Well known for their lightweight designs and dependable quality, Calphalon have been a trusted brand of non-stick pots and pans in the US for literal generations.
But what makes them so special, and how do you choose the right set for you and your kitchen? Our top 10 guide digs into what makes each set unique, and will help you make the right choice.
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Best Calphalon Cookware Set
Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel
The signature series is one of Calphalon’s best sellers, and named Signature for a reason. The set is well made, well priced, and contains enough variety to suit almost any kitchen and family.
The triple layered construction is incredibly durable, made from 5 thick, bonded metal layers with an aluminum core. Those extra layers mean more strength, more toughness, and more even heat distribution, which means that your food cooks evenly and clean through.
That temperature control also extends to oven use. The Signature Steel Series is both oven and broiler safe, up to 500 degrees C. This is higher than a lot of other cookware, including most other Calphalon sets, which are generally only safe to 450 degrees, and means that you can use these without fear, and cook almost anything in them, no matter what.
They also look great. The stainless steel is good looking, bright and durable, as well as being easy to look after. Metal utensils and acidic foods won’t cause any damage, and clean up is incredibly simple.
The only real downside is that these aren’t non-stick. The cooking surfaces are treated, which means limited sticking, and as long as you’re cooking correctly you won’t struggle to keep these clean, but it is worth pointing out.
But apart from that minor point, and the fact that this set is slightly more expensive than some others, the Signature Stainless Steel Series is one of the single best Calphalon sets on the market, and it’s sure to take pride of place in your kitchen and home.
This set includes:
- 8 and 10 inch omelette pans
- 2 quart saucepan and cover
- 3 quart saucepan and cover
- Stock pot and cover
Calphalon Classic 10 Piece Set
Calphalon’s Classic 10 Piece is a classic for a reason. Striking a great balance between price and quality, the Classic Set is very similar to the Signature Series, our top choice, just a little cheaper
The 3 layer aluminum construction is tough, but light. Oven safe up to 450 degrees, they’re simple to use and compatible with almost any stove top. (Be careful with induction heated stoves.) Stainless steel handles add a lot of strength, and cool quickly, making it easy to get these around your kitchen.
Resilient tempered glass lids let you see the contents at a glance, and built in measuring marks and pour spouts are a huge help, saving tons of time with jugs and other utensils. The impact bonded aluminum base is exceptionally tough and strong, and the whole set is completely dishwasher safe.
While personally we think the Signature Series is a better set, Calphalon’s Classic set definitely has a place, especially with the easier cleaning and toughness. And the fact that it’s a little easier on the wallet always helps, too.
This set includes:
- 8 inch fry pan
- 10 inch fry pan
- 1.5 quart saucepan and cover
- 2.5 quart saucepan and cover
- 3 quart saute pan and cover
- 6 quart stock pot and cover
Calphalon Oil Infused Ceramic 11 Piece Set
Touted as the healthiest and easiest way to get cooking, this set of cookware is infused with olive oil as part of the creation process, meaning that you don’t need to add anything to the pan except what you’re cooking.
According to Calphalon, the pan itself has 3 times the non-stick release of conventional ceramics. That means no need to add butter or oil, as the pan does it all itself! Not only does this save a lot of time and effort, it’s also incredibly healthy for you and your family, cutting down on additional fats and calories.
The pans themselves are safe and healthy, with no PTFE or PFOA plastics (like Teflon) or any heavy metals used in their manufacture. The layered construction is high quality, with fast and even heating throughout, and every piece features the same style of tempered glass lids and stay-cool stainless steel handles used on other Calphalon cookware.
Like almost all Calphalon cookware, these are oven safe up to 450 degrees, and can be used on almost any stovetop except induction. A slight downside is that these are not dishwasher safe, but they’re very simple to keep clean by hand.
The oil infused coating is so non-stick that you can basically just wipe them down and rinse them off. Finally, everything is covered with Calphalon’s limited 10 year warranty.
This set includes:
- 8 inch fry pan
- 10 inch fry pan
- 1.5 quart saucepan and cover
- 2.5 quart saucepan and cover
- Saute pan and cover
- Dutch oven and cover
- 12 inch griddle pan
Calphalon 2 Piece Non-Stick Frying Pan Set
Most households use their pans far more than other cookware, so it’s normally the pans that wear out first.
If you need replacement pans, this simple paired set comes with the two most generally useful pan sizes, it’s an ideal set for most families.
The 8 inch pan is the perfect breakfast tool, making it great for eggs and omelettes. The size is also great for joints of meat, a single steak and sautéed vegetables.
The medium 10 inch pan is a better general tool. The size is perfect for whole families, and capable of taking several chicken breasts or a good portion of stir fry.
The pans themselves are hard-anodized aluminum, with non-stick surfacing. The twin layered construction is tough, compatible with most stovetops, oven safe up to 450 degrees. Just make sure that you follow the instructions, especially when it comes to cleaning.
This set includes:
- 8 inch fry pan
- 10 inch fry pan
Calphalon Space Saving 15 Piece Set
Kitchen storage is a constant struggle, so finding a set that can save huge amounts of space in your cupboards is a big deal.
Using a clever stacking mechanism, flat lids and other design choices, this 15 piece set uses a set of unique design choices to save you up to 30% of used space, compared to similar brands.
In terms of design, despite being space saving, the 3 layer non-stick pans are the thickest Calphalon cookware out there. This is actually a great thing, as thicker pans distribute heat better, which leads to consistent, even cooking, and makes them much tougher and longer lasting (up to 40% longer lasting than the Calphalon Classic…)
The pan lids also have a unique space saving design. They’re almost completely flat, which saves a lot of room. Do be careful when you remove them though, as condensation can be an issue, with less angle for it to run off
Clean up is simple, as the non-stick means these are almost wipe clean. In terms of downsides, there’s very few. Handles are quite bulky, and can be hard to hold for smaller hands. And as prices go, this is a reasonably expensive set. But if you want one of the best Calphalon sets on the market, that will fit into almost any kitchen, you’ve found it.
This set contains:
- 8 inch fry pan
- 10 inch fry pan
- 12 inch fry pan
- 2.5 quart saucepan and cover
- 3.5 quart saucepan and cover
- 4.5 quart soup pan and cover
- 3 quart saute pan and cover
- 5 quart Sauteuse and cover
- 8 quart stock pot and cover
Calphalon Space Saving Supper 5 Set
Similar to the 15 piece space saver set, this 5 piece is designed to stack on itself and cut down on the amount of room it takes up in your cupboards and kitchen.
Where it differs is what’s in the set. The 5 parts to this set are designed and chosen to be the perfect complement for a dinner service, whether that’s a couple having guests round, or just sitting down with the family for your evening meal.
Made from hard anodized aluminum, the pans are tough and hard wearing, as well as fully dishwasher safe. They stack in any order, giving you much easier options for putting them away. The covers are also specially designed to be flatter, and take up much less space than standard tops.
This set contains
- 4 quart chef’s pan
- 8 quart stock pot and cover
- 5 quart sauteuse with cover
Calphalon Hard Anodized Non-Stick Set
Stronger and tougher than Calphalon’s Classic series, the hard anodized bodies of these pans is designed to last around 1.5 times longer than the closest equivalent, as well as being ultra-durable and able to deal with situations that other pans might not be able to.
Made from heavy gauge anodized aluminum, each one of the pots and pans is completely oven safe up to 500 degrees, (higher than most of Calphalon’s ranges, as well as a lot of others.)
The non-stick interior is incredibly resilient, layered 3 times to make it proof to metal utensils and hotter temperatures, but the stainless steel handles remain cool to touch even after an hour on the stove.
Coming as a complete set, this contains everything you need for a full kitchen, all completely covered with Calphalon’s lifetime warranty. There’s a reason it won Good Housekeeping’s Best Overall Non-stick Cookware.
This set includes:
- 10 inch omelette pan
- 12 inch omelette pan
- 2 quart saucepan with cover
- Two 3 quart saucepans with covers
- 8 quart stock pot with cover
Best Calphalon Cookware Set Buying Guide
What to look for when buying pots and pans
Is it dishwasher safe?
Kitchen clean up can take as long, if not longer than preparation. Many Calphalon pots and pans are dishwasher safe, cutting time in the long run.
However, we would not recommend generally cleaning pans in the dishwasher. Most non-stick pans are very easy to clean, needing a quick soak and a wipe with a dish cloth.
Can you use it in the oven?
Most pots and pans will be oven, though it’s worth checking the maximum temperatures, as this can vary.
It’s also worth checking the dimensions of the cookware you’re buying, as larger pots and pans may be too tall or too wide for a lot of ovens, especially with larger, longer handles.
Does it have pouring lips? On which sides
More pans are coming with pouring lips on both sides now, which are both convenient in general, but especially useful if you have both left and right handed chefs in the home.
Are the handles stay cool, and easy to hold?
A longer, thicker handle is easier to hold, which is useful with a full pan, or thick, cumbersome gloves.
Cool-touch technology is more common, meaning you can safely handle and pan, no matter where it’s been, oven or hob, with no risk of burning.
How easy are they to maintain?
Different cookware has different maintenance needs, and Calphalon is no exception. Be sure to read through the user’s manual that comes with every set, to check how to keep your particular choice clean and in tip top condition.
Choosing a material: How to pick your Calphalon cookware
Calphalon currently make cookware in 4 different styles. All of them are well made and simple to use, so the choice tends to come down to what you’re buying it for, because each type is specialized for certain jobs. Here’s the breakdown:
Oil-infused ceramic non-stick
Oil-infused ceramic pans are basically the best non-stick pans that exist. Not only are they simply to clean, smoothly made and incredibly easy to cook with, they’re also probably the healthiest cookware you can buy, with literally no aggressive chemicals or compounds used in their manufacture.
If you want ultra healthy pans that are easy to use, consider buying oil-infused ceramic.
Hard-anodized aluminum non-stick
Tough and versatile, hard-anodized aluminum pans are a great generalist choice.
Simple to use, easy to cook with and easy to clean, aluminum cookware would be at home in any kitchen, and safe in any pair of hands. They are slightly more expensive, though.
Cast iron
Classic cast iron cookware, just like grandma used to own.
Incredibly durable, cast iron cookware will last literally forever, no matter how rough you are with it. While it might be slightly more expensive, cast iron generally also gets better with age, as the pan ‘seasons’ every time something is cooked on it, the oils of the food penetrating into the metals.
There’s a reason people love cast iron cookware, and why you can still buy pans today that are the same as people used 100 years ago. They’re just that good.
Stainless steel
Elegant, gorgeous looking and incredibly precise, stainless steel cookware is the chef’s choice.
The main advantage of stainless steel is how easily heat penetrates through it. This means it’s incredibly easy to control heat levels, which is important for meat dishes especially.
If you cook a lot of seared steaks and other pan fried meals, stainless steel cookware is an invaluable tool. However, most people would do better with aluminum or oil infused ceramic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Calphalon’s non-stick coating chip, or peel?
Like any non-stick coating, Calphalon non-stick cookware can chip and peel away. However, as long as it’s used correctly, chipping and peeling will be kept to a minimum, and any damage should be fully covered under warranty and eligible for replacement.
Are Calphalon pans safe to use if scratched?
Absolutely.
It used to be the case that non-stick pans had to be replaced when you damaged them, because scratching the surface exposed
Can Calphalon cookware be used in the oven or broiler?
Yes and no.
All Calphalon cookware is perfectly oven safe, but only some of the range is broiler safe.
The simplest way to check is to visit the Calphalon help page, found here, and locate your product. The list contains every piece of Calphalon cookware, safe oven temperatures, and whether it can be safely used in a broiler.
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