Made In is a family-run company making cookware and bakeware in the U.S., France, and Italy. It uses mostly non-toxic materials but read our review to find out why we don’t recommend all Made In products.
Table of Contents
What is Made In cookware?
Made In is a direct-to-consumer brand, which means you can get better quality products for the same or less than you’d pay at a big box store. The company makes a wide range of cookware and bakeware using materials including:
- Stainless steel
- Carbon steel
- Enameled cast iron
- Copper.
Made In is an Italian brand that makes its products in Italy.
The problem with Made In non-stick
The trouble is, Made In also makes some non-stick products using PTFE. And it tries to paint PTFE as a safe option, even while admitting that:
“When heated to extremely high temperatures, PTFE can begin to break down and leach toxic fumes into the air. When inhaled, these chemicals can cause a condition with flu-like symptoms called polymer fume fever.”
Made In’s website
We discuss the perils of PTFE in more depth here. For now, though, let’s just say that we don’t recommend Made In’s non-stick PTFE cookware or bakeware.
We do, however, recommend the company’s other, non-toxic, and more durable products. Namely, we recommend:
- Made In Steel Clad
- Made In Carbon Steel
- Made in Enameled Cast Iron
- Made In Copper.
Made In Cookware We Recommend
Needless to say, we haven’t tested the non-stick products Made In manufactures because they contain PTFE. However, Made In makes many excellent cookware products. We use and enjoy their stainless steel cookware, and prefer the Made In carbon steel products to popular brands like De Buyer.
Made In Steel Clad collection
Highlights: A wide variety of stainless steel cookware with smart design features, ergonomic handling, and very fast, even heating. Beautiful, durable, versatile cookware, made in the U.S., but a bit pricy.
The Steel Clad collection includes:
- Stainless Clad Frying Pans – 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, 14-inch (with two handles)
- Stainless Clad Saucepans with lid – 2 Qt, 4 Qt
- Stainless Clad Sauciers – 3 Qt, 5 Qt
- Stainless Clad Stock Pot with lid- 6 Qt, 8 Qt, 12 Qt
- Stainless Clad Stock Pot with Pasta Insert – 8 Qt
- Stainless Clad Rondeau – 10 Qt
- Stainless Clad Saute Pan – 3.5 Qt
- Stainless Clad Butter Warmer – ¾ Qt
- Stainless Steel Grill Press.
Made In offers an impressive stainless steel – Steel Clad – collection of cookware. For this, it uses 5-ply cladding which is very durable and should resist warping. The 5-ply design has three layers of aluminum fully encased in two outer layers of stainless steel.
The Made In Steel Clad cookware designs helps to spread heat quickly and evenly. This is great for some cooks but can also be a bit surprising, with a strong chance you’ll burn your food or smoke your oil if you start the pan on high heat.
The Steel Clad cookware also boasts rolltop rims that make less mess when pouring, though this rim plus sloped sides can also lead to more messes on the stovetop.
There’s a Stay Cool Handle™ too, which has a hollow core to slow heat transfer from the pot or pan and to enhance maneuverability.
Cooking eggs with Made In Stainless cookware
Made In uses a smart design with two grades of stainless steel for the exterior and interior. The interior is 304, 18/10 stainless steel, which resists corrosion and rust and doesn’t react with food. The exterior is high-grade ferritic 430 stainless steel, which is durable and more magnetic, so it works well with induction.
Made In’s cookware is easy to clean, and looks great. It also receives rave reviews for its ergonomic design and performance, helping to make even a beginner cook feel like a professional chef!
One of our top picks is the smartly designed Stainless Clad Stock Pot with Pasta Insert. This is basically a perfect-fit stainless steel steamer that makes it a breeze to cook pasta without it sticking and to blanch or steam vegetables then quickly remove them from the heat.
Made In Carbon Steel Collection
Highlights: Well-made, ergonomic, super responsive carbon steel cookware, including skillets, woks, griddles, roasting pans, and pizza steels. Pre-seasoned and unseasoned options available.
The carbon steel collection includes:
- Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan (seasoned or unseasoned) – 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch
- Blue Carbon Steel Wok – 12-inch
- Griddle (plus press)
- Blue Carbon Steel Paella Pan – 13-inch
- Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan With Rack
- Blue Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan – 11-inch
- Pizza Steel – 12.6-inch
- Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax – 6 oz can.
Carbon steel is a fantastic material for cookware, especially for anyone who likes cast iron but finds its weight too much to handle. Carbon steel heats quickly and evenly, is lighter than cast iron and easier to season, is more responsive than cast iron, and can still be used on a grill or open flame and in the oven.
Made In’s Carbon Steel collection doesn’t disappoint. It can be used at temperatures up to a staggering 1200 F, is naturally non-stick when seasoned, and is induction-friendly.
Made In makes its carbon steel cookware in France using experienced craftsmen.
Note that while the carbon steel pans don’t come with lids, Made In offers a silicon Universal Frying Pan Lid that fits the 10-inch and 12-inch pans quite well. You can also use this lid as a trivet to protect your work surfaces and table from hot pots and pans!
Made In offers two types of carbon steel: regular and blue carbon. The latter isn’t really any different to regular carbon steel as the blue hue is just a temporary side effect of annealing and will disappear as your pan seasons with use.
Seasoned vs. unseasoned
Made In offers unseasoned and pre-seasoned pans. The pre-seasoned pans come with two layers of vegetable oil seasoning. Out of the box, rinse the seasoned pans with hot water and then dry them on low heat before first use.
The unseasoned pans come with a protective layer of food grade oil and are annealed to prevent rust. Unlike many cookware manufacturers, Made In doesn’t use beeswax to protect its blue carbon steel. Annealing (steaming at high temperature) is a process that creates a blue-tinged oxidized surface layer on the pans. Wash this layer off with soap and water before seasoning the pans at home.
Want carbon steel without a beeswax coating? Made In’s carbon steel is vegan-friendly where other brands aren’t!
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Collection
Highlights: Gorgeous enameled cast iron collection with two Dutch ovens and a skillet. A great, non-toxic, beautifully designed option to rival Le Creuset, and available in a variety of colorways. Very heavy, even compared to Xtrema.
The enameled cast iron collection includes:
- Oval Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven – 7.5 Qt (which weighs 14.88 lb.)
- The Enameled Cast Iron Skillet – 11-inch (which weighs 5.8 lb.)
- Dutch Oven – 5.5 Qt (which weighs 13.69 lb.).
Made In launched its enameled cast iron collection in 2022, so it’s not had long to build a reputation or stand the test of time. The enameled cast iron collection is also smaller than the stainless steel and carbon steel collections.
The Dutch ovens and skillets are generously coated with thick layers of enamel for extra durability and easier cleaning. Unlike some enameled cast iron, however, this collection is not dishwasher safe (nor microwave safe). You can use these items in ovens to 580 F and can transfer directly from stovetop to oven. This is about 80 F higher than many other enameled cast iron products.
Note: The care cards included with the enameled cast iron products shipped in 2022 had incorrect information about safe oven temperatures. These pots are safe for use up to 580 F, not 470 F as stated on the cards. Made In has corrected the cards for items shipping currently.
Like the stainless steel collection, the cast iron Dutch Ovens come with a cleverly designed Cloud Cover Lid that has pea-sized dimples to trap steam and self-baste food, so it doesn’t dry out. The lid has a wide stainless steel knob (which you can upgrade to antique brass), with the width making it easier to lift with oven mitts. The body of the Dutch oven has loop handles for ease of movement.
The enameled cast iron skillet has a black interior for high-heat frying, grilling, and searing. It also has a useful helper handle, which is very welcome on these heavier cookware items.
The Dutch Ovens have white enamel interiors, which makes it easier to see food and monitor fond development.
Most of the cast iron collection is available in four or six color options, including:
- Blood Orange
- Harbour Blue
- Made In Red
- Ash Grey
- Antique White
- Hudson Green.
These cookware items all come with the Made In lifetime warranty, free shipping, and a return period of 45 days.
Note, too, that the Made In cast iron collection is quite a bit heavier than similar cast iron Dutch Ovens and skillets.
| Le Creuset | Made In | |
| Round Dutch Oven 5.5-Qt | 11.5 lb. | 13.69 lb. |
| Oval Dutch Oven 7.25/7.5-Qt | 13.1 lb. | 14.88 lb. |
| Oven safe temperature | 500 F | 580 F |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (but best cleaned by hand) | No |
Made In Copper collection
Highlights: Absolutely stunning copper cookware, including saucepan, rondeau, and saucier. Very responsive and fun to cook with. Not induction compatible though and very expensive.
The Copper Set is made in France and includes:
- 1.9-Qt saucepan with lid
- 5.2-Qt rondeau with lid
- 5-Qt saucier with lid.
Made In launched its copper cookware collection at the end of 2020 and, wow, is it ever stunning. These pieces are some of the most beautiful examples of copper cookware I’ve seen, and they seem to be great quality too (though I haven’t had a chance to test them myself).
Thanks to the stainless steel, this cookware won’t tarnish or stain as fast as copper cookware with a tin interior.
Made In’s copper cookware isn’t induction compatible as it comprises 90% copper and 10% stainless steel (for a non-reactive cooking surface).
Copper is a good choice for cookware material as it heats up very quickly and is very responsive to temperature changes, giving cooks more precise control. Made In copper cookware is also oven safe up to 800 F.
The copper cookware is best washed by hand and comes with a lifetime warranty. It also costs a staggering $1,199 for the set, which is expensive even by copper cookware standards.
De Buyer’s copper cookware (view on De Buyer) is arguably a better choice, however, with some induction compatible options and a wider range of quality pieces at a great price.
What makes Made In cookware special?
Made In prides itself on using quality materials and smart design to create products that last longer and perform better than most cookware. From our own experiences and the balance of reviews from Made In customers, the company gets top marks for the performance of its cookware collections, with the exception of its PTFE collection.
We love that most of the Made In cookware is suitable for use on induction stovetops. That said it would be nice to see some induction compatible options in the copper cookware range, especially given their high price.
Speaking of price, Made In’s entire raison d’etre is to offer restaurant quality cookware at an affordable price for the home chef. For the most part, the direct-to-consumer brand achieves this.
One thing that makes Made In stand out is its lifetime warranty on almost all of its cookware (1-year on PTFE cookware). It also makes most of its cookware and bakeware in the U.S., with most metals also sourced in the U.S. Some of its cookware is made by longstanding artisans in France and Italy, however.
Downsides to Made In cookware
The main downside of Made In is that the company also sells non-stick cookware with PTFE. While it may be true that this type of PTFE surface outlasts most non-stick ceramic, it also poses a risk of toxic fumes if mishandled. And the surface is easily damaged by metal utensils or rough treatment.
We don’t appreciate Made In’s attempts to promote its PTFE cookware as safe and sustainable when this isn’t entirely true. PTFE still releases toxic fumes when heated above 500 degrees, which happens very quickly on most stovetops. It’s also applied using chemicals that haven’t really run the gamut of testing for safety and toxicity. Sure, it’s PFOA-free, but we don’t know what Made In uses instead to apply the PTFE.
The other main downside is price. While most of the cookware is well priced for its quality, the copper and stainless steel collections are quite a bit pricier than competitors.
Made In offers a wider range of cookware and bakeware sets. These seem to offer good value for money, until you look more closely: many sets feature non-stick PTFE items.
Our experience with Made In cookware
Having used Made In’s stainless steel and carbon steel cookware for a few months now, the first thing that stands out is the quality of the craftsmanship. It’s an odd detail to point out, but I have been particularly impressed by the feel of the actual pan handles, which exude quality.
The slightly tilted design of the Made In handles is more ergonomic than Caraway for example, and makes the pans easier to use. In the grip, Made In feels higher quality than some popular non-stick options which are built more for convenience than for longevity.
However, make no mistake, without a nice dollop of cooking oil, food like eggs and meat will easily stick to the surface of Made In pan surfaces.
If you are concerned with the weight of cookware, Made In is a good option. Although the Carbon steel and stainless cookware is made to last, it is also lighter.
Last, I prefer Made In carbon steel to De Buyer because the pans are easier to season and don’t lose the integrity of their cooking surface as fast as De Buyer can.
Made In versus Caraway and Xtrema
Unlike Caraway Home and Xtrema, we don’t recommend the entire range of Made In cookware and bakeware.
Made In’s product line-up is much more varied than Xtrema and Caraway, with a wider range of materials and designs. This makes it a little tricky to compare apples to apples, but here’s some info for all three brands side-by-side.
| Made In | Caraway Home | Xtrema | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Stainless steel, Carbon steel, Enameled cast iron, Copper, PTFE non-stick | Ceramic non-stick over aluminum | Pure ceramic |
| Price for a 7-8-inch saucepan with lid | $129-$269 | $115-$165 | $221 |
| Third-party tested for chemicals of concern | Only for PTFE range | Yes | Yes |
| Eco-friendly packaging | Yes | Yes | No |
| Weight of Dutch Oven | 14.88 lb. for 7.5-Qt. | 6.2 lb. for 6.5-Qt | 12.4 lb. for 10-Qt. |
| Oven safe temperatures | 580 F for Enameled Cast Iron / 800 F for Stainless Clad stock pot / 1200 F for Carbon Steel | 550 F | 2500 F (and 1200 F for stovetop) |
| Warranty | Lifetime (1-year for PTFE) | 1-year | Lifetime |
| Return period | 45 days | 30 days | 40 days |
| Cookware recycling | Yes | Sort of | No |
Some points of note:
- Made In is a good option for carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper cookware (Xtrema and Caraway Home don’t offer these)
- Cuisinart’s stainless steel collection (View on Amazon) is a more affordable choice than Made In’s
- Made In is much heavier than Caraway Home and also heavier than Xtrema
- Caraway Home offers a measly 1-year warranty versus a lifetime warranty from Xtrema and Made In
- Made In doesn’t have third-party testing for its cookware (other than it’s non-stick PTFE range).
Caraway Home wins our favor through its transparency around third-party testing for chemicals of concern. That said, tests suggest that the non-stick Made In cookware would greatly outlast the Caraway Home ceramic non-stick cookware, meaning the overall environmental impact is more complicated than PTFE or no PTFE.
Leaf Score verdict: Skip the Made In non-stick (ceramic or PTFE) and just cook with well-seasoned cast iron or carbon steel, enameled cast iron, or stainless steel.
FAQs
Made In works with select Habitat for Humanity ReStores across the U.S. to help you recycle your old cookware. When ordering online at Made In, you can choose ‘I want to recycle my old cookware’ in the Extras section or ‘order summary’ if on mobile. This gets you a return shipping label in with your new cookware.
Once you receive your new cookware, reuse the box to send your old cookware to a new home. Safely seal the box and attach the return shipping label, then drop it off at FedEx or arrange a FedEx pickup. The service costs $20 for shipping and handling but helps save perfectly usable cookware from landfill.
Alternatively, drop off your old cookware at a thrift store yourself.
Made In offers a 45-day trial period and free return shipping if you change your mind about your new cookware. Exceptions include some limited release, give back, and engraved products.
Most of Made In’s cookware comes with a lifetime warranty, with the company standing behind the durability and quality of its products. Non-stick items only have a 1-year limited warranty, but we don’t recommend Made In’s non-stick items anyway as they contain PTFE.
Made In Steel Clad collection
Highlights: A wide variety of stainless steel cookware with smart design features, ergonomic handling, and very fast, even heating. Beautiful, durable, versatile cookware, made in the U.S., but a bit pricy.
Made In Carbon Steel collection
Highlights: Well-made, ergonomic, super responsive carbon steel cookware, including skillets, woks, griddles, roasting pans, and pizza steels. Pre-seasoned and unseasoned options available.
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Collection
Highlights: Gorgeous enameled cast iron collection with two Dutch ovens and a skillet. A great, non-toxic, beautifully designed option to rival Le Creuset, and available in a variety of colorways. Very heavy compared to Xtrema.
Made In Copper collection
Highlights: Absolutely stunning copper cookware, including saucepan, rondeau, and saucier. Very responsive and fun to cook with. Not induction compatible though and very expensive.
Thank you for your excellent in-depth research and reporting around the cookware!
I learned a lot and will continue using my cast iron…you saved me a bundle of money and potential toxic poisoning!!!
I’m so grateful…
Sooo much good information, I love that I found this page! I am still researching what would be best for me, and appreciate your time and effort.