Caraway offers modern, ceramic non-stick cookware designed for aesthetic appeal, ease of use, and health-conscious cooking, free from traditional chemicals. In contrast, classic Cast Iron is revered for its extreme durability, unparalleled heat retention for high-temperature searing, and timeless, rustic performance that can last for generations.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right cookware for your kitchen.
Caraway: The Modern, Non-Toxic Choice
Caraway is a direct-to-consumer brand that has quickly become a favorite for those who prioritize clean aesthetics and healthier materials. Their products appeal to home cooks who want stylish, easy-to-clean pans without the concerns of chemicals like PTFE and PFOA found in many traditional non-stick coatings.
- Product mix: A focused collection including skillets, saucepans, a sauté pan, and a Dutch oven, available individually or as a complete set that includes a handy magnetic storage system. They also offer a bakeware line.
- Style/vibe: Minimalist and Scandinavian-inspired. Caraway cookware comes in a distinctive palette of muted but stylish colors like sage, navy, and cream, designed to be displayed on the stovetop.
- Price point: Mid-range. Individual pans start at around $95, while the brand's popular four-piece cookware set typically costs around $395.
- Quality &, Materials: Features an aluminum core for even heating and a mineral-based ceramic non-stick coating. This surface is non-toxic and allows for cooking with less oil or butter.
- Ease of Use &, Maintenance: Very lightweight and user-friendly. The ceramic surface provides excellent food release, making cleanup simple - often just a wipe-down is needed. It is not dishwasher safe, however.
- Sustainability: The company focuses on eco-friendly manufacturing, delivers products in plastic-free recycled packaging, and promotes a non-toxic product free from PTFE, PFOA, PFA, lead, and cadmium.
- Warranty: Caraway offers a limited one-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects.
- Shopping Experience: Primarily sold through the intuitive and visually appealing Caraway website, which emphasizes a seamless direct-to-consumer experience with free shipping.
Caraway is perfect for the everyday home cook who values convenience, non-toxic materials, and a contemporary aesthetic.
Shop Caraway: carawayhome.com
Cast Iron: The Durable, Timeless Classic
Cast iron is less a single brand and more a category of cookware that has been a kitchen staple for centuries. Prized for its longevity and cooking performance, it is the workhorse choice for professional chefs and serious home cooks who need reliable, high-heat capabilities and incredible versatility.
- Product mix: An extensive range of products including skillets of all sizes, Dutch ovens, griddles, grill pans, and specialty bakers. Offered in two main types: traditional uncoated (which requires seasoning) and enameled (coated in a layer of non-reactive enamel).
- Style/vibe: Rustic, traditional, and timeless. Traditional cast iron is characteristically black, while enameled versions come in an array of vibrant, classic colors that fit well in farmhouse or heritage-style kitchens.
- Price point: Highly accessible. A standard 10-inch skillet can be found for as little as $25, while larger or premium enameled Dutch ovens can cost $200 or more.
- Quality &, Materials: Made from a single piece of iron, cast iron is virtually indestructible. Its density provides superior heat retention, making it ideal for searing, frying, and baking. With proper care, it can be passed down for generations.
- Ease of Use &, Maintenance: Requires a learning curve. Cast iron is very heavy and must be heated slowly. Bare cast iron requires seasoning - a process of baking on oil to create a natural non-stick surface - and must be carefully cleaned and dried to prevent rust. Enameled cast iron is lower maintenance.
- Versatility: Its key strength. Cast iron can go from the stovetop directly into the oven or even onto a grill or campfire, handling extremely high temperatures with ease.
- Shopping Experience: Widely available from a variety of manufacturers through their own websites and at almost any major retailer, including Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table.
Cast iron is the go-to for cooks who need unparalleled heat performance for everything from searing steak to baking cornbread and want cookware that will last a lifetime.
Shop Cast Iron: castiron.com
Caraway vs. Cast Iron Comparison
Price Comparison
Cast iron offers a much lower barrier to entry. A high-quality, pre-seasoned cast iron skillet is one of the most affordable pieces of cookware you can buy, often costing between $25 and $50. While premium enameled cast iron can be expensive, the basic, traditional pieces are a fantastic value. Caraway is positioned as a mid-tier brand, with a single fry pan costing nearly $100. For anyone on a tight budget, cast iron is the clear winner for getting started.
Style &, Aesthetic
The visual difference is stark. Caraway is purely modern, with its sleek surfaces, minimalist shapes, and chic color collection designed to complement contemporary kitchens. It’s cookware meant to be seen. Cast iron has a rugged, timeless, and rustic charm. Its classic black finish or brilliantly colored enamel coating feels substantial and traditional. Your choice here comes down entirely to personal design preference - sleek modernism or durable heritage.
Ease of Use &, Maintenance
Caraway wins hands-down for convenience. Its ceramic surface is effortlessly non-stick, and cleanup usually takes seconds. Its aluminum core makes it lightweight and easy to handle. Cast iron is the opposite. It’s extremely heavy, takes longer to heat up, and requires careful maintenance. Traditional cast iron cannot be left to soak, must be dried immediately to prevent rust, and needs periodic seasoning. Enameled cast iron is easier to clean but can still stain, and the "stick" factor is higher than with Caraway.
Cooking Performance
This is where cast iron truly shines. Nothing beats cast iron's ability to retain and distribute high, even heat. It is the best choice for getting a deep, crusty sear on a steak, perfectly crisping chicken skin, or frying potatoes. It excels at tasks that require sustained, high temperatures. Caraway's aluminum core heats quickly and evenly, making it great for more delicate, everyday tasks like cooking eggs, sautéing vegetables, or gently simmering sauces where precise, lower temperature control is key and sticking is a concern.
Quality &, Materials
Both are high-quality, but built for different lifespans. Cast iron is made for a lifetime of heavy use. A well-cared-for skillet can be used for over 100 years. Its sheer density makes it nearly indestructible. Caraway’s cookware is well-built with a non-toxic surface, but like any non-stick coating, its ceramic layer has a finite lifespan. It will degrade over time with use, especially if used with high heat or metal utensils, and will eventually need to be replaced.
Sustainability & Ethics
Each brand approaches sustainability differently. Caraway focuses on process and materials - using non-toxic coatings, shipping in plastic-free packaging, and running an ethical manufacturing process. Cast iron’s sustainability comes from its longevity. A single pan can prevent dozens of inferior non-stick pans from ending up in a landfill. Its buy-it-for-life nature makes it an incredibly low-waste option.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on your cooking habits, style preferences, and how much effort you're willing to put into maintenance.
Choose Caraway if:
- You want a strictly non-toxic, chemical-free non-stick surface.
- Convenience and easy cleanup are your top priorities.
- You exclusively cook on low-to-medium heat with delicate foods like eggs and fish.
- You love a sleek, modern aesthetic and want your cookware to match your kitchen decor.
Choose Cast Iron if:
- You need cookware that can handle very high heat for searing, browning, and frying.
- Durability and lifetime value are your biggest concerns.
- You enjoy the versatility of moving a pan from the stove to the oven to the grill.
- You don't mind the weight and the hands-on maintenance process of seasoning and careful cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caraway or cast iron cheaper?
Cast iron is generally much cheaper to get started with. A basic 10-inch skillet can cost as little as $25, while a single Caraway fry pan is nearly four times that price. However, high-end enameled cast iron can be more expensive than Caraway's sets.
Which has better non-stick properties?
Out of the box, Caraway's ceramic coating is more non-stick and requires little to no oil. However, a well-seasoned cast iron skillet develops an excellent natural non-stick surface over time that is more durable and can be repaired if damaged.
Is Caraway cookware non-toxic?
Yes. Caraway's primary selling point is its non-toxic ceramic coating, which is free of PTFE (like Teflon), PFOA, PFAs, lead, and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Can you use metal utensils on Caraway and cast iron?
You should not use metal utensils on Caraway, as they can scratch and damage the ceramic non-stick coating. Metal utensils are perfectly safe to use on traditional, non-enameled cast iron and can even help smooth the seasoning over time.
Which is better for high-heat cooking?
Cast iron is the undisputed champion for high-heat cooking. It is designed to withstand and hold very high temperatures, making it perfect for searing meats. Ceramic non-stick coatings like Caraway's can degrade quickly when used over high heat.
How long does Caraway's non-stick surface last?
With proper care (using low-to-medium heat, avoiding metal utensils, and hand-washing), Caraway's non-stick surface can last for several years. However, like all non-stick coatings, it will eventually wear down and lose its effectiveness.
Does cast iron need to be seasoned?
Traditional bare cast iron must be seasoned to protect it from rust and create a non-stick cooking surface. Enameled cast iron has a glass-like coating and does not require seasoning.
Is Caraway or Cast Iron heavier?
Cast iron is significantly heavier than Caraway cookware. Caraway's aluminum core makes it much lighter and easier to maneuver in the kitchen, while the density of cast iron is what gives it superior heat retention.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
