Viking is known for luxury appliances, but they also make several lines of cookware and other kitchen tools. The brand is associated with high quality (and high prices), but does the cookware live up to the reputation? And is it still made in the USA?
Here, we take a detailed look at Viking cookware. We review the different lines and discuss quality, performance, budget, and. more. Find out if Viking is the right cookware for you.
Viking Cookware Lines at a Glance
Viking has several lines of cookware: they are masters at putting out lines that compete with the latest cookware fads, such as hybrid cookware, their newest release. The quality is good, but not all the lines live up to the Viking reputation. We describe each Viking cookware line in the table below. An asterisk indicates a line we recommend.
This is a long review, so if you want to jump to a specific line, use the Table of Contents above.
Prices are approximate and may change.
Viking Cookware Line | Features | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
*3-Ply Contemporary/4-Ply Contemporary Copper | -Steel-alum-steel construction -18/8 stainless cooking surface -Induction compatible -Glass lids -Volume markings on deep pieces -Stay-cool handle -Oven safe to 600F/lid to 450F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $450 for 10pc stainless set. | Stainless set recommended with reservations: Good quality cookware, but you can get other good Chinese stainless for less. |
-Steel-alum-alum-alum-steel -18/10 stainless cooking surface -Induction compatible -Stainless lids -Stay-cool handle -Oven safe to 600F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in USA -About $1000 for 10pc set. | Not recommended. Too thin to heat evenly, and expensive. All-Clad Copper Core, Demeyere Industry5, or Demeyere Atlantis are better choices. | |
Hard Anodized Nonstick | -Anodized alum. w/PTFE nonstick -Induction compatible -"Metal utensil"/"dishwasher" safe -Tempered glass lids -Volume markings on deep pcs. -Stay-cool handle -Oven safe to 400F/lids to 350F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $120 for 10"/12" skillet set. | Not recommended. Good quality, heavy duty nonstick, and performance is good, but no better than less expensive nonstick like Anolon Copper Nouvelle. |
Cast Iron w/Enameled Cooking Surface | -Enameled cast iron (matte/shiny) -Induction compatible -Oven safe to 400F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -10" skillet about $80 -Dutch oven about $130. | Not recommended. Oven safe to only 400F. Go with seasoned skillets (Lodge). See our Dutch oven review for more info. |
-"Blue" heat-treated carbon steel -Induction compatible -Stainless handle -Oven safe to 450F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $70 each. | Not recommended: Nice pans, but the 450F oven rating is too low. | |
*2-Ply Hard Stainless see it at Sur la Table (stainless lids) | -2 ply aluminum-stainless -Stainless 18/8 cooking surface -Induction compatible -Oven safe to 400F -Red and blue -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $250 w/glass lids, about $700 w/stainless lids. | Recommended, but probably discontinued: Set pieces are good. No open stock available. |
-7 ply s-a-a-a-a-a-Ti -Induction compatible -Oven safe to 600F; lids safe to 300F -Good set pieces -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $1500 for 10pc set. | Not recommended: Too thin for the price (2.5mm). | |
-ha-a-a-a-s -18/8 stainless cooking surface -Induction compatible base -Volume markings on deep pcs. -18/8 stainless lids -Oven safe to 500F -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $800 for 10pc set. | Recommended! Thick and heavy for excellent heating. | |
-3 ply copper-alum-stainless -18/8 stainless cooking surface -Induction compatible -Oven safe to 600F/lids to 400F -Volume markings on deep pcs. -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $250 for 13pc set. | Not recommended: Copper layer is thin (probably plating). If you want copper heating, go with brand like Mauviel. If you want durability, clad stainless is a better choice (Viking Contemporary). | |
-3-Ply hard anodized alum-alum-stainless -Domed, vented glass lids -Oven safe to 600F; lids to 350F -Induction compatible -Volume markings on deep pcs. -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -About $900 for 11pc set. | Recommended: Like the 2-ply colored stainless sets above but with anodized aluminum exterior so it's got a higher oven safe temp and is more durable. | |
-4-ply stnlss-alum-titanium-titanium -Laser titanium nonstick cooking surface, chemical free -Stainless lids and handles -Oven safe to 600F -Induction compatible -Limited lifetime warranty -Dishwasher safe -Made in China -12pc set $1500/10" skillet $280. | No recommendation: We haven't tested. Very expensive, but maybe a decent choice for people with nickel allergies. | |
-Tri-ply stnls-alum-stnls base, PTFE nonstick coating and steel lattice overlay. -Skillets only -Stainless handles -No lids available -Oven safe to 500F -Induction compatible -Metal utensil and dishwasher safe -Limited lifetime warranty -Made in China -10" skillet about $110. | Not recommended. A Hexclad knockoff, too expensive for a pan with a PTFE coating. |
*Recommended by The Rational Kitchen.
Viking also makes some specialty cookware pieces you can find at different retailers:
Viking stainless Multipot cooker w/steamer
Viking 8 qt. stove top pressure cooker
Who Is Viking?
Viking is an American manufacturer of luxury appliances owned by the Clipper Corporation. They are best known for their commercial-size gas ranges. In addition to ranges, Viking makes refrigerators, range hoods, dishwashers, and outdoor grills and cooking equipment. They've been in business since 1987.
You can read more about Viking appliances at their website.
Viking cookware is made by a subdivision of Viking called Viking Culinary. In addition to cookware lines, Viking sells bakeware, knives, stainless steel utensils, and heavy duty pot racks.
Is Viking Cookware Made in the USA?
People assume that Viking cookware is made in the USA. Today, only one line is: the Viking 5-ply stainless Professional line. All other Viking cookware is now made in China, including the Titanium line, the new high-end PerformanceTi line, and the new Hybrid Plus line.
If you want to buy American-made cookware, the Professional 5-Ply line is the only Viking option.
What to Look for When Buying Cookware
We go into detail about how to buy cookware--especially clad stainless cookware--in other articles, such as A Guide to Induction Cookware, Stainless Steel Cookware Sets: A Detailed Buying Guide, and The Top 5 Brands of Stainless Steel Cookware.
In short, the factors we look at are:
*Review: Viking 3-Ply Contemporary Clad Stainless Steel Cookware
Overall Rating: 4.0 | |
Heating Properties: 4.0 | |
Durability: 5.0 | |
Safety/Stability: 5.0 | |
Ease of Care: 3.0 | |
Design/Usability: 4.0 | |
Budget: 3.0 |
See Viking Contemporary 10pc set on Amazon
See all buying Viking Contemporary options on Amazon
Features
The first thing you notice about Viking Contemporary is how solid and well-built it feels. Or maybe that's the second thing after you notice how attractive it is, with its high gloss finish, bold signature Viking handle, and modern "Windsor" style angled walls.
The 10 piece set includes:
If you want a bigger skillet, you can buy a Contemporary 12-inch skillet separately.
Other open stock pieces are available, including a Viking steamer insert that works with 2-4 quart Viking sauce pans. (See steamer insert on Amazon)
The 3.6 quart deep sauté pan is a great piece.
What we liked:
The Contemporary pans have sides that angle outward in a Windsor design. This increases the amount of flat cooking surface: the 10-inch skillet's bottom surface is just over 8 inches (likewise, the 8-inch skillet has about a 6-inch cooking surface and the 12-inch has about a 10-inch cooking surface).
The angled sides make it easy to get a turner in to flip food.
The pans are heavy: the 10-inch skillet weighs almost 3 pounds (compare that to the All-Clad D3 10-inch skillet, which weighs just over 2 pounds). This is an indication of high quality cookware.
Contemporary pans are thicker than All-Clad D3: 3mm versus 2.6mm. This extra thickness means more aluminum, more even heating and better heat retention than D3. Our testing bore this out: these pans heat as evenly as D3 and hang onto heat longer.
The pans are completely sealed, so there's no aluminum visible around the edge. This makes them dishwasher safe.
The volume marks on the deeper pots are great.
What we didn't like:
You can see in the photo how high the handles arc above the pans. The tall handle stays cooler on a gas range, but some testers found the height made the pans hard to handle.
We also don't like the vented glass lids. Stainless lids are more durable, and though the vents help prevent boil overs, you can't build pressure when you want to. Pressure helps food cook faster.
Performance and Handling
We tested the 10-inch Viking Contemporary skillet and overall were pleased with the performance. The pan heated evenly, and heat retention was good. The temperature didn't crash too badly when we added food to the pan.
We pan seared a steak and got good results:
We made a stir fry, scrambled eggs, burgers, chicken breasts, and more, all with good results. Heat-up time was good and the heat was even.
There was some sticking with the eggs (scrambled), but that is to be expected with stainless. Butter kept sticking to a minimum.
Cleanup was easy. You can use an abrasive scrubby pad, which made quick work of the scrambled egg residue.
The handle is comfortable, looks good and makes it easy to stabilize the pot. However, as we mentioned, it's tall, and some testers thought it made the pan harder to use. On smaller pans, you may find the handle weight pulls the pan over so it doesn't sit levelly. (We didn't have this issue, but some Amazon reviewers did.)
We like that the deep sauté pan has a helper handle, but the 12-inch skillet should have one, as well.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Recommendation
Recommended, with a few reservations.
We were surprised how much we liked this cookware. It's beautiful, cooks evenly, and is built like a tank. It's expensive for Chinese-made cookware, but the quality is good. It should last a lifetime.
buy Viking Contemporary cookware:
Other Viking Tri-Ply Options
Some Viking 3-ply are available on Amazon that are not Contemporary. Some may be from the Sam's Club set, and some may be the last pieces of US-made 3-ply still around. It's hard to know for sure, but here are the links.
Review: Viking 5-Ply Professional Clad Stainless Steel
Overall Rating: 3.6 | |
Heating Properties: 3.0 | |
Durability: 5.0 | |
Safety/Stability: 5.0 | |
Ease of Care: 3.0 | |
Design/Usability: 3.5 | |
Budget: 2.0 |
See 10pc set of Viking Professional 5-ply on Amazon
See 5pc set of Viking Professional 5-ply on Amazon
See all Professional 5-ply buying options on Amazon
See Professional 5-ply cookware at Viking.com
10 piece set about $900
Features
The Viking Professional line is Viking's flagship cookware line: built in the USA, with features desired by professional chefs, such as stainless lids and NSF certification. Unfortunately, the Professional pans are disappointing.
They're only 2.5mm thick--compare this to All-Clad D3's wall thickness of 2.6mm, the standard against which all clad stainless cookware is measured. At 2.5mm, Viking Professional is closer to a mid-level cookware brand (like Calphalon).
The 10-inch skillet weighs 2 lbs, 10 ounces. This is more than the All-Clad D3 10-inch skillet, which weighs about 2 lbs, 4 oz. But because the walls are thinner, we attribute the weight to the heavier Viking handle.
Some reviewers complained that the handle made the 10-inch skillet not sit level, but in our testing, the skillet sat level when empty.
The 10 piece set:
The 5 piece set:
Performance and Handling
The pans are too thin to heat well. They did okay, but there are other brands that perform as well for less, including All-Clad D3.
We used the 10-inch skillet to sear steaks, stir-fry, make scrambled eggs, burgers, chicken breasts, and more. High heat searing produced a decent crust, but if you're looking for a good steak pan, you're better off with a $25 Lodge cast iron skillet.
Cleanup was fine. The stir-fry residue cleaned off easily, and the eggs came off with a scrubby pad.
The stainless lids are great, with comfy handles and a snug fit. We like the Viking handle, which stays cooler than other brands on a gas range because it's so tall. It's comfortable and easy to grip. Some testers found the handle too tall, but most of us thought it was one of the best features on all the Viking cookware.
The 12-inch skillet should have a helper handle (as found on All-Clad skillets). This is kind of a big miss on a pan that costs close to $200.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Recommendation
Not recommended due to high cost and okay-but-not-great heating.
At this price, go with All-Clad Copper Core, Demeyere Industry 5, Demeyere Atlantis, or save and go with All-Clad D3.
Buy Viking 5-ply professional cookware on amazon:
Review: Viking Hard-Anodized Nonstick
Overall Rating: 3.3 | |
Heating Properties: 4.0 | |
Durability: 2.5 | |
Safety/Stability: 2.5 | |
Ease of Care: 5.0 | |
Design/Usability: 4.0 | |
Budget: 2.0 |
See all Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick buying options on Amazon
See Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick at Viking.com
About $100 for 10"/12" skillet set
About $380 for 10 piece set
read our statement about nonstick cookware
Features
The Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick cookware is good quality, heavy duty anodized aluminum on the outside, a thick layer of aluminum that's covered with 3 layers of PTFE ("Teflon") coating; about 3mm thick.
This is good, but similar to other nonstick pans we like that are cheaper.
The set price is higher partially because the Viking skillets are bigger: you get a 10-inch/12-inch combo in the 10 piece set, and the 2-piece combo sold separately also includes two big skillets; if you want the 8-inch skillet, you have to buy it separately.
However, the Viking 8-inch nonstick skillet goes for around $50--about the same as All-Clad's 8-inch/10-inch Essentials set.
The glass lids are not vented, as they are on some other Viking lines.
We recommend buying skillets only, which benefit the most from a nonstick coating.
The 10-piece set of Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick cookware contains:
Viking makes a steamer insert that works with all of their 2-4 quart saucepans. A steamer insert is an excellent piece that you will likely get a lot of use out of. (See steamer insert on Amazon)
Performance and Handling
Viking Hard Anodized nonstick performed well. The handles were less tall than on other Viking lines, were comfortable and had good grip.
We made fried eggs, scrambled eggs, and fish--the foods we use a nonstick skillet for--and all came out well. Eggs didn't stick at all. Pans heated quickly and evenly. Residue wiped out easily.
Performance-wise, these pans are as good as any nonstick we've tested. But they're not any better than brands that cost less.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Recommendation
Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick is as good as any nonstick cookware we've tested but it's no better than less expensive brands like Anolon Copper Nouvelle. The skillet set contains two large skillets (10 in./12 in.), which is great, but more expensive. Get skillets, not a whole set.
Buy Viking hard anodized nonstick cookware:
Review: Viking Cast Iron Skillets and Dutch Ovens
Overall Rating: 3.7 | |
Heating Properties: 3.0 | |
Durability: 5.0 | |
Safety/Stability: 5.0 | |
Ease of Care: 4.0 | |
Design/Usability: 3.0 |