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Searching for a good cookware set or item in a saturated market is tough! There are so many similar products and brands offering more or less the same features and benefits.
One of the best ways to navigate this is to look at brands individually to assess their merits. We have chosen the Blue Diamond brand to review today, to figure out the pros, cons, features and suitability for different customers.
Read on for an in-depth review of Blue Diamond cookware!
Invalid table id.About the Blue Diamond brand
You probably recognize Blue Diamond from TV commercials, as it is an “As Seen On TV†brand. The brand’s main selling point line is “The newest standard in non-stick, toxin-free cookwareâ€. They push the non-stick and toxin-free features strongly, as well as the “5 X harder coatingâ€, “10 X longer lasting†and “4 X better heat transfer†selling points.
The infomercials show all kinds of demonstrations such as eggs sliding around, electronic metal utensils being used, and hot toffee slipping off the surface with barely a trace left behind. Basically, they’re aiming to be the most durable and non-stick pan on the market, free from toxins and resistant to scratching. Whether they’ve succeeded is yet to be discussed…
- Cookware set includes: 7" and 9.5" frying pans, 2.5 quart sauté pan with lid, 2 quart and 3 quart saucepans with lids, 5 quart stock pot with lid, 1 stainless steel steamer and 3 multipurpose black nylon cooking utensils
- Metal utensil safe, Blue Diamond’s signature diamond-infused ceramic nonstick is 5x harder and 10x longer lasting than traditional coatings
- Diamonds are 4x more conductive than copper, so Blue Diamond heats faster and cleans up easier
- Toxin-Free: Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium
- Warp Control Bases: Heavy-duty forged bases prevent warping, wobbling, or degrading over time
- Cookware set includes: 11" sauté pan with lid, a steamer plate and mesh skimmer
- Metal utensil safe, Blue Diamond’s signature diamond-infused ceramic nonstick is 5x harder and 10x longer lasting than traditional coatings
- Diamonds are 4x more conductive than copper, so Blue Diamond heats faster and cleans up easier
- Toxin-Free: Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium
- Warp Control Bases: Heavy-duty forged bases prevent warping, wobbling, or degrading over time
What does Blue Diamond make?
Blue Diamond makes cookware, clearly! But more specifically, they offer sets and individual pieces such as:
- 14-piece sets
- Griddles
- Sautepans
- Grill pans
- Fry pans
- 10-piece sets
- 4-piece sets
Some of their sets offer accessories as well as core cookware pieces. They offer nylon utensils such as ladles, and metal tools such as skimmers and steamers.
What’s the price point?
The price point is really great. It’s not the cheapest cookware on the market, but it’s pretty close to it.Â
What materials are used?
Here’s where we get to the truly interesting part…the materials.
After much digging, it’s proving almost impossible to find out what the core of the pan is made from. We know what the coating is made from, but we can’t say for certain what the core consists of. It’s likely made of aluminum, which could explain the “4 X better heat transfer†claim. This is because aluminum is a good heat conductor and distributes heat evenly.
We also know that the base is “warp controlled†which means it is designed to hold its shape and sit flat and even on the cookware surface. This could mean that the base is made from layers of hard-anodized aluminum. We also know that these pans are lightweight, which is another clue that the construction is aluminum.
The coating is the main marketing tool, and it’s where the “diamond†in the name comes from. The diamond-infused ceramic coating is (apparently) made with real diamonds, added to ceramic. The diamonds are what gives basis to the “5 X harder†claim.
However, many customers and users have reported that their Blue Diamond cookware scratches easily. Curiously, the marketing materials claim that the cookware surface is safe for metal utensils, but the care and usage tips recommend using nylon and wood utensils.
We do know that Blue Diamond cookware doesn’t contain PFOA, PFAS, lead or cadmium. However, we don’t know whether or not it contains PTFE. It’s safe to say that it does, since it doesn’t mention the absence of it in the marketing materials. If it were free from PTFE, they would surely want it to be known.
Don’t be too put off by the thought of there being PTFE present, as it’s not necessarily dangerous. PTFE isn’t harmful until it is heated above 570 degrees Fahrenheit. The catch here is that Blue Diamond cookware can take heat up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit, which could cause PTFE to break down and release fumes into the air.
What are the pros and cons?
You will notice that the pros and cons lists are very similar in length. There are some great features, but are they enough to outweigh the not-so-great features? It’s up to you and what you’re looking for in your new cookware. Check out these lists to help you decide…
Safe for oven use up to a mega 850 degrees Fahrenheit
Safe for dishwasher use (however, this isn’t recommended, it’s best to hand wash)
Super easy to clean by hand as long as the non-stick is functioning properly
No lead or cadmium
No PFOA
Warp controlled base (to retain shape)
Tight-fitting glass lids
Affordable
Doesn’t offer completely oil-free cooking as they recommend to use a small amount of fat
Non-stickability is questionable
Not induction friendly
Not metal utensil compatible (use metal or nylon utensils)
Scratches easily
Materials are not freely disclosed
Is it oven, induction, metal utensil and dishwasher compatible?
Oven: this gets a resounding “yesâ€. Blue Diamond cookware is oven-safe to an extremely high temperature, 850 degrees Fahrenheit (454 degrees Celsius). There aren’t many occasions which will call for such a high heat, but it’s good to know that the materials are so durable and that there’s really no limit to your heat options.
We like that you can finish meat dishes off under the broiler for an eye-wateringly hot or charred finish, without having to transfer the food from vessel to vessel. Just remember to use very thick and reliable oven mitts to protect your hands.
Induction: no, Blue Diamond cookware is not designed for induction cooktops. It is suitable for gas, electric, halogen and ceramic cooktops.
Dishwasher: the Blue Diamond marketing materials state that yes, the cookware is dishwasher safe. However, in the FAQ’s section, they recommend that you wash the cookware by hand, with soapy water and a soft brush. It’s stated that this is to preserve the non-stick nature of the pan.
In other words…the dishwasher won’t exactly ruin the cookware, but it might make the surface lose its non-stickability much faster. We agree that you should absolutely always hand wash your cookware, especially those with non-stick surfaces!
Metal utensils: if you take a look at the brand’s website, you’ll see a video of a chef using a metal electric egg beater on a Blue Diamond pan, with the heading “Metal Utensil Safe!â€. However, some materials also state to avoid metal utensils and stick to wood and nylon.
There are many instances in the review sections where customers have stated that their Blue Diamond pans scratched easily and soon after they bought them. It’s safe to say that metal utensils should not be used, and these cookware items aren’t quite as sturdy as they’re said to be…
Who does Blue Diamond cookware suit best?
Because of the low price point, the Blue Diamond brand would be a better choice for smaller budgets. Students, newlyweds, “first-out-of-home’ers†would be ideal candidates for the Blue Diamond range.
If you need bang for your buck, and want an essential set of cookware and utensils for a low cost, Blue Diamond has some ideal options. With a few caveats… The non-stickability isn’t the best on the market, but if you just need cookware which is super heat resistant, reasonably non stick, and durable, then this will certainly do.
If you have an induction cooktop, don’t settle here, keep looking for an induction-friendly brand. Don’t be fooled by the videos of toffee and eggs slipping easily off the cookware surface, as that seems to be an exaggeration.
If you’re looking for a “forever†cookware set which will last a lifetime, with a perpetually non-stick surface and ultra durability, you will definitely have to spend more money on a higher quality set.
You might be better off with another stone cookware brand which has a better track record for being scratch resistant.
- Cookware set includes: 7" and 9.5" frying pans, 2.5 quart sauté pan with lid, 2 quart and 3 quart saucepans with lids, 5 quart stock pot with lid, 1 stainless steel steamer and 3 multipurpose black nylon cooking utensils
- Metal utensil safe, Blue Diamond’s signature diamond-infused ceramic nonstick is 5x harder and 10x longer lasting than traditional coatings
- Diamonds are 4x more conductive than copper, so Blue Diamond heats faster and cleans up easier
- Toxin-Free: Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium
- Warp Control Bases: Heavy-duty forged bases prevent warping, wobbling, or degrading over time
Final thoughts
While the Blue Diamond cookware range does have some pros, such as an affordable price and high temperature allowance, there are some downsides. This is an example of an ‘As Seen on TV’ brand which has lots of glitz and glamour but doesn’t quite meet up to the very bold claims made.
The non-stickability of the cookware has proven not to be reliable for many customers, and will wear down further with time. While we know that Blue Diamond cookware doesn’t contain PFOA, lead, cadmium or PFAS, we can’t be sure of what it does contain, considering that we don’t know what the core is made of.
This isn’t to say that the Blue Diamond cookware range is bad, but there is a risk of it not quite meeting up to expectations. As long as you know the reality of what you’re buying, and don’t expect everything the marketing promises, then you’ll be fine.
Check out Amazon for deals, customer reviews and maybe even some stellar bargains if you do decide to put Blue Diamond at the top of your list.
