Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cookware

Eco-Friendly Non-stick Cookware Review, by Jeannette Koczela

For the past few years I've been concerned about cookware leaching toxins into the food I cook. It doesn’t make sense to buy fresh organic foods and then use toxic cookware.

After a lot of research and cooking trials, I've found what I think is the best cookware for eco-conscious as well as health-conscious cooks.

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cookware features a ceramic-based non-stick, non-toxic petroleum-free coating, which is hard anodized, scratch resistant, and easy to clean.

The non-stick ceramic coating on these green pans does not contain PTFE and PFOA, substances often used in nonstick cookware, that have raised health concerns over the years. The coating is also water-based, unlike other nonstick coatings on the market, which are solvent-based.

Using these fabulous pots and pans is heavenly. They are easy to clean, nothing sticks and you can cook on a low temperature. They also need little or no cooking oil - water sautéing works perfectly in these pans. I love using them, especially the grill pan, which makes everything taste like the next best thing to grilling.

GreenGourmet Cookware has hard anodized construction for quick and even heat distribution, and everything cooks on low to medium heat. The pans are oven-safe to 500 degrees F with a lifetime limited warranty. They should be washed by hand in mild soapy water.

For these eco-friendly pans, Cuisinart's manufacturing techniques reduce harmful carbon emissions by consuming less energy, and the packaging is made from 100 percent recycled materials, printed with 100% biodegradable soy ink.

This quality cookware should last a lifetime with proper care. "Proper Care" means never burning the bottom off your pans, never putting them in the dishwasher, never scraping the finish with sharp implements, never using them to pound nails, brain burglers, play tennis, etc.

I've heard reports of food sticking to these pans - for instance, eggs. The Cuisinart GreenGourmet is highly rated among green non-stick pans, and I don't know how much the sticky issue applies to them. I've owned my pans for 8 months, and here's my experience:

Eggs never stick but one trick is that the egg sitcks until it is cooked well enough...you can't turn it over too soon. Patience is necessary. I love the pans---they make cooking so easy. I always wash them with a soft sponge.

Savvy Veg Comments:

The big plus with these green non-stick pans for me is that they are non-toxic, non-stick, light weight and easy care. I'm happy to wash them gently by hand with hot water. My experience is that any kind of scouring with any cleaning product other than a soft cloth destroys any non-stick surfaces. Ditto putting them in the dishwasher.

I love heavy bottomed 18-10 gauge stainless steel pans, and cook most foods in them, but they are useless for cooking pancakes, crepes, dosas, eggs, grilled sandwiches, veggie burgers, potatoes or any sticky food.

For me, non-stick pans are essential, and the toxicity in conventional PTFE or PFOA pans is a big downside.

Every non-stick pan I've owned has deteriorated over time, no matter how careful I am. I've never managed to make cast iron pans non-stick, and they're so heavy. My carbon steel wok isn't even close to non-stick after umpteen years, and tends to rust no matter how much I season it. I was very happy with a hard anodized aluminum pan I bought, but it was ruined when somebody scoured it with a metal scrubber, and even hard anodized aluminum is apparently toxic.

I searched for green pan reviews and found a lot of comments on forums. There was a wide range of experiences with ceramic non-stick pans. People either love or hate them. Many commenters preferred a carbon steel pan over ceramic based or cast iron. Those must also be seasoned. Salt apparently destroys non-stick qualities. Some people swear by using NO SOAP for cleaning.

Here's one of the most useful comments I found about green non-stick pans: "So far, no matter the brand, they all seem to quit being nonstick for me after about two to three months. Even if only used for something low heat, like omelettes. That said, the trick I discovered is to 'season' the pan once it loses its non-stickiness. I have 'season' in quotes, because I don't add oil, I just bake the thing (Greenpan) at 400 degrees F for an hour after cleaning it. It brings most of the non-stick properties back."

Conclusion: Ceramic non-stick pans do seem to behave differently than the pans we're used to, and that can take a little adjustment, but we have no hesitation in recommending the Cuisinart GreenGourmet non-stick pans.

If you'd like to try them, buy from us through Amazon - they have the best prices, and we get a tiny commission!

On Amazon, the price varies on everything from one minute to the next. That's why there are no prices included with the pans shown below.

At the time of writing, the 12 piece set was listed at $249, the saute pan at $79, the 12 inch skillet at $49, the grill pan at $47, and the 10 inch skillet at $37. Those prices are big discounts from retail, and seem reasonable for quality non-toxic non-stick cookware that's built to last.

Cuisinart GG-12 GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly Nonstick Hard Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Hard Anodized Eco-Friendly Nonstick 5-1/2-Quart Saute Pan with Helper Handle and Cover

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly 12-Inch Skillet with helper handle

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly Cookware 10-Inch Open Skillet

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly 11-Inch Square Grill Pan

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