I made the executive decision this week to donate my old pots and pans and invest in a brand new set of cookware for myself. There are a lot of green cookware options out there. Most are ridiculously expensive. But I found a few I could afford and I'm sharing my research here.
Just so you know, I loved my old Calphalon set. I got the big jumbo set for a wedding present ten years ago and used the dickens out of them. I am a huge fan of anodized aluminum. It really is amazingly non-stick (and trust me, I've put that claim to the test on more than one occasion) and super easy to clean.
But
in researching eco-friendly cookware, Calphalon does not rank very high. From what I gather, some of their anodized aluminum pieces are safe, while their cheaper lines are not. And I guess their factories are not environmentally-friendly.
So I decided to seek out a greener alternative that wouldn't break the
bank.
The website, www.greencookwareset.com
was a fantastic resource to research and shop for eco-friendly pots and
pans. So the info in quotation marks below is from this website. To be considered eco-friendly, the pans must be PFOA and PTFE free. All of the pans below are free of these chemicals, so I'll skip the repetition by not mentioning it for each one.
For purposes of easy comparison, I'll give you the price and
links to a 10" fry pan (or the closest size if they don't make a 10") from each brand, starting with most expensive and
working my way down [to the pans I can actually afford]:
BEKA ECO-LOGIC BEKADUR CERAMICA 9.5" - $79.95
"The pan is green inside and out. It uses environmentally friendly water-based Bekadur Ceramica nonstick coating. The outside has a natural finish that uses no chemical dyes for coloring. The production process is entirely powered by renewable energy."
MANPAN 10" - $78.00
"Made in the USA (Spokane, Washington) in an eco-conscious facility. ManPan uses environmentally responsible manufacturing process powered by renewable energy. These pans are called ManPans because they are tough as nails and built to last."
ZWILLING JA HENCKELS THERMOLON 10" - $69.95
"Perfect for everyday cooking offers high-quality, environmentally responsible option for the cook that wants to avoid oil or butter. This pan's Thermolon Granite coating is easy to clean, scratch-resistant and protected by a lifetime warranty."
"Belgian 'ferno ceramic' nonstick coating. Handles are removable so pan can be transferred from stovetop to oven baking. These are safe for all cooktops, including induction."
CUISINART GREEN GOURMET 10" - $29.95
"Perfect for anyone looking to transition from regular nonstick to green, eco-friendly nonstick cookware. It is hard anodized aluminum construction with a ceramic-based nonstick surface. GreenGourmet pans are made from 70% recycled steel and the packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and printed with soy ink."
OZERI GREEN EARTH 10" - $29.95
"Ozeri is a brand primarily known for digital scales and other small household electronics. Now they're making thier mark in cookware with the Green Earth pan which come in a fun lime green color."
And which one did I end up choosing?...
The CUISINART GREEN GOURMET 12PC SET for $204. The Cuisinart set seemed like the winner for my needs and budget. This set consists of mostly pots, so I'm thinking I will buy a couple of the Ozeri pans since I really like that lime green color.
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