gives a nice contrast and goes well with many kitchen styles. The stainless steel handles do stay cool for quite long time, they are comfortable and feel good to hold.

The cookware pieces have a nice weight to them, not too heavy but not too light either. The lids are clear tempered glass, allowing you to monitor the food while cooking. They also come with vent holes. So far so good, it looks and feels promising!

Materials: 

The set is made of hard-anodized aluminum. This material heats evenly and responds to heat changes quickly. This results in both quick heating and cooling times giving you more control over the cooking process. It is designed for electric, gas, halogen, glass or electric ring stovetops but not compatible with induction tops.

The white ceramic coating is nonstick even without the use of any oil. It is PTFE-free, PFOA-free, lead and cadmium free too, so you are covered on the safety front. The stainless steel handles stay cool longer but will heat up during extended use.

Usability:

The Calphalon Classic Ceramic is a balanced cookware set, giving you options for many cooking methods and this set can be the cornerstone of most home kitchens. The pieces are oven safe up to 450 degrees so baking and roasting is covered as well.

We really liked the functionality of the set with the pouring stouts on the saucepans and Dutch oven and the built-in straining function on the lids. Makes draining pasta or vegetables a lot quicker and you’ll make less mess while pouring sauces.

The measuring marks on the inside of some pieces also help saving time with many recipes. Another useful detail is the height of the lid handles, you can use a kitchen cloth and still grab them easily, unlike on some other models we tested.

The porcelain cover did not stick to anything we have tested it with. With that said, we have to make a note here. Porcelain is usually the most sensitive of all cookware surfaces. While it should – and in this case, it is – performing well while the cookware is new, you need to follow the manufacturers recommendations carefully if you want to keep it that way.

These include not using cooking sprays (use oil vaporizers instead), not using any knives or metal utensils that might scratch the surface and not washing them in a dishwasher. Take care of this set and it will take care of your cooking for a long time! Calphalon certainly thinks so since they cover the set with a 10-year warranty.

Cleaning:

As we said earlier, no dishwasher allowed, so hand cleaning it is. It goes quick and easy though as the ceramic surface is doing its job well and does not stick to anything. Use softer scrubs with hot soapy water.

The disadvantage of the white color is that it can get stained after cooking and storing some stronger colored food such as curry or tomatoes in it. To avoid this, we suggest that you don’t let colorful food sit in the cookware for long, store leftovers in a different container instead. The stain can be removed but you might need to soak the item before trying to gently scrub it again.

The set contains:

  • 8-inch Fry Pan
  • 10-inch Fry Pan
  • 12-inch Round Griddle
  • 1.5-quart Saucepan & Cover
  • 2.5-quart Saucepan & Cover
  • 3-quart Sauté Pan & Cover
  • 5-quart Dutch Over & Cover

Pros

  • Stylish, classic look
  • True nonstick porcelain surface
  • Useful details like pouring pouts and straining holes on lids
  • 10-years warranty

Cons

  • Not compatible with induction stoves
  • Hand wash only

Calphalon 2 Piece Classic Ceramic Nonstick Omelet Chef Pan Set 

If you are more of the omelet and pasta sauce kind of cook, or already own a different cookware set but still wanna give porcelain a try you can buy just the two pans from the full set. These pans have a nice weight to them, and the long handles will keep cool during your breakfast preparation.  

They conduct heat evenly, both eggs and bacon cooked perfectly, without sticking to the side.

One trick you wanna use for the perfect omelet is heating up the pan before you pour the eggs in to get that restaurant look. It goes without saying that you should only use silicon or wooden utensils for stirring and turning.

Since these pans are a part of the previous cookware set, everything we have said about the materials and cleaning applies here as well.

The set contains:

  • 8-inch Fry Pan
  • 10-inch Fry Pan

Alternatives to consider

If you want to stick to Calphalon, they manufacture cookware sets with different coatings such as this 10-Piece Classic Nonstick set or the very popular but pricier 15-Piece Premier Space Saving Nonstick set.

Some good ceramic alternatives you might want to check out are this WearEver 15-Piece Ceramic Nonstick set or the 12-Piece GreenPan Rio selection.

Conclusion 

The Calphalon Classic Ceramic cookware set is a stylish looking option for any kitchen with good usability at a decent price point. We recommend it to anyone who is looking for safe, healthy cookware for weekend or occasional cooking and doesn’t mind the extra care the ceramic nonstick coating needs. If you are cooking every day you might look for different options as heavy-duty use will reduce the durability of this set.

Tammy Kennedy
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