Table of Contents
About Made In Cookware
If you’ve ever cooked a steak on the stovetop or caramelized onions, then you know the right pan makes a big difference. I might not be the next Ramsay, but I still love to cook.
Made In designs some of the best cookware sets, stock pots, knives, cookbooks, and other kitchenware for all levels of chefs. Made from quality stainless steel[1] and carbon steel[2], the line is engineered for durability and high performance to provide consistency no matter what you’re whipping up.
The brand has built up quite a reputation the kitchen realm, having been endorsed by prominent media outlets like Forbes and Business Insider. It’s popular with the masses too, with a social community of almost 150k.
Since you’ve wandered onto this Made In cookware review, you’re probably wondering if the brand lives up to the hype surrounding it, like I was. In the sections ahead, I seek to answer that by checking out its best-sellers, feedback, promotions, and more. Let’s turn up the heat and get to it.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our mission is to help you make better, more informed purchase decisions. Our team spends hours researching, consulting with medical experts, gathering insight from expert professionals, reviewing customer feedback, and analyzing products to provide you with the information you need.
Overview of Made In
Made In is a relatively new US-based brand, founded in 2017 by brothers Chip and Jake in Austin, TX. Their roots run deep with cookware, having been raised in a family with a 100-year history of kitchen supply.
I’d say a century of pots and pans is pretty impressive, and I could see how it was valuable for the brothers to have a solid knowledge base before starting their own company. When they did launch Made In, they did it with intentions to rethink the kitchenware landscape they grew up in.
Partnering with manufacturers in the US, France, and Italy—the, oh I don’t know, best possible places in the world to produce quality kitchenware—Chip and Jake made sure to choose family-owned businesses similar to the ones they had grown up in.
Armed with a lifetime of experience and partners with generations of producing high-quality kitchen tools, Made In got off to a great start. But even so, it’s come a long way since then. A little over three years later, their kitchenware is used in multiple 3-star Michelin restaurants and hotel groups across America.
For the foodies out there reading this Made in Cookware review, if you haven’t gone to a Michelin Star restaurant, I’d recommend putting that on your bucket list. Once, I went to a 3-star Michelin bistro in Paris and had the best mashes potatoes I’ve ever tasted in my life. I still think of them fondly.
But enough about me, let’s get back to what you really came here for, the cookware. Made In’s specialty is stainless steel clad and its mission is to build the top-performing 5-ply cookware and offer it for half the price of their competitors.
In my years as a budding chef (I haven’t quite made it out of my own kitchen yet), I learned that cladding, also known as ‘ply,’ refers to the number of metal layers along the base and sides of pots, pans, skillets, and so on. Cladding creates an efficient and evenly heated cooking surface.
A higher ply doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality, though. It’s the overall distribution of the ply that has the greatest effect on heat distribution.
There’s a lot to understand when it comes to cookware, and I’ll unpack it all for you here. You’l find details on all of the brand’s best selling products soon, but first, a sum up of this Made In cookware review:
Highlights
- Premium, long lasting cookware and kitchen accessories
- Cookware performs strongly
- Products are offered at half the price compared to other premium cookware retailers
- Provides useful information on caring for cookware on the website and blog
Made in Cookware Review
Why have just one high-performance pan when you can have a whole line? Made In’s stainless steel clad collection consists of frying pans and nonstick frying pans, a butter warmer, a saute pan, saucepans, a saucier, stock pots, and silicone universal lids.
My favorite part? All of the brand’s stainless steel cookware can be conveniently tossed in the dishwasher. Next up in this Made In cookware review, I’ll get into their top-selling frying pans and saucier.
Quick note before I start: You can pay for most Made In cookware with four installments using Klarna. Find more info about this purchase method in the FAQ section of this Made In cookware review. Ok, now let’s dig in.
Made In 10” Stainless Steel Frying Pan Review
If I had to choose my favorite style of pan, it’d be this one. With the ability to sauté, sear, and sizzle, frying pans are incredibly versatile.
Made In Stainless Steel Frying Pans are available in 8”, 10”, and 12” sizes, with the last two being their most popular options. On the website, I found descriptions to give you a sense of their relative capacities: a 10” pan holds two chicken breasts and a 12” pan will hold three to four.
The durable, 5-layered Stainless Steel Frying Pan is a workhorse—with its fast and even heat retention, it can heat up and sear meat in minutes, cook food slowly on low heat, and handle oven roasting up to 800F (normal pans tap out at 500F).
With the 10” Stainless Steel Frying Pan model pictured above, you can see that it’s pretty deep, so unless you stuff it with ingredients, you won’t have ingredients flying out of the pan. That’s great for someone like me who’s go-to is stir fry.
Speaking of frying… one happy customer told Made In just how excited they were about the cooking experience: “I have been using a regular cookware since I started to cook. With made everything taste better but the best part is that nothing sticks and that that they look great!!! Every home cook should treat themselves with good tools.”
It’s lightweight, and with an ergonomic, stay cool handle, the pan is easy to lift and move around. If you’ve ever cooked with a pan and forgotten that the handle is hot and cursed your burning hand[3] (guilty!), you’ll know how useful (and much safer) cool touch handles are. I’m actually surprised I still have fingertips.
Pro tip: Made In advises against using metal utensils with their stainless steel cookware. While this material is tough wearing and designed to last, metal utensils can cause superficial scratches and ruin the sleek and polished look of the steel.
The 8”, 10”, and 12” Stainless Steel Frying Pans cost $65, $75, and $89 respectively.
Made In 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucier Review
I’ve seen this pan around, and yet, I wasn’t 100% sure what it’s used for. Made In enlightened me. It’s called a saucier and it’s specially designed to create sauces and gravies, though that’s not all they can do.
This 3-quart Saucier is a multitasking tool and can be used for sautéing, preparing soups, stews, and risotto, boiling rice and vegetables, and more.
What I found particularly riveting: The Made In Saucier has a uniquely rounded bottom to keep ingredients from getting stuck in the corners, and makes stirring and whisking easier.
Its 5-ply construction evenly cooks sauces from the pan’s base up to the walls with no hot spots. The Saucier is lightweight and also features a cool touch handle, so maneuverability isn’t an issue.
Made In’s 3-Quart Saucier and lid was featured by NY Times for its solid performance. Alex Tubero, Executive Chef at Amali, sings its praises:
“The Saucier is something we always reach for when cooking our homemade pasta at Amali, the rounded bottom of the pan makes it easy to achieve a silky sauce without ingredients getting stuck in the edges.”
This pan is a bit of an investment for $99 up front, but you’ll get a ton of use out of it since it’s so versatile.
Made in Cookware Frying Pan Review
I was delighted to discover that Made In‘s carbon steel collection is just as vast as its stainless steel relative. Including frying pans, a paella pan, grill frying pan, wok, a roasting pan and roasting rack, you can also browse through pan sets and kits to make things easier.
Made In’s carbon steel cookware is induction compatible and also functions on glass stovetops. I will note that carbon steel should be seasoned prior to use, and never put it in the dishwasher.
Klarna payments are available for all. I’ll take a look at two of their most popular carbon steel frying pans ahead.
Made In 10” Carbon Steel Frying Pan Review
Made In’s Carbon Steel Frying Pan was described as the “best carbon steel skillet” by Chowhound, which I think is a pretty big deal.
It’s available in 10” and 12” sizes and features a hybrid construction: the pan combines the capabilities of a cast iron skillet and a stainless steel frying pan. Best of both worlds? I’ll take two.
It has cast iron’s heat retention, seasoning, and non-stick elements, paired with the heat control, lightness, and cooking speed of stainless steel. These pans are oven safe up to an impressive 1800F.
Like the Stainless Steel Frying Pans, these have great depth so you can stir and flip contents easily. The 10” size is ideal for searing a large steak or two smaller pieces of meat and frying up crispy sunny side up eggs.
One reviewer who submitted a photo of their perfectly sizzled eggs boasted, “Finally a pan that sits evenly on my stove, I don’t have to worry about the food cooking evenly. I like them so much I gave one to my son to try!!”
The 12” pan can sear two large steaks, saute vegetables, and even roast an entire small-sized chicken…I’m starting to get hungry as I write this.
Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pans will set you back $69 for the 10” and $89 for the 12”.
Made In 11″ Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan Review
Made In’s 11″ Grill Frying Pan was also featured in NY Times, so I feel confident in saying that stellar performance is its MO.
Its lightweight, conductive, and long-lasting carbon steel is engineered with 62 perforations, allowing for direct contact with flames. Ok, ok I’m impressed. But there’s more:
It’s perfect for outdoor cooking—light enough to bring on a camping trip and heavy duty enough for daily grilling on the patio.
The Grill Frying Pan is heat tolerant up to 1800F (cue gasp here)and naturally nonstick, so you won’t waste time scraping ingredients off the bottom. One reviewer commented, “We love the pans and the ability to prepare food without a lot of oil and fat.”
Plus, it’s priced at $75 up front.
Made in Cookware Knives Review
Just as I’ve found that good quality pots and pans affect how my meals turn out, I’ve realized the same goes for knives. Ever chopped with a dull blade? Then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Made In Knives can be purchased individually, with attractive handle options in red, grey, and silver. A lover of aesthetics, I value these choices since I like my kitchen to look a certain way. You can also buy sets that include paring and utility knives if you want to assemble a serious knife collection.
Made In also designs accessories to take your cooking to the next level. To keep your pots and pans in mint condition, a stainless steel cleaner and carbon steel seasoning wax are available.
Along with an elegant, 100% maple butcher block, silicone universal lids for frying pans and pots, a handmade beechwood spoon, a sheet pan, and cookbooks, consider Made In’s collection complete. On to the top sellers:
Made In 8” Chef Knife Review
The Made In 8” Carbon Steel Chef Knife was deemed one of the best chef knives by Good Housekeeping. A fan of the home-centric magazine, this tells me it doesn’t mess around.
This popular product is 100% fully forged carbon steel (that means it’s constructed from a single rod of premium metal). The knife features a NITRO+ hardening treatment that ensures a sharp and long-lasting blade, with a handle secured by strong stainless steel rivets.
The Carbon Steel Chef Knife is lightweight and easy to maneuver with a 8.5” blade. Its versatile blade was specially designed to excel at slicing, chopping, dicing, deboning, mincing, and scoring dough.
The Made In Chef Knife costs $89. To add a personal touch, you can get the knife engraved for an extra $20. I like that idea.
A staple in every home cook’s kitchen, one customer noted its preciseness: “I bought this knife for my husband, who does all the cooking in our house and learned about Made In from Food Network/Bobby Flay. He says it’s the best chef knife he has ever owned.”
Sharp knives make quick work of chopping and slicing—just ask my poor fingers. Handle yours with care.
Made In Cookware Sets Review
I love the convenience of bundles. Why should cookware be any different? Made In has a variety of best-selling cookware sets that make buying your new kitchen upgrade simple, cost effective, and, frankly, a no brainer.
Let’s take a look at some of Made In’s most popular cookware sets.
Made In The Starter Kit Review
The reason I’m obsessed with bundles? They’re convenient and they save me money. Made In’s sets help you save between 11% and 21%, depending on the kit.
One of my favorites is The Starter Kit. It covers all the basics and includes:
- 10″ Stainless Steel Frying Pan
- 10″ Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan
- 2 QT Saucepan with Lid
- 8 QT Stock Pot with Lid
- 2 oz can Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax
Three of these products are themselves bestsellers with the brand all on their own. But in this set, they become your go-tos in the kitchen.
What else do I love about this set? It actually won Consumer Reports’ Best Stainless Steel Cookware Set for 2019. Talk about reliability when it comes to Made In.
All for the low price of $530 (down from $590), this is a great bargain. To prove it, I looked into it for this Made In cookware review, and all of these pieces would normally amount to $609. Deals.
Below are a few other Made In kits available:
- The Sous Chef includes the 10″ Non Stick Frying Pan, 10″ Stainless Clad Frying Pan, 12″ Carbon Steel Frying Pan, 2 QT Saucepan with Lid, 4 QT Saucepan with Lid, 3.5 QT Saute Pan with Lid, 8 QT Stock Pot with Lid, Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax for $599 (discounted from $734)
- The Executive Chef comes with the 8″ Non Stick Frying Pan, 10″ Non Stick Frying Pan, 10″ Stainless Steel Frying Pan, 12″ Stainless Steel Frying Pan, 12″ Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan, Blue Carbon Steel Wok, 2 QT Saucepan with Lid, 4 QT Saucepan with Lid, 3.5 QT Saute Pan with Lid, 8 QT Stock Pot with Lid, 3 cans of Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax for $799 (reduced from ($1012)
- The Frying Pan Set comes with the 10″ Carbon Steel Frying Pan, 12″ Carbon Steel Frying Pan, Carbon Steel Wok, Seasoning Wax for $259
- The Knife Set includes the Chef, Santuko, Paring, and Utility Knives for $275 (discounted from $317)
Who is Made In Cookware for?
Everyone has to cook for themselves at some point in their lives, and Made In makes that process a little easier with thoughtful designs that last.
I particularly appreciate that the cookware is durable and can be used by professionals, though anyone that wants to invest in high-quality cookware can use it. Not tarnishing easily, Made In’s pots and pans do the job hassle-free, and doesn’t take much effort to clean. You’ll notice the difference these quality pieces make in the kitchen.
Since the brand is on the pricier side, I’d suggest you consider the facts in this Made In cookware review, as well as your personal budget. Though it didn’t always, the brand now ships worldwide.
Comparison: Made In Cookware vs. Caraway
Looking in my kitchen cupboard, I have a smorgasbord of cookware from different brands. Cherry picking pieces along my cooking journey, I’ve learned there is more than one brand worth shopping with.
For this part of my Made In cookware review, I’ll compare the brand with Caraway.
Founded in 2018, Caraway cookware was made to be an easy, one-stop-shop for reliable, non-toxic cookware. Offering saute pans, pots, frying pans, and dutch ovens, I discovered this company has all of the essentials for the functioning kitchen.
With both brands being founded just a year apart, they have both had the same amount of time to perfect their product range and improve their services and products. So which one has made the most impact? I considered this:
- Caraway has a terrific line of products with many of their items being sold individually and in sets, much like Made In.
- Caraway also offers a line of linens and accessories including oven mitts, towels, aprons, and heating pads. That being said, Made In has all of these accessories as well as glassware, knives, cookbooks, and cleaners.
One thing that greatly differentiates these two brands? The materials used to make the cookware.
Caraway uses ceramic for all of its pans to avoid toxins, while Made In uses 5-ply carbon, clad steel, and copper in their products. Though different, all of these materials are recognized as non-toxic.
Related: Check out our Caraway Cookware Review
Since both of these companies have an extensive line of products, one easy comparison in terms of price is the cookware sets.
The Made In Starter Set (as we know) comes to $529 for 6 pieces, whereas Caraway comes to $395 for their Cookware Set which contains 4 pieces.
So, while Made In may look more expensive, I realized that you actually get more from their cookware set than Caraway, thus the average price per pan is lower. Plus, Made In includes a cleaning wax in their set for proper care of your pans.
All in all, these brands know what they are doing when it comes to quality cookware that is non-toxic and ergonomic in the kitchen.
If you are looking for something that is simple and modern, I suggest Caraway for your next upgrade. But if classic, durable, and life-long rings true to your preferences, Made In is definitely for you.
Made In Cookware Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Top media outlets sing praises for Made In, but I think customer feedback is equally (if not more) important.
You can leave a Made In cookware review on the website, which features thousands of reviewer comments. From a total of 4260 ratings, 95% of customers gave Made In products 5 stars—something that immediately impressed me. Here are some statements left by customers:
- Stock Pot: “This is the BEST pot! This pot is awesome and used everyday.”
- Saute Pan: “I am glad I made the right decision to go with Made In. These pans are great and you can feel the quality.”
- Carbon Steel Pan: “I have the 10” and the 12” carbon steel pans. After seasoning, they are truly nonstick.”
- Stainless Steel Frying Pan: “This is a nice and heavy, durable, multi-ply pan for a great price. Been enjoying frying and searing with it.”
- Knife Set: “I bought three knife sets. Love the 8 chef’s knife. It’s well-balanced, the handle is comfortable and it just looks good. The two other knives are also a joy to work with.”
All this sounds great, but I won’t stop there in this Made In cookware review—I hunted for comments found elsewhere on the web.
Wired wrote a Made In cookware review and noted that, “during the test, the Made In pans were all over the map.” The author noted a “doming” in some of the pans, while Made In claims to have flat surfaces.
The Kitchen Witches also wrote a Made In cookware review, which was largely positive, with the exception of pricing, although the author did say the “cookware is worth the money, and it’s a company and product to get excited about.”
A review site called The Cookware Advisor wrote that Made In delivers on their promise to provide high quality cookware at an affordable price, and the brand received a “strong buy recommendation.”
Based on reviews both on and off the Made In site, it’s safe for me to conclude that purchasing their kitchenware is a solid bet.
Although the price points are high compared to more budget-friendly cookware companies, I believe you get what you pay for.
Is Made In Cookware Worth It?
Now that I’ve covered the best-sellers, compared this brand to another on the market, and read through some customer testimonials, at this point in my Made In review, I can proudly recommend this brand.
Given the wide product range and the convenience of cookware sets, this brand has every need for the kitchen covered.
Some other points worth recapping: Made In Cookware is also used in Michelin-star restaurants, they are less expensive than most professional cookware brands, and there are even blogs on the brand’s website for care instructions, recipes, and how to protect your cookware from heat.
It’s important for me to consider the reality of this cookware line though, and that’s the cost. This cookware does prove to be quite expensive, though I will say that it’s still slightly cheaper than the average professional brand.
Buyers on a budget may shy away from Made In because of its prices, but Ive found that when it comes to quality cookware, there is always going to be a high price tag regardless of brand name.
All in all, when it comes to cheffing it up casually and professionally, I think Made In Cookware is definitely worth looking into.
Made In Cookware Promotions & Discount
Here for the deals? I don’t blame you. Made In is currently offering a 10% discount on your next order. If you’re looking to buy Made In Cookware or any of the products, be sure to take advantage now.
Right now, you can also save 30% on Summer Essentials through to May 30th. While I realize you may be reading this Made in cookware review after that point, it’s a good sign the brand offers deals year round. Sign up for the mailing list to stay informed.
Where to Buy Made In Cookware
Want to browse the entire collection? Made In products are sold on their website, madeincookware.com. You can also find select items at partner retailers like Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Amazon.
FAQ
Where is Made In Cookware Made?
Made In cookware is mostly manufactured within the US, with a few of its products made in Italy and France. Countries that pump out the most delicious food, I’m confident they make cookware that helps.
Who owns Made In cookware?
Made In was founded and is owned by Chip and Jake Malt—brothers who launched the brand in 2017.
What is Made In’s Shipping Policy?
Made In offers free shipping on orders over $50 within the Contiguous United States. Shipping is also available to Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories, where delivery costs are subsidized by Made In. Shipping rates are generally $20-$80 depending on the dimensional weight of the package.
Made In also offers shipping internationally, and you can view countries available for deliveries by clicking the flag icon on the website. If your country is not on the list, you can still enter your address at checkout, and Made In may be able to find a carrier to ship your order. Now that’s helpful.
Unless noted in your shipping options, you’ll have to pay taxes and duties upon import into your destination country.
What is Made In’s Return Policy?
During this Made In cookware review, I turned up a generous return policy. All cookware, knives, and accessories, whether they’ve been used or not, can be returned within 45 days of delivery date for a full refund, exchange or store credit. Made In covers the cost of return shipping. I love brands that offer things like this, it makes purchasing so much less stressful.
On the other hand, consumable items (including wax, cleaner, and cooking kits), customized products, and final sale items are not eligible for returns. You can initiate a Made In return on the website, or by contacting [email protected].
If you received damaged products from Made In, the company requires you to provide pictures and documentation to customer service at [email protected]. If your request is approved, Made In will file a claim with the carrier and the product(s) will be replaced at no charge.
Common Cookware Issues
For the best experience, I highly recommend following instructions. Made In notes issues customers run into frequently when they don’t.
The most common issues are improper use of heat, rainbow stain/heat tint, improper seasoning of carbon steel, and improper pan cleaning. If you encounter any of these, I found solutions to them all on the Made In Chef’s Notes blog.
Made In Cookware & Klarna Pay Instalments
Many Made In products can be purchased through four equal Klarna pay instalments. You can select this payment option at checkout. The first payment is processed when your order is confirmed, then the next three are taken automatically every 2 weeks.
How to Contact Made In
If you have questions beyond what was covered in this Made In cookware review, you can contact the team via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: 1005 E. St. Elmo Road, Building 5, Austin, TX 78704
Contact Made In
If you have questions beyond what was covered in this Made In cookware review, you can contact the team via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: 1005 E. St. Elmo Road, Building 5, Austin, TX 78704
Looking for more tools for your kitchen? Here are a few more brands to choose from:
Article Sources
- Kaushik, Vandana & Bala, Ranju. Efficacy of Stainless Steel as Cooking Utensil Material for Solar Cooking ResearchGate Journal of Human Ecology. 30
- Higo, Atsuko & Tominaga, Akiko & Ibe, Naoko. Physical Properties of Test Foods Cooked in Frying Pans made of Carbon Steel and Fluoroplastic coated Aluminum ResearchGate 日本調理科学会誌. 248-256.
- Bill TJ, Bentrem DJ, Drake DB, Edlich RF. Grease burns of the hand: preventable injuries NLM PubMed J Emerg Med. 1996 May-Jun;14(3):351-5
Never heard of Buyers or Matfer or Mauviel…but I do love my 11 pieces of all-Clad cookware that I’ve collected over the last 25 years, even the measuring spoons and oven mitts. All come with a LIFETIME guarantee/warranty, and they are the BEST pans, pots, sauciers, roasting pan, and porcelain double boiler I’ve ever used! I’m NOT an all-Clad snob, I do have other brands in my kitchen…I just appreciate quality. I AM curious about the other brands mentioned, and will do some research.