GreenPan is a cookware company that markets itself as a healthier option than traditional non-stick cookware. The brand describes their products as “healthy ceramic nonstick” that can keep consumers safe from “toxic conventional nonstick pans.”
But is GreenPan actually healthier than regular non-stick cookware? What materials does GreenPan use? Are chemicals used in traditional non-stick pans even unhealthy? And how do real users rate and describe the experience of cooking with GreenPan?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze clinical studies on non-stick cookware chemicals to give our take on whether regular non-stick cookware should be avoided.
We’ll then review the materials used in GreenPan to share our opinion on whether the brand actually provides a healthier solution, and compare GreenPan to another popular non-stick brand called Caraway.
We'll also feature real GreenPan customer reviews, including one from America’s Test Kitchen that put GreenPan’s performance to the test.
Is Regular Cookware Even Unhealthy?
Some of GreenPan’s marketing claims suggest that standard cookware is unhealthy, and this does appear to be the case at least in regard to non-stick cookware.
The chemical compound used to coat non-stick surfaces is called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and a 2017 medical review found that “PTFE-coated cookware releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity.”
While traditional non-stick cookware is convenient, it may be harmful for human health and to the environment, and we recommend avoiding it.
As we documented in our HexClad reviews article, clinical studies have shown that PTFE alternatives are no safer than PTFE.
So when a non-stick cookware brand advertises that their products are “PTFE-free,” that does not necessarily make them less toxic.
Is GreenPan Actually Safer?
GreenPan uses a trademarked material called “Thermolon” for their non-stick coating.
On GreenPan’s Technology page, the brand states that “the raw material for our coating is derived from sand,” and that the Thermolon coating “is manufactured without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium.”
We can’t find information anywhere on the GreenPan website detailing the specific materials and chemical compounds used to make their non-stick coating, and without this information it’s impossible for consumers to make an informed purchase decision.
We hope that in the future GreenPan clearly publishes the Thermolon materials on their product pages.
In 2019, GreenPan was sued by a California plaintiff who alleged that the pans do in fact contain toxins.
This lawsuit has either been settled out of court or is still ongoing, but no information about the toxicity of the brand’s products seems to have emerged as a result of this suit.
At this point, we have no information to suggest that GreenPan is safer than traditional non-stick pans.
We can’t find any clinical trials proving their products to be less toxic, and the brand fails to clearly publish the materials used for their non-stick coating.
GreenPan vs. Other Non-Stick Pans
America’s Test Kitchen published a YouTube video reviewing the performance of various non-stick skillets. GreenPan was one of the brands reviewed:
A CNN Underscored review found that GreenPan’s non-stick was worse than other brands:
@cnnunderscored What brand should we test next? Link in bio to shop our faves! #nonstickpans #cookingtips #cookware #kitchenware #commissionearned ♬ originalljud - Slay
We Tried GreenPan Ourselves
As the author of this article, I wanted to try GreenPan myself to share my thoughts on whether or not it's worth the money after several months of use.
Convenience is a major benefit. This pan's non-stick feature is excellent, and even after cooking things like eggs with minimal oil that would typically stick to a cast iron pan, none of the food sticks and cleanup is quick and easy.
I have been using this pan for several months and haven't noticed any erosion, but I will update this article in the future if I do.
I don't notice any changes to the taste of the food, or any other negative effects from using GreenPan.
Overall, I'd rate this product a 7/10.
It's highly functional, but my questions about the safety of the non-stick surface will likely lead me to returning to a cast iron pan in the future.
GreenPan vs. Caraway
Caraway is another cookware brand that uses ceramic non-stick, and is positioned as a healthier alternative, so consumers are often curious about which of the two products is a better option.
As we documented in our Caraway Cookware reviews article, the brand suffers from the same issue as GreenPan: Caraway claims to use a non-toxic coating but fails to provide proof that their coating is not toxic, and fails to clearly describe the chemicals used to create the coating.
We consider GreenPan and Caraway to be equivalent from a health perspective, so which brand is a better option will come down to cost.
A 10.5” frying pan from Caraway currently costs $95, while a 11” frying pan from GreenPan currently costs $39.61.
We consider GreenPan to be a better option than Caraway due to its affordability.
Real People Try GreenPan
A TikTok user named “Clean Living by Avery” purchased an entire GreenPan set and claims that all of the products got scratched quickly:
@cleanlivingbyavery Replying to @jnewty108 so disappointed with them & their response! I’m switching to stainless steel for now & learned my lesson! Please save your money! #nontoxic #greenpan #fyp ♬ original sound - Clean Living by Avery
A YouTube creator named “KG Simple reviews” had a more favorable review that includes an unboxing, but it’s important to keep in mind that the very first use of a new pan will almost never yield any issues:
Our Clean Cookware Pick
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is our top cookware pick.
It's free of any questionable chemical coatings. The only material is cast iron.
We consider cast iron pans to be the safest and healthiest cookware option. Cast iron has been used for thousands of years and is non-toxic.
Cast iron pans are made primarily from iron and steel, and are somewhat naturally non-stick because of the effects of fat heated on the cooking surface over time.
We recommend purchasing some Lodge Pan Scrapers along with the pan.
They're only $4.90, and cast iron pans can be challenging to clean for the first few uses without scrapers, before the pan becomes "seasoned."
GreenPan Real Customer Reviews
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
GreenPan's 12" frying pan has been reviewed over 3,000 times on Amazon at the time of updating this article, with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Placeholder” who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
"I've had it for a few months now with no sign of breakdown on the finish. Easy clean up. It cooks evenly and is pretty light too. I love cast iron but it's too heavy for me anymore."
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Nate” who gave the product 1/5 rating:
"This product lacks durability, is not as scratch resistant as described (do not use metal utensils). It ill only stay non-stick for roughly a week."
Where to Get the Best Price
GreenPan is sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here’s a price breakdown for a one-time purchase of the brand’s popular “Rio” cookware set, at the time of updating this article:
Brand website: $179.99 (free shipping, link)
Target: $143.99 (free shipping, link)
Walmart: $125.99 (free shipping, link)
Amazon: $125.99 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
GreenPan’s Rio set currently is around 50% cheaper at Amazon and Walmart than the brand's website.
GreenPan Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of GreenPan in our opinion:
Pros:
- Non-stick works based on our test
- Free of some common contaminants
- Great design
- Easy to clean
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- Unclear materials in non-stick coating
- Less healthy than cast iron in our opinion
