Is Caraway Non-Toxic? What Caraway Ceramic Non-Stick Pans Are Really Made Of

Because of the Caraway’s strong marketing and stylish cookware sets, my blog readers often ask me whether Caraway pans are truly non-toxic.

I have been evaluating the brand and contacting the company regularly since 2019 to better understand what their cookware is made of and how it is tested.

In this post, we will discuss what Caraway ceramic pans are made of, whether they contain PFAS or Teflon, the available test reports, whether they are safe for pregnancy, and if they are worth it.

Is Caraway Cookware Non-Toxic?

To begin with, Caraway offers a range of products including stainless steel and enameled cast iron cookware as well as bakeware sets, loaf pans, baking sheets, and food storage containers.

This post focuses on Caraway ceramic coated non-stick cookware only.

The company states that their non-stick cookware is free from PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, plastic, lead, and cadmium.

Between 2024 and 2026, the company consistently provided me with the following 3rd party test reports to support this claim (note that the first three are dated “2024” and the last one is dated “2020”):

• California Prop 65 leaching tests for heavy metals
• LFGB test report for PFOA, PFOS, and extractable metals
• FDA leaching tests for lead and cadmium
• NSL Analytical PTFE detection test

According to the test results, Caraway cookware is free from the mentioned substances because the levels are too low to be measured even by high-precision independent testing methods.

However, in my opinion, the test reports are only reassuring to a point because the full list of ingredients in their ceramic coating remains undisclosed.

Without knowing the exact materials, it’s difficult to assess safety or to request targeted safety tests beyond the standard ones.

Additionally, they use nanoparticles during production and do not provide 3^rd party tests proving there is no leaching during cooking.

Therefore, currently, I am not comfortable about calling Caraway ceramic coated cookware “non-toxic.”

What Is Caraway Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware?

Unlike GreenPan’s Thermolon and Always Pan’s Thermakind, Caraway does not have a specific, branded name for their ceramic non-stick coating.

In our 2025 correspondence, they described it as follows:

Our non-stick ceramic coating is made using a sol-gel process derived from silicon (not to be confused with silicone), which is essentially sand. The coating contains an inorganic matrix of silica and oxygen and small amounts of proprietary binders and reinforcing agents that help create the non-stick effect. While the exact formulation is proprietary to our manufacturing partners, I can confirm it is free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium.

To reiterate, Caraway’s non-stick ceramic coating results from a sol-gel process, using undisclosed binders and reinforcing agents for non-stick performance.

Despite the fact that the description sounds like the main ingredient is “sand,” the solution (sol) in the sol-gel process can potentially involve other compounds, such as:

• titanium dioxide nanoparticles (source)
• poly-zirconium oxides and poly-aluminum oxides (source)
• chromium oxides and silicon carbides (source)
• siloxanes (source)
• fluorine (source).

Because there is no full disclosure of the materials used in the coating, it’s hard to evaluate its safety.

Nanoparticles In Caraway Ceramic Coated Cookware

In addition, the coating production involves nanoparticles:

Yes, our ceramic non-stick coatings do contain nanoparticles in their liquid state during production. These are what give the coating its ceramic properties. However, once the coating is cured at high temperatures, it forms a solid, non-porous layer. At that point, the nanoparticles are fully bonded into the surface and are not released during regular use.

Even though they are claimed to be fully bonded and inert after curing, there is ongoing research around nanomaterials and their potential health impacts.

For instance, engineered nanomaterials like titanium dioxide can migrate into food—particularly when exposed to high heat, acidic ingredients, or scratches.

Animal studies have shown that these particles can cross intestinal barriers, accumulate in organs, and even cause precancerous lesions and immune disruption (source, source, and source).

In other words, at this point—I cannot call Caraway ceramic coated cookware “safe.”

If you’d like to review my findings on ScanPan, Swiss Diamond, Blue Diamond, HexClad, GreenLife, and other well-known non-stick cookware brands, you can access them through my email here.

Does Caraway Use Teflon Or PFAS?

Caraway says that its ceramic cookware does not use Teflon or PFAS chemicals.

To check this claim, the company had the coating tested for a very large group of PFAS chemicals.

In fact, the lab looked for 221 different PFAS substances. These included well-known ones like PFOA and PFOS, as well as many newer and less common PFAS that are sometimes used as replacements:

• LFGB test report for PFOA, PFOS, and extractable metals
• NSL Analytical PTFE detection test

The testing used advanced methods that can detect even very small amounts of chemicals. As a result, the lab was able to look for both older PFAS and newer versions like GenX.

So, what did they find?

In the tested pan coating, none of these PFAS chemicals were detected above the lab’s limits. This supports Caraway’s claim that their ceramic cookware is PFAS-free and does not contain Teflon (PTFE).

However, it is important to understand what this result does—and does not—mean.

The testing shows that certain known PFAS chemicals are not present. But it does not tell us the full list of ingredients used in the ceramic coating.

In other words, we know what is not there, but we still do not fully know what is there.

Because of that, while Caraway ceramic coated cookware avoids PFAS, this alone does not automatically make it non-toxic.

What Are Caraway Pans Made Of?

The construction is similar to that of non-stick cookware by other popular brands, including HexClad non-stick cookware.

Specifically, Caraway ceramic pans are constructed with several layers designed to improve heat distribution and durability.

At the center is an aluminum core that allows the pan to heat quickly and evenly.

The base includes stainless steel, which adds strength and makes the pan compatible with induction cooktops.

The cooking surface has a ceramic non-stick coating created through a sol-gel process.

Typically, the cookware is finished with tempered glass lids.

Further, Caraway pots and pans with a ceramic-coated surface are oven-safe up to 550°F.

Plus, they are available in various colors and shapes to suit different kitchen styles.

The oblong handle repeats the shape of the Caraway flower seed, which is the inspiration behind the company’s name.

Is Caraway Cookware Safe During Pregnancy?

Personally, I would not choose Caraway ceramic non-stick cookware, including during pregnancy, for several reasons.

First, the non-stick surface is made using a sol-gel ceramic process. This type of coating may involve nanoparticles. Although the company says these particles are bonded into the coating, there are still ongoing questions about whether tiny particles could migrate into food over time.

Second, the coating is not fully transparent in terms of ingredients. We know it is silica-based, but the complete formula—including binders and other additives—is not disclosed. Because of that, it is difficult to evaluate what other substances may be present and how they behave during cooking.

Third, ceramic coatings are known to be somewhat fragile. Over time, they can chip, scratch, or wear down. When that happens, the underlying aluminum may become exposed. In certain conditions, aluminum can migrate into food, which raises additional concerns.

Bottom line: I do not consider ceramic non-stick cookware the best choice, including during pregnancy. For more details on as to why – please visit my blog post Is Ceramic Coating Safe?.

If you want the simplest and most well-understood materials, options like stainless steel, cast iron, or glass cookware may be a more reliable choice.

Is Caraway Non-Stick Cookware Worth It? What Buyers Say

I have not personally used Caraway pots and pans, so I can only summarize what reviewers commonly report online.

Many buyers appreciate the appearance and convenience of Caraway cookware. The pans heat evenly, and the ceramic coating allows food to release easily when the cookware is new.

However, some owners of Caraway ceramic non-stick cookware report that the non-stick performance decreases over time. This is common for ceramic-coated cookware in general because the coating gradually wears down with repeated use.

That said, I do not consider the practical issues of primary importance.

The main reason I would not use Caraway ceramic coated non-stick cookware is safety concerns.

Thus, the full composition of their ceramic nonstick coating is not disclosed.

Additionally, I haven’t seen sufficient test reports proving there is no leaching of nanoparticles during cooking.

Therefore, in my opinion, Caraway non-stick cookware is not worth it.

Final Takeaway: Is Caraway Non-Toxic?

On the one hand, Caraway provides 3^rd party laboratory reports supporting claims that their ceramic non-stick cookware is free from PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.

On the other hand, however, the complete list of ingredients used in the ceramic coating remains undisclosed.

In addition, nanoparticles are used during the manufacturing process, and the long-term health effects of these materials are still being studied.

Because of these uncertainties, I am not comfortable describing Caraway ceramic cookware as truly non-toxic.

If you prefer cookware with the longest safety track record, consider more transparent choices like stainless steel or cast iron.

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