Greenpan vs Scanpan

The search for safe, reliable, nonstick pans can feel like an uphill battle. If you have done your research then it is very likely you have heard of both Scanpan and GreenPan.

Whilst Scanpan is a Danish company that has been creating sustainable, high-quality pots and pans since 1956, GreenPan is slightly newer. After launching in 2007, GreenPan has become a leader in the nonstick coating movement and is becoming increasingly popular with their claim to produce the healthiest, eco-friendly ceramics on the market.

Both companies claim to be non-toxic and high-performing, and so knowing which brand to go for can be a really difficult situation.

Today I am going to look at comparing the two brands across the board, meaning that by the end of this article you will have a great understanding of the differences between GreenPan vs Scanpan and can make the right decision on which product is best for you!

Product Offerings

The main offering behind both brands is the nonstick coating and the vast variety of not only nonstick pans and pots, but sets of both as well.

GreenPan

All GreenPan products are made using a nonstick coating, available in a variety of cookware styles, from woks to grill pans.

All greenPan products are a ceramic nonstick interior, and the exteriors can differ from brushed stainless steel to aluminium. They can even come in various colours as well which can be very appealing for buyers.

GreenPan offers its products individually or in sets and opts for recycled and upcycled stainless steel and aluminum where possible.

GreenPan doesn’t divide its cookware into its collection when selling them. Instead, it categorizes them by type: sets, fry pans, saucepans etc. The best way of viewing the products available is to look at the sets.

Scanpan

Unlike GreenPan, Scanpan offers a variety of stainless steel, copper, and cast iron cookware.

Many people do not like the idea of mixing brands in the kitchen. If this sounds like you then Scanpan would be the best option.

You can buy a combination of pots and pans in a variety of materials and can feel secure in only using the one, same, trusty brand.

Scanpan also focuses on reusable goods and uses 100% recycled aluminum exteriors. Whilst tending to stick to a black exterior, the collections vary greatly in design and material, meaning that the prices also drastically vary.

Materials and Construction

Although both offer nonstick coatings, this is actually one of the greatest differences between the two brands.

Whilst lightly touching on the materials that are available from both brands, one of the most important differences in the Scanpan vs GreenPan debate is the makeup of their nonstick coatings.

GreenPan

GreenPan uses a ceramic nonstick coating known as Thermolon.

This material is extremely durable, but its strength is grown with the addition of diamonds being used to reinforce the material and make it more durable, providing better performance and longevity.

Thermolon uses natural materials  which means the coating is non-toxic. GreenPan uses a derivative of sand which is made into a sprayable solution and applied to the pans without the use of any glues or additives.

The strength from their products also provides a scratch guard, meaning their pans are a lot less likely to scratch compared with other brands. This means that their nonstick coating will last for longer, making the product a better investment.

Further to this, Thermolon is oven safe, however it is important to note that each collection has a unique oven-safe temperature. This means that whilst some of their products may be able to endure temperatures of up to 600F, others are unable to stand beyond 420F.

GreenPan also pride themselves on the fact that during the manufacturing process, their pans produce 60% less CO2 emissions than a more traditional nonstick coating. 

Finally Thermolon works as a superior heat conductor. This means that you can cook at lower temperatures and still deliver heat as quickly and evenly as you would using a higher heat with other brands.

They are fume free as well which means that if you do end up overheating your pan, it will not release any toxic fumes.

Scanpan

On the other hand, Scanpan uses a nonstick coating known as Stratanium. Stratanium was created from two years of research and testing and comes with many distinct and reliable benefits.

Firstly, the Scanpan coating is a multi-layered coating made up of 5 individual layers that are locked together to create an extremely durable and effective coating. The materials create not only a topcoat, mid-coat and base coat, but also a thermal spray and primer, meaning your Scanpan nonstick coating ensures that you will never have to worry about food sticking to your pan.

All Scanpan nonstick products are safe to use in the oven up to 500F. This also includes the glass and stainless steel lids, making them more durable than GreenPan products containing glass.

Further to this, the extra layers also mean that Scanpan products can be used with metal utensils without the worry of any damage. The coating is ten times harder than stainless steel.

Finally, this durability means that Scanpan pots and pans are dishwasher-safe. However the brand does always recommend hand washing your pots.

Design

Whilst both products are easy on the eye and have a modern and attractive look to them, they do both differ in their design and physical appearance.

GreenPan

Contrary to popular belief, GreenPan does actually offer more colors and varieties than just green. You can find many of GreenPan’s products in vibrant exteriors, such as blue, turquoise, and burgundy.

If adding color to your kitchen and catching the attention of your guests is something that sounds appealing to you, GreenPan definitely has the best options in terms of this.

If you are less interested in bright colors, GreenPan also offers a Prime Midnight Set which has a dark and classy exterior.

All GreenPan handles are stainless steel or sure-grip silicone for extra comfort and safety. This not only helps keep the handle cool whilst cooking, but also looks very sleek.

Scanpan

Unlike the vibrancy of GreenPan, Scanpan has a lot less color on offer. They like to keep their products limited to black, however some are available in gray, stainless steel or copper.

The original Scanpan products feature a dark cast-aluminum exterior, Bakelite handles, and glass lids. They like to keep everything looking simple yet classy, which many people tend to prefer.

The handles are connected using a patented lock system. However, without the rivets, Scanpan cookware has a completely smooth surface which is beyond easy to clean and requires no scrubbing. This helps to preserve the surface of the products, meaning their overall durability lasts a very long time.

Scanpan does have a number of collections that differ slightly from the classic collections. Some of their products come with stainless steels handles and can have a polished stainless steel exterior or copper exterior.

Many like the design of the copper exterior as it looks both elegant and classy, and also the thermal conductivity is much higher than aluminum, meaning it responds to heat a lot faster as is a lot more effective to cook with.

Price

Overall, Scanpan tends to be a more expensive brand, however this obviously differs depending on product and collection.

Both brands are generally more expensive than other brands available, but this is due to their durability and high-performance.

The fact that the brands are eco-friendly and have their exceptional nonstick coatings means that they are more expensive to produce and therefore pricier to buy.

A good way of looking at the costs and whether you want to spend a little or a lot on your new cookware, is to view it as an investment. Spending less can result in having to replace the pots more frequently, whereas a one off expenditure could work out better in the long run and provide you with cookware that you may never have to replace if you look after it correctly.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

One of the other major differences is the use of PTFE. PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and used as a coating in Scanpan products.

Although there are no confirmed health risks of PTFE and it is said to be safe, many people try to avoid this.

Unlike Scanpan, GreenPan is one of the few nonstick cookware brands that does not use any trace of PTFE. This can be the deciding factor for many people who have done their research into nonstick cookware.

Scanpan vs GreenPan Final Words

If looking at the product range and availability, both brands offer an extensive line, however Scanpan does offer more collections and overall more products.

In terms of appearance and design, GreenPan offers a lot more color and variety and so if you are looking to spice things up in the kitchen, GreenPan would be the better alternative.

On the other hand, Scanpan is popular because of its sleek and classy appearance. Whilst GreenPan also has similar dark options, the copper collection from Scanpan could be the winner for you.

If you are avoiding the use of PTFE, look no further than GreenPan. If you would prefer your cookware to be 100% free of PTFE then GreenPan is the better alternative to Scanpan.

However, in looking entirely at the durability and performance of the nonstick, the layered feature of Scanpan nonstick does mean that its quality overtakes GreenPan and so for a longer-lasting brand, Scanpan is the one for you.

In spite of this, it is only fair to mention that both brands are extremely reliable and long-lasting and so GreenPan does continue to stand out in the durability test, just not so much when compared to Scanpan.

Overall, it is really down to whether you prioritise design, cost, durability or the nonstick coating.

Whether you opt for GreenPan or Scanpan, there is no doubt that you will be going home with a trusty, strong, and healthy collection of cookware!

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