If you‘re a passionate home cook looking to upgrade your pots and pans, Zwilling is a brand that has likely crossed your radar. With a venerable history that spans close to three centuries, this German manufacturer of knives, cookware, and kitchen tools has earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and performance.
But with premium products come premium price tags. As you consider investing in Zwilling cookware, you‘re no doubt wondering: is it really worth it? In this comprehensive review, we‘ll take a close look at Zwilling‘s offerings to help you decide.
The Zwilling Story: 287 Years of Hiqh Quality
To understand what makes Zwilling special, it helps to know a bit about the brand‘s background. Founded in 1731 in the German town of Solingen, Zwilling (also known as Zwilling J.A. Henckels) began as a cutlery maker. The company‘s name, which means "twins" in German, refers to its iconic logo – twin silhouettes that symbolize the combined talents of the company‘s founders, Peter Henckels and Jan Heckels.
Over the centuries, Zwilling steadily expanded its repertoire beyond knives to include cookware, kitchen gadgets, and flatware. But what hasn‘t changed is the brand‘s commitment to quality above all else. Every product bearing the Zwilling name is still made in the company‘s factories in Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain.
This adherence to tradition and unwillingness to outsource manufacturing to lower-cost countries is a big part of what has solidified Zwilling‘s reputation as one of the best cookware brands in the world. When you buy a Zwilling pot or pan, you can trust that it‘s been meticulously crafted to perform at a high level and last for many years.
The Zwilling Cookware Collections
Zwilling currently offers nine main cookware collections, each with its own distinctive construction, materials, and design:
Zwilling Energy
Fully clad stainless steel pots and pans with an aluminum core for quick, even heating. Features stay-cool handles and flared pouring rims. Oven safe up to 500°F.
Zwilling Prime
3-ply and 5-ply clad stainless steel with an aluminum core. Thick, stable bases, large stay-cool handles. Oven safe up to 400°F.
Zwilling Motion
Hard-anodized aluminum with a three-layer PFOA-free nonstick coating. Thick, forged bases for even heating. Oven safe up to 400°F.
Zwilling Spirit
Stainless steel with a durable, PTFE and PFOA-free nonstick ceramic coating. Available with or without lids. Oven safe up to 400°F.
Zwilling Madura Plus
Forged aluminum pans with a granite nonstick coating free of PFOA. Scratch-resistant, with magnetized bases for use on induction cooktops.
Zwilling Carrara Plus
Italian-made, cold-forged aluminum frying pans with a Ceraforce Ultra ceramic nonstick coating. Induction compatible.
Zwilling Clad CFX
Fully clad stainless steel with a PFOA-free nonstick ceramic coating that lasts 50% longer than Zwilling‘s previous nonstick. Metal utensil-safe and oven safe to 400°F.
Zwilling TruClad
Fully clad stainless steel with an aluminum core that extends all the way up the sides for optimal heat distribution. Flared rims for clean pouring. Oven and broiler safe.
Zwilling Sensation
5-ply clad stainless steel pans with a gently curved shape. Optimized for induction and oven safe up to 500°F.
As you can see, while Zwilling is primarily known for its stainless steel clad cookware, the brand also offers a robust selection of nonstick options in both stainless steel and aluminum. Whether you‘re looking for a versatile cookware set or a specialty pan for a specific purpose, Zwilling likely has a high-quality option to suit your needs.
Construction and Performance
To gauge how well Zwilling cookware actually works, it‘s important to understand a bit about its construction. Like other top-tier cookware brands, Zwilling uses "fully clad" construction for its stainless steel collections. This means that the pots and pans are made from multiple layers of metal – typically stainless steel sandwiched around a core layer of aluminum – that extend all the way up the sides of the pan.
Why does this matter? Compared to pans that are only clad on the bottom, fully clad pans heat much more evenly and are less prone to hot spots. They‘re also sturdier and more durable. When you invest in clad stainless cookware from a reputable brand like Zwilling, you can expect it to last a lifetime.
Of course, this level of quality comes at a cost – Zwilling‘s clad stainless pieces are among the priciest on the market. But many owners say they‘re worth every penny. The pans heat quickly and evenly, retain heat well, and are a dream to cook with. They‘re also surprisingly easy to clean, even with notoriously sticky foods. If you‘ve mainly used cheaply made pots and pans, upgrading to Zwilling stainless is a revelatory experience. You didn‘t know cookware could perform this well.
That said, Zwilling‘s nonstick collections are also top-notch. Pans like the Zwilling Madura Plus are made from forged aluminum, which is harder and more durable than standard aluminum. They also have magnetized bases, so they‘re compatible with induction cooktops – a feature you don‘t always find in nonstick cookware.
Unlike many nonstick pans which use Teflon, Zwilling‘s nonstick cookware features ceramic coatings. These PTFE and PFOA-free coatings are derived from sand, so they don‘t carry the same health concerns as Teflon. While perhaps not quite as slippery as Teflon, Zwilling‘s ceramic nonstick pans are still impressively slick and easy to cook with. Cleanup is a breeze, and the coatings are remarkably resilient, lasting for several years of regular use.
What Customers Are Saying
Zwilling cookware gets rave reviews from both professional testers and home cooks. On Zwilling‘s website, the clad stainless and nonstick collections consistently earn ratings of 4.5 stars or higher. Standout products like the Zwilling Prime 10-Piece Cookware Set and Zwilling Spirit Nonstick Ceramic Fry Pan have hundreds of glowing reviews.
Customers praise Zwilling cookware for its solid, well-balanced feel, sleek looks, and exceptional performance. Many say Zwilling pots and pans heat more evenly and respond to changes in temperature more quickly than other cookware they‘ve used. The nonstick properties also get high marks, with many users reporting that they‘ve finally found a PFOA-free pan that lives up to its claims.
Some of the most compelling feedback comes from longtime All-Clad fans who decided to give Zwilling a try. All-Clad is often considered the gold standard for clad stainless cookware, so it‘s impressive that many reviewers say Zwilling performs just as well, if not better – often at a lower price point. If you‘ve been eyeing All-Clad but are put off by the high cost, Zwilling is an excellent alternative.
Of course, no product is perfect. A few Zwilling customers note that the pans can take some practice to get used to – the combination of quick heating and superior heat retention means it‘s easier to accidentally overheat your food until you adjust. Others wish the cookware came with more thorough use and care instructions. But the vast majority of reviewers have only positive things to say.
The Bottom Line: Is Zwilling Cookware Worth It?
Based on its long history of craftsmanship, diversity of well-considered cookware options, and enthusiastic endorsements from users, Zwilling easily earns our vote as one of the best cookware brands you can buy. Yes, it‘s undeniably expensive. But it‘s also the kind of purchase you‘ll likely only have to make once.
While you can certainly find cheaper cookware that will do the job, it‘s unlikely to match the performance, durability, and sheer pleasure of cooking that Zwilling offers. If you care about cooking and appreciate finely made tools, Zwilling is absolutely worth the splurge.
Choosing the right Zwilling pieces comes down to your cooking style and personal preferences. If you‘re a fan of low-maintenance cooking and don‘t mind replacing your pans every few years, the nonstick collections offer fantastic performance at a gentler price point than the clad stainless. If you‘re willing to spend more for pans that will last forever, collections like Zwilling Energy and Zwilling Prime are an excellent choice – you may even be able to pass them down to your kids someday.
Whether you opt for a full Zwilling cookware set or choose your favorite pieces a la carte, you can feel confident that you‘re investing in uncompromising quality. Take good care of your Zwilling pots and pans and they‘ll reward you with decades of culinary joy.
Where to Buy Zwilling Cookware
You can shop the full selection of Zwilling cookware on the company‘s website, Zwilling.com. The site frequently runs sales, so it‘s a good idea to check there first, especially if you‘re considering one of the larger sets.
Zwilling is also readily available through major retailers like Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sur La Table, Wayfair, and Bloomingdale‘s. These retailers often have competitive prices and may offer additional perks like free shipping.
Whichever way you choose to shop, we hope this Zwilling cookware review has given you the information you need to decide if this premium brand is right for your kitchen. Here‘s to many happy years of cooking with your new Zwilling pots and pans!
