In most of our cookware reviews, we focus on affordable pots and pans that work well without breaking the pocketbook. But in this one, things will be a bit different. Scanpan is not a budget brand by any stretch of the imagination, so be prepared for some serious quality and some not so soft prices.
Yes, this is cookware made to last, and it comes with an appropriate price tag. Don’t let that scare you, instead let it free you from the worry of buying cookware that will only go a few years before giving up the ghost. This is equipment that you might just have to pass on to your kids!
Scanpan Products
In our in-depth Scanpan Cookware review, we’ll take a look at the most popular Scanpan products that people are picking up. This Danish brand has many different ranges at different price points and differing quality, so let’s find the perfect product for you and your kitchen.
The Best Scanpan Cookwares Reviews
1. Classic Cookware Set, 14-piece – Most Extensive Scanpan Cookware Set
To make things easy, we’ll look at these cookware sets from the most affordable to the most expensive. So we’ll start here, with the Classic Cookware set. Truth be told, this isn’t actually the very cheapest set overall, but it is when you consider how many pieces you get here.
With the other collections, you get ten pieces of cookware, but here there are 14 as follows:
- 1 quart saucepan with glass lid
- 2 quart saucepan with glass lid
- 3 quart saucepan with glass lid
- 2 ¾ quart sauté pan with glass lid
- 6 ½ quart stockpot with glass lid
- 8 inch frying pan
- 10 ¼ inch frying pan
- 12 ½ inch frying pan
- 10 ½ inch grill pan
Do you think that will be enough!?
This classic set really covers all the bases; with the full range of sizes and pot and pan types, you’ll be able to cook anything. Every piece is made from aluminum, which the company claims is 100% recycled. The outsides are coated in durable black paint, but the inside cooking surface is what’s most important. These pans are all coated with Scanpan’s Stratanium nonstick coating.
Let’s learn about it…
Stratanium is a Teflon-like coating made from five layers of an industrial coating developed by Scanpan. According to them, this coating is harder than steel. In theory, this means that steel utensils shouldn’t scratch the surface, though in practice banging and clanging the surface with metal can still cause dents or dings.
The surface is also dishwasher safe and can handle temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Easy clean-up…
These pots and pans release food very well, and clean-up is effortless. Most times, they simply wipe clean.
PROS
- Cheapest and biggest Scanpan set.
- Great nonstick food release.
CONS
- Can’t be used with induction stovetops.
- A lid for the grill pan would be ideal.
2. Classic Induction Cookware Set, 10-piece -Best Scanpan Induction Cookware Set
As you’ll notice in the name of this set, it’s basically the same line as we just saw, except for one big difference. These particular pots and pans can be used on all stovetop types, including gas, electric, ceramic, glass, and of course, induction!
You’ll also notice that this is a smaller set. In fact, all of the other sets we’ll look at here are ten piece sets, and only the Classic has 14 pieces.
Here’s what you get with the Classic Induction set:
- 2 quart saucepan with glass lid
- 3 ¼ quart saucepan with glass lid
- 2 ¾ quart sauté pan with glass lid
- 7 quart stockpot with glass lid
- 8 inch frying pan
- 10 ¼ inch frying pan
What’s not included here is the grill pan, the large frying pan, and the small 1-quart saucepan and lid.
Is that a big issue?
We really miss the grill pan and the large frying pan, both of which would see a lot of action in most kitchens, we think. The small saucepan, though, is not a big deal. Anything you can make in the 1 quart you can make in a 2-quart pot anyway.
There’s nothing different to say about the nonstick coating and the durability of these pots and pans that we haven’t said already. The coating is the same as with the Classic set.
A superb choice for induction stovetops…
But we did notice a bit of a change in the performance of this cookware. It has thicker, heavier steel-reinforced bottoms, and we found that this made the pots and pans a bit slower to heat up on a gas range. But on induction, these are really fast. They also seem to distribute heat better, with even heating all over the cooking surfaces.
PROS
- Induction ready.
- Great nonstick performance.
CONS
- Missing a really large frying pan.
- Slower heating on gas stoves.
3. CTX Cookware Set, 10-Piece – Best Brushed Stainless Steel Scanpan Cookware Set
From the basic Classic set, this CTX series comes up in price a couple of hundred dollars.
Let’s see if it’s worth it…
With the CTX set, you’re getting:
- 2 quart saucepan with lid
- 2¾ quart saucepan with lid
- 2½ quart sauté pan with lid
- 7 ½ quart stockpot with lid
- 8 inch frying pan
- 10 ¼ inch frying pan
Here the stockpot or Dutch oven is slightly bigger, while the medium saucepan and sauté pan are both a touch smaller than with the Classic induction cookware. These differences are minimal. This set of pots and pans can all be used on all stovetop types, including induction.
What we do notice between these and the earlier sets is definitely the look. Whereas the Classic pieces are finished in basic black paint, the CTX line is finished in brushed stainless steel. This will certainly be more durable and easier to keep clean over the long term, not to mention more beautiful.
The nonstick coating is the same…
Again, we’re seeing the PFOA and PFOS-free Stratanium coating that is allegedly metal tool resistant and dishwasher safe. The performance of the surface is really the same. Like the Classic Induction cookware, this line distributes heat better than the regular Classic series.
Then there are the lids…
Another key difference is the combination of stainless steel and tempered glass lids that come with the pots. These are definitely going to stand up to more of a beating than the Classic lids, even if they do make it a bit harder to see everything inside.
The handles are also stay-cool brushed stainless steel. These handles resist heat better and will last longer than the Bakelite handles on the Classic cookware. It’s sort of a choice of extra cost and extra longevity here.
PROS
- Induction ready.
- Very attractive.
- Durable construction.
CONS
- Also missing a large frying pan.
- A fair bit more expensive.
4. Professional Cookware Set, 10-Piece – Most Striking Scanpan Cookware Set
Scanpan’s Professional line is about the same price as the CTX set.
Let’s see how they compare head to head…
With the Professional Cookware Set, you get:
- 1 quart saucepan with lid
- 3 quart saucepan with lid
- 6 ½ quart stockpot with lid
- 10 ¼ sauté pan with lid
- 8 inch frying pan
- 10 ¼ inch frying pan
Here you’re getting a smaller stockpot than with the CTX set, and the saucepan sizes bracket the two very similarly sized CTX pots. Otherwise, the sizes are quite similar. Again, though, we’re missing that large 12-inch frying pan that the Classic set included.
Here, rather than stainless steel exteriors, we’ve got a matte black enamel paint finish that looks really sharp. It’s especially elegant set against the lids, which are full stainless steel instead of glass. On the one hand, steel lids are far more durable and will never break if dropped. It’s just unfortunate that you can’t see your food through them to see how things are cooking.
How about the nonstick coating?
Once again, we’re looking at the Stratanium coating that keeps these pots and pans scratch-resistant and dishwasher safe. We saw the same nonstick performance here as with the other three sets, which is no surprise as all they use the same coating.
There are a couple of downsides here, though. These pots do have heavy, thick bottoms, great for even heat distribution. However, they’re not steel, so they won’t work on induction stovetops.
Gets a bit hot…
Also, while the pots and pans are all oven-safe to 500 degrees, you have to be careful of the handles getting hot. The smaller handles on these pot lids do get hot even on the stove, and they’re also harder to grasp and pick up.
PROS
- Great look and nonstick performance.
- Durable steel lids.
CONS
- Can’t be used on induction stoves.
- More expensive than the Classic set.
- Without extra performance.
5. HAPTIQ Cookware Set, 10-piece – Best Performance Scanpan Cookware Set
With our last cookware set in our Scanpan cookware review, we’re going to look at the most expensive one. The HAPTIQ set includes the following pieces:
- 2 quart saucepan with lid
- 2¾ quart saucepan with lid
- 2½ quart sauté pan with lid
- 7 ½ quart stockpot with lid
- 8 inch frying pan
- 10 ¼ inch frying pan
Did you notice that these are the exact same sizes and pieces as in the CTX set? We did, so we want to put these two cookware sets up against each other.
The look…
For just a bit more money, the HAPTIQ set offers an exquisite look of stainless steel exteriors polished to a mirror shine. They’ll definitely look fantastic in any kitchen. But look isn’t the only thing to consider.
Unlike our previous four cookware sets, this set is coated with Scanpan’s Stratanium+ coating, which they claim is superior.
Is it?
This coating is still meant to be safe for use in the dishwasher and with metal utensils. It has a slight texture while regular Stratanium felt perfectly smooth, but it’s precisely this texture that the manufacturer claims aids in nonstick performance. In our experience, it does. Nothing stuck to these pots and pans, at least nothing that couldn’t simply be pushed off with a spatula.
We prefer these lids…
Another thing we like is that with HAPTIQ, Scanpan came back to mixed glass and steel lids. We think these are definitely going to be durable enough to last years, and we also like to watch and monitor while we’re cooking.
Overall, for the little extra money over the other CTX and Professional sets, this one is definitely worth it.
PROS
- Absolutely nonstick.
- Beautiful and durable.
CONS
- Most expensive product.
- Still missing that large frying pan.
Our Top Choice
This was really a stumper. While the Classic set is much cheaper, performs well, and has the most pieces, it can’t be used with induction. The CTX and Professional collections are stunning, but their performance doesn’t match the extra price.
In the end, though it’s not like us at all, we have to recommend the most expensive set; the…
This is genuinely nonstick, durable cookware built to last and look great too.
But no matter which Scanpan product you choose, remember this is an investment that should make you happy for years to come.
Here’s to great times in the kitchen!
