If you are in the market for your first cookware set, you’ve probably been doing some research these days. Quite possibly, most of the reviews are pointing you to Calphalon and Tremontina. That’s great since it narrows down the field significantly, but what to do now?
Today, we’ll compare the two brands. We’ll pit them against each other in terms of price and quality, and see how their bestselling sets compare. Hopefully, this will help you figure out which brand is better for you. So, let’s begin with our Tramontina vs Calphalon showdown.
Tramontina VS Calphalon: Quick Comparison
Tramontina’s history
This Brazilian company was founded in 1911 by a blacksmith called Valentin Tramontina. He was a son of illegal Italian immigrants that grew his small kitchen utensil business into an international brand that sells over 18,000 items. The company is still in the family’s hands and its current president is Valentin’s grandson, Clovis Tramontina.
As mentioned the company produces a wide range of products in 10 factories located in the south of Brazil. Besides cookware, cutlery, and other kitchen tools, they also make patio furniture, barbeques, and toys.
Best points
The cookware’s top selling point is quality on a budget. And customers agree.
It’s quite rare to come across a product list that concentrates on this aspect that doesn’t list at least one Tramontina product. Obviously, the company has been around more than a century and they know what home cooks want and expect from their cookware.
Though you’ll not see much of cutting edge and design in any of the collections, the pieces still look nice. In fact, they also offer a few sets in colors like pink or teal. And these are no playsets – they are fully functional pots and pans that are known to last and look great for years.
Going back to the whole price tag business, you can get every pot and pan you need to start cooking under $100. They also offer more premium items, but they are still very affordable.
Calphalon’ history
Calphalon is one of the brands that fall under the umbrella of the international manufacturer, Newell Brands Inc. This makes them related to other household names like Rubbermaid, Sistema, Sharpie, Crock-pot, Yankie Candle, etc.
It was originally founded in 1963 by Ronald M. Kasperzak under the name Commercial Aluminum Cookware. It used to supply only restaurants and cooking schools with cookware, before becoming available to home cooks as well in the mid-80s. Today, the brand is still beloved by professionals and amateurs alike.
Best points
As mentioned, Calphalon pots and pans are made with professional cooks in mind. This means that most of them are ready to be used and abused in a busy kitchen.
We are not talking only about the body of the pans. Even the handle joints are made to be heavy-duty and durable. Plus, they don’t use Teflon for their non-stick models. Calphalon cookware does feature several polytetrafluoroethylene-based nonstick finishes, but they are PFOA-free (unlike Teflon).
Finally, they are constantly innovating. For example, they offer two space-saving cookware collections with nesting pieces, or interesting problem-solving accessories, as we will see below.
Tramontina vs Calphalon: Brand Comparison
Product range
Both brands offer a wide range of products, starting from cookware to bakeware and flatware. However, Calphalon offers both large and small kitchen appliances as well.
That’s not the only way Calphalon beats Tramontina in this category. When it comes to cookware, Tramontina only offers 6 collections, while Calphalon has 8: Classic, Contemporary, Premier, Premier Space Saving, Signature, Select, Select Space Saving, and Simply by Calaphalon.
Quality
If quality is your main concern, you’re in luck because both brands deliver in this aspect.
Both Calaphon and Tramontina have risen to the top of lists and reviews because they offer well-made and functional products. Their cookware pieces are usually viewed as lifetime purchases by home cooks. Most users report how they need just a tiny bit of TLC and they last for years.
Also, they perform well. We are talking here about the even distribution of heat in pots and pans, as well as good temperature maintenance and recovery.
To quickly add to this, Tramontina offers a few cookware sets in pretty colors. Most reviews that come from people who had those pieces for quite some time suggest that they still look good after years of use and that the color doesn’t chip or fade.
Price
Both companies are in the same price bracket. You could say that though they are not the cheapest out there, you also don’t need to take out a second mortgage to buy a cookware set. A basic one will set you at about $100, though you have a few pricier options as well.
If you’re shopping for a full range and go for better quality, expect to spend about $300 for a 10+ piece set.
Availability
Both brands are easy to find online, including with big retailers like Amazon or via their web stores. For those who live in the US, Calphalon is slightly easier to find in brick and mortar shops, but you will stumble upon Tramontina often as well.
Teflon
Calphalon products don’t use Teflon. They get their nonstick surface from a proprietary PFOA-free coating.
However, watch out: some of the Tramontina pans feature a Teflon nonstick coating.
Ethical production
For consumers who care about manufacturers’ ethics issues, all information available suggests that their products are eco-friendly and that there is no workplace exploitation. Tramontina even goes as far as to publish their <a href=”https://www.tramontina.com.br/upload/conduta/conduct_manual_tramontina.pdf”>conduct manual</a>.
However, Calphalon’s parent company, Newell Brands, has come under fire on a couple of occasions. Both times it was due to closing and safety issues in factories that produce their other brands (Rubbermaid and Sistema respectively). As of now, there are no reported ethical concerns in their Calphalon factories.
Tramontina vs Calphalon: Cookware Set Comparison
Tramontina 10 Piece Ceramic Cookware Set (Top cookware set)
What’s in the box?
An 8-inch and a 10-inch frying pan, a 1.5 and a 3-quart saucepan with lid, an 11-inch covered skillet, and a 5-quart covered dutch oven.
Pros:
- PFOA, PTFE, lead, or cadmium-free non-stick ceramic coating.
- Compatible with gas, electric, and ceramic glass cooktops and dishwasher-safe.
- Even heat distribution and easy to clean.
Con:
- Ceramic coating will chip and scratch if mishandled.
Though you can get similar sets from Tramontina at a third of the cost, this one is worth the investment. It offers every piece of cookware that you will ever need, no matter your style of cooking. Plus, it’s made out of healthy and eco-friendly materials.
Each pot, pan, and lid has soft-grip silicone handles for easy and safe handling. And each piece is completely oven safe.
This set handles almost all types of food. It’s equally great for delicate items like fish or making pastry creams and caramels. Just don’t use any of the pieces to make popcorn, ever.
Best for:
Young cooks setting up their first kitchen. For those who also want their cookware to bring a pop of color to the decor.
Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set with No-Boil-Over Inserts (Top cookware set)
What’s in the box?
An 8-inch and a 10-inch frying pan, a 2.5-quart saucepan with a matching No-Boil-Over insert, a 3-quart saute pan and a 6-quart stockpot with a No-Boil-Over insert.
Pros:
- No-Boil-Over inserts prevent messy kitchen mishaps.
- Safe for all heat sources, including the oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Recognizable Calphalon durability and PFOA-free nonstick coating.
Con:
- Handles are left uncovered.
It was rather difficult to pick a collection or a set to feature here because Calphalon simply has a lot of goodies on offer. But, this set won not only because it is currently one of the brand’s bestsellers, but also because it embodies everything good about the brand.
It starts as a solid, well-made cookware set that is bound to survive years of daily use in a busy home kitchen. Then you sprinkle some of that magic proprietary nonstick and non-toxic coating formula for a good measure. And then stir in a hefty dose of innovation in the form of No-Boil-Inserts.
Those guys really work and even prevent milk spillage. If that was not enough, each piece features measuring marks, pour spouts, and straining covers.
If there is one place where they dropped the ball, it’s the uncovered metal handles. For silicone-covered handles, you should check out their <a href=”https://www.calphalon.com/cookware/cookware-by-product-type/cookware-sets-2/?prefn1=handleMaterial&prefv1=Silicone&start=0&sz=24&initialCGID=Cookware-Type-Sets&view=product”>Select and Simply Calphalon</a> lines.
Though that’s not a Teflon coating in any of the pots or pans, treat it as such. That means no metal utensils or popping popcorn.
Best for:
For those who want quality and innovation with a budget-friendly price tag. Also, for those who avoid Teflon at all costs.
Which one should you pick?
If you are on a tight budget, both brands will do the trick. It all comes down to aesthetics and Teflon.
Tramontina uses it, Calphalon does not. Calphalon developed the non-stick coating they use in all of their cookware. It’s PFOA-free, but they also have ceramic cookware if that’s more your style.
When Tramontina is not using Teflon, it’s either uncoated stainless steel or ceramics. If you don’t care about this aspect and want colorful pots and pans, pick this Brazilian brand. If not, go for Calphalon.
