We all know that nonstick cookware don’t last. A nonstick fry pan typically costs around $20 to $30 and it is a replaceable item in the kitchen. If you are unlucky, you will need a new one within 6 months to a year. If you are lucky, you might be able to use one for 2 to 3 years before it is time to buy another. But what if there is a high-end nonstick cookware on the market that seems to be different from the competition? Would you take the risk since price is usually an indicator of quality? Let’s check out the Swiss Diamond cookware review below to see if this risk is indeed worth taking.
Swiss Diamond Cookware Review – Nonstick Cookware
==> Check Price
Shown above is the Swiss Diamond 10-piece set or Ultimate Kitchen Kit. You can also buy individual pieces rather than a set if you are only looking for a particular pot or pan. The pieces in the 10-piece set comprise of:
- 8-inch fry pan
- 9.5-inch fry pan
- 3.2-quart saute pan with lid*
- 1.4-quart saucepan with lid
- 2.2-quart saucepan with lid
- 8.5-quart stock pot with lid
* The lid for the saute pan also fits the larger fry pan.
Just like many nonstick cookware in recent years, the Swiss Diamond is marketed as healthy, safe and PFOA-free. The brand emphasizes its commitment to green manufacturing practices by taking steps such as recycling, using hydroelectric power and manufacturing the nonstick coating in-house to reduce impacts on the environment as much as possible.
The Swiss Diamond cookware has an aluminum foundation. Aluminum is commonly used for cookware because of its heat conductivity. In the Swiss Diamond’s case, the aluminum foundation is molded under high pressure that they claim will never warp. The cookware’s base will be perfectly flat to give even heat distribution. This foundation is then sandblasted for plasma coating which is needed to make it bond strongly with the nonstick layers. The 3-layered nonstick coating is diamond-reinforced to give it maximum durability.
The nonstick coating is patented and uses diamond crystals in nanocomposite forms to take advantage of the properties of this element. Diamonds are naturally highly durable and great heat conductors. So, the nonstick coating on a Swiss Diamond pan is supposed to last longer, easy to clean up due to its food release capability and perfect for browning and searing with its superior heat conduction.
The cookware is oven safe up to 500°F and dishwasher safe. However, handwashing is still recommended. The lids are made of tempered glass with adjustable steam vents. The handles are ergonomic and of the stay-cool variety. You can use this cookware on gas, electric, radiant ring, ceramic and halogen cooktops. It is not induction compatible.
Pros And Cons Of The Swiss Diamond Cookware
Pros
- Made in Switzerland – If you want to get away from Chinese-made cookware, the Swiss Diamond is an option. Naturally, people will feel more comfortable about the safety and environmental aspects for products that are manufactured in a European country. A similar cookware to this is the Woll Diamond Plus which is made in Germany.
- Thick – Many nonstick cookware are flimsy and thin. The Swiss Diamond pans, which are normally the workhorse of the kitchen, are thicker and heavier than most other nonstick cookware. It is not as heavy as a Finex cast iron skillet but it does have a weight to it that makes it feel solid in your hands. The 11-inch fry pan weighs 2.6 lbs while a typical ceramic fry pan will weigh around 2 lbs or less.
- Rivet-free cooking surface – The problem with a lot of cookware is that food bits and sauces get stuck around the rivets which makes cleaning difficult. The Swiss Diamond has a rivet-free cooking surface which is more hygienic in the long run.
- Nonstick – The food release properties work well enough and it passes the egg test with no oil or butter added.
Cons
- Expensive – The 10-piece set will set you back at least a few hundred dollars. For the same kind of money, you could buy 4 to 5 sets of some of the best ceramic cookware that are available on the market. In terms of All Clad vs Swiss Diamond, the price will be much closer to each other for their nonstick cookware. But for the All Clad HA1, it is a hard anodized piece which this Swiss Diamond set does not have.
- Wear and tear – The Swiss Diamond is also subjected to the same wear and tear as any other cookware. It may last a little longer than average compared to other nonstick options but the coating will still degrade over time and the pan will turn sticky.
- Scratches – While the claim is that the coating is durable, some users find that the cooking surface will still get scratched even with non-metal utensils. While scratches will not impair the performance of the cookware, it will mar its looks.
Is The Swiss Diamond Cookware Safe?
The Swiss Diamond cookware is marketed as PFOA-free. Many other nonstick cookware will also highlight this feature in their marketing promotions. This is a trend in recent years because PFOA has been phased out following the recommendation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
But PFOA-free does not mean PTFE-free. These are 2 different things. PFOA was associated with Teflon nonstick coatings in the past which made consumers wary and started switching to non-Teflon pans. Although PFOA has been eliminated from the production, Teflon is still a PTFE-based formula and many nonstick pans will still have PTFE in its coating unless explicitly stated otherwise. The Ozeri Green Earth Pan is one example of an unambiguous product listing when it states that it is 100% PTFE, PFOA, and APEO free.
On the other hand, the Swiss Diamond cookware’s nonstick coating has a PTFE-based formula although it has no PFOA. The general consensus is that PTFE is safe and there is no conclusive evidence that it is toxic and harmful. So, if a cookware is PFOA-free, it will be listed as safe and sometimes, marketed as being green and non-toxic.
Should You Buy The Swiss Diamond Cookware?
The Swiss Diamond cookware reviews from various buyers are generally positive. You can see this from retailers’ websites all over the web. But you will also notice that the complaints on the cooking surface will tend to start later after using. Some found that it gave problems within months while others could use it for a couple of years before it started to stick or flake.
Though the complaint rate is not high and the coating tends to last longer compared to other nonstick cookware, it is still a risky buy due to the high price. No matter how much you pay, the nonstick coating will still lose its effectiveness over time. If you buy a $20 pan and it can last you a year, spending $100 will be able to last you 5 years. Will a Swiss Diamond fry pan be able to last you 5 years?
Any Great Deals For Swiss Diamond Cookware? Find Out Now:
That is why we don’t fancy high-end nonstick cookware. While we agree with all the positive Swiss Diamond cookware reviews online, we also cannot overlook the fact that nonstick cookware have a high tendency to fail after repeated use over time. To us, it is too risky to expect the nonstick coating of the Swiss Diamond pan to last 5 years and above to make the price worthwhile. This might be worth it if you want non-Chinese made cookware. But if you just want to try a diamond-infused pan, the Blue Diamond cookware might be a more reasonable buy.
Our experience with Swiss Diamond has been on a level not touched by others we’ve tried along the way. Others advertise as nonstick, and they are. But they are way to delicate. The Swiss Diamond is a tank. Been using the same one for 6 years almost every day. And we use the pan in so many ways because of it’s size. Unless they have changed something over the last few years to lessen the pan’s quality, I’d have no problem recommending this brand.