If you’ve ever gone down the nontoxic cookware rabbit hole, then you know how confusing and daunting it can be. After over a year of research, my friend Janny and I compiled our cookware post last fall, outlining your best bets and what to avoid. After testing out several types of cookware, we both landed on a clear winner for day-to-day cooking. Xtrema Cookware checked all the boxes and after singing its praises the last few months, I wanted to go more in-depth on how it works and answer some common questions I’ve gotten, along with sharing what I use from their line. Keep scrolling- I also have a discount code for you!

Xtrema Cookware Review

Xtrema is unique in the cookware world because it’s 100% ceramic through and through. It’s not just a subpar material that’s been coated in ceramic. They have their cookware fully tested for harmful substances and publish the findings, which makes me love them even more for taking the extra step and being transparent. You can see more on that here.

Because of its smooth, ceramic surface, it’s fairly nonstick. I’ve burnt things on and easily scrubbed it off with just a dish brush. It washes up well and has been pretty easy to maintain.

What I Use

I’m not an epic cook, so I keep it simple and stick to the basic pots and pans that I’m used to. Almost went a little TLC Waterfalls in my head there. For me, that’s the 10-inch Versa Skillet (formerly, Versa Braiser) and the Signature Series saucepan set.

The Versa Skillet is very versatile, indeed. It can go from stove top to oven and even stores well in the fridge because of its short handles. With deeper sides and a large cooking surface, I find myself cooking with this more often than not. I use it for braising and sautéing fish, veggies, and more. I also use it when I make things like zucchini patties, which I use a little more oil for and the deeper sides keep it from splattering. While I still use my cast iron pan to sear things, the Versa Skillet is what I use for most of my fry pan needs. It has a lid and you can get silicone covers for the handles.

The Signature Series set has a variety of saucepans and lids. Here’s what’s included:

1-Quart Traditions Saucepan with Lid
1.5-Quart Traditions Saucepan with Lid
2.5-Quart Traditions Saucepan with Lid
9-inch Signature Skillet
(2) 100% Organic Cotton Handle Potholders

While I may eventually buy one of their larger pots for big batches of soup, etc., the sizes included in the set seem to cover most of our needs. From making sauces to cooking quinoa or pasta, I’ve yet to need a size outside of the set.

Good To Know

If there’s one thing you need to know, this is it: Treat it like glass cookware. Since it’s 100% ceramic, it can break if you drop it and crack if you change temperatures too quickly. So just like your Pyrex cookware, don’t take a cold pan right out of the fridge and place it in a hot oven, and don’t take a hot pan and put it down on a cold surface, like granite or a cold glass top burner. Instead place it on a pot holder, wooden cutting board, or on a warm burner.

Similarly, heat it up slowly. Start with the burner on low and make your way up. Once these pans are hot, they hold heat in very well. You will probably never need to go all the way up to high. Even when boiling water, medium-high is sufficient. This “treating it like glass” business may make it sound fussy, but it’s really not any different than how you should treat most pans. Even stainless steel pans are susceptible to warping if you put cold water into a hot pan.

To read more about what to look for with cookware and see some other things I use in the kitchen, you can check out this post. If you want to give Xtrema a try, use MPUR10 for 10% off. If you give them a try, let me know what you think!

*Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Since posting this, we had several readers ask about lead contamination found (on the bottom of the pans) with an XRF machine. The XRF machine is designed for analyzing soil, not household appliances. Lead is naturally occurring and will be found just about everywhere, but the concern should be with whether or not the lead (or other metal) will leach. California Prop 65 and FDA laboratory procedures test for metal extraction or leaching for lead and cadmium. XTREMA’s products pass these standards. To read more click here.