I Put GreenLife's Under-$100 Ceramic Cookware to the Test, and Here's How It Performed

Tested by Taylor Murray

The cat's out of the bag when it comes to toxic cookware. Sure, you could opt for a premium set of stainless-steel pots and pans, but you don't love the idea of endlessly scrubbing stuck-on scrambled eggs and pan-seared fish fillets. Luckily, there are plenty of great options for nontoxic cookware on the market that don't contain forever chemicals and heavy metals. Whether you're furnishing your first apartment, looking for a low-cost upgrade, or just want a reliable set that won't break the bank, GreenLife's Soft Grip Nonstick Cookware Set seems like a promising option.

GreenLife shares a parent company with GreenPan, one of my personal favorite brands and one of our winners for best nonstick cookware sets. Unlike some varieties of nonstick cookware that may contain questionable materials, GreenLife's Thermolon ceramic coating offers a safer, more eco-friendly alternative. It's free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium and made from sand. 60 percent fewer CO₂ emissions are created during its curing phase compared to traditional nonstick coatings, and the brand uses recycled aluminum to craft the pan itself. With nearly 50,000 reviews on Amazon alone, I found myself wondering how the pieces in this set actually perform. So, I put them to the test to find out.

What I Tested

I tested the 12-piece GreenLife Soft Grip Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set, which includes 7-inch and 9.5-inch frying pans, a 2-quart saucepan with lid, a 5-quart stockpot with lid, a 2.5-quart sauté pan with lid, a stainless steel steamer, a nylon ladle, a nylon slotted turner and a 5-piece measuring spoon set. For those who appreciate colorful kitchen accessories, this set is currently available in 11 hues to best match your style.

This is a well-rounded set for a beginner, covering all the basics needed for everyday cooking. If you're starting completely from scratch or want to replace the bulk of what you currently have, this set should do the trick. That being said, I wasn't overly impressed by the inclusion of nylon tools, and you could easily skip these and pick up a better ladle or turner elsewhere.

Are GreenLife and GreenPan the Same?

Short answer: They're sister brands. Both are owned by The Cookware Company and feature the same patented Thermolon nonstick ceramic coating. However, GreenLife is the more budget-friendly, entry-level option, while GreenPan is marketed as a higher-end, more premium line.

How I Tested the GreenLife Soft Grip Nonstick Cookware Set

I put each piece of the set through various tests to analyze the quality of construction and design. Before I started cooking, I unboxed the whole set and noted some first impressions. Most of the pieces felt ultra-lightweight, bordering flimsy, due to the aluminum core. I did notice that the soft grip handles are comfortable, and the overall build is extremely light in the hand.

Egg Test: I started with notoriously sticky eggs to evaluate the coating of the pans. Both scrambled and fried eggs released easily with no sticking, even with minimal oil use. Both sizes of skillet cooked the eggs evenly without hotspots.

Meatball Test: To test the searing capabilities of the larger skillet, I browned a batch of meatballs. I was able to get deep brown coloring and caramelization, but the sauté pan is on the smaller side, limiting batch size.

Pasta Test: The stockpot boiled 12 cups of water in 9 minutes and 43 seconds. However, a full portion of pasta didn't fit at first, requiring me to cook it down briefly before all the noodles were completely submerged.

Sauce Test: I heated a jar of pasta sauce in the saucepan. The thin metal cladding heated quickly, and the sauce was simmering in under 2 minutes with no burning.

Salmon Test: The GreenLife manual explicitly states that you must use the pan over low to medium heat to protect the coating, which could make it hard to get a decent sear on something like skin-on salmon. Even so, I managed to get crispy skin with even coloring and no sticking.

Veggies Test: A cup of diced zucchini developed a good sear, though heat distribution was inconsistent. Tossing was easy due to the lighter weight and the wide slope of the pan.

After each test, I cleaned the pot or pan as needed. More often than not, I only needed to wipe out excess oil with a paper towel, and the pan was perfectly clean again. When required, I used a little soap and water to get a good lather. Even baked-on tomato sauce did not adhere to the sides, and no scrubbing was required. I ran a few of the pieces through the dishwasher and did not notice any immediate change in the coating or overall look of the pans.

My Review of the GreenLife Soft Grip Nonstick Cookware Set

Performance: The nonstick coating works well out of the box on each piece, requiring little to no oil and making food release easy. However, heat distribution can be uneven, leading to occasional hot spots. Some types of cookware use a heavier metal base inside the pan to help evenly distribute heat and prevent this, though this set trades that for a lighter-weight build. The set is best suited for low to medium-heat cooking — anything requiring higher temperatures (like a deep sear) is a no-no and will damage the coating and render the pan useless.

Features and Appearance: Visually, the set is fairly basic in its matte-black color scheme, though the brand does offer the same set in a wide variety of colors, from turquoise to butter yellow. Despite the low cost, there are a surprising number of great features baked in, such as soft-grip, stay-cool handles and clear lids for easy viewing while cooking. The pieces are oven-safe, though only up to 350°F. Be aware that this set is not compatible with induction stove tops and won't work on one.

Care and Maintenance: Unlike much pricier cookware sets, the GreenLife pots and pans are all dishwasher-safe, though I never needed to make use of this feature. Each piece only needed a wipe with a damp paper towel or, at most, a quick wash with a soapy sponge. There is one tricky spot between the plastic coating on the handle and the nonstick pan itself that is uncoated exposed metal that I found tricky to clean and may develop build up over time, though that shouldn't affect the usability of the pan at all.

Price and Value: For less than $10 a piece, it's hard not to feel like this set is a worthy buy. The set comes with a good range, and you'll likely find a reason to use each piece at least once a week, depending on how you cook. It's good for beginners or anyone who wants an affordable way to outfit a kitchen. That said, if you cook often, you may want to invest in something more durable that will hold up to more frequent use.

Bottom Line: Who Should Buy the GreenLife Soft Grip Nonstick Cookware Set?

This GreenLife Soft Grip Cookware Set is great for beginners, casual cooks, and those looking for a budget-friendly cookware option and don't mind working around a few limitations. It's ideal for quick, easy meals and low-to-medium-heat cooking. However, if you need cookware that will last for years or handle high-heat cooking, you may want to consider a more upgraded set, like the GreenPan Valencia Pro line.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Taylor Murray is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Culinary Nutrition. She worked as a professional chef for over 10 years before moving into recipe and product testing and development. She has tested several hundred products for Food Network and other brands over the last six years, covering everything from carbon-steel pans to food dehydrators.

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Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.