GreenLife Cookware Review 2024 – Simple & Affordable

As one of the first to lead the ceramic nonstick cookware charge, GreenLife has picked up plenty of fans over the years.

The brand offers a selection of individual cookware items and sets, all of which are designed to brighten up your kitchen at an affordable price.

That ceramic surfacing also means the cookware is non-toxic, and an interesting option for those of you determined to move on from Teflon-style coatings.

In this GreenLife cookware review, I’m going to look at a selection of the most popular sets, as well as a few individual items that have become firm favorites.

(If you want to explore more of my cookware content, take a look at the home cookware guide I have on the site.)

About GreenLife Ceramic Cookware

GreenLife is the sister-brand to the GreenPan range. Both are owned by The Cookware Company, but GreenLife is positioned as the more affordable offering of the two.

Rather than using PTFE & PFOA-based non stick coatings (more on this later), GreenLife instead makes use of a non stick ceramic technology called Thermolon.

No matter how high you heat this ceramic cookware, the Thermolon coating will not release any kind of toxic chemicals into your food.

Although the bigger brands have all developed their own ceramic cookware sets, GreenLife was very much the trendsetter in this corner of kitchen life.

Who’s GreenLife Ceramic Cookware For?

GreenLife cookware is designed for amateur cooks who want a ceramic non-stick set that won’t break the bank.

Although turquoise dominates the product listings, many of these cookware sets are also available in a wide selection of bright and breezy colors.

If you want to brighten up your kitchen with a ceramic non stick set, and won’t be putting those pots and pans under too much pressure, it’s a very good option for the budget-conscious.

Who’s It NOT For?

Those looking for a long-term cookware set. Ceramic coatings last a while, but not forever, and aluminum isn’t the most durable material either.

Still, you can expect to get around two to three years of good service from a GreenLife pan, if you give it the kind of TLC that all cookware needs.

It’s also important to know that none of the items I’ve included in this guide are compatible with induction cooktops.

You can buy induction rings for your hobs, but the results are so lackluster I think you’re better off buying a dedicated, induction-ready cookware set instead.

Pros

• A colorful collection of cookware.
• Attractively priced.
• PTFE & PFOA-free non stick coating is effective.

Cons

• Not induction compatible.
• Won’t last more than two or three years under normal use.
• Some sets have become annoyingly hard to source.

A Closer Look At GreenLife Ceramic Cookware

Before looking at the individual cookware sets, it’s worth explaining what all GreenLife ceramic cookware items have in common.

GreenLife Materials

GreenLife pans have proved popular as they’re considered excellent at distributing – and retaining – heat.

That’s largely due to the aluminum construction. Aluminum is one of the best conducting cookware materials, and you can expect even and fast heating with any of these cookware sets.

There’s a flipside to working with aluminum, however.

While its heating properties are excellent, it’s not as hard-wearing as something like stainless steel. Don’t expect these pans to last forever, in other words.

The one exception here is the GreenLife Classic Pro range. This is hard anodized for extra protection. Unfortunately, this particular range isn’t as easy to source as it used to be.

Thermolon Non Stick Coating

GreenLife ceramic nonstick cookware makes uses of the company’s Thermolon non stick coating.

This is a non toxic surface coating which is free of PTFE and PFOA. This is the stuff you’ll know more commonly as Teflon.

The problem with PTFE non-stick coatings is that they start to degrade at around 400F / 205C. At this point, they begin releasing chemicals, which is far from ideal for food preparation.

A number of studies have linked this chemical release with health concerns too.

Improvements have been made to PTFE materials in recent years, with the temperature tolerance slowly creeping up. Still, many home cooks have made the decision to abandon PTFE-like coatings altogether.

There are actually other benefits to ditching PTFE and using ceramic nonstick cookware like GreenLife though.

This sort of non stick coating doesn’t chip off or flake, for example. It won’t last forever, but these natural coatings hold together pretty well.

PTFE coatings also act as an insulating material, so it was never even the best option for heating up your pots and pans!

GreenLife Soft Grip Cookware Review

The GreenLife Soft Grip set is aimed squarely at the home cook who needs to kit out their kitchen with all the basics and nothing more.

The set includes lightweight pots and pans that are easy to handle on the stovetop, yet stable and solid.

(Heads up! If you click on a product link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I never recommend a product I wouldn’t use in my own kitchen, and this helps keep the site running. Thank you.)

They also feature Bakelite handles which are designed to be comfortable to hold, yet also resist heat so you don’t burn your fingers.

As the name suggests, these handles are soft to the touch and comfortable to transport around the kitchen.

Like all GreenLife pans, this set is constructed from heavy duty aluminum. They have thick bases too, which is great for even heat distribution.

You’ve also got a lot of color options here. If you like your kitchenware to stand out there’s plenty to choose from!

Although they’re advertised as dishwasher safe, I really recommend washing your cookware by hand wherever possible.

Everything tends to rattle around inside a dishwasher, and the last thing you want to do is accidentally add scrapes and scratches to your non stick pans.

It’s oven safe too. The Soft Grip range can tolerate a maximum oven temperature of 350F / 177C.

There’s no much margin for error here, so I’d recommend using this collection to keep things warm in the oven before serving.

Here’s everything you get in the Soft Grip 16 piece set. As with all GreenLife sets there are no metal utensils here! All the sets include nylon or wooden utensils, to avoid damaging that precious nonstick surface.

• 4 Inch Mini Frying Pan
• 7 Inch Frying Pan
• 9.5 Inch Frying Pan
• 1 Quart Saucepan + Lid
• 2 Quart Saucepan + Lid
• 5 Quart Stock Pot + Lid
• 2.5 Quart Saute Pan + Lid
• 7 Inch Stainless Steel Steamer
• 4 Kitchen Utensils

(* The Soft Grip range is also available in 12 or 15 piece editions. Check the alternative listings for a full breakdown.)

GreenLife Soft Grip Diamond Review

The Diamond series has much in common with the Soft Grip, and so there’s no as much detail to cover.

As the name suggests, however, there’s a little extra sturdiness built into this ceramic nonstick cookware.

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In addition to the standard non stick coating, you’ll also find quartz diamonds embedded in the surface. That helps to preserve the lifespan of the non stick coating.

Apart from that it’s very much GreenLife business as usual with the Diamond range.

It’s worth mentioning that you have far fewer color options to play with here. At the time of publishing this article, only a dark grey or black option was available.

The frying pans and other pots in this set are oven safe to 350F / 177C.

Here’s what comes in the set:

• 1 Quart Saucepan + Lid
• 2 Quart Saucepan + Lid
• 5 Quart Stockpot + Lid
• 9.5 Inch Skillet + Lid
• 7 Inch Frying Pan
• 9.5 Inch Frying Pan
• 4 Kitchen Utensils

GreenLife Classic Pro Review

The Classic series is no longer part of the official GreenLife range, although it is still possible to buy them through resellers.

The emphasis here is on durability. Aluminum is a fantastic cookware material, but it’s not as sturdy as stainless steel.

To enhance the product, GreenLife puts this cookware line through a “hard anodizing” process. This provides an extra protective layer over the bare aluminum, which gives it a longer life.

The handles are different on these pots and pans too. On the Classic line, the handles are made from stainless steel rather than Bakelite. This means they’re oven safe to a higher temperature

Although the pans themselves can tolerate an oven temperature of up to 600F / 315C, this doesn’t apply to the glass lids. If you want to include those in your cooking, 425F / 218C is the maximum temperature you can work with.

Like the Diamond series, there aren’t many color options to play with here.

Light and dark grey are your only options, although the good news is that any surface damage to the exteriors won’t be nearly as noticeable!

Overall, I think this is the going to be the best GreenLife cookware option if you want to do more oven cooking. It’s also better for those who like a more traditional look for their cookware.

Here’s what you get in the Classic set:

• 5 Inch Frying Pan
• 7 Inch Frying Pan
• 1 Quart Stock Pot + Lid
• 2 Quart Stock Pot + Lid
• 3 Quart Stock Pot + Lid
• 4 x Multi-Purpose Nylon Cooking Utensils

GreenLife Round Cake Pan Review

As well as those core sets, GreenLife also makes a number of separate bakeware items.

Its 9 inch round cake pan is a popular choice for those wanting to kit their kitchens out with a little extra bakeware.

It’s only available in the classic GreenLife turquoise color, but that color is at least consistent across all the company’s single items.

You can build out your collection over time, in other words, without worrying about color mismatch between different items.

The material used for this cake pan is heavy-duty steel, which is ideal for rapid heat up and solid heat distribution. Both of these are, of course, essential for baking.

It also features reinforced rims, which are there to provide the pan with extra strength and ensure it lasts a little longer.

In terms of baking temperatures, the GreenLife cake pan is oven safe up to 450F / 232C. That’s well within the range you’re likely to be working with at home.

One final thing to mention. This cake pan is not dishwasher safe, and so you’ll need to wash it by hand.

As it has that very effective GreenLife non stick coating though, that shouldn’t prove too much hard work!

GreenLife Loaf Pan Review

Like the cake pan I’ve just covered, GreenLife’s loaf pan is a popular single piece item in the bakeware world.

It shares much in common with that other pan as well, from the reinforced rims to the steel build for fast heating and even heat distribution.

The most noticeable difference between this loaf pan and the competition though is its size.

At 8.5 x 4.4 x 2.7 inches, it’s quite a bit bigger than the average loaf pan.

One thing that also came up frequently in my research is just how hot this thing gets.

It’s worth reducing your timings a little while you’re first getting to grips with this pan. Better to check in earlier than usual on your first few bakes.

Final Verdict On GreenLife Ceramic Cookware?

If you’re looking for everyday cookware, then I think the Soft Grip set in particular is worthy of investment. It’s not an advanced set by any means, but it’s an affordable set of healthy cookware.

It won’t be able to take the kind of punishment that a really dedicated home chef will want to throw at their pots and pans.

For daily use though, I think these sets are a good option.

My biggest piece of advice would be to wash them by hand. Although advertised as dishwasher safe, I think a little hands-on TLC will go a long way towards preserving them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Just to wrap things up, there are some questions about GreenLife cookware that come up quite often.

In this final section, I’ll answer some of the most common I’ve seen around the internet.