The Ultimate GreenPan Review

GreenPan (also called Green Pan-two words) is one of the ceramic nonstick cookware brands that contains no PTFE or PFOA. If you're looking for an alternative to Teflon® (aka PTFE), GreenPan could be your answer. 

In this review, we dive into GreenPan cookware to provide an in-depth analysis for potential buyers. If you want to learn all about GreenPan cookware, you've come to the right place.

Green Pan Cookware Lines at a Glance

GreenPan makes several lines of cookware, many of them similar in design. The exception is the GP5, which is considerably thicker than other GreenPan lines and will provide exceptionally even heating and good heat retention.

Our rating is based on our own research and testing and is independent of Amazon ratings (although they had an influence in our decisions).

Lines are listed in alphabetical order. An asterisk indicates our recommendation, which we review below.

Rather than update this review with frequent changes, we are only adding the new lines here if they offer something new and innovative. For a complete list of the GreenPan collections, go to GreenPan.com.

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GreenPan Basics

Because many of the lines are so similar--and there are so many of them--here's a more detailed summary of GreenPan options. Searching through all the lines can be confusing, but just make sure you get the basics right--induction compatibility, type of coating, etc.--and you should be fine. 

Bodies: GreenPan bodies can be aluminum, anodized aluminum, or clad stainless (the Treviso line is stainless with a disc base rather than full cladding). We recommend anodized aluminum for affordable price, durability, and great heating properties.

Handles: GreenPan handles can be plastic or stainless steel. We recommend stainless steel for durability.

Lids: GreenPan lids are mostly glass and are not included with most skillets, though a few buying options do include a lid. Note that the Hudson line of sauce pans does not have lids (which is weird), and as far as we know, GreenPan does not sell lids for sauce pans separately. You can buy lids separately for most skillets.

Colors: Some lines come in several colors. Since these colors can change, be sure to check listings for updates (our information may not be up to date).

Nonstick coatings: There are different formulations of Thermolon™, the GreenPan coating. Newer lines are reinforced with diamond dust or other minerals. Most pans with reinforced coatings are more expensive, and may not provide a longer nonstick life span. If you want a newer Thermolon coating, we recommend the Padova line (Thermolon Minerals coating) for its great price and stainless steel handle, or the GP5 line (Infinite8 diamond coating) for excellent heating and durable build quality. 

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GreenPan Cookware Pros and Cons

General Information About Nonstick Cookware

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There are two types of nonstick cookware: PTFE or ceramic.

PTFE

PTFE is an acronym for polytetrafluoroethylene, and is commonly known by its trade name Teflon®. It is a hydrocarbon-based coating that's been around for about 70 years. Today, there are hundreds of PTFE coatings manufactured under as many trade names, including Eterna, Eclipse, QuanTanium, HALO, Xylan, Skandia, Dura-Slide, Granite Rock, Granitium, ILAG, and Greblon C2 (yes, Greblon, an early maker of ceramic nonstick, now makes PTFE coatings, too). 

There are a number of concerns with PTFE cookware, and people have been moving away from it. Even so, it comprises the majority of the nonstick market.

To learn more, see our article What is PFOA? A Guide to Nonstick Cookware Chemicals

Ceramic Nonstick

In 2007, a new ceramic nonstick coating was invented. Ceramic nonstick coating is silicon-based, which means it's made from sand. Sand--or more accurately silicon dioxide--is converted into what's called a sol-gel solution and sprayed onto the surfaces of cookware (usually aluminum, sometimes stainless steel), then baked at a high temperature to produce the finished nonstick cookware. 

Note that nonstick ceramic is not the same as traditional ceramics and enamels found in bakeware and in cast iron coatings. These ceramics are hundreds of years old and are not applied with sol-gels and do not contain nanoparticles. They are also not considered nonstick--at best, they are semi-nonstick.

Ceramic nonstick cookware has gained a reputation for being safer than PTFE, and for having fewer environmental concerns. However, there are a few issues potential buyers should know about. (We talk more about this below.)  

As far as we know, there are two types of ceramic nonstick coating, Thermolon™ and Greblon®. They are quite similar, and both are applied to cookware using the sol-gel process.

These coatings are sold to many different cookware manufacturers for use on their cookware. For example, GreenPan uses Thermolon™ coatings. Thermolon™ does not make any nonstick coatings that contain PTFE.

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Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Vs. PTFE Nonstick Cookware

How do the two types of nonstick stack up against each other? Here's a look.

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Who Makes Green Pan Cookware?

GreenPan cookware is made by The Cookware Company, a Belgian firm founded in 2005 with manufacturing facilities in China. All GreenPan cookware is designed in Belgium and made in China. The Belgian founders knew of a ceramic material made in Korea for industrial applications. They put a deal together with the Korean company and began selling the first ceramic-coated nonstick cookware--GreenPan--in 2007.

Today, The Cookware Company has sales of about $120 million annually and employs about 2000 people, most of them in China. They have offices in Asia, Belgium, and the US, as well as distribution warehouses around the world. 

The Cookware Company owns the other cookware lines including GreenLife, GreenChef, and BK.

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GreenPan Vs. GreenLife: What's the Difference?

GreenLife cookware is also a Thermolon™-coated nonstick aluminum product owned by the same company that owns GreenPan, but it's a different product marketed to different buyers. GreenPan is a higher end product, with more high end options (like clad stainless bodies). GreenLife is stamped aluminum and is thinner than most GreenPan lines. It's also usually cheaper.

If you're looking for budget nonstick, GreenLife is a decent choice. But we think for most people, GreenPan is worth the slightly higher price.

See greenlife cookware on amazon

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Is GreenPan Cookware Really Green?

Yes and no.

On the plus side:

• GreenPan uses some recycled materials to make their products, including 100% recycled aluminum.
• According to the GreenPan website, their process uses 60% less carbon dioxide than that used in PTFE pans.
• Does not use any PFAS--a toxic groundwater and soil contaminant--in the manufacturing process.
• Does not produce toxic fumes at any temperature.

On the minus side:

• There's speculation about GreenPan's claim that their process is more environmentally friendly than that used for PTFE nonstick cookware, although this is hard to get information about.
• The nanoparticles used in the sol-gel coating process have been linked to several health issues, including cancer. GreenPan produced a paper about the safety of their cookware, but it doesn't address the nanoparticle issue, which seems like a rather big omission.
• GreenPan, like all nonstick cookware, requires a special recycling process. For this reason, most recycling centers don't take GreenPan, so many discarded GreenPans end up in landfills. 

In comparison to other types of cookware, most people believe GreenPan (and all ceramic nonstick) is healthier, safer, and better for the environment. We think this is probably the case, the true answer is that it is a complicated issue to understand, and beyond the scope of this article. You will have to do the research and decide for yourself, based on which issues are the most important to you. (The links we've provided throughout this article are a good place to start.) 

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Is GreenPan Cookware Really Nonstick?

Technically, GreenPan cookware is not nonstick.

GreenPan recommends that you use cooking oil with their cookware. Most other ceramic nonstick cookware makers do the same. Some go so far as to call their product "semi-nonstick," meaning that you shouldn't expect it to be nonstick without cooking oil. 

Not that there's anything wrong with this. Oil adds flavor, improves browning, and even helps your body absorb certain nutrients. But to be technically correct, ceramic nonstick coatings are not considered nonstick in the same way as PTFE.

Still, GreenPan pans have pretty good release, especially when new. But if you want to achieve the best nonstick properties possible, use a bit of cooking oil or butter in the pan before you add food.

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Is Green Pan Cookware Recyclable?

Because it's a coated product, meaning that it has layers of different substances, you probably won't be able to throw an old GreenPan skillet into your recycling bin. This is true for all nonstick cookware. There are a few municipalities that will take it, but the vast majority--about 95% of them--do not. 

If you're willing to look, you can probably find recycling programs that will take old ceramic nonstick cookware (as well as other cookware). This article at Earth911.com discusses how to recycle cookware; though it doesn't talk about ceramic nonstick directly, it provides options that will probably work. 

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Is GreenPan Cookware Safe?

While we've already looked at some issues with GreenPan, but here's a summary:

• GreenPan produces no toxic fumes like PTFE cookware can at high heat.
• GreenPan contains no PFAS, which are known carcinogens and serious environmental hazards.
• GreenPan is made using a sol-gel process, which uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which have been linked to several health issues. There is little research about this, so we can't be sure it's unsafe. (GreenPan claims to not use nanoparticles, but our research has shown that that's what the sol-gel process uses. So again, more research needed.) Here's a good article that summarizes the nanoparticles issue well. This same site also had a more detailed article about nanoparticles.
• GreenPan products may also contain other toxins, but this is speculative, as well. 

Overall, GreenPan, like all ceramic nonstick cookware, is almost certainly safer than PTFE nonstick. Unfortunately, the jury is still out on some of the chemicals GreenPan contains. 

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Drawbacks of Green Pan Cookware (and Ceramic Nonstick Cookware in General)

Aside from the possible nanoparticle issue, the biggest drawback of ceramic nonstick cookware is that it tends to lose its nonstick properties quickly.

If you read reviews on Amazon, you will see some people complain that a pan's nonstick properties lasted only a few months. However, other people love their GreenPan pans and say they get many years of use out of them.

It's possible that people disappointed with the nonstick properties are using their pans improperly (though they almost always claim otherwise). Probably the number one culprit for ceramic nonstick is heat: you should always use low to medium heat with any nonstick pan.

Yes, ceramic nonstick can withstand high heat without breaking down (unlike PTFE), but high heat destroys the nonstick properties. 

You also have to avoid using metal utensils (yes, just like PTFE cookware), and the dishwasher too, to get the longest life span out of your ceramic pan. Manufacturers may claim this is not the case (including GreenPan), especially with some of the newer reinforced coatings. However, no ceramic coating is durable enough to tolerate metal utensils, dishwashers, and high heat and remain nonstick.

To summarize, ceramic nonstick cookware isn't likely to last very long, no matter how well you take care of it. 

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How to Extend the Life of Your GreenPan Cookware

Aside from using low heat, avoiding metal utensils, and washing by hand, there's a little trick we'd like to share about extending the life of your GreenPan cookware.

If food starts sticking, scrub with a baking soda paste or some Barkeeper's Friend. If there's buildup in the pan, this can remove it and make the pan slippery again.

This won't always work, but it will work at least a few times--so try it before throwing the pan out and replacing it. 

NOTE: Never scrub a PTFE--Teflon--nonstick pan with anything abrasive, including Barkeeper's Friend. 

Unlike PTFE pans, you can still use GreenPan pans safely after the nonstick coating wears out (no worries about fumes or PFAS). So if you've tried to bring it back and it doesn't work, you can keep using the pan as you would cast iron or stainless steel--with cooking oil or butter.

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What to Know Before Buying

The important things to look for when in the market for nonstick cookware are:

• Buy skillets only (not sets)
• Type of nonstick (how to know what you're buying)
• Heating properties
• Build  quality/Durability
• Pan design
• Warranty.

Here are the details of each of those considerations.

Buy Skillets Only

Because nonstick pans don't last very long, we recommend buying only skillets and using them only when necessary, such as for eggs. 

Skillets are really the only pan that needs a nonstick coating, and only for certain foods. If you buy whole sets of nonstick--any nonstick--you'll end up spending a small fortune on new cookware every few years.

Type of Nonstick

As we talked already said, there are only two true types of nonstick cookware: PTFE/Teflon® and ceramic. Most people who want "safe" and "healthy" nonstick are trying to avoid PTFE, so want to buy ceramic nonstick, even though the nonstick properties tend to not last as long. 

Green Pan is ceramic nonstick cookware. It contains no PTFE or PFOA.

If you're still in the early stages of buying and aren't yet set on GreenPan cookware, you should know that it can sometimes be hard to tell which type of nonstick a pan is. We put together a list of the cookware sold on Amazon to help you figure out what you're buying: see Nonstick Cookware Brands: PTFE or Ceramic? A Comprehensive Guide for more information. 

We also recommend you consider cast iron or carbon steel skillets. These aren't considered true nonstick, but with seasoning and use, they build up a slippery surface that is almost as good as nonstick, with the bonus of being extremely durable (they will both last for decades and decades) and completely safe. 

Learn more in our articles The Best Cast Iron Skillets: How Much Should You Spend? and The Best Carbon Steel Pans.

Heating Properties

Assuming cookware is safe, the heating properties of cookware are its most important attributes. Yet people often don't know how to judge which pans have the best heating properties. It's a big topic, but we can provide a few pointers here.

In general, thicker cookware is going to have better heating properties than thinner cookware. Heating is going to be more even, and the pan is going to have onto heat better. Therefore, you should buy the thickest, heaviest cookware you can comfortably handle.

You also want to consider heat conductivity and heat retention: conductivity is how even a material heats, and retention is how long a material hangs onto heat.

In general, GreenPan skillets have decent heat conductivity and mediocre heat retention. This is a good combination for most foods you cook in a skillet. For high heat retention cooking--such as deep frying and high heat searing--cast iron is the best material.

Build Quality and Durability

Almost as important as heating properties is durability, and probably the main reason why you want to spend just a little more to get a higher quality pan. Even if you only expect to get a few years of use out of a nonstick pan, a well-built pan heats better, handles better, and resists warping better--and you can get one for not a lot more.

Thick aluminum is what you want to look for. It is not only going to heat better, but also going to be more durable. It will be less likely to warp, as well. What's thick? At least 3mm.

Anodized aluminum is as durable as stainless steel, so going with anodized aluminum is a great idea.

Handles: Stainless steel handles are more durable than any type of plastic or resin handles. Plastic handles won't hold up to heat, and will eventually wear out and fall off (or melt). Stainless handles won't wear out.

Rivets: You should also look at how the handle is attached. Rivets are going to hold up better than screwed-on handles (plastic or resin handles are more likely to be screwed on, while stainless steel handles are more likely to be riveted). 

Some GreenPan lines have coated rivets, or rivets that are mesh with the cooking surface. This makes a pot easier to clean because there's nowhere for gunk to collect. Flat rivets aren't a must-have, but they are a nice feature.

Lids: Stainless steel lids are also more durable (and lighter) than glass lids, however, almost all GreenPan cookware has glass lids, and their separately sold lid is also glass. Though glass lids aren't a deal-breaker, the durability of stainless steel lids is preferred. (There's no reason you can't buy a stainless steel lid from a different manufacturer.) 

Induction: Even if you're not concerned about induction compatibility, the metal plate added to the pan's bottom is going to increase durability, making a pan more warp-resistant. 

Overall, you want a pan with a good heft, a nice thickness, and a stainless steel handle. These are all indications of durability. 

Pan Design

Design is mostly about preference. Do you prefer a shallow skillet or one with higher walls? Do you want steep walls with a lot of flat cooking surface, or a pan more wok-shaped? Is the handle comfortable? Does the lid fit well? If it's a large pan (12 inches or 5 quarts), does it have a helper handle? (A helper handle is less important with most GreenPan skillets because they're light to begin with. Most of the GreenPan lines do not come with helper handles.)

Most GreenPan skillets are nicely shaped, with straight, shallow sides and a good amount of flat cooking surface. 

Warranty

Always buy cookware with a solid warranty that you know is going to be honored by the company. This is why you should buy from a reputable, established company like GreenPan instead of a lesser known or lower priced competitor. You may pay a little more for GreenPan, but even so most of their lines are affordable, and the few extra dollars you spend buys you peace of mind as well higher quality: all GreenPan cookware comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and a 2 year warranty on the nonstick coating. And you can be sure that they will honor these warranties. 

We love GreenPan's 2-year warranty on their nonstick coating. It lets you know that they are a conscientious company. Many nonstick cookware manufacturers offer a "lifetime" warranty, but this doesn't cover the nonstick coating (as many people assume).

With GreenPan, you know up front exactly what you're getting.

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GreenPan Vs. Caraway, Our Place, and Equal Parts: Which Brands Are Best?

If you're considering other brands of ceramic nonstick, especially some of the coveted direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands that have been dominating your Facebook and Instagram feeds, we strongly recommend going with GreenPan.

Why? Because the DTC brands are too expensive. Some of them don't disclose their "proprietary" formulas, but we can tell you with confidence that they are simply ceramic nonstick, so either Thermolon or Greblon. And since there are no new formulas of ceramic nonstick that have miracle nonstick properties (that we know of), they are not going to last any longer than GreenPan.  

Which, we believe, makes these DTC brands overhyped and overpriced.

(If you don't believe us, check out Wirecutter's Always Pan review, which comes to the same conclusion.)

GreenPan also has some high-priced lines, but if you avoid those and go with one of their more reasonable lines--as we review and recommend below--you'll get a good deal on a good quality pan without paying too much.

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GreenPan FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about GreenPan cookware.

Where's the best place to buy GreenPan Cookware?

Though you will often find deals and sales on the GreenPan site, we have found that Amazon usually has the lowest overall prices (even with sale prices on the GreenPan site). Other retailers also usually have lower prices than GreenPan. 

However, you should always check more than one site to be sure you're getting the best price.

What is GreenPan's Warranty?

GreenPan offers a lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects on most of their lines, and a 2 year warranty on all of their Thermolon coatings.

2 years may sound short, but it is realistic for a nonstick coating. Most nonstick cookware makers that offer a "lifetime" warranty do not honor it for the nonstick coating. Thus, GreenPan is more honest than many other makers.

What is GreenPan's Return Policy?

GreenPan has a 60 day, no-questions-asked return policy on all their products. After 60 days, a pan has to be defective for them to honor a return.

Is GreenPan Cookware Good Quality?

GreenPan is good quality overall. Their pans tend to be on the thin side, so you may notice less even heating than on some heavier pans. Even so, GreenPan has a good reputation for durability and their pans tend to hold up over many years. The nonstick coating is also good quality, and should last as long or longer than GreenPan's competitors--expect anywhere from 6 months to 5 years.

GreenPan's newest line, GP5, is 5mm thick--the thickest aluminum pan we've seen, so it will have excellent heating properties and is unlikely to ever warp.

We recommend buying a line with stainless steel handles for the most durability.

Is GreenPan Non-Toxic and Safe for the Environment?

This is a complicated question. Compared to PTFE/Teflon pans, GreenPan is almost certainly less toxic and better for the environment. 

However, GreenPan products contain some questionable materials, and there's some evidence that the manufacturing process is not as green as they claim. Check out the sections above for more information.

Is GreenPan Dishwasher Safe?

Yes, GreenPan is dishwasher safe unless it has a wooden handle. We recommend hand washing to get the most out of the nonstick coating.

Is GreenPan Oven Safe?

Yes, GreenPan is oven safe, but safe temperatures vary by the type of handle and lid a pan has, so be sure to check the safe oven temp for the line of GreenPan you have.

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Best Overall GreenPan: GP5

See GP5 skillets on Amazon

See the GP5 line at GreenPan.com

About $50 for the 8-inch or 10-inch skillet

About $65 for the 12-inch (without lid)

The GreenPan GP5 is one of GreenPan's highest quality pans, and our pick for best overall GreenPan skillet. It's 5mm thick and has GreenPan's most advanced diamond-reinforced Thermolon coating, Infinite8. It also has stainless lids and handles, and it's induction compatible.

One of its best features is the reverse rivets, which make the cooking surface smooth (nowhere for gunk to get stuck).

Best of all, the prices aren't at all unreasonable, though it's a little higher priced than some of our other picks, 

If you want stellar heating, it's hard to beat the GP5 skillet. We can't promise the coating will last any longer than other ceramic coatings, but the heavy body and all its other great features make the GP5 a pleasure to cook with.

If you want your pan to last, use non-metal utensils and wash by hand.

buy greenpan gp5:

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Older Favorite: GreenPan Paris/Paris Pro

See Paris Pro buying options on Amazon (best prices!)

See Paris Pro at greenpan.com

Though no longer our top pick, the Green Pan Paris is a great all-around frying pan. It's inexpensive (compared to some of their other lines) without being cheap, with a newer Thermolon™ coating ("Minerals"). Paris also comes in several buying options, including sets (though, again, we do not recommend buying sets of nonstick cookware). 

What?! Stainless lids?! As far as we know, Paris is one of the few GreenPan lines with stainless lids (on the pieces that have lids). Unfortunately, they aren't sold separately, so if you want a lid for your Paris frying pan that didn't come with one, you have to buy GreenPan's standard glass lids.

The only real drawback is that these pans aren't induction compatible. For that, you need to go with the Valencia Pro (reviewed below), GP5, or one of their clad stainless lines (which we think are too expensive for nonstick cookware). 

If you want your pan to last, use non-metal utensils and wash by hand.

buy Greenpan paris Pro:

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Best Deal: GreenPan Padova

See Padova skillet set on Amazon 

See Padova 10 piece set on Amazon 

See Padova at greenpan.com

About $75 for the 8-inch/10-inch skillet set

If you want to go all the way to the low end, you should look at GreenPan Rio. If you want a low price yet a pan with some great features--features we think are worth paying a little more for--then go with GreenPan Padova.

The Rio set has bakelite handles which make them unsafe for the oven. However, the 8 inch/10 inch set is about half the cost of Padova, so you will save quite a bit if you go with Rio.

We don't recommend it, though. At about $50 for the two skillet set, Padova is still a great price (even a little less than you'd pay for a set of good quality PTFE pans like All-Clad HA1 or Anolon Nouvelle Copper). And you will get so much more joy out of using these better-constructed pans (over the Rio line). We love that the rivets have Thermolon™ coating to make cleaning even easier--and the Padova has the upgraded Thermolon™ Minerals coating, which makes these pans more durable than the older technology used on the Rio line.

These extra touches make the Padova line a great bargain.

If you want your pan to last, use non-metal utensils and wash by hand.

Buy green pan padova:

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Lid Included: GreenPan Lima 12 Inch Frying Pan

See GreenPan Lima buying options on Amazon 

See GreenPan Lima at greenpan.com

About $40 for the 10-inch skillet with bamboo spatula

About $30 for the 12-inch skillet with lid

The GreenPan Lima is a tried-and-true line with their standard Thermolon™ coating and it's reasonably priced. The 12 inch skillet with lid will set you back about $30. For a 12 inch pan, that's a good price--especially with the lid included.

The 10 inch pan doesn't include the lid but does come with a bamboo turner, a nice extra. It will set you back about $40 (making the 12-inch pan with lid a better deal, though these prices may change). 

Lima frying pans come in two color options, grey and bronze. The bronze is very pretty, but you will pay more for it. (Prices and links given here are for the grey option.) Bronze also does not come with any extras like a lid or bamboo turner. 

Like all GreenPan products, the Lima has a limited lifetime warranty on construction and a 2 year warranty on the Thermolon™ coating.

Amazon typically has the best prices, but check both sites to make sure before buying.

If you want your pan to last, use non-metal utensils and wash by hand.

buy green pan Lima:

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Final Thoughts on GreenPan Cookware

GreenPan is a quality maker of ceramic nonstick cookware, which has both pros and cons. On the pro side, ceramic nonstick contains no PTFE, PFOA, or other PFAS and is generally considered a safer and cleaner choice than Teflon/PTFE nonstick. On the con side, ceramic nonstick tends to have an even shorter nonstick life than PTFE cookware and has almost as many use-and-care restrictions as PTFE, including low heat, no metal utensils, and washing by hand. The nanoparticles in the nonstick coating may also pose health concerns, but there isn't a lot of research available to know for sure.

Also, ceramic nonstick works best when you use a small amount of cooking oil or butter, so it's not as nonstick as PTFE.

GreenPan is our favorite ceramic nonstick brand. You'll get the same performance as you will from DTC brands like Caraway and Our Place, but for a significantly smaller investment.

The lines we like best are:

• GP5--best all around and induction compatible, with 5mm thick body for stellar heating
• Paris Pro--affordable and good quality
• Padova--best bargain line
• Lima--comes with a lid.

These lines combine the best features at the best price. 

Thanks for reading!

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