Great Jones offers stylish, modern cookware in vibrant colors at an affordable price point, making it a favorite for new homeowners and casual cooks. In contrast, Made In targets serious chefs and culinary enthusiasts with professional-grade materials like 5-ply stainless steel and copper, commanding a higher price for superior performance and durability.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right cookware brand for your kitchen.
Great Jones: The Modern, Colorful Kitchen Choice
Great Jones is a direct-to-consumer cookware brand known for its eye-catching design, functional pieces, and accessible prices. The brand has built a loyal following among millennials and Gen Z who appreciate cookware that looks as good on the stove as it does on an open shelf. They focus on creating a joyful and inspiring cooking experience without the steep investment of traditional high-end brands.
- Product mix: A focused collection including enameled cast iron Dutch ovens (The Dutchess), ceramic non-stick skillets, fully clad stainless steel pans, sheet pans, and bakeware sets.
- Style/vibe: Playful and modern. The aesthetic is defined by its popular retro-inspired color palette (Broccoli, Mustard, Blueberry) and sleek, user-friendly designs.
- Price point: Affordable to mid-range. A non-stick skillet starts around $95, while their popular Dutch oven is priced competitively. Complete cookware sets range from approximately $150 to $300.
- Quality: Built for everyday home cooking. They use enameled cast iron for heat retention and non-toxic ceramic non-stick coatings for easy cleanup. The quality is solid for its price, designed for reliability over intense professional use.
- Target Customer: Style-conscious home cooks, apartment dwellers, first-time homeowners, and anyone who sees their kitchen tools as part of their home decor.
- Ease of Use: Many of their products are designed to be user-friendly, with dishwasher-safe options and surfaces that are easy to clean, making cooking less of a chore.
Ultimately, Great Jones delivers a fantastic balance of Instagram-worthy style, everyday functionality, and compelling value.
Shop Great Jones: greatjoneshome.com
Made In: The Professional-Grade Cookware Investment
Made In was founded to bring professional-quality kitchen tools directly to home cooks. The brand partners with multi-generational factories in the US and Europe to produce premium cookware with a focus on high-performance materials and lifetime durability. It's the choice for those who view cooking as a craft and are willing to invest in tools that deliver precision and can withstand heavy use.
- Product mix: Extensive range of cookware including 5-ply stainless clad frying pans, sauce pans, carbon steel cookware, copper pieces, non-stick skillets, stock pots, and professional-quality knives.
- Style/vibe: Sleek, professional, and timeless. The design is utilitarian yet elegant, focusing on brushed metallic finishes that look at home in a high-end, commercial-style kitchen.
- Price point: Higher-end. A professional stainless steel skillet starts around $150, and comprehensive sets can range from $300 to well over $600. Prices reflect the advanced materials and construction.
- Quality: Exceptional. Made In uses premium materials like 5-ply American metal construction for even heating, Italian full-metal handles, and a proprietary non-stick coating. Their products are built to last and often come with a lifetime warranty.
- Target Customer: Serious home cooks, culinary professionals, and anyone who prioritizes performance, heat control, and durability over aesthetics.
- Performance: Engineered for superior cooking results, from achieving the perfect sear on a steak with their carbon steel pan to simmering delicate sauces with controlled heat in their copper cookware.
Made In is the go-to for shoppers who want restaurant-quality cookware without the traditional retail markup, offering true investment pieces for a passionate home chef.
Shop Made In: madeincookware.com
Great Jones vs. Made In Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear difference in price and value proposition here. Great Jones is positioned as an affordable-luxury brand. With most individual pieces selling for under $150 and sets below $300, it makes high-style cookware accessible to a much broader audience. It's an excellent value for someone building a kitchen from scratch or looking for a stylish upgrade without a huge financial commitment.
Made In operates in a premium category. You are paying for pro-grade materials, superior heat conductivity, and long-term durability. A single Made In pan can cost as much as a small set from Great Jones. While more expensive upfront, the idea is that this is "buy it for life" cookware, making it a better long-term investment for those who cook frequently and demand high performance.
Style &, Aesthetic
Style is the most visible differentiator. Great Jones cookware is designed to be seen. Its signature vibrant color palette and matte finishes are fun, warm, and expressive. These pieces are meant to be a statement in the kitchen, appealing to consumers who prioritize a specific modern or retro aesthetic in their home design.
Made In's aesthetic is one of functional, professional elegance. The focus is on the beauty of the raw materials - brushed stainless steel, gleaming copper, and seasoned carbon steel. Its look is timeless, serious, and sophisticated, designed to complement a high-performance kitchen environment rather than making a colorful statement.
Quality &, Materials
Great Jones offers excellent quality for its price point. Its enameled cast iron provides great heat retention for stews and braises, and its ceramic non-stick skillets offer a safe and effective cooking surface. The materials are reliable and durable enough for everyday home use.
Made In's quality, however, is in a different league. The brand's signature 5-ply construction in its stainless steel cookware, which sandwiches layers of aluminum between stainless steel, provides unparalleled heat control and evenness. This is a technical feature found in restaurant kitchens, eliminating hot spots and giving the cook more precise results. Their carbon steel is famous for its heat retention and ability to build a natural non-stick patina, making it a favorite for searing.
Product Selection
Both brands offer a well-curated selection of kitchen essentials, but their core strengths differ. Great Jones shines with its enameled cast iron Dutch ovens and stylish non-stick frying pans. Their collection is more focused on the core pieces a typical home cook needs.
Made In offers a wider and more specialized range. Beyond standard pots and pans, they offer different materials for different jobs - stainless for all-purpose cooking, carbon steel for searing, copper for reactive control over temperature, and non-stick for delicate foods. They also have an extensive line of high-quality knives and bakeware, providing a more all-encompassing system for the serious cook.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on your cooking habits, style preference, and budget. Both brands deliver excellent products, but they serve different needs.
Choose Great Jones if:
- You prioritize aesthetics and want cookware in beautiful, standout colors.
- You are furnishing your first kitchen or upgrading on a moderate budget.
- You are a casual home cook who needs reliable, easy-to-clean essentials.
- You see your cookware as part of your overall home decor scheme.
Choose Made In if:
- Performance is your #1 priority, you want precise heat control and durability.
- You are a serious home cook, culinary enthusiast, or semi-professional.
- You are willing to invest in "buy it for life" pieces and prioritize longevity.
- You prefer a timeless, professional aesthetic in your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Great Jones or Made In cheaper?
Great Jones is significantly more affordable than Made In across the board. An entire cookware set from Great Jones can often be purchased for the price of two or three premium pans from Made In.
Which has better quality cookware?
Made In has technically superior quality in terms of materials and construction. Its 5-ply stainless steel and French-made carbon steel are engineered for professional-level performance and longevity. Great Jones offers very good quality for its price, perfect for everyday home cooking, but it is not built to the same demanding specifications as Made In.
Where are Great Jones and Made In products made?
Made In partners with specialized, family-owned factories in the United States, France, and Italy, depending on the product line. Great Jones manufactures its products in China with vetted factory partners chosen for their expertise in specific materials.
Is Made In cookware worth the high price?
For passionate and frequent cooks, Made In is absolutely worth the price. The investment translates to better searing, more even cooking, and tools that will likely last a lifetime. For a casual cook who makes simple meals a few times a week, the performance benefits may not be as noticeable, making it harder to justify the cost.
Is Great Jones good for beginners?
Yes, Great Jones is an excellent choice for beginners. Its products are user-friendly, the price point is accessible, and the fun design can make cooking more inspiring and enjoyable for someone just getting started in the kitchen.
What is the best product from each brand?
Great Jones is famous for its cast-iron Dutch oven, the Dutchess, which is often cited as a stylish and affordable alternative to brands like Le Creuset. For Made In, their 12" Stainless Clad Frying Pan is a workhorse praised by chefs and home cooks alike for its exceptional performance.
Which brand is better for high-heat searing?
Made In is the definitive winner for high-heat searing. Their Stainless Clad and Carbon Steel frying pans are specifically designed to handle and retain high temperatures, allowing you to achieve a perfect, crusty sear on meats and vegetables that is difficult to replicate with non-stick or enameled surfaces.
Can you put Great Jones cookware in the dishwasher?
Many Great Jones products, like their stainless steel line, are dishwasher-safe. However, for their enameled cast iron and non-stick items, hand-washing is strongly recommended to preserve the finish and extend the life of the cookware.
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.
