I Tested the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware for a Month – It Completely Changed My Mind About Using Ceramic

I was never sure ceramic pans would be worth the money. However, after testing the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware, I can firmly say I have been converted.

Offering superior non-stick performance without the risk of 'forever chemicals', the titanium-reinforced ceramic non-toxic cookware offered both peace of mind and simpler mid-week cooking, with delicious results to boot. My only concern? Longevity.

This is how I found using the Zwilling Milano cookware set, specifically the saucepan, frying pan, saute pan, and wok, over the last month, and the small niggles that knocked off a star.

Product Specifications: Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware

Design and First Impressions

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There is no denying that the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware looks good. Available in matte black, blue, and brown (all with brass-effect handles), the pans cut a fine figure on my cooktop, giving them their first win.

Each pan was boxed individually and came in 100% recyclable packaging, with no plastic or tape getting in the way. The careful folds of the box and the pretty tissue paper protected both the pans and the glass lids from knocks and damage in transit.

One thing I did notice right out of the box was the weight. These are premium pans, and they feel it. The larger pans, notably the saute pan and wok, were tricky to hold in one hand for too long, even for my partner, who is a climber, meaning he has fantastic grip strength. This is accounted for in the design, with the larger pans having helper handles.

Each pan was washed with warm soapy water as instructed before first use.

Cooking Performance

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Using the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware was a dream. It was my first time using ceramic non-stick, but I found it easier to use than traditional PFAS-based non-stick cookware. The added peace of mind they gave me made the whole process far more enjoyable.

Each pan heated evenly, all the way to the rims, and retained heat as I cooked, which led to a few scorched onions during the first few uses when I forgot to turn down the heat accordingly. I found that I was generally able to use lower temperatures, as the cold-forged aluminum cores did most of the work for me. The long handles came in useful here, as the edges of the pan were searing to the touch, even on stove rings that were smaller than the diameter of the pan.

One thing to note is that each pan gave off a slightly strange smell on the first use. Even after washing, there was a slight 'factory' smell as it heated. This occurred with every pan on the first use, but not beyond that. It did not affect flavor, either.

Besides cooking, serving was also slightly cumbersome due to the weight of the larger pans. The saute pan, for instance, was difficult to hold in one hand, even for my gym-going partner, meaning we could not pour from it into bowls. A serving spoon fixed this (specifically a silicone spoon from Walmart, as metal utensils can damage the coating), but it is something to note if you have lessened grip strength. This is not as much of an issue with the smaller saucepan and frying pan.

To help you choose the best cookware, we test the same foods in all of our pans, to give you a fair overview:

• Gyoza: I always joke that dumplings are my favorite 'food group', so this is an important test to pass. The Milano frying pan handled the delicate challenge with ease, crisping the bases and releasing perfectly. No complaints.
• Tofu: Tofu is another great, delicate test, as it can tear easily and can be tricky to brown. The Milano wok handled it with ease, developing a wonderfully even golden edge with no sticking.
• Onions: Onions are the base of several cuisines, so it is important for a pan to caramelize them without sticking and scorching. The wok, frying pan, and saute pan all handled this with ease. The only scorching occurred as a result of user error and heating the pan too much.
• Pancakes: Pancakes bubbled evenly in the frying pan, released with ease for neat flipping, and did not stick.
• Fried Eggs: Fried eggs developed a crisp base without sticking. The pans were so nonstick that it was actually difficult to pick them out of the pan with a spatula (see the video below).
• Chicken Stir Fry: Chicken browned evenly, developing great color and flavor, and the added vegetables and noodles were easy to stir up, thanks to the large capacity.
• Sauces: In our liquid tests, simmering bolognaise, the liquid bubbled evenly across the surface, and when left to cook, it did not stick or burn.
• Rice: When cooking rice in the saucepan, it boiled evenly, and the grains were light and fluffy. The rice was easy to serve, with no sticking to the edges. Starch also washed off easily afterwards, too.

Cleaning, Storage and Maintenance

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Cleaning the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware was a breeze. Zwilling states that the pans are dishwasher safe, but I hand-washed the pans with ease using a soft dish sponge and non-toxic dish soap (such as Attitude dish soap, from Walmart). Residue came away easily with zero scrubbing, taking only a few seconds per pan.

When storing the pans, you must avoid stacking them to prevent damaging the delicate ceramic coating. For this, felt pan stackers, available at Amazon, can come in handy, especially if you are short on kitchen storage.

During the review process, I stored the pans with their glass lids on. After a few weeks, I noticed some damage to the rims of the most-used saute and saucepan, where the blue ceramic had chipped away. At first, I thought this may be from balancing the metal handles of my silicone utensils against the edge of the cookware on the stove, but the chips can also be found on the saucepan, in which I have only ever used wooden tools, which debunks this theory. I am left under the assumption that the damage is from the lids.

This does raise concerns about the general longevity of the cookware, especially at the premium cost. What's more, I did experience some water getting stuck in the edge of the lid, which I could not get out again.

How Does the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Compare?

The Zwilling Milano cookware stands up well against similarly positioned ceramic cookware. As with the Our Place Essentials Cookware, reviewed by Punteha van Terheyden, the ceramic coating is wonderfully non-stick, washes well, and cooks evenly. They are similar in weight, too. The difference lies in the longevity promise and price.

In her review, Punteha had no quality issues with the coating, with no reports thus far of chips or damage with frequent use. At $349.95 for an 11-piece set, they also come in significantly cheaper than the $599.99 five-piece Zwilling Milano set (at the time of writing).

Customer reviews on Zwilling's site largely agree with me. Verified shoppers around the world praise the excellent non-stick qualities, beautiful design, and ease of cleaning. However, there are similar mentions in a review by Ilona, of chips around the rims after a few uses, even after washing, which supports my concerns about long-term longevity. What's more, several reviews mention water sticking in the rims of the glass lids.

My Verdict: Should You Buy The Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware?

All in all, I do generally recommend the Zwilling Milano Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware, even with my concerns about longevity and water sticking in the lids. The results cannot be argued with, offering crisp bases at lower temperatures, even searing, and delicious, non-toxic results. They also look and feel premium, offering a wonderful pop of color to my counter.

The chips on the rims cannot be ignored, of course, but they have not, thus far, affected the cooking surface itself. I am going to try to test the pans for longer to monitor for additional damage, and will hopefully report back if needed. All in all, now understanding the true fragility of the coating, adjusting care by maintaining hand washing over dish washing, and avoiding balancing metal-handle tools or lids on the rims when cooking and in storage should hopefully mitigate future issues.

All in all, despite the price, they are a good investment, and I cannot fault the cooking experience and delicious results. With careful use, they are worth it; however, I would recommend waiting for a sale to find more value.

How We Test Cookware at Homes & Gardens

The best cookware has to tick all the boxes: Versatility, manageable weight, safe materials, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

You can read more details about how we test cookware at Homes & Gardens, including how long we vet each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

I test all cookware in my own home under real-world conditions – usually mid-week meals cooked after work, putting the pans through regular use over a range of recipes to get a good understanding of how these pans perform and fit into the everyday, hard-working home.

What Else to Shop

To help you get the best performance from your ceramic non-stick cookware, I’ve curated six essential accessories and care tools designed to protect the coating and streamline everyday cooking.

All prices were correct at the time of publishing.

Looking to make your cookware investments last for decades to come? Brush up on how to clean and care for every type of cookware.

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