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Yes, Ikea Sells Pots and Pans — But Are They Good?

When it comes to the kitchen, Ikea sells more than just furniture. But is the Swedish giant’s cookware worth your money?

Boiling water in an Ikea pot | Dim Nikov / Tastyble
By Dim Nikov,
editor-in-chief of Tastyble, formally trained chef, and author of Cooking Methods & Techniques: A Crash Course on How to Cook Delicious Food at Home for Beginners.

So, let me guess: You’re at Ikea, minding your own business, picking out a shoe cabinet or maybe a new rug for the living room when you stumble upon the Swedish furniture giant’s kitchen section. And in that section, there’s an aisle with sheeny, shiny pots and pans that — maybe because you need cookware, or maybe because this is Ikea and you want to buy everything — catch your eye.

The pots and pans look okay. Better than okay, actually. You can kind of picture them in your kitchen already. Still, like any sensible shopper, you can’t help but ask: Are Ikea’s pots and pans any good? Well, let me start off by saying you’re in the right place to find out. I’ve been cooking with Ikea pots and pans for five or maybe six years now, and I can certainly tell you this and that about their pros and cons. Consider this article a review (or buying guide) of sorts.

What Makes a Good Pan or Pot

Before we get to Ikea’s pots and pans specifically, let’s go over what makes cookware good in the first place. Cookware can be made of all sorts of metals — from aluminum to cast iron to stainless steel — and I’d argue that there’s a place for each type in your kitchen. Regardless of the material, all good cooking vessels share a common trait: they are thick, heavy, and excel at retaining heat.

Why is this important? Because a cooking vessel that retains heat doesn’t lose temperature as easily when you add cold ingredients or when the thermostat on your stovetop (unless you’re cooking with gas) cycles the burners on and off. Consistent temperature ensures even cooking, and even cooking means delicious home-cooked food.

You likely already know that not all pots and pans are created equal, though. Flimsy pieces may be cheap, but they’re prone to hot spots and they twist and warp all too easily. Which brings us back to what brought you here: How do Ikea’s pieces fare against others? Pretty darn well, actually. And if you read on, I’ll tell you why I think that way.

Ikea Pots and Pans: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Like any other cookware brand, Ikea offers several lines of products to choose from. While I can’t tell you how to pronounce their names (can anyone?), I can tell you that some are great, others are mediocre, and a few aren’t even worth considering.

Kavalkad is Ikea’s cheapest cookware line. Like, you can snag two Kavalkad non-stick frying pans (two!) for $3.49 — less than the price of a Starbucks latte. But just because you can, does that mean that you should? I say no. Although the Teflon coating on the Kavalkad line is pretty decent, these pans are for dorm-room kitchens. If you’re on the market for quality cookware for your home, leave these for college students and buy in something more high-end.

The same goes for the pots and pans in the Middagsmat cookware line. They’re on the thinner end and they’re not all that great at retaining heat. So unless you want scorched scallops and burnt sauces, stay away.

Anyway, enough about the budget pieces. It’s not that I have a beef with Ikea cookware — I don’t. It’s just unrealistic to expect a quality pan at four dollars when a cup of coffee costs seven. For better or worse, times have changed, and we — as consumers — have to adapt.

Now onto the better cookware lines at the Swedish furniture retailer: I find the Ikea 365+ pots and pans to be of good value. That is, if you’re new to cooking and you’re looking for bargain-priced cookware that heats quickly and evenly, these disc-bottomed stainless steel vessels are it. The pans and pots in the Hemkost line fall in more or less the same category, but with a sleeker design and higher price tag. Opt for them if you’re willing to pay up for aesthetics.

But my favorite Ikea cookware lines writ large are the Vardagen and Sensuell lines: Vardagen for cast iron and carbon steel, and Sensuell for clad stainless steel cookware. These quality pots and pans work well on all types of stovetops and offer affordable, decent quality for the price. If you’re a seasoned home cook and you know your cookware ABCs, these are the product lines to go for.

How to Choose When You Feel Like Buying Everything

Beginner cooks might find it best to choose non-stick pans and pots from the Ikea 365+ and Hemkost lines. If unsure, go for Hemkost; it’s slightly more expensive but also thicker, heavier, and therefore the better option of the two. For quick and easy cooking without the risk of omelets, pancakes, and fish fillets sticking to the bottom of your pan, choose Teflon-coated versions.

However, if you know your way around the kitchen, consider the cast iron and carbon steel pans in the Vardagen line and the clad stainless steel ones in the Sensuell line. Cast iron and carbon steel pieces are ideal for searing meat and sautéing vegetables, but they must be seasoned and can only be hand-washed. Stainless steel pieces stick, but they’re suitable for everything and can safely go in the dishwasher. It’s a Goldilocks dilemma of sorts.

The Takeaways (And Why You Can Trust Me)

When my wife and I moved house about five or six years ago, we — like most middle-class couples nowadays — headed to Ikea to shop for furniture. When we reached the cookware section, a few pots and pans caught my eye. Since I review cookware for a living (and needed a new cooking vessel or two anyway), I thought, “Why not?” and decided to add them to my cart to give them a try. To my surprise, they turned out to be quite decent, so here we are.

I’ve been cooking with Ikea pans and pots for quite some time now, so all in all, if you need a new pot or frying pan for your kitchen, or perhaps an entire set, Ikea definitely has some good options. As always, the key to getting your money’s worth is knowing what to look for and how to choose.

Hopefully, now you have the information you need to make an informed choice. Thanks for reading — and have fun shopping.