We’re all health-conscious to a degree, but some people prefer to actively seek out healthier choices in all domains of life. If you like to cook and you’re searching for some of the best healthy cookware brands, this page should be a handy resource for you.
(Before reading further, it’s important to point out that this article contains links from which this website earns commissions.)
5 Healthy Cookware Brands
1. Xtrema
Xtrema is a company specializing in ceramic cookware. The company is an innovator in this space. They embarked on their journey to become one of the best healthy cookware brands, armed with 40 years of experience in the ceramics and glass industry.
The design of their cooking equipment targets a cooking process that is 100% free of any nasty chemicals or heavy metals. In fact, they test their products extensively so that each pan and pot meets stringent California Prop 65 standards and passes a 24-hour heavy metal extraction test.
The company’s products regularly sell out, such is the demand for their healthy cookware. So I’d recommend regularly checking their product page to see what’s available now and what you can get on pre-order.
Their cookware bundles are definitely worth checking out if you want to go all-in on ceramic. I would also absolutely recommend dipping your toes in and ordering some single items first; the 3.5-Quart Traditions Saucepan is a solid choice.
2. GreenLife
Another solid choice for the health-conscious home cook is GreenLife. This American company has a wholesome goal: to bring healthy cooking within everyone’s reach.
Based on the company’s goal are the three maxims of GreenPan cooking equipment: affordable, healthy, and easy to use. To be fair to GreenLife, this isn’t just effective marketing speak. The company backs their claims up and sells the most popular cookware set on Amazon!
With a whopping 16,380 ratings at the time of writing, their Soft Grip Healthy 16-piece Set scores an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars. Available in a multitude of colors, these ceramic pots and pans are free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. All of the bad stuff, basically.
One caveat here is that a significant number of reviewers reported that these pots and pans don’t have great durability. They scratch easily, apparently. I tried using a friend’s mini ceramic frying pan and it seemed fine but if quality varies, then at the price tag, it’s probably not too surprising.
In a slight update, I wrote a full review of Greenlife’s cookware set. Click that link to get my thoughts on its pros and cons.
3. Greenpan
Greenpan is an American company that crafts a kind of hybrid aluminum-ceramic cookware. Their products tend to be at the higher scale of the price point for healthy cookware brands, but the performance you get justifies the cost.
In particular, the company’s Valencia Pro and SearSmart sets are excellent choices for the health-conscious foodie. GreenPan’s cooking equipment does not emit any toxic fumes even if you accidentally overheat them.
Most of their products are dishwasher and oven safe, which are always important advantages to people who enjoy convenience. Lastly, they look fantastic.
4. MICHELANGELO
Sharing a name with the famous Italian sculptor, this company makes easily the most distinguishable pots and pans on this page. These ultra non-stick pots and pans are made of granite. This material is definitely a first for me in terms of pots and pans.
The mineral non-stick coating ticks all the important boxes for health-conscious customers. It’s 100% free of PFOA, PTFA, lead, and cadmium, and any other nasty chemicals you can think of.
Aside from being non-toxic, in terms of performance, you can expect extremely easy to clean cookware with superb non-stickability. The heat distribution is also great. If you want to cook with healthy tools that are a little bit different than the standard ceramic, opt for MICHLANGELO.
5. Nutrichef
Nutrichef is an interesting company taking a non-toxic, eco-friendly approach to manufacturing healthy cooking equipment. According to the marketing copy, the products release up to 60% less carbon dioxide than traditional non-stick coatings.
Aside from releasing less carbon dioxide, health-conscious customers get the standard health-focused benefits of a mineral-based coating that doesn’t leach toxins into the food you cook in it. See-through lids are a big plus that I give Nutrichef kudos for. The material here is ceramic.
If you want to opt for Nutrichef, their 11-piece Excilon set has superb reviews online. Customers report the cookware looks amazing and the non-stick coating is excellent. Combine that with the health benefits and this company makes for a serious contender as a reputable healthy cookware brand.
Closing Thoughts: What To Buy?
All of the five healthy cookware brands mentioned here are solid options. I always feel it’s a cop-out to not give a top recommendation from these sorts of lists so I’m going to say GreenPan because their pots are the best ones I’ve tried from here.
Note that none of these companies are fine for Thai food. Most of them sell woks, that kitchen essential, which is important. For more specific Thai-oriented kitchen gear, make sure to check out my Thai cookware essentials guide for other product recommendations.