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When it comes to non-toxic cookware, GreenPan has long been one of our all-time faves (it’s featured in two of our most-read guides on the site, The Best Non-Toxic Cookware Brands, Tested and 6 Safe Non-Toxic Bakeware Materials to Consider). The non-toxic nonstick line is an industry leader in sustainable nonstick and has been ever since it pioneered its proprietary Thermolon coating. Unlike other nonstick pans made with dangerous PTFEs, Thermolon is derived from sand, making these pans totally safe to produce and use. (Plus, they’re gorgeous!)
But with so many different lines to choose from, it can be tough to zero in on just which is the right one for you. Luckily, we’ve done the dirty work for you, testing the various lines until we discovered our favorites. We’ve also put ceramic cookware sets to the test, along with stainless steel, carbon steel and cast iron. What can we say? We’re clean cookware test obsessed.
Here are our top GreenPan set picks, tested by our founder and editor-in-chief of Organic Authority, Laura Klein—and she’s got the goods and experience to back her recommendations. A trained chef and organic foodie, Klein has 10+ years of experience testing non-toxic, nonstick cookware. Yes really.
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Review of the Best GreenPan Sets
Before we can get into what makes GreenPan the most durable, non-toxic cookware sets on the market, we should first talk about what sets their nonstick technology apart—Thermolon.
What is Thermolon?
GreenPan is an industry pioneer in the world of non-toxic nonstick thanks to their invention of Thermolon, a non-toxic nonstick coating that the brand launched in 2007. Thermolon was the very first ceramic nonstick coating without any plastic, PFOA, or PFAS — and that’s a very good thing for those who are concerned with their health and that of the environment. (To learn more about why these chemicals are so worrisome, check out our timeline of the dirty history of traditional nonstick.)
Standing in stark opposition to these coatings, Thermolon takes advantage of time-tested traditions of cooking in ceramic. Compounded with modern, state-of-the-art technology, their product is a non-toxic cookware that’s far more environmentally friendly to produce than the toxic alternatives.
Thanks to GreenPan’s initiatives and staunch commitment to sustainable values, not only does Thermolon generate 60% fewer CO2 emissions than traditional nonstick during its curing process, but GreenPan’s factories — all of which it owns, and thus controls — run on 30% solar energy. How’s that for truly green cookware?
Which GreenPan Cookware Set is best?
GreenPan produces several different lines of cookware, and while all are eco-conscious and non-toxic, there are clear differences and best-uses between the collections. Our EIC Laura Klein tested the different collections, and these are our top picks.
The GP5 Collection
Set your cooking apart with GreenPan’s newest line, GP5. Influenced by 15 years of cook-centric innovations, which led to the creation of Infinite8 ceramic, GP5 is the most advanced ceramic nonstick collection they’ve ever designed. And that’s saying something. Actually, that’s saying a lot.
“GP5 is by far my favorite set in the GreenPan lineup,” says Chef Laura Klein. “I’ve tested the Valencia Pro, Venice Pro/Noir, The Reserve, and SearSmart, and I think the GP5 has to be my favorite by GreenPan. Why? The nonstick innovation GreenPan has made in the GP5 shows.”
One of the most innovative features of the GP5 line is the Balance Pro Base. Ever notice how your oil pools to the sides of your pan? Not so with the Balance Pro Base. Pretty nifty if you ask us.
“I cook eggs most mornings, and I don’t have to use a lot of oil to ensure that my eggs don’t stick to the pan,” Klein goes on to say. “I also love the weight of the pans. The GP5 is a little heavier, but not too heavy. These pans are about twice as thick as most pans on the market. Even my mother who is older and doesn’t like heavy pans loves the weight, and my husband agrees too. The extra thickness helps with even heat distribution to ensure there are no hot spots. I also like the opaque stainless steel lids as well. When I’m not making eggs in the morning I’ll make oatmeal and the cleanup is easy breezy for both pans.”
“I also love the durability,” says Klein. “My mother is hard on pans and after using the GP5 for about six months, shockingly, we still don’t have any scratches and they are still slick.”
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SearSmart: The Durable, Higher-Heat Star
If you’re in the market for top-of-the-line quality, GreenPan’s SearSmart line is a no-brainer. Made with a textured surface, which contributes to better browning (thus the name!). This line offers GreenPan’s most advanced technology yet: Thermolon Diamond Advanced. The result is high-performing and extremely durable cookware built to last… and the proof is in the pudding! Klein uses the pans in her ultra-durable SearSmart Collection five to seven times a week, and unlike many other nonstick pans, she asserts that it never loses its slickness.
“I’ve tried A LOT of other nontoxic non-stick lines, and most start to lose their slickness in as little as three months,” says Klein. “I then end up recycling them in six, and have to buy another set, which I don’t like. It’s a waste of time and money and has a heavier impact on the environment producing more waste.”
Klein particularly likes using her SearSmart for searing veg and consciously raised meat, as it can withstand slightly higher temperatures than some of the other collections.
Like GreenPan’s other collections, SearSmart comes complete with tempered glass lids that allow you to watch supper coming together. And if you’re cooking for a crowd, SearSmart also boasts 40% more cooking space than GreenPan’s other frying pans.
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The Reserve Cookware Line: For Eye-Popping Colors and Flair
If you spend as much time matching your counters to your cabinets as some do picking out their wedding dress, The Reserve Collection is for you. This gorgeous collection is kitted out with gold-tone handles and is even available in a range of different colors, be it black, taupe, or twilight. (Klein prefers the minimalist black.)
Of course, this set isn’t all show and no substance. This line boasts an extra-tough hard anodized construction, making it strong enough to stand the test of time—and stuck-on cheese. It’s what makes the set another of Klein’s favorites in her home kitchen, where she turns to these pans for more delicate tasks, like cooking eggs or fish.
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Venice Pro Noir: The Minimalist Aesthete Cookware Set
Design-minded but prefer subtlety? That’s where the Venice line encounters its sweet spot. The beautiful juxtaposition of matte black handles and interior set against the stainless steel exterior of these pans are ideal for everyday use. The three-ply stainless construction is treated with proprietary Evershine Technology to ensure it resists discoloration over time. The Venice Pro Noir 13pc Set offers an assortment of pots to pans in various sizes plus all of the glass lids you need for effortless cooking — and effortless chic.
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Valencia Pro: The Workhorse
Valencia Pro is GreenPan’s best-selling set for good reason: Crafted from hard anodized aluminum, it’s strong, resilient, and scratch-resistant. It’s a pan you’ll find yourself reaching for every day.
Not only is Valencia Pro bestselling, it’s also award winning. In 2023, this set was given the Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Award. Judges were impressed by GreenPan’s commitment to sustainability and product efficacy. “GreenPan makes cookware with strict quality-assurance procedures to ensure the absence of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium and endocrine-disrupting fluorinated compounds from its ceramic nonstick coating.”
The Valencia line also offers the best value of all the sets, not to mention every clean cookware piece you could possibly need, with the Valencia Pro 19-piece set retailing for $789.99. If you don’t need quite so many pieces, the Valencia Pro 11pc might be the perfect option, at $574.99 for a varied assortment of fry pans and pots to suit your every culinary whim. Or for those in smaller quarters, they also offer Valencia Pro 3pk Frypan Set, with an assortment of sizes of frying pans perfect for omelets, fried eggs, fish, and more for $219.99.
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Whichever non-toxic cookware option you choose will be a much safer and healthier option than any conventional non-stick pan. To learn more about why conventional non-stick is bad for your health, read our breakdown, The Reason PTFE Nonstick Pans Aren’t Safe: It Has Something to Do With Loose Regulations and Our Drinking Water.
Organic Authority Approved Clean Cookware
Because of GreenPan’s year-over-year improvements in their non-toxic, nonstick cookware, and environmental stewardship, the brand has earned Organic Authority’s Clean Cookware seal of approval. If you want to know more about what that means, read, The Organic Authority Approved Manifesto.
Have you tried any of GreenPan’s cookware sets? Comment below to let us know which ones and your honest review!
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*Affiliate disclosure: Our team researched far and wide to find safe and clean bakeware options you’ll love using for all kinds of sweets and treats. If you make a purchase after clicking our links, Organic Authority may earn a commission, which goes a long way to support the good work our team does and reduces the number of ads we serve (as well as our Valrhona Chocolate habit.)
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