Greenpan vs Scanpan Cookware: Which is Better?

Greenpan and Scanpan are among brands that you would definitely come across if you are looking for healthy, non-toxic cookware. Greenpan is a Belgian company that relies on ceramic to craft its nonstick cookware while Scanpan is a Danish brand that uses recycled aluminum. However, their differences are much more than just the manufacturing location and the type of material used.

For that reason, I have made this in-depth Greenpan vs Scanpan comparison guide where I will compare them in terms of cooking surface, design, material, handles, and the overall price.

Introducing Greenpan

Greenpan is a popular Belgian brand that quickly planted its roots in major parts of the world in mass-producing safe ceramic cookware. With over 150 patents, this company earned its reputation by using a unique ceramic coating technology known as “Thermolon™” for its cookware that relies solely on sand instead of plastic.

Greenpan has been developing its nonstick coating over the years and managed to create seven generations of Thermolon that can provide exceptional heat tolerance up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros of Greenpan Cookware

• High tolerance. Greenpan cookware can endure high temperatures that exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit which is what we hardly see in the nonstick cookware category.
• Unique safe coating. Greenpan relies on its Thermolon technology that uses sands instead of plastic to produce a safe nonstick coating that’s free from any harmful chemicals.
• Great heat conductor. The Thermolon is a great heat conductor that improves the heating speed and cooks food evenly. Hence, It is recommended to always cook on low heat settings to avoid any burning.
• Wide compatibility. Most of the collections Greenpan produces are compatible with not just the ovens but also with all types of cooktops including Induction.

Cons of Greenpan Cookware

• Heavy pieces. Ceramic-coated cookware tend to have thicker layers of sintered or glazed ceramic lining resulting in heavier pots and pans compared to other types of coating.
• Glass lid not tempered for high temperature. While the pots and pans are crafted to endure high heat and sudden temperature changes, the glass lids can only tolerate medium-range temperature and cannot go beyond 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Introducing Scanpan

Scanpan or “Scandinavian Pan” was the first to produce environmentally friendly nonstick cookware from recycled aluminum that’s obtained mainly from soda and beer cans. The process goes through strict standards to minimize the carbon footprint which helps to secure healthy cooking.

Scanpan uses its own patented PFOS/PFOA-free nonstick coating system which is known as “STRATANIUM”. This technology is basically all about having hard particles and wave-like layers interlock to strengthen the nonstick layer resulting in a robust surface that can withstand the use of metal utensils without sacrificing performance.

Throughout the years, Scanpan has improved its coating system to fit its high-end cookware and gave birth to a new version “STRATANIUM PLUS” that can offer 50% more durability and more compatibility with stovetops compared to the old version.

Pros of Scanpan Cookware

• Superb nonstick coating. Scanpan uses the STRATANIUM and STRATANIUM+ systems to create an easy-release coating for the surfaces that can handle the most delicate food readily while providing long-lasting nonstick performance.
• Robust cookware. The procedure this company follows with the recycled aluminum results in sturdy yet safe cookware that can ensure even heat distribution while providing great nonstick performance to enjoy healthy cooking for you and your family.
• Great heat tolerance. From medium to high-end range, all Scanpan cookware sets are oven-safe and can tolerate up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Environmentally friendly cookware. Every pot and pan is made entirely from recycled aluminum (primarily soda and beer cans) to save huge amounts of energy and waste.

Cons of Scanpan Cookware

• Short lifespan. This brand’s products are recognized for their durability to hold out against the most demanding tasks. However, like any other nonstick cookware, Scanpan pots and pans are prone to wear out. You can still expect a superb performance that would last for around 2 to 5 years or even years more if properly taking care of.
• Costly. The Scanpan lines are considerably more expensive than the average cookware on the market. The cheapest cookware set this company offer is around $300 to $400 while the pricey ones exceed $700.

RELATED: Best Cookware Sets Under $200

Greenpan vs Scanpan: Similarities and Differences

Scanpan and Greenpan are trusted nonstick brands that earned their reputation by creating remarkable safe cookware for our cooktops. The collections these two brands produce share the same purpose and target the same type of cooks who seek safe cookware. However, their differences are quite vast for the layman to figure out. That being said, here are the five main distinctions between Greenpan and Scanpan that set these two brands apart.

Material

Both Greenpan and Scanpan offer various cookware models to cater to the daily needs of every cook.

Scanpan is specialized in recycling soda and beer cans under strict standards in order to acquire the aluminum needed to craft its pots and pans. Scanpan managed to produce robust, safe nonstick cookware that could last for a long time by merging its nonstick coating system “STRATANIUM or STRATANIUM PLUS” with the obtained aluminum.

Scanpan cookware lines are split into two constructions: “squeeze cast aluminum” where the STRATANIUM is used to create the smooth surface, and the “5-ply stainless steel-clad” construction where the STRATANIUM+ is applied together with stainless steel to produce a commercial-grade nonstick surface.

Greenpan on the other hand combines its ceramic coating technology that secures quick heating and even distribution with hard-anodized aluminum which boosts the durability of the pots and pans to the highest level possible giving you robust cookware that could fulfill most of your cooking needs.

Aside from the hard-anodized aluminum material, Greenpan started using multilayers of stainless steel together with Thermolon to produce its high-end cookware such as Venice Pro. Stainless steel is known for its rust and corrosion resistance, impressive heat retention, great conductivity, and versatility. However, it has poor resistance to burn stains which can cause heat discoloration. In order to avoid that, Greenpan invented a new technology known as “Evershine” which is basically an electro-chemical treatment that adds a special protective layer to prevent heat discoloration while keeping the shiny appearance of the stainless steel cookware.

RELATED: Best Cookware Set for Electric Coil Stoves

Cooking Surface

Both brands follow different methods and technologies to create a smooth, safe surface that can make your cooking an enjoyable task preventing any sticks while facilitating the cleaning chore.

Scanpan as we have covered in Anolon vs Scanpan comparison uses its flagship surface STRATANIUM to improve durability while securing high nonstick performance giving you the freedom to use any metal utensil during your cooking. Additionally, this brand managed to enhance the durability even further with its latest system STRATANIUM+ giving you the versatility you need to try different cooking styles with a smooth touch.

Greenpan surface features a Thermolon coating that can withstand high degrees and sudden temperature changes while securing an amazing heat distribution to cook your food evenly. It is recommended to limit your heat settings to low or medium since the ceramic coating has the ability to heat the cookware quickly in order to reach the desired temperature.

Design

Scanpan produces its cookware with a simple design that comes up with either grey or black color. This brand design is quite minimalistic since it focuses more on functionality. For instance, when it comes to heat tolerance, lids and handles are usually the weakest part of cookware which can get in the way of baking certain recipes. However, in the case of Scanpan, both lids and handles are created to prioritize heat tolerance giving you the flexibility to bake a variety of recipes that require 500 degrees Fahrenheit or less in your oven.

Greenpan contrarily designs stunning cookware with different colors and sizes making this brand the perfect fit for an average household. Greenpan pots and pans are definitely not just about the look, they are designed to maintain lightweight allowing you to handle and move the cookware around the kitchen with ease.

This brand invented a new technology known as “Magneto” to adjust the pots and pans to all types of cooktops including induction. The Magneto base allows the cookware to retain its shape by regulating and immediately dispersing the heat throughout the cookware preventing it from heating.

RELATED: Best Cookware for Induction Cooktops

Handles

With a danish style, Scanpan designs different types of handles to fit the shapes of its cookware. The handles serve to add or improve particular features that could solve common handling issues one could face. Depending on the cookware model, Scanpan crafts either long, ergonomic stainless steel handles or bakelite handles that are connected firmly to a rivetless locking system.

Greenpan crafts its stainless steel and bakelite handles with a v-shaped cutout to reduce the heat transfer. The bakelite handles offer great heat protection with a superb grip that remains cool to the touch while the stainless steel handles are extended to a raised angle giving your hands more room to hold for better balance and easy movement.

Price

Scanpan is definitely pricier than Greenpan. Scanpan mainly focuses on producing high-quality cookware that can fulfill the needs of all types of cooks. While Greenpan is aiming more towards crafting safe cookware that anyone can afford. Here are some examples of Greenpan and Scanpan cookware prices:

1. Greenpan SmartShape 6-piece Cookware Set: $149
2. Greenpan Lime 12-piece Cookware Set: $150
3. Greenpan Hudson 8-piece Cookware Set: $150
4. Greenpan Chatham 10-piece Cookware Set: $200
5. Greenpan Rio 16-piece Cookware Set: $220
6. Greenpan Paris Pro 11-piece Cookware Set: $300
7. Greenpan SearSmart 10-piece Cookware Set: $350
8. Greenpan Valencia Pro 10-piece Cookware Set: $350
9. Greenpan Venice Pro 10-piece Cookware Set: $387
10. Scanpan Classic 11-piece Cookware Set: $450
11. Scanpan ES5 10-piece Cookware Set: $500
12. Scanpan Professional 10-piece Cookware Set: $650
13. Scanpan Pro IQ 9-piece Cookware Set: $700
14. Scanpan TECHNIQ 9-piece Cookware Set: $700
15. Scanpan CTX 10-piece Cookware Set: $700
16. Scanpan HaptIQ 10-piece Cookware Set: $800
17. Scanpan CS+ 10-piece Cookware Set: $1000

Scanpan vs Greenpan: Cookware Sets Comparison

The Final Verdict

Both brands offer various nontoxic cookware sets that are designed to deliver the best nonstick performance possible. However, Greenpan provides more affordable yet safe collections from medium to large sizes, giving you the option to choose the right set for you without breaking the budget. While Scanpan focuses more on creating high-quality cookware sets that could live up to the expectations of professional cooks. That being said, if you are tight on budget and looking for extremely safe cookware that’s free from any harmful chemicals then I highly recommend one of the Greenpan sets. Otherwise, if you want to enjoy robust cookware that can handle most of the demanding tasks then I suggest getting one of the Scanpan high-end collections.