To me, local is always best, and that goes for cookware and ingredients! Cookware made in the USA has to undergo rigorous testing to determine its safety. So, if you’re looking for quality that supports the local economy, you have to choose made in the USA.
In this article, I’m going to give you a full rundown of cookware brands made in the USA and my favorites in each category.
Our Favorite American-Made Pots and Pans
- Nonstick Cookware: Calphalon x William Sonoma Nonstick Set
⬇ Jump to review - Ceramic Cookware: Nordic Ware Verde Ceramic Nonstick Wok
⬇ Jump to review - Stainless Steel Cookware: Viking Culinary 5-ply Stainless Steel
⬇ Jump to review - Cast Iron Cookware: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
⬇ Jump to review - Carbon Steel Cookware: Marquette Castings Carbon Steel Skillet
⬇ Jump to review - Copper Cookware: All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Set
⬇ Jump to review
What Cookware Brands are Made in America?
In this list, I have only included pans that are manufactured fully in the USA. The only exceptions are pans with foreign-made handles that are attached in the US. Other than that, the entire body of the pan needs to be made on US soil to qualify.
Lodge 12” Cast Iron Skillet- Best Cast Iron Made in USA
This Lodge 12” Cast Iron Skillet is the kind of pan you buy, use all the time, and keep forever. It's made from durable raw cast iron that has incredible heat retention at a really affordable price.
Cast iron requires a little extra love and care, but if you’re willing to put in the time to season it, it will serve you well for years. This material is reactive to acidic foods and can leach small amounts of iron into your food, so if you’re sensitive to that, I suggest avoiding it.
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Viking Culinary Stainless Steel Cookware Set- Best Stainless Steel Made in USA
So many stainless steel brands claim to be made in the US, but when you dig, they’re only assembled here. But this Viking Culinary 5-ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set is a great exception.
This set is made from fully clad 5-ply stainless steel, so it heats up quickly and evenly. As with all stainless steel cookware without a coating, these pans take some time to get used to. But if you preheat them well and use enough oil, they should be semi-nonstick.
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All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Set- Best Copper Cookware Made in USA
For my luxury cookware lovers out there, I present to you the All-Clad Copper Core Stainless Steel Cookware Set.
This is a 5-ply stainless steel set that uses copper to make its pans heat quickly with precise heat control. It's only a thin ring set into the base, so there’s no significant threat of the copper coming into contact with your food. If you take care of it, this set will last you a lifetime.
Quick Overview:
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Calphalon x William Sonoma Frying Pan and Saute Pan Set- Best Nonstick Cookware Made in USA
Nonstick frying pans made in the USA are few and far between, but this Calphalon x William Sonoma Nonstick 2-pc Set is a great option.
If you prefer to avoid PTFE (Teflon) in your cookware, then maybe skip this set and go for my Nordic Ware recommendation below. But if you don’t mind it, these pans have a really effective nonstick that is textured for more sauteeing power. Both these pans are multi-purpose, so you’ll find yourself reaching for them all the time.
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Nordic Ware Ceramic Nonstick Wok- Best Ceramic Cookware Made in USA
US-made ceramic nonstick pans are really hard to find! But look no further than Nordic Ware, especially the Nordic Ware Ceramic Nonstick Wok.
The Verde ceramic nonstick range is quite extensive, but I decided to pick out this pan because it's the only wok I could find made in the USA that’s not part of a set. This pan heats quickly and evenly up the tall sides so you can stir fry effectively. It also requires no maintenance compared to its carbon steel counterparts that need to be seasoned.
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Marquette Carbon Steel Skillet- Best Carbon Steel Cookware Made in USA
It's a beautiful pan from a small business, and the price is reasonable compared to competitors. This is the perfect all-purpose pan to use on the stovetop or the oven. I particularly like this pan for searing.
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Buyer’s Guide
History of Cookware Brands Made in the USA
The commercial cookware industry in America began in the 19th century with cast iron pans. The casting methods were brought to the US with the English colonizers, as cast iron pans had been a staple in European countries since the 1700s. The carbon steel industry was born in the same way, and there are still many boutique carbon steel and cast iron companies around today.
Founded in 1896, Lodge is the oldest continuously running cookware company in the United States. It was started by a family, and the company has stayed family-run to this day.
The iconic American stainless steel brand, All Clad, invented the fully clad stainless steel pan in 1971. It was followed by Heritage Steel in 1983. Nordic Ware seems to be one of the first (and few) to make nonstick cookware in the USA. Its bakeware has been manufactured in the US for over 75 years.
How to Choose Your Cookware Material
When you’re trying to decide what cookware material to choose, there are lots of questions to consider. What appearance are you looking for? How are you going to use the pan? Is the material safe? How much effort are you willing to put into cleaning and maintaining your cookware?
At the Skillful Cook, we’ve written extensive guides to each type of cookware material. I’ll link to those guides below and include a quick list of properties of each material.
Stainless Steel
Read the full stainless steel guide!
Nonstick (Teflon)
Read the full US-made nonstick cookware guide.
Ceramic
Check out our ceramic cookware guide.
Pure Ceramic or Stoneware
Learn more about pure ceramic cookware here.
Carbon Steel
Is carbon steel safe? Find out here.
Enamel Cast Iron
Learn more about enameled cast iron cookware like Le Creuset.
Cast Iron
Find out all you wanted to know about cast iron – and more.
Copper
Learn about what makes great copper cookware in our guide.
Cookware Brands that Are No Longer Made in the US
Unfortunately, some classic American brands have moved their factories overseas. Most of the time, this is due to the low manufacturing costs in other countries.
Farberware, Revere Ware, Calphalon, and Pfaltzgraff are American icons that, sadly, have moved all or most of their cookware manufacturing to China. Even Lodge and All-Clad now manufacture some of their cookware overseas.
360 Cookware is a stainless steel brand made in Wisconsin. It claims that 85% of its cookware components originate primarily in the USA. The brand has stated on its website that, due to sourcing issues, some of its parts come from South Korea, but that it hopes to get back to 100% US manufacturing.
Is American Kitchen Cookware made in the USA?
This is a brand that many get caught by because of the cleverly chosen name. But if you look a little closer, American Kitchen pans are made from imported components and only assembled in the US.
Conclusion
Finding truly US-made cookware can be difficult, but hopefully, this article has made it much easier! I was surprised and encouraged to see how many brands still make cookware in the US. (And if you’re looking for US-made dinnerware, there are some fabulous options for that, too!)
Overall, I recommend the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet as a great all-purpose pan and the Viking Stainless Steel Cookware Set for a full selection of pots that will last you a lifetime.
If you have any more questions about US-made cookware, please feel free to drop your questions below.
