Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick Cookware Set Review

Our reviewer was sent a sample of the Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick Cookware Set to test in her own kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

There are a lot of nonstick cookware sets to choose from, so we were curious about what the Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick Cookware had to offer. Oxo has been a solid performer with gadgets like peelers, graters, and tongs, so we had high hopes for its cookware. From eggs to braises to stir fry, we used the cookware every day on the stove, and even tossed it into the oven a time or two. Nonstick is ideal for sticky foods, but it also should make cleanup easy. Does this set check all the right boxes? Is this the nonstick cookware you’ve been looking for? We’ve got the deets.

Design: Classic and comfortable

While no one would accuse this cookware of being high-fashion, it’s attractive in its own understated way. The dark gray color looks elegant, and the sturdy brushed stainless steel handles and lid knobs look classy, but not flashy. Even the dark interior looks good. The cookware shape is fairly standard, with rounded corners and clean lines. Overall, the set would look appropriate with just about any kitchen décor, from farmhouse to upscale. And, thanks to the hanging holes on the handles, these pots and pans can even find places on the pot rack.

The handles are comfortable to hold and the pans are well balanced, so I never found myself adjusting my grip, whether I was moving them, flipping food, filling the pots with water, or emptying them when cooking was done.

The knobs on the lids have a flat top that allow them to balance comfortably upside-down on the counter without tipping or dripping. They’re so stable in that position that they can be used to rest a spoon, spatula, or tongs on top without them tipping over.

After a long cook, the lids and their knobs got hot enough to warrant a mitt to remove the lid safely, but that’s not unusual. They held steam in well, without any rattling, dripping, or spitting.

There are lids included for four of the six pieces, so you can use all four pots with their matching lids at the same time. There are no lids for the two fry pans, but that’s typical since frying is typically done without a lid. If there’s a need for a short-sided pan with a lid, the 3-quart sauté pan is perfect for that use, and the straight sides mean there’s plenty of room on the bottom of the pan for food. I used it to brown and then braise chicken thighs with mole sauce.

One of the best things about this set is that the pieces aren’t undersized as is typical with some sets. In fact, they’re just a little larger than usual, without being too huge for normal cooking or for convenient storage. The smallest saucepan is 2.3 quarts and the larger is 3.3 quarts—just a little larger than the typical 2 and 3 quarts. The largest pot, which Oxo calls a casserole, is 5.2 quarts. I’d call it a Dutch oven, and it’s ideal for soups, stews, and making stock. I also used it for cooking pasta.

Material: Multi

The pans are made from anodized aluminum that’s thick and sturdy. They have a diamond-reinforced nonstick ceramic interior that is so durable that it’s metal-utensil safe. That doesn’t mean you should cut foods with a knife in the pans or gouge them with a fork, but a spoon or spatula isn’t going to cause serious harm. After weeks of use during testing, the pans looked as good as new, with no scratches or scrapes.

These pots and pans have an induction-compatible base, so they can be used on any type of stove. The handles and knobs are brushed stainless steel, and the lids are tempered glass with a stainless steel rim.

Heating Capacity: A nice balance

When it comes to heating speed, these are firmly in the middle ground. They’re not as slow to heat or cool as cast iron, but not as speedy as thin aluminum or copper. They were responsive enough when I turned the heat up and down, but also held onto heat well enough so they didn’t cool down immediately when I added food. Thanks to the induction-compatible base and thick aluminum, these heated evenly, with no major hot spots or pesky burning, even when cooking eggs or delicate sauces. For everyday cooking, these hit the sweet spot with their heating profile.

The fry pans were great for all types of egg dishes, from scrambled eggs to fried eggs to omelets. I was able to control the heat so they cooked evenly without overcooking or burning, and they slid out of the pan with no problem, so the omelets looked pretty on the plate.

Stir-fried vegetables at higher heat worked just as well, getting nicely browned in spots and cooking through. The rounded sides of the two fry pans made them perfect for flipping food.

The casserole was great for cooking larger quantities of pasta, while the larger saucepan was great for smaller amounts. The sauté pan worked well for making sauce for pasta for a quick meal, while the casserole could handle large amounts. The casserole worked just as well for braising. The two saucepans got plenty of use. They were great for cooking rice, and the clear lid made it easy to check that the water had all been absorbed. They also were handy for steaming vegetables, boiling potatoes, and for making small amounts of soup—although the casserole also got some use making a larger pot of soup. The variety of sizes made it easy to pick the right pot for the amounts I needed to cook.

When it comes to versatility, these can be used on any type of stove, and they’re also oven-safe to a whopping 600 degrees, which is higher than most home ovens can achieve. The lids can’t go quite that high; they’re only oven safe to 425 degrees. Fortunately, that’s high enough for most recipes.

Cleaning: Couldn’t be easier

Thanks to the nonstick coating, these are super easy to clean. Most of the time, food simply rinsed away under running water, requiring a few swipes with a sponge at the most. As a test, I left a pot unwashed overnight to let food residue dry, and the pot still cleaned easily, with a little more water and sponging, but no actual scrubbing needed.

Even better, these are dishwasher safe, so if there’s space for the pots and pans, cleanup is effortless. Seriously, though, these are so easy to hand wash, it’s probably best to save the dishwasher space for dishes and give these a quick wash by hand after dinner.

Price: Mid-Range

Let’s be clear: This isn’t a budget set. But it’s built much better than budget cookware, and likely to last much longer thanks to the tough ceramic coating and the heavy-duty construction. For the quality, the versatility, and the ease of cleaning, the price is more than justified. And, if a pot or pan eventually needs to be replaced, pieces are available separately.

Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick Cookware vs. Hestan Professional Clad Stainless Steel TITUM Nonstick 2-pc Skillet Set

Some cooks say that nonstick is for frying pans—and nothing else. If those cooks have a large budget, they might like theHestan Professional Clad Stainless Steel TITUM® Nonstick 2-pc Skillet Set and have just a little money left over for something else. There’s no doubt that Hestan’s cookware is excellent, including their nonstick, but it’s a fact that no matter how good the nonstick is, it’s not going to last as long as a good quality stainless steel or cast iron pan. If money isn’t an issue, the Hestan nonstick is a nice splurge, but for most cooks, it’s probably out of the budget.

For cooks who want more affordable nonstick, the Oxo set makes much more sense. It’s good quality at a reasonable price. And if one pan has a rough life and needs to be replaced—or if two of the same pan would be useful—it’s easy to buy a single pan at an affordable price.