We’ve been making a lot of omelets lately without much success. To set ourselves up for good results, we needed to get a proper pan.
A quick Google search gave us endless options. There were so many different pan coatings, from affordable to very expensive.
The Carote brand piqued my interest. With over 22,000 reviews on Amazon and an affordable price tag, their pan seemed like a good option. I had never heard of granite cookware before and had many questions. Is it safe? How does it perform?
Want an honest Carote pan review?
Let’s go to The Chalkboard.
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Where Is The Carote Brand From?
Carote is a kitchenware company that aims to produce affordable non-stick pieces. The company launched in 1992
Is It A Chinese Brand?
The company started creating cookware in 1992 in China and selling its wares in Italy. They have since expanded its markets. Its products are available throughout Europe and now the United States. They have offices around the world.
According to Carote, their products are made “mainly” in China and Vietnam “in world-class factories, all of which adhere to our strict ethical manufacturing practices and maintain the required standards for BSCI or SMETA.”
Carote Pan Review – What Is It?
Carote pans are unique because they have a granite coating which makes them non-stick. Each piece has an aluminum core covered in several layers of granite. The handles look like wood but are Bakelite plastic.
Benefits Of Granite Cookware
The granite coating has a few benefits. The first is its non-stick property; nothing attaches to this pan. I used it to cook an egg without oil or butter, and it slid right out.
It’s also non-reactive, so you can cook anything in it. On the other hand, cast iron can add a metallic taste to dishes when cooked for over 30 minutes.
Carote Pan Review — How Safe Is It?
Here is where things can get confusing. According to the company’s website, the interior of the pans are “made with a Swiss ILAG non-stick natural granite-delivered coating, 100% Free of PFOS, PFOA, Passed FDA, SGS, MA, CNAS safe test.”
Some people are leery of PFOA and PTFE.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified PFOA as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence in humans. This information is according to an American Cancer Society paper.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an artificial chemical, was once used in PTFE production but was phased out of production by all manufacturers by 2015.
The Carote products do not contain PFOA.
PTFE is a polymer coating used in cookware that makes it non-stick. You may be more familiar with the brand name of PTFE Teflon. Carote pans do not list that their pans include PTFE, but the company states they have ILAG, which is essentially the same thing.
Here is the American Cancer Society’s take on the matter.
“Other than the possible risk of flu-like symptoms from breathing in fumes from an overheated Teflon-coated pan, there are no proven risks to humans from using cookware coated with Teflon (or other non-stick surfaces).”
How To Care For A Carote Pan
If you properly care for the pan, you can mitigate the risk. Two simple rules are never to heat the pan high and not scratch the coating.
High heat can cause the coating to break down. Depending on the brand, that could begin at 390 degrees. The fumes mentioned in the American Cancer Society publication start when the pan hits 500 degrees. Carote recommends that you never heat an empty pan. Cookware can easily reach high temps on even a medium stove setting without anything in it.
Also, a concern is ingesting any Teflon, although, according to Scientific American, that is not an issue since the amount would be minimal. But who wants to eat a pan coating? Avoid using sharp metal utensils, and if you see scratches, it’s probably best to toss the pan.
For an in-depth explanation of Teflon and PTFE, check out this piece by The Rational Kitchen.
Carote Pan Review
Price
You can’t beat the price. We paid about $22 for a 9.5” pan on Amazon. Other options are easily double the price.
Performance
We love the high sides of this pan as well as the weight. It’s light but still seems to conduct heat well. We haven’t had any issues with food sticking to it, and clean-up is a breeze.
Maintenance
Like cast iron, the company recommends you season the pan before the first use. To do this, pour some neutral oil into a pan and heat it for a few minutes.
The pan was easy to clean. Since there were no connections inside the pan for the handle, there was no room for food to get trapped.
Carote Pan Review — Who Is A Carote Pan Good For? With a 2023 UPDATE
If you are looking for a non-stick pan at a great price, this is the one for you. It’s lightweight and works on a variety of cooktops. This pan is an excellent option if you frequently cook acidic foods like tomatoes since the coating won’t be affected.
Ok, I’ve been using this pan for over two years now, and I have to say, it’s my go-to. I love how light it is, compared to my cast iron. The color faded from cooking sausage during the first week, but that’s been the only issue. There is no chipping, warping, or flaking, and overall the pan is still in great shape.
I highly recommend you buy one with a lid. I never realized how often I needed it.
Carote Pan Review — Who Should NOT Get A Carote Pan?
If you are trying to avoid PTFE or Teflon, this pan is not for you. Also, if you want a pan that feels heavy, cast iron might be the way to go.
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on our Carote Pan Review? Do you have any granite pans? How do you like them? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to hear!
Like our opinions? Check out our Thrive Market, Misfits Market, and Imperfect Foods reviews.
Happy Cooking!
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