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Lucky for us, cookware has come a long way in the past few years. In addition to companies moving away from toxic materials like Teflon, there are also a variety of dynamic start-ups making cookware cool and covetable again. No longer do you have to make a pilgrimage to the nearest department store to stock up on an entire set and lug it home—these new direct-to-consumer brands ship directly to you, offer the latest and greatest, and keep things at the most affordable prices. Here, some of the best direct-to-consumer cookware brands to know.
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When you order from Equal Parts you get a 60-day risk-free trial and the products come in reusable, plastic-free packaging.
Photo: Courtesy of Equal Parts
When you want to go beyond pots and pans and need a total kitchen update, look no further than Equal Parts, which sells knives, cutting boards, utensils, and accessories in addition to the big purchases like Dutch ovens and pot-and-pan sets. This direct-to-consumer brand is great for those starting fresh, as they offer entire sets for under $300, such as the Simple Kitchen ($299) which includes a pan and pot, chef’s knife, cut-and-serve board, three prep bowls, measuring set, and colander. Even further, Equal Parts offers personal, human-led coaching to help you find enjoyment in home cooking—meaning all products come with eight weeks of access to a text-based cooking coach who can help you use your new products and cook with confidence.
The Always Pan is made to be your skillet, steamer, deep fryer, saucier, pot, and pan—all in one! The smooth ceramic piece of cookware comes in charcoal, beige, and a powdery pink, plus it includes a nesting spatula and steamer basket.
Photo: Courtesy of Our Place
Our Place is the latest venture from Malala Fund cofounder Shiza Shahid. The company, where the goal is creating unique cookware rooted in the modern, multi-ethnic American kitchen, creates main pieces like plates ($50/set of 4), side bowls ($45/set of 4), cups ($50/set of 4), and the Always Pan ($145) that make cooking simple and hassle-free. Our Place invests in ethical factories that provide supportive environments and compensation to their teams so that the people who make the products have time, energy, and resources to connect with the people they love. Our Place also creates special collections that include pieces like a cleaver and tortilla warmer to spotlight different cultural celebrations around food.
All the pieces from Caraway have smart design elements. Our favorite features: the handle is designed to give also work as a spoon rest and the lids have a slim design to store away easier.
Photo: Courtesy of Caraway
If you’re on the hunt for cookware that is free of toxic materials and full of color, Caraway is one brand to consider. The line is free of PTFEs and PFOAs, the chemicals found in traditional nonstick pans that have been linked to serious illnesses, and keeps things easy by simply offering one set. The pieces are ceramic-coated (free of Teflon) and come in fun hues like perracotta (pink + terra-cotta) and sage. The materials are also eco-friendly, releasing up to 60% less CO2 when produced compared to traditional nonstick coatings. The set includes a fry pan, sauce pan, Dutch oven, and sauté pan, and retails for $395.
A simple pleasure for us is a product with a good color name. We love the selection from Great Jones, with Dutch ovens from blueberry to marinara to Earl Grey.
Photo: Courtesy of Great Jones
We were big fans of Great Jones from the start. Founded in 2018 by Sierra Tishgart and Maddy Moelis, the NYC-based modern cookware brand is as Instagrammable as it is practical. Great Jones may be best-known for its colorful Dutch oven, which comes in shades like broccoli green and mustard yellow, and retails for $145. In enameled cast iron, it’s super easy to clean, too, which makes the piece the hero product of the collection. Also check out the stainless steel sauce pans and frying pans, with prices ranging from $45 to $95.