Ronald Kasperzak established the Commercial Aluminum Cookware Company in 1963. It’s aluminium cookware was sold to restaurants and other commercial food service organizations.
Kasperzak began using anodized aluminium for his cookware in 1968, inspired by a method he saw utilized in the aerospace industry. Anodized metal is incredibly robust and popular among professional chefs.
Anodized cookware quickly gained popularity. The demand for Calphalon among home cooks in the 1980s was equal to or even greater than that of the food industry. Calphalon became the official name of the company in 1992, and its core market was home users.
The Newell Corporation acquired Calphalon in 1998. Newell is a consumer goods business with several well-known brands. FoodSaver, Rubbermaid, Oster, and Sunbeam are a few other kitchen appliance brands they supply.
Where Is Calphalon Cookware Manufactured?
When the Commercial Aluminum Cookware Company was started in 1963, all manufacturing happened in Perrysburg, Ohio. Calphalon is still known for producing cookware in the United States.
Calphalon (or, perhaps more correctly, Newell) has been discreetly shifting manufacturing to China. According to the information given, the only Calphalon line still created in the United States is their Elite line offered only at Williams-Sonoma.
Some pieces in other nonstick lines may be fabricated in the United States, but no other nonstick line is entirely manufactured in the United States. We believe that eventually all of the lines will be relocated to China.
Top Calphalon Cookware Options
We take a look at the best and most popular Calphalon options;
1. Calphalon Contemporary – Best Nonstick Option
The three-layer nonstick coating is bound to a heavy-gauge, hard-anodized aluminium body. The layer closest to the aluminium improves adhesion to the pan, hopefully preventing peeling.
When you nick or scratch the cooking surface, the subsequent layer increases durability. The nonstick frying surface sits on top of that. Despite being Teflon-based, this coating is PFOA-free.
The nonstick design is said to function as intended by owners when the proper heat and equipment are employed. However, some customers report receiving items with flaking and defects upon arrival.
2. Signature Hard-Anodized Nonstick
The nonstick coating has three layers of the material linked to the same aluminium base, just like Calphalon Contemporary. The main difference is that the topmost layer has a Calphalon Sear Nonstick inside.
The interior is a textured, Teflon-based nonstick that improves food searing and browning. Calphalon states that the textured layer replicates the outcomes of stainless steel cookware.
The Sear Nonstick inside is also designed to accommodate metal utensils. However, many owners would disagree with that assertion. If their special coating enhances durability and longevity, that’s a big plus, but I’d never use metal cutlery.
These pots and pans can withstand oven temperatures of up to 500 F and are dishwasher safe.
3. Calphalon Elite
Calphalon has a collaboration with Williams Sanoma and offers the Elite series exclusively. It is another hard-anodized aluminium nonstick line with nearly identical attributes to the Signature series.
They come in a variety of forms, sizes, and sets. In terms of performance, Signature and Elite are as similar as you can get despite the somewhat differing handles’ designs. However, having the Williams Sanoma name attached will cost you a small premium.
4. Calphalon Premier – Best Stainless Steel Option
The Premier series is between the “professional” level options and their more affordable lines. It is a premium option, but unlike the Signature and Elite series, you won’t pay extra for features you might not utilize.
Within the Premier line, there are numerous possibilities. They have a wide selection of shapes and sizes in stainless steel and nonstick. Many of the solutions also benefit from Calphalon’s distinctive space-saving design.
It allows you to neatly stack many items, including lids, saving you a lot of kitchen space. It’s a feature for little kitchens but can free up shelf space in larger kitchens.
5. Premier Nonstick
The Premier nonstick range from Calphalon includes the same robust three-layer coating and heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminium as the other higher-end models. Although the cooking surface is non-textured like the Signature and Elite lines, it is safe to use with metal utensils.
Using metal utensils reduces the longevity of any nonstick coating, so stick to plastics and wood. Because stacking nonstick cookware can result in scratches, the space-saving pieces contain a clever interlocking mechanism that prevents such damage.
6. Classic Stainless Steel
The stainless steel alternatives include fry pans, saucepans, and a large stockpot in all standard sizes. These pots and pans are unclad, which means they lack numerous layers throughout the cookware.
Instead, they have a single piece of stainless steel with a multilayered base plate affixed to the bottom. The stainless steel and aluminium base provides optimum heat dispersion to the cooking surface. However, heat does not travel up the sides as well as it does with clad ware.
I believe tha paying a little more for the fully-clad Premier stainless steel will benefit you in the long term.
7. Classic Hard-Anodized PTFE Nonstick
When it comes to hard-anodized there is a difference between this and Calphalon’s higher-end choices.
The aluminium body consists of medium gauge metal. It is a thinner variant of the thick gauged material seen in the preceding series. Despite being thinner, it is thick enough to provide strong heat distribution and durability.
The second significant change is that the nonstick coating is composed of two layers rather than three. Even with one fewer layer, the nonstick coating appears durable when used and cared for properly.
The handles are of solid stainless steel; however, some owners have reported that they become extremely hot when used on a normal burner.
The pots and pans are oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, but not dishwasher-safe. It should not be an issue because handwashing will increase the lifespan of the cookware.
8. Classic Ceramic PFOA & PTFE-Free Nonstick
There are additional oil-infused ceramic nonstick choices available in the Classic range. The Classic range shares the same tempered glass lids, stainless steel handles, and hard-anodized aluminium body. The main distinction, in this case, is the nonstick coating.
The majority of Calphalon nonstick alternatives have a Teflon coating. This alternative is made of ceramic and does not include potentially toxic PFOA or PTFE. The ceramic choices can withstand oven temperatures of up to 450°F but are not dishwasher safe. In comparison to Classic PTFE nonstick pans, the ceramic option appears to work properly, but loses nonstick characteristics considerably faster.
Why Choose Calphalon
Below are some of the reasons that make Calphalon a worthwhile choice;
1. Heating Properties
You always prefer cookware that heats up quickly and evenly while holding heat well. These are known as thermal conductivity and heat retention, respectively. In most cooking situations, thermal conductivity is the most crucial factor. Cookware that warms unevenly causes hot and cold patches and makes for a cumbersome cooking experience (particularly, thin, inexpensive aluminium pans).
Thick aluminium, copper (genuine copper), and high-quality clad stainless steel are examples of thermally conductive cookware. The more the thickness, the better the heat retention.
2. Durability
Most cookware customers place a high value on durability. Even if you’re considering nonstick cookware, the least durable cookware available, you’ll mostly want it to be as long-lasting as possible. It is why most people prefer anodized aluminium nonstick over non-anodized: it’s as durable as stainless steel but considerably cheaper (so you won’t feel so horrible when you have to replace the pan in a few years).
FAQs
1. Is Calphalon PTFE Nonstick Cookware Safe to Use?
According to the most recent study, it is safe to use PTFE nonstick cookware when used properly, . Specifically, avoid using high heat, metal utensils, or cooking spray, and always wash by hand.
These are inappropriate habits, as demonstrated by the following:
- High heat deteriorates nonstick cookware, especially in the case of PTFE cookware where heat can cause the coating to degrade into PFAS compounds that are reactive, including PFOA. Therefore, you must use PTFE nonstick cookware with extreme caution.
- Cooking spray damages PTFE coatings as well. It has a propellant when combined with reacts, making it sticky and soft (and almost certainly not safe to use).
2. What Is The Expected Lifespan Of Calphalon Pans?
With careful usage and maintenance, the clad three and five-layer stainless steel cookware should last a lifetime. Its nonstick pots and pans’ performance will largely depend on how they are handled and used.
Most of their nonstick cookware consists of medium and heavy-gauge aluminium, which is robust enough to handle regular use. Although warping has occasionally happened, it’s mainly due to cooking at extremely high temperatures or rapid temperature changes.
Conclusion
Making products for a wide range of customers is something Calphalon excels at. So much so that comparing their various lines can be challenging and perplexing.
If you only need one or two nonstick fry pans, Contemporary is a terrific high-performance option. Most advantages of the costliest lines are available in a package that is significantly less expensive.
