I’m a professional chef which gives me the opportunity to share my unique perspective on Anolon Cookware.
In this guide, we’ll learn what Anolon Cookware is, whether or not it’s a good brand, if it has any safety issues, and what it has to offer overall.
We’ll then pick our favorite pieces and sets so you can see what might be a good fit for you and your culinary needs.
Table of Contents
What Is Anolon Cookware?
Anolon Cookware began in 1984 and is owned by the Meyer Corporation.
The Meyer Corporation is the largest cookware distributor in the US and second-largest globally. The company started in 1981.
Meyer owns many other brands that you might be familiar with, like Farberware, Rachael Ray, Ayesha, Kitchen Aide, Circulon, Hestan, Ruffoni, Meyer, Anyday, LockNLock, and Bon Jour.
Analon Cookware was created in 1984 with the innovation of bonding nonstick cooking surfaces to hard-anodized aluminum. The need to develop such a pan arose from home cooks complaining about nonstick pans that were too thin and not dishwasher safe.
Anolon’s response was to create thicker cookware that was dishwasher safe and harder than any other brand at the time. Anolon was the first to do this, but unfortunately, they didn’t patent the technology, and competitors quickly flooded the market with their own version of hard-anodized nonstick cookware.
In the decades since, Anolon has branched into creating bakeware, pantry ware, kitchenware, and tools & accessories.
Is Anolon Cookware a good brand?
The short answer is yes. Anolon is an excellent brand to invest in. Having been around for a few decades, they have been able to hone their technology, and being the first to create hard-anodized cookware; they have a dog in the fight to make sure that they are always competitive and sit at the top of the competition.
While Analon is more expensive than other nonstick and stainless steel cookware brands, it’s worth the extra money. That being said, their prices are still very affordable.
You could get a cheaper brand like T-Fal, with more pieces, but you’ll be able to tell the difference in performance. There’s nothing wrong with T-Fal, but Anolon will last longer and perform better, so you get what you pay for.
Is Anolon Cookware Safe And Healthy?
Yes, Anolon Cookware is a safe and healthy brand of cookware.
All nonstick pieces are PTFE and PFOA-free. The nonstick coating on Anolon was created by DuPont, the original creators of Teflon, but finding harmful chemicals in their products have they have since changed their materials to all be non-toxic.
There are risks when cooking with aluminum, like leaching. When acidic foods come in contact with certain cookware metals like aluminum and copper, the metals can leach into your food, badly affecting the taste and, over time, poisoning your body.
However, due to the fact that the hard-anodized aluminum is separated from your food by the PFOA and PTFE-free nonstick cooking surface, you have nothing to worry about.
That being said, if you ever see the aluminum peaking through the bottom because of a deep scratch or it’s just worn away, it needs to be replaced. Even a tiny amount of exposure can build up over time.
So long as you care for your cookware properly, though, the likelihood of this happening is low.
Are Anolon Pans Oven Safe?
Yes!
Anolon Cookware is oven safe, but you need to be aware of the temperature ratings.
Anolon offers many different cookware collections. Each one has its instructions for care and usage, so it’s essential to read through all the specs of your new cookwares’ performance and maintenance.
The temperature range from 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and you don’t want to overheat your cookware as it will ruin the nonstick surface.
What Does Anolon Cookware Offer?
Anolon offers a wide range of kitchen and cooking-related tools and accessories, but we will focus on their cookware collections. Altogether, they offer ten collections, so there is something for every home cook.
AnolonX
The AnolonX collection is the newest innovation from Anolon Cookware.
The “Sear Tech” technology is a stainless steel mesh embedded into the pan’s cooking surface. The idea is to keep fats and oils from spreading all over the pan.
Have you ever poured oil in a hot pan, and it pools to one side, or it all spreads out to the edges, so when you try to sear a steak or chicken breast, you’re putting the meat down directly on the cooking surface and not on any oil?
The steel mesh prevents the oil from spreading every which way so you can get a better sear on your meats and veggies.
As a professional chef, I think this is really cool, and I want to try it out.
Advanced Home
If you’re looking for more of an entry-level kind of cookware from Anolon, then look no further than the Advance Home collection.
Affordable prices while still being of high quality. It’s worth noting though, that this line is not dishwasher safe, so you’ll be needing to wash all cookware by hand.
In my opinion, you should be washing all nonstick cookware by hand, even if it says dishwasher safe. The nonstick coating will last much longer if you do.
The Advanced Home is attractive, straightforward, no-frills cookware. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.
Advanced
An Advanced cookware set will hit all of the home cook essentials. Stock and sauce pots, with saute pans as well.
It has relatively the same appearance as Advanced Home, but comes with the triple-layer nonstick surface. They claim that you can use metal utensils while cooking. There have been a lot of brands to boast such features, but I’m dubious of it.
There’s a risk of applying too much pressure and putting a deep gouge in the nonstick cooking surface. With so many cooking utensil options available, I’d always go with wood, bamboo, or silicon.
The SureGrip handles also ensure a good handle while moving from stove to oven to table. Be careful, though when coming out of the oven. Never trust a handle that’s been in the oven.
Smart Stack
Smart Stack is exactly how it sounds. All the pieces are made to stack neatly on top of one another to help save “up 62%” on storage.
If you live in an apartment or studio the Smart Stack would be an excellent choice. You get all the benefits of cooking with the Anolon brand while at the same time keeping your kitchen organized and tidy.
Not only do they stack nicely, but the Saphire-reinforced “Infinite Slide” nonstick coating is also said to last 16 times longer than other nonstick brands, and they are easy during clean-up.
The Smart Stack collection is made from hard-anodized aluminum, so they will last you for years to come. The handles are interlocking, so the pans on top are suspended over the pans on the bottom, protecting the pan’s cooking surface beneath.
Consumer Report named the Smart Stack collection the best nonstick set for 2021.
Nouvelle Luxe
If you are looking for the performance of copper but don’t want to deal with all the maintenance, then the Nouvelle Luxe collection is for you.
The base is made from an induction plat with a copper mid-layer, so the pan heats up evenly and quickly.
The body is made from hard-anodized aluminum, so it’s ultra-tough, with “Unity Surface” flat rivets on the pan’s interior. In a standard nonstick pan, the rivets that hold the handle to the pan are usually two bumps, and over time food and grease get built up in these areas and a very difficult to clean.
With the “Unity Surface,” the rivets are smooth, so there’s never any food build-up. I’ve never seen this before, and I’m so happy someone finally figured it out.
The cooking surface is a triple-layered sapphire reinforced, toxin-free nonstick surface. The lids are made from stainless steel.
It’s worth noting that this collection is oven safe up to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, and induction compatible.
Accolade
The Accolade collection boasts its “Precision Forge” ultra-thick stainless steel base, which automatically means that it’s induction compatible.
The idea is that it performs like cast iron but without the long heating time and the heavy weight.
Accolade has the “Unity Surface” flat rivets for easy cleaning and no food buildup.
The cookware is oven safe up to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, and has a toxin-free nonstick surface. The sapphire-reinforced nonstick surface will last 16 times longer than other nonstick brands and 80 times longer than most ceramic cookware brands.
Nouvelle Stainless Steel
Built entirely from stainless steel, except for the middle layer of copper to quicken the heating process, the mirror-polished exterior makes for a beautiful cookware collection.
The stock and sauce pots come with stainless steel lids, and each piece has dual riveted stainless steel handles.
Oven safe up to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, and induction compatible.
Allure
The Allure is closer to a typical, middle-of-the-road nonstick cookware set. They are attractive and practical, with colors that look great in any kitchen. This is the type of cookware that you will grow to love because of its dependability and workhorse qualities.
Made entirely from hard-anodized aluminum except for the stainless steel handles. Allure has the same “Unity Surface” smooth rivets and the “Infinite Slide” interior as their more high-end collections.
Since it’s made from aluminum, it’s not induction compatible, but it is oven safe up to 500 degrees and dishwasher safe.
Tri-Ply Clad
Tri-Ply is made mainly from stainless steel besides the aluminum core.
Aluminum heats more quickly than steel, giving the cookware a speedy performance.
You’ll be able to enjoy the speed of aluminum with the durability and toughness of stainless steel.
Oven safe up to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, and induction compatible.
Advanced Tri-Ply
Advance Tri-Ply comes with silicone grips on the handles, which is the most apparent difference from the Tri-Ply Clad collection. Other than that just aren’t as stylish as the Tri-Ply Clad.
That being said, they have nearly all the same features—built entirely from stainless steel except for an aluminum core for fast even heating.
These are dishwasher safe, induction compatible, but only oven safe up to 400 degrees, more than likely because of the silicone handles.
The Advanced Tri-Ply is a great set for someone just starting out on stainless steel.
Best Anolon Cookware Sets
We picked out favorite sets from Anolon collections. See which set speaks to you and your needs, and don’t forget that cookware sets make excellent gifts for people at any time of their lives.
Anolon Smart Stack Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set
I love this set. I think the ability to save space is impressive, but the ability to stack on each other without rubbing on the nonstick cooking surface of the pan beneath is brilliant.
“Just as advertised, they stack perfectly, which is a huge space saver! The build and feel of the pans is solid and they cook evenly.” -James, Amazon Customer
Anolon Accolade Hard-Anodized Precision Forge 12 Piece Cookware Set
I like these because they’re built like a tank. For the most part, the thicker the cookware, the better. It ensures even heat, so your food is in premium cooking conditions. These are tough, and I’d recommend them to anyone.
“This twelve-piece set (seven pots and pans, five lids) costs roughly 2/3s of the price of a ten-piece stainless steel set from All Clad. While it has limitations compared to the All Clad, it is a very good set, and attractive to boot. I am a serious, though, amateur cook, so when I had other opportunity to review this set and compare it the All Clad pans I use regularly, I leaped at the opportunity. I still prefer my All Clad pans but the difference isn’t insuperable and for the price, this set is a very good deal. Most importantly, these pots and pans also spread heat all over the cooking area, comparable to All Clad, and that is essential to controlled cooking. I’ve already said they are attractive. They also stack well, though not the lids. (See drawbacks below.)
What are the drawbacks in my estimation? First, the level of care necessary to maintain them. Because of the non-stick surface, which lies over the anodized aluminum core, one needs to be careful both in using them (no prolonged exposure to too high a heat and don’t put them in the dishwasher) and storing them (it’s best to put a layer of paper toweling between dishes in order to avoid scratching them). Having written that, the nonstick surface seems to be of a high quality and more durable than some.
Secondly, the seven pots and pans are heavier than comparable All Clad pieces and in a few cases, not as easy to move by the handles because of their weight. This is not a biggie. You quickly adjust to it.
Lastly, the fiv) lids are awkward to store. The handles bulge upward so you can’t stack them, one on top of the other. If kitchen storage space is a concern for you, you would be wise to look into this before you purchase them. That said, the lids are effective and sturdy. Attractive too.
This set will not meet all your cooking needs though it will most of them. You will probably still need a good ceramic coated Dutch oven for slow cooking and large casserole dishes and I would recommend also purchasing a large two-handled fry pan, which does not come with this set.
Thus, for price: a decided Plus. For value, a good value but not as good as the (much) higher priced alternative.” – David Keymer, Amazon Customer
Anolon Advanced Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set
The Advanced cookware set is excellent for any home cook just starting out. It’s better than cheaper brands by a mile but is still affordable while checking all the boxes of what an amateur chef will need when cooking at home.
“I waited a while to review these… because well you never know how they will turn out after using them for a while.
I am taking a star off because the packaging is pretty lacking despite this being a $300 set. They are crammed into this very small box, with only cardboard to hold everything in place and cushion anything. My set came with a damaged lid because of this. I would honestly prefer a bigger box and better padding given the price of this set, such that I don’t have to deal with ordering a replacement lid.
On to the actual performance on the product…
I’ve cooked pretty regularly in these, bacon especially in the 11inch grill pan, and was pretty concerned about burned-on grease stains (for the record I don’t use a heat over medium on my electric stove top due to how well these pans conduct heat). These get HOT on medium (and after only a few minutes).
There is some noticeable scratching occurring in one of my pots (small pot that I have only used a wooden spoon in). I will likely call Anolon and get it replaced as I would not expect a wooden spoon to be scuffing the anodized nonstick, seems odd to me.
I use a metal fork when cooking bacon in the 11inch grill pan, and after about 30 bacon-cooking sessions, it looks exactly the same as it did when I first started, not any wear, and no burned-on grease stains.
I’ve pain fried in the skillet and then transitioned directly to the oven (350F) and had no issues. As recommended I only hand-wash all the pots/pans/lids.” -Jacob H, Amazon Customer
Alternatives If Anolon Cookware Isn’t a Good Fit For You
If Anlolon Cookware isn’t quite what you’re looking for, check out our reviews of some other great cookware brands. We’ll shoot it to you straight so you know exactly what to look for and what you’ll be getting into.
Calphalon Signature Cookware
Calphalon is similar to Anolon Cookware in performance, features, and looks. If the style of Anolon just isn’t quite right, then Calphalon might be a better fit for you.
Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cookware
Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cookware is a great brand for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. With many different options, budget-friendly prices, and an excellent reputation.
The Complete Guide To T-Fal Cookware
T-Fal cookware is a great jump-off point for anyone looking to get into cooking. Very affordable, and the sets have everything you need to get cooking at home.
Last update on 2021-05-29 / This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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