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GreenPan Valencia Pro vs. My Old Traditional Nonstick Pans

January 11, 2024
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Spoiler alert: I’m about to positively gush about my new GreenPan Valencia Pro pans. But how did I end up with such perfect pans, and why are they so much better than my old pans? Read on for the full story…

I knew it was time to make a change when my traditional nonstick pans started chipping. No, I’m being 100% serious. I was making an omelet and was confused about where all the little black flecks were coming from because I hadn’t added any pepper yet. I was horrified to realize that they were coming up from my pan! My OCD couldn’t handle the thought of me passing away due to ingesting pan flakes, so I promptly tossed the omelet and, as soon as it was cool enough not to melt my trash can, the pan. 

Then I tossed all my other traditional nonstick pots and pans for good measure because they all used the same kind of coating that could potentially flake up and get in my food. You know the one. I’m not going to call it out by name, but you can guess, right? 

But then – surprise! I had no pans. After surviving on Mediterranean takeout for a few days, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get new supplies so that I could finally start making my famous pan-seared salmon again. And I didn’t want to run the risk of pan flakes, so I knew I couldn’t go for traditional nonstick again.
Not to mention the fact that they can apparently contain lead, cadmium, and some nasty chemicals called PFAS which are a forever chemical that I want no part of in my kitchen!

Choosing My New Pans

I knew I needed nonstick though. I don’t have the patience to season a cast iron and I don’t want to spend another second scrubbing food off of stainless steel. And as someone who rarely does the dishes, I also knew I needed a set with a ~lot~ of different pans for me to cycle through. 

After doing a little digging, I found GreenPan – a ceramic nonstick pan brand with a line called the Valencia Pro that’s recommended by no other than Good Housekeeping and America’s Test Kitchen – for sustainability and for just being the best ceramic nonstick frypan (for 5 years running), respectively. No lead, no cadmium, no PFAS or PFOA, and most importantly, no potentially toxic pan flakes! 


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Honestly, I was ready to be blown away by the Valencia Pro pans. At this point, my nonstick pans weren’t even living up to their name anymore, so if these pans could deliver on being easy to clean and sliding eggs around like a child at a waterpark then I’d be happy. I scrolled through about a thousand 5 star reviews before clicking “purchase” on the Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set

First Impressions

It arrived within a few days, and let me tell you that box felt official! Unlike getting my traditional nonstick pans at Goodwill out of pure desperation, ordering a set of pots and pans from GreenPan gave me the sense that I was doing something good for myself and my kitchen. 

What’s Inside??

It came with 3 frying pans, 2 sauce pans, a saute pan (which I’ve never owned before), a stockpot, 4 lids, and 3 pan protectors. I couldn’t wait to start cooking, which is something I don’t usually say. 

My First Meal With Valencia

The first thing I made in my pans had to be eggs and toast. I love eggs and toast. As you can see, I kind of whiffed it and cracked the yolks by flipping them too soon, but it still tasted pretty good. And they slid out of the pan PERFECTLY. I made 100% sure to use low to medium heat – which, another benefit of GreenPan is all the education they give you on how to actually take care of your pans. That kind of education definitely didn’t come with my traditional nonstick pans. 

Cooking with my new Valencia Pro frypans also showed me just how sticky my traditional nonstick pans had become over the past two years – I was expecting a little bit of resistance when the eggs were coming out of the pan because that’s how it was with my traditional nonstick pans, but there was nothing. They came out so easily. I probably didn’t even need to use butter (although honestly, I will continue to use butter because I like the added flavor). 

GreenPan Valencia Pro vs. Traditional Nonstick

There’s No Comparison

When it comes to whether I prefer my old traditional nonstick pans or the Valencia Pro, I have to say that it’s not even a competition. My old pans were gross, nonfunctional, and frankly, potentially harmful to my health.

When I cook with the GreenPan Valencia Pro pans, I know I’m making a smart decision for my health and for the wellbeing of my family. It’s also better for the planet – GreenPan is committed to earth-friendly manufacturing practices, producing 60% less CO2 during the curing phase of manufacturing compared to traditional nonstick. Not to mention the fact that I’ve got pans for every occasion – see the delicious salmon I made for dinner with a side of sautéed spinach. And of course, the salmon skin lifted up off the pan perfectly. Don’t be shy, try out the magic of the Valencia Pro for yourself!

Pros

Cons

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